Short Plays

I FEEL GOOD!

Sharon Jones, aged forty, desperately wants to have a singing career but record companies won’t give her a break despite her obvious talent. She is forced to deal with the tough realities of guarding prisoners at Rikers Island. But then, she gets a call.

Was selected as a finalist for the 2020 Downtown Urban Arts Festival, and was scheduled to be produced at The Signature Theatre, June 2020 (cancelled)

Production History: Staged reading as part of Itinerant Theatre Louisiana’s Women Leading: New Play Series, June 2019. The Lock Festival at Polaris North (by invitation only) Sept. 2018

THE SHOWER

It’s the 1970’s, suburbia. Adele desperately wants to get close to her teenage daughter Julie, but she’s rebellious, strong willed, and locked in the bathroom. Calamity ensues through the bathroom door in this inter generational comedy.

Production History: Online reading as part of Cosmic Orchid’s Behind Closed Doors program, 2020.

FICTOPHILIA

All Marvin wants is for his brother Bruce to be his best man and witness, so that he can finally marry his true love, but Bruce can’t accept girls like Miku. Will Marvin be able to marry the love of his life? Or be destined to suffer a lonely existence in this alternate reality comedy.

Production History: Online reading with Plays and Pizza, July 2022.

RITA

Rita is driven to discover the mysteries of the nervous system and won’t let anyone stop her. Not the sexism of her father, Mussolini’s fascists, or the Nazis who occupy Italy. Through these obstacles, she develops a single minded determination to succeed. Will she be able to apply the same scientific intuition towards her own blind spots?

Production History: Zoom reading, Polaris North 2022

MISS D.

Millia, a celebrity costumer, desperately wants to be treated with the dignity and respect she once had. But she’s the daughter of a famous eugenicist, and living in a nursing home where she’s cared for by women of color.

FLUID

Production History: Reading at Itinerant Theatre, Lake Charles, L.A. The Play’s the Thing: Life Inspired Series, 2020.

MY INFINITY MASK, ( A Covid Monologue)

Abby desperately wants her neighbor to wear  a mask, but struggles to get through to her. When all the spiritual/ ethical arguments fail, she pulls out all the stops in order to win her over.

THE UNDERCURRENT

Detective Rodney thinks it will be another run-of-the-mill case when he meets Betsey, who takes him to places he’d thought were long dead and buried. An aquatic crime comedy.

Production History: Produced, UpStage Napa Valley’s  PlayFest 2022.

Had workshop production at Polaris North 2017.

THE QUIET CAR

Dr. Shmuck tries to inform his patient discreetly about some embarrassing lab results while aboard a New Jersey transit train. He is unprepared for her reaction as well as the conductor’s rigid enforcement of train etiquette. An absurdist comedy which examines the boundaries of what is public and what is private.

Production History: Produced as part of Plays and Prestidigitation (by invitation only) at Polaris North, March 2017.

MOUNTAIN DEW

Tanya, a modern teen, enters into a mystical bond with the ghost of Hannah Reynolds, a slave and the only civilian casualty of the Battle of Appomattox.

Written for 365 Women A Year

Production History: Reading at the Winter 2017 Equity Library Theater Play Festival at the NYPL 53rd Street Branch on January 28th, 2017. Reading as part of HERSTORY NOPlays Festival of 365 Women a Year Project at The Silk Road Art Gallery, New Haven, CT. April 29-30, 2016 Workshop production (by invitation only) at Polaris North, September  2015.

THE ICE CREAM CUP

Donna’s in a hurry to drop off her stool sample before the lab closes, when first she runs into a love interest, and then gets hit by a bike. But she finds a way to put that sample to good use in this dark urban comedy.

FRIGHT OR FLIGHT

When Nancy first boards her plane, eager to prepare for her court case, her only distraction is Kevin, the needy passenger seated next to her, but she soon discovers that the plane is defective, the pilot’s drunk and the stewardess is a religious fanatic with little concern for the passengers on board. A wild farce that will have you reaching for your call button.

Production History: Workshop production at Polaris North Lock Festival, 2019 (by invitation only). Staged reading as part of The Women’s Playwriting Festival, Michigan, 2015.

