The Eyes of Babylon is a one-man play written and performed by award-winning playwright Jeff Key. In this commanding solo performance, Key describes how his Southern upbringing and determined patriotism lead him to enlist in the Marine Corps as a 34 year-old gay man. When the U.S. is attacked less than a year later on September 11th, Key finds himself unexpectedly preparing for war.

Chronicling the heady first days of the American invasion, Key explores his unit’s bewildered adjustment to Iraq and his own struggle to determine how much of his personal life to reveal to his fellow Marines. When an injury sends Key stateside for recovery, the strain of denying his identity increases as he encounters America’s growing uncertainty about the war and a frightening internal question—was the war living up to his own motives for enlisting?

---

Read our exclusive interview with Jeff Key, who explains how and why he brought his story to the stage.