ItFull-Length Plays
Rootless - 9 actors (3 female, 2 male, 4 any gender), 60 minutes
Jenny, a second-generation Irish American student, searches desperately for the comb her recently-deceased grandmother left to her. As she goes on her journey to find it, and with the help of friends both old and new, she finds much more along the way. Rootless builds on Irish myths and music, Irish-American traditions and a spiraling storytelling form that takes us on Jenny’s journey with her, and teaches us all a little bit about ourselves in the process.
Rootless was workshopped at SUNY New Paltz in April and May of 2015, and had its NYC premiere in
June 2017.
Elizabeth - 12-15 actors (4 female characters, 11 male characters), 90 minutes
Elizabeth tells the story of Elizabeth Jackson Sands, a notable Port Washington resident and American Revolutionary heroine. Set during the Revolutionary War, the play follows her in her roles and journeys as mother, wife, farmer and lead agent in an undercover munitions ring run from her Port Washington property, from the Battle of Brooklyn through to the turning point of the war. This play is the first time that her story will be told as more than just a footnote on her husband's illustrious career.
An earlier draft of Elizabeth received a staged reading jointly produced by the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society and the
Paul D. Schreiber High School Drama Club on April 9th, 2016 in Port Washington, NY.
Short Plays
The List - 5 actors (all men), 10 minutes
Set in American-occupied Italy in 1944, this play follows the experiences of four American airmen at lunch on two days in April. It speaks to the personal unrest and mental fragility that comes after experiencing the trauma of war, as the men ask the questions: how should we honor our dead, what did they die for, and how do survivors move on?
"The List" was workshopped as a part of SUNY New Paltz's Fresh Act Play Festival in Fall of 2011.
Apoptosis - 4 actors (1 female, 3 any gender), 5 minutes
A monologue/dance piece. Kristin, a teenage student, begins giving her oral presentation on apoptosis, only to find that it’s more of a human story than a science project for her, and that it hits closer to home than she thought.
"Apoptosis" was workshopped as a part of SUNY New Paltz's Fresh Act Play Festival in Spring of 2013. It has been chosen to be
in the next installation of Cone Man Running Productions' Five Minute Mile festival.
Rootless (devised one-act) - 9-12 actors (any gender), 6 minutes
A monologue spoken by 9-12 people in turn, in one voice, about the experiences of second-generation Americans growing up in the digital age.
"Rootless" received workshop production as a part of SUNY New Paltz's Fresh Act Play Festival in Fall of 2013.
The Farm - 3 actors (all men), 10 minutes
Two prisoners at the Louisiana State Penitentiary peddle wares at the annual Angola Rodeo. Through their experience, we see how the prevailing American prison system works, and how it works to perpetuate slavery and an ingrained system of racism in our judicial system.
Land/aina - 8 actors (4 men, 3 women, 1 any gender), 10 minutes
Two communities attempt to resolve a land dispute between a white man and an Oglala man, using the tools of their cultures. Through them, we see the contrast between the American judicial system and Oglala Sioux conflict resolution, and we come to question United States relations with indigenous Americans in relation to land ownership.
*naledi - 3 actors (1 man, 1 woman, 1 any gender), 10 minutes
A paleontologist and an archeo-anthropologist discuss the ramifications of the discovery of Homo naledi, and the possibility that this species buried their dead. After a short while, though, it becomes clear that this is less about H. naledi, and more about the growing generational rift between older and younger scientists. But what does this mean for naledi herself?
*Friend - 5-7 actors (1 man, 4-6 any gender), 5 minutes
A marine biologist in the field and a lost young Great White Shark become unlikely friends in this five-minute play, consisting of two interwoven monologues.
"Friend" was published in 105 Five-Minute Plays for Study and Performance in 2017, and is available on Amazon and at a
selection of independent bookstores.
*Beulah's Birthday - 5-8 actors (1 man, 2 women, 2-5 any gender), 8 minutes
When Beulah shows up to work at the Boeing factory in Wichita on her 63rd birthday, she expects a few people to wish her a happy one, at most. Her son, however, has something far bigger in store for her. Inspired by an article in December 2003's issue of National Geographic, "Beulah's Birthday" explores motherhood, human nature and what it means to belong in this story about a woman and her plane.
Us/Them - 8 actors (2 male, 3 female, 3 any gender), 8-9 minutes
In the wake of COVID-19 panic, an unlikely bunch of suburban animals find themselves reckoning with an uncertain future in a closed and empty grocery store.
"Us/Them" was written as part of the Quarantine Bake-Off, March 2020.
Giving Thanks - 4 actors (2 male, 2 female), 8-9 minutes
A turkey prodigal son returns to his family for a holiday dinner, leading to a touchy-turned-touching reunion.
"Giving Thanks" was written as part of the Quarantine Bake-Off, April 2020.
Agatha - 5 actors (2 male, 2 female, 1 any gender), 10 minutes
A young adventurer attempts to escape from an evil fortress with the help of a collection of non-human friends. Several unsuccessful attempts are made, and hilarity ensues. By the end, however, they’ve figured out how to break out by each using their distinct skills and talents. More importantly, all five of them learn to work together, listen better, and appreciate the value of friendship in all its unusual forms.
"Agatha" was written as part of Green Buffalo Productions's #QuarantineQuarters, May 2020, and was given a virtual reading by GBP on May 15th, 2020.