THE SHOWER

It’s the 1970’2. Adele tries desperately to get her teenage daughter Julie out of the bathroom. Their complex relationship is played out across the locked door as panic ensues.

THE BOOSTERS

Marcy drags her kid sister Nanette along on her shoplifting spree. Beneath the swagger is a vulnerable teenager. Will they be able to pull it off?

ON THE TURNPIKE

Jerry and Denise are stuck on the New Jersey Turnpike during one of the worst Nor’easters on record. Their relationship is tested as they navigate this difficult terrain to often hilarious results

Production History: Studio production (by invitation only) at Polaris North, 2014.

HOT STONE MASSAGE

Myra desperately wants to bring touch back into her marriage, but her husband Harry has covered their bed with stones. He invites her to get kinky, but her concern with propriety and fears of him getting hurt give her pause.

LONELY

Lorraine is the first Black female playwright to have a play on Broadway. That should make anyone happy, shouldn’t it?

ZEUS, HERMES, FREDDIE AND BEULAH

Beulah desperately needs to hear that her husband loves and appreciates her despite their poverty, advanced age, and poor health. They’re resigned to life of drudgery until some “weary travelers” arrive and show them what they’re made of. A modern interpretation of the Greek myth of Baucis and Philomen.

THE ENGAGEMENT PARTY

Sam and Rita’s marriage is going stale when Rick and his fiance Elise show up to celebrate their engagement. The guests’ aberrant behavior pushes everything to the surface in this steamy romantic entanglement.

THE TRANSFER STUDENT

Tony is very relieved to find a place to stay when he transfers to an out of state school. Then he arrives at the home of his hostess Helen, who gives him a lot to swallow in this wacky comedy.

Production History: Staged reading at The Lower East Side Festival, 2012.

THE WORLD TRADE CENTER MEDICAL MORONIC PROGRAM

Joe, a first responder, is desperate to get relief from his World Trade Center related illnesses but finds his doctor to be a far cry from Marcus Welby. A satiric depiction of a government agency which is nothing short of  travesty.

Production History: Staged reading at The Lower East Side Festival, 2007.

SLICING AN ONION

Pria strives to find  peace after surviving a shooting at her Sikh temple, and struggles to forgive, despite having been the target of xenophobic hatred and violence. She can forgive, but at what cost?

Production History: Produced as part of The International Human Rights Art Festival at The Wild Project, December 2019. Reading with Code Red at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Christopher St. NYC, October 2019. Presented as part of Code Red: A Gun Violence Protest Action, a benefit reading for Mom’s Demand Action – Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 2019 and as part of Code Red Playwrights #Faith, at Oregon Contemporary Theatre, Eugene, Oregon, April 2019, Mystic Vision Players Theatre Company, Linden NJ, reading 2020 (postponed).

LOVE GONE VIRAL

Laura’s marriage is going stale until some young strangers intrude, but will Harry be able to rise to the occasion? A pandemic love story.

Production History: Online reading at Polaris North, 2021.

Online reading with Tiny Theatre , August 2022.

OPEN PALMS

Alejandra trains for an active shooter scenario in order to protect her students but works in a place that is ridden with guns and incompetent law enforcement. Will her faith and training prepare her for the worst?

Production History: Finalist, TruSpeaks 2023

ZOOM CASTE

This social satire takes place in a zoom session during the Covid nineteen pandemic. While the biggest challenge facing most participants is boredom, Person Four is desperately trying to survive in their tiny NY walk-up. A dark comedy.

Production History: Semi-finalist for Alleyway Theatre Mazumdar Digital New Play Competition 2020. Finalist for online reading Fable Workshop Quaranscenes, UK 2021.

IN ALABAMA

Juliette  Hampton Morgan struggles to overcome her own fears as she finds a way to transcend the narrow restrictions of her family and Alabama community to become a major Civil Rights Activist. Inspired by this real life heroine.

Production History: Workshop performance as part of The Voire Dire Project 1.5 in The Dream Up Festival, at Theater for The New City, September 7 – 16  2017. Workshop performance as part of The Voire Dire Project 2016, Cap 21 and Westbeth, NYC. Zoom Reading States of Play, 2022., will have workshop production Polaris North, 2023.

