Short Plays

Help Who's Next

10 minutes, 2 f, 1 m

When a cycle repeats, there are conversations we expect. Would it be the same if we gave the words away - or stole them? An unexpected story of transaction, connection, politics, and empathy.

Falling Forward: An Evening of Ten-Minute Plays, Athena Theatre at Symphony Space, NYC (2018). Dir. Veronica Dang

shavanna Calder, Kelsey Peterson, and Steve Hoose in help who's next by Kathryn Funkhouser, Dir. Veronica Dang, athena Theatre, 2018. Photo: BittenbyaZebra.

The Bargain

10 min (1M, 1F, 1 either)

While Dan takes pride in his work collecting the souls of humans who made a deal with the devil, his demonic coworkers have had it up to here with his Twilight Zone-esque theatrics. Could a millennial mortal who sold her soul for an affordable one-bedroom in Astoria help an insecure demon get his direction back?

New Wave Collective, Halloween Short Play Festival at Medicine Show Theatre, NYC. Oct 30, 2018. Dir. Chris Morrissey.

Accessories

20 min, 2F, 2M

When Joe Wright's coworkers learn that he's been fired, speculation runs rampant - especially about why his assistant Minnie is sequestered by HR. The two young women assigned to pack up her desk know enough to keep quiet... at least until they're alone. A sharp take on Trifles for the #MeToo era.

Workshop, Telling Trifles Festival, Hunger & Thirst Theater at West End Theater, NYC (2018). Dir. Anna Strasser

Jump Scare

10 min (2F, 1 either)

It's Halloween night and the production team of a horror b-movie just needs to get one more shot before they can go celebrate. Unfortunately, the floundering lead actress is determined to prove her acting chops and really channel the essence of fear. Looks like the director and her shady production assistant will have to think up some ways to scare their perfectionistic star.

Barrington Collective, Night of Fright at Parkside Lounge, NYC. Oct 28th, 2018.

Alternative Facts

2F, 1 either

As we all know, when a politician's alarming statements hit the cable news chyrons, his spokeswoman goes on TV to set the story straight. Somebody's got to ask the tough questions, after all. Should it really count as murder if it happens to a woman on a boat? Can we know for certain that polar bears even exist outside of Coca-Cola commercials? But just as the beleaguered host is about to surrender her sanity, another scandal breaks - and this one may be harder to sweep under the rug without somebody getting devoured.

The Resistance Cabaret, The Tank, NYC (2017)

We’re Not So Different, You and I

10-15 min, (2F, 0-2 either [4 roles total, 3 may be doubled])

Evelyn's life is going smoothly. Maybe too smoothly. She's decided she needs someone to help keep her on her toes, but not just any old enemy will do - she wants a Personal Nemesis. Today she's interviewing everyone from evil billionaires to supervillains, but only one candidate will truly be a worthy foe, and it's someone she never thought she'd see again.

Hudson County Plays at Cathedral Arts Live, Hudson County, NJ (2016)
SHEatre, Quickies! 10-minute Play Readings, Cincinnati, OH (2016)
Radium Girls Theatre Company, The Radioactive Festival, NYC (2014)

The Sequel

10 min (2M, 2F, 1+ zombies)

Apocalypse Rising: Armies Of The Undead is advertised to be the most realistic depiction of zombie warfare ever to hit video game consoles - so of course teenage siblings Pete and Lisa can’t wait to play it. But as their avatars, Crazy George and Svetlana, set out to fight the zombie hordes, things start to get a little bit too real. Will Pete and Lisa be brought together by their strange new game or will a little honesty prove a dangerous thing?

The Brick Theater, Game Play Festival, NYC (2012)
Live Girls! Theater, Quickies 13, Seattle, WA (2012)

Third Person Limited

10 min (2F)

Anne is unemployed, discouraged, and drifting apart from her friends, but she's determined to change her life story-- and who has more control than the narrator? But when Anne won't part with the third person even when Julie needs help, they'll have to get creative in order to start speaking the same language.

Adaptive Arts Theater Company's Third Annual Reading Series, NYC (2012)

Ghost Story

45 min (3F, 1M, 2+ either [expandable ensemble])

Charlie wants to play it safe. She works at the same dilapidated boardwalk haunted house every summer without ever looking inside, she hangs out with her friend Neal without ever acting on her feelings for him, and she writes elaborate, uncanny stories that she refuses to show to anyone. But when a new girl joins the staff who's determined to change everything, Charlie's fear and yearning threaten to fade her into one of the ghosts she chronicles. At the end of the day, who ends up haunted?

Winner of the Oxnam Award presented by Ensemble Studio Theatre and Drew University, received a reading and dramaturgy by members of Ensemble Studio Theatre (2011)

The Pitch

10 min (1F, 1M)

Things have gone downhill for Lily since she saved the universe. Reduced to working with a jaded studio executive on a screenplay based on her adventures, she's flabbergasted to hear that the truth won't be quite magical enough for certain demographics. Looks like the battle between good and evil isn’t quite over yet . . .

Manhattan Repertory Theatre, Fall One-Act Play Competition, NYC (Fall 2011)