* denotes a play written as part of the National Geographic Challenge
Rootless - 9 actors (3 female, 2 male, 4 any gender), 60 minutes
Jenny, a second-generation Irish American student, searches desperately for the comb her recently-deceased grandmother left to her. As she goes on her journey to find it, and with the help of friends both old and new, she finds much more along the way. Rootless builds on Irish myths and music, Irish-American traditions and a spiraling storytelling form that takes us on Jenny’s journey with her, and teaches us all a little bit about ourselves in the process.
Rootless was workshopped at SUNY New Paltz in April and May of 2015, and had its NYC premiere in
June 2017.
Elizabeth - 12-15 actors (4 female characters, 11 male characters), 90 minutes
Elizabeth tells the story of Elizabeth Jackson Sands, a notable Port Washington resident and American Revolutionary heroine. Set during the Revolutionary War, the play follows her in her roles and journeys as mother, wife, farmer and lead agent in an undercover munitions ring run from her Port Washington property, from the Battle of Brooklyn through to the turning point of the war. This play is the first time that her story will be told as more than just a footnote on her husband's illustrious career.
An earlier draft of Elizabeth received a staged reading jointly produced by the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society and the
Paul D. Schreiber High School Drama Club on April 9th, 2016 in Port Washington, NY.
Short Plays
The List - 5 actors (all men), 10 minutes
Set in American-occupied Italy in 1944, this play follows the experiences of four American airmen at lunch on two days in April. It speaks to the personal unrest and mental fragility that comes after experiencing the trauma of war, as the men ask the questions: how should we honor our dead, what did they die for, and how do survivors move on?
"The List" was workshopped as a part of SUNY New Paltz's Fresh Act Play Festival in Fall of 2011.
Apoptosis - 4 actors (1 female, 3 any gender), 5 minutes
A monologue/dance piece. Kristin, a teenage student, begins giving her oral presentation on apoptosis, only to find that it’s more of a human story than a science project for her, and that it hits closer to home than she thought.
"Apoptosis" was workshopped as a part of SUNY New Paltz's Fresh Act Play Festival in Spring of 2013. It has been chosen to be
in the next installation of Cone Man Running Productions' Five Minute Mile festival.
Rootless (devised one-act) - 9-12 actors (any gender), 6 minutes
A monologue spoken by 9-12 people in turn, in one voice, about the experiences of second-generation Americans growing up in the digital age.
"Rootless" received workshop production as a part of SUNY New Paltz's Fresh Act Play Festival in Fall of 2013.
The Farm - 3 actors (all men), 10 minutes
Two prisoners at the Louisiana State Penitentiary peddle wares at the annual Angola Rodeo. Through their experience, we see how the prevailing American prison system works, and how it works to perpetuate slavery and an ingrained system of racism in our judicial system.
Land/aina - 8 actors (4 men, 3 women, 1 any gender), 10 minutes
Two communities attempt to resolve a land dispute between a white man and an Oglala man, using the tools of their cultures. Through them, we see the contrast between the American judicial system and Oglala Sioux conflict resolution, and we come to question United States relations with indigenous Americans in relation to land ownership.
*naledi - 3 actors (1 man, 1 woman, 1 any gender), 10 minutes
A paleontologist and an archeo-anthropologist discuss the ramifications of the discovery of Homo naledi, and the possibility that this species buried their dead. After a short while, though, it becomes clear that this is less about H. naledi, and more about the growing generational rift between older and younger scientists. But what does this mean for naledi herself?
*Friend - 5-7 actors (1 man, 4-6 any gender), 5 minutes
A marine biologist in the field and a lost young Great White Shark become unlikely friends in this five-minute play, consisting of two interwoven monologues.
"Friend" was published in 105 Five-Minute Plays for Study and Performance in 2017, and is available on Amazon and at a
selection of independent bookstores.
*Beulah's Birthday - 5-8 actors (1 man, 2 women, 2-5 any gender), 8 minutes
When Beulah shows up to work at the Boeing factory in Wichita on her 63rd birthday, she expects a few people to wish her a happy one, at most. Her son, however, has something far bigger in store for her. Inspired by an article in December 2003's issue of National Geographic, "Beulah's Birthday" explores motherhood, human nature and what it means to belong in this story about a woman and her plane.
Us/Them - 8 actors (2 male, 3 female, 3 any gender), 8-9 minutes
In the wake of COVID-19 panic, an unlikely bunch of suburban animals find themselves reckoning with an uncertain future in a closed and empty grocery store.
"Us/Them" was written as part of the Quarantine Bake-Off, March 2020.
Giving Thanks - 4 actors (2 male, 2 female), 8-9 minutes
A turkey prodigal son returns to his family for a holiday dinner, leading to a touchy-turned-touching reunion.
"Giving Thanks" was written as part of the Quarantine Bake-Off, April 2020.
Agatha - 5 actors (2 male, 2 female, 1 any gender), 10 minutes
A young adventurer attempts to escape from an evil fortress with the help of a collection of non-human friends. Several unsuccessful attempts are made, and hilarity ensues. By the end, however, they’ve figured out how to break out by each using their distinct skills and talents. More importantly, all five of them learn to work together, listen better, and appreciate the value of friendship in all its unusual forms.
"Agatha" was written as part of Green Buffalo Productions's #QuarantineQuarters, May 2020, and was given a virtual reading by GBP on May 15th, 2020.
* denotes a play written as part of the National Geographic Challenge