PALAK PANEER

Joe has just returned from serving in Afghanistan, and looks forward to a romantic Indian dinner with his wife Diane. Two loud older ladies enter the restaurant and abruptly alter the mood. A black comedy which explores how strangers are often forced to deal with one another in the city.

Production History: Workshop production, Polaris North, 2022. Produced as part of The New Yorker’s One-Act Festival, 2018. Produced as part of The Big Apple Theater Festival, 2017.

Publication: A monologue from this play will be published by Smith & Kraus’ Best Men’s Stage Monologues 2023

RIDE TO THE BRIDGE

When Missy steps into Lou’s cab, she is intent on freeing herself in the only way she can imagine. But Lou has other plans. A black comedy which explores the desperation which drives people in the current economy.

Production History: Reading, Jefferson Market Library, 2018, Reading, Polaris North 2016.

MENAPACE

It’s 2020 in Bolzano, Italy. A 96 year old Lidia Menapace travels to a school to speak to female students about her life, but what does she want from them?

Production History: Zoom reading, Polaris North, 2021. Semi-finalist TRUspeaks. Theatre Resources Unlimited 2021

ARE YOU COMFORTABLE?

Lucy is an excellent student whose dream is to become a pediatric nurse in order to comfort sick children. Her grades are excellent, but will she make it?

STAR LADY

Nancy wants to finally rest in peace, but first she must inspire a young woman to fight the sexism at NASA and enter the space field. She finds Erica, a sullen teenager in Reno, who has no interest in astronomy. Will she be able to pass the mantle on?

CAMILLE

Camille, a talented sculptor, wants nothing more than to be released from a psychiatric asylum. She struggles to break free despite the barbarity of French law and the cruelty of her family.

A SIRI-OUS SITUATION

In order to sort out his troubled life, REGGIE turns to SIRI (on his iPhone), but she only compounds his problems and their bizarre relationship explodes. A mad romp.

Production History:

Will be produced Radio Theatre Project, 2023, podcast on Soundcloud

Produced at the 9th annual Theatre InspiraTO Festival, Canada’s largest ten minute play festival, Toronto 2014.

PICK AND PRICK

Roberta has recently fled the Apple Store, with acute vertigo as a result of the bright lights and video screens therein. Desperate to get relief from her symptoms, she arrives at Andrew’s acupuncture office. She is in for a rude awakening in this zany comedy as she discovers that Andrew is not quite the healer she had in mind.

THE PET SITTERS

Two teenagers, Esther and Artie are hired to take care of a hamster but they are not quite up to the challenge. A wild and crazy black comedy.

THE SAME FREQUENCY

A monologue. Peggy sits at the bar swilling bourbon, as she fantasizes about her idol arriving and sweeping her off her feet, but will he even show up?

TIT FOR TSA-T

Marsha, a TSA agent at the Detroit Metro Airport thinks it is just another day screening passengers when the over sexed cult member Fifi arrives and takes her on a journey she’ll never forget. A zany comedy which asks the question, “Who is really in control?”

Production History: Studio production (by invitation only) at Polaris North, 2013. Staged reading at One-Acts and Snacks, Casa Beverly, February 2017. Staged reading at The Lower East Side Festival, 2011

BURNING MAN

Yoko is being schooled on how to make a hard sell from her boss, Boris. He’s only too happy to show her how it’s all done but her grasp of the English language comes from a radically different source. A zany adventure in miscommunication.

MARZIEH

The Iranian singer, Marzieh agrees to an interview in order to paint herself in the best possible light but is taken off guard by some provocative questions about her politics.

 THE CLEARING

Danny expects it will be smooth sailing when he moves in with his Aunt Risa. They soon discover that neither of their lives will ever be the same, in this comic satire.

Production History: Staged reading at The Lower East Side Festival, 2013.

HIGH COLONIC MOUNTAIN

Tessie escapes to a New Age center, desperate to relax by the lake and express herself in the class she’s taking. The people are nuts and she almost drowns, but discovers some inner resources along the way. A satiric social commentary.

Production History: Staged reading at The Lower East Side Festival, 2010.