The works, in brief

Horatio & Ismene

Simple set. 1 woman, 1 man (35 or younger). Approximately 20 minutes. Horatio, Hamlet's best friend, and Ismene, Antigone's sister, have been let go from their respective plays. Thrown together, they journey to a new playing space, and discuss the nature of being characters without all that much to do. This is a great play for classically trained actors, as the characters slip in and out of Greek oratation/Shakespearian verse. The theatre references are fun for a sophisticated crowd, but all audiences can relate to the love story and delimma of self-esteem.

The Vicar, or, Hesitancy

4 characters, two women, two men. Approx. 30 minutes. The sacristy of a church, just before a Friday evening mass in the summer. Projected attendance: 7 (and that includes the four characters). The play opens with Vicar Christoph, a young Lutheran pastor in training, thoughtfully staring off into space, with panties and a bra draped on his head. The church sacrisitan, Maude, discovers him so arranged. Soon, it becomes clear that the Vicar is embroiled with Julie, a member of the church. Maude and Pastor Swanson try to give Julie and Chris the space they need to work out their relationship, but eventually can't help poking their noses in. Very funny, very irreverent, this is a love letter to the organized church, and to love.

Jessica and Ms. Evanson on a Wednesday Afternoon

One-act, approximately 20 minutes. Two women, 18 and 32.

Jessica stops by Room 312 every Wednesday afternoon to work with her former English teacher, Ms. Evanson. Jessica's a star basketball player and has a scholarship waiting for her at a prestigious college -- if only she can bump her SAT score by 80 points. Unfortunately, Jessica hates reading, and has a new plan for her future: joining the army. Ms. Evanson tries to talk her out of it, as best she can.

Up on the Roof

One-act, approximately 25 minutes.

2 men (50ish, 25ish), 2 women (50ish, 27ish). If Thornton Wilder met the Kingston Trio, this one-act would be the result. On a Thanksgiving evening, Holly has taken refuge on the roof of her parents’ home, throwing her family’s annual hootenanny into disarray. Her brother, Taylor, and famous folk-singer parents, Nick and Dorothy, try to coax Holly down, or at least find out what’s wrong. Eventually, they sort of do, and they sort of don’t, and the hootenanny, like life, goes on. A comic story of love, laughter and maracas, this play was part of the Pittsburgh New Works Festival in 2005.

Sure Not

10 Minute play, 1 man, 2 women (a young African-American woman, an older Caucasian woman and a retirement-age Caucasian man), and very simple set needs.

A Southern ob/gyn, Doc Finn, celebrates his last day of work with his loyal secretary, Gladiola. Their practice covers a very poor part of Dansville. His last patient, 17-year-old Tandeka Page, arrives for her appointment, and has a simple question for him: "Why did my baby die?" Helping Tandeka arrive at a satisfactory answer takes all of Doc Finn’s skill. After she leaves, Doc Finn pronounces a judgement on his forty years of practice.

Drag the Past

Full-length, 5 women, 4 men.
Synopsis: Enmeshed in an affair with Edward, the father of one of her students, Charlotte returns to her hometown of Johnstown, Pennsylvania for the first time in 10 years, to tend to her mother’s funeral. Sitting on the Incline Plane, Charlotte’s memories of her difficult childhood - as well as her dominating, passionate mother, Katherine - overwhelm her. By the end of this full-length work, Charlotte makes peace with her past & present, and receives one more visitor: Katherine  herself, seeking peace - and one last cigarette.