Sam Affoumado Brings The Panic Defense to the Stage!

What happens when fear becomes an excuse for violence? And what happens when the justice system allows prejudice to influence the outcome? This week on The Roundtable with Robert Bannon , we're having an important conversation with playwright, director, and producer Sam Affoumado , whose powerful new docu-drama, The Panic Defense , is bringing a difficult but necessary conversation to the New York stage. Inspired by four real-life cases involving LGBTQ+ victims of violence, The Panic Defense explores the controversial use of so-called "gay panic" and "trans panic" legal strategies, which have been used to argue that a victim's sexual orientation or gender identity provoked a defendant's violent response. But behind every court case is a human being. Someone with a family, dreams, relationships, and a future that was taken away. And that's where Sam's storytelling begins. Drawing inspiration from groundbreaking documentary theater works like The Laramie Project and The Exonerated , Sam brings these stories to life while asking audiences to confront uncomfortable questions about discrimination, accountability, and whether justice is truly equal for everyone. Sam is no stranger to creating theater that challenges audiences to think. A New York City-based playwright, director, and producer, he has written seven full-length plays and more than two dozen short works and monologues. His theatrical credits include One-Way Ticket , Doctor Truth , The Finalist , The Flogsta Scream , and Peanut Butter Patty . His work has appeared at the Fresh Fruit Festival, the International Human Rights Arts Festival, and the Emerging Artists Theatre, among others. His play Doctor Truth received a Jury Prize at the Fresh Fruit Festival, and his writing has been published in several theatrical anthologies. He is also a member of the Dramatists Guild, SAG-AFTRA, Actors' Equity Association, and other professional theater organizations. In this conversation, Robert and Sam explore the inspiration behind The Panic Defense , the responsibility of telling stories based on real lives, the importance of LGBTQ+ representation in theater, and the power of art to create awareness and encourage change. It's a conversation about theater, humanity, empathy, and the voices that deserve to be heard. About The Panic Defense Written and directed by Sam Affoumado, The Panic Defense runs November 6–22, 2026, at 30th Street Theater in New York City. The 90-minute production also features special post-show discussions on November 13 and November 20, the latter in recognition of Transgender Day of Remembrance. For tickets and more information, visit www.SamAffoumado.com . Join us for an important conversation that reminds us why theater matters and why every story deserves to be told. 🎙️ The Roundtable with Robert Bannon Real conversations. Incredible guests. Stories worth sharing. Catch The Roundtable with Robert Bannon on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, the Broadway Podcast Network, and wherever you enjoy your favorite podcasts. 🌐 www.RobertBannon.com Subscribe, follow, like, and share! Your support helps us continue bringing artists, entertainers, and changemakers to the table. Follow Robert and The Roundtable on social media for more interviews, exclusive conversations, and behind-the-scenes moments. #TheRoundtableWithRobertBannon #RobertBannon #SamAffoumado #ThePanicDefense #LGBTQ #LGBTQTheater #OffOffBroadway #NYCTheater #TheaterMatters #LGBTQRights #TransRights #Eq