When many people imagine a slice of life, they picture a quaint family living in suburbia with a minivan and a dog. Playwright Diana Son prefers to portray this conception in a different light.

Son’s play, “Stop Kiss,” a tale following the lives of two women living in New York for six months, debuts this Friday at the Stoner Studio Theater in Des Moines.

The play is hosted by Des Moines’ StageWest theater company, an organization that often tackles controversial topics, offering plays with diverse ideas.

“[People] really enjoy being challenged,” says Shoshana Salowitz, who plays Callie. “They enjoy seeing works that make them think.”

The story centers around Callie as she attempts to help a female teacher from the Midwest adjust to life in the city. Eventually, a close bond forms between the two that leads to a kiss. The shared kiss leads to a hate crime that dramatically changes their lives.

“Stop Kiss,” originally a Broadway production, received the 1999 media award from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation for an outstanding New York theater production.

Director Erika Greenfield says “Stop Kiss” is accessible to all.

“The conversations are things you could imagine or conversations that you’ve actually had,” Greenfield says.

Salowitz believes a play that covers issues like same sex relationships is needed in Iowa.

“Lesbian, gays and transvestites in the community, in art especially, really need plays that reflect their relationships in a compassionate way,” she says. “It breaks down those stereotypes.”

Greenfield and Salowitz agree the story portrays more than just a lesbian relationship. “Stop Kiss” is about two people who fall in love with the personality of the other.

“This is not a show about lesbians, it’s a love story,” Greenfield says. “[The characters are not] in love with the gender. They’re in love with the person.

“Love is love whether you’re gay or straight or otherwise oriented. There are the same concerns and confusions.”

To assist Salowitz and the other actors in this process, Greenfield brought photographs to help them visualize the areas in New York in which the play was set.

“Every scene is a completely different time period,” Greenfield says. “[It’s important] that I’m not confusing the audience and helping them figure out where we are each time.”

Salowitz believes Greenfield has been a confident and insightful director throughout the rehearsal process.

“You always want to have confidence in the person that is directing you. If you don’t, it can ruin a show,” Salowitz says. “Greenfield knows what she wants and she really pushes us.”

What: “Stop Kiss”

Where: Stoner Studio Theater, 411 Walnut St., Des Moines

When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday

Cost: $13.50