New Dramatists, 424 West 44th Street, NYC, 10036
(212) 757-6960, newdramatists.org, or:
Bret Adams Ltd.
448 West 44th Street, NYC 10036
* = short play
1001
A postmodernist take on The Arabian Nights, by way of Edward Said, Azar Nafisi, Borges, Hitchcock, Calvino, and Monty Python, among many others. Premiered at Denver Center Theater in 2007, subsequent productions with The Contemportary American Theater Festival, Page 73, and Boston Court (click here for reviews). Upcoming: Mixed Blood, University of Wisconsin, Marin Theater Company. Developed in Soho Rep Writer/Director and Phase 2 Labs, O'Neill Playwrights' Conference, and Colorado New Play Summit. 2F, 4M, 1hr 50 min.
All You Can Eat
In progress; a commission from Clubbed Thumb. Originally conceived as a Joint Stock-style project about food in the 2006 Lincoln Center Directors' Lab, this play is evolving into a sort of a Kaufman-and-Hart-esque comedy about cannibalism and industrial agriculture. Excepts in KNOCK, a journal of Antioch University, Seattle. Cast and length flexible.
BEAT
In progress; a commission from Denver Center. A play about the Beat writers.
Box Americana
In progress. A commission from The Working Theater, this play is a surreal vision of the Wal-Martization America. Inspired by the largest class-action suit in history (a sex discrimination suit against Wal-Mart), this play follows a group of hapless American women and their encounters with the Ghost of Sam Walton (who seems to be channeling Jean Baudrillard). Recently developed at the Lark, The Playwrights' Foundation's "In The Rough" Series, and Portland Center Stage's JAW/West Festival. 3F, 3M. 90 minutes. Upcoming: The O'Neill Playwrights' Conference, July 2008.
Darwin's Challenge
In progress (ALMOST FINISHED, CARLOS! I'M SORRY!). A broad farce in which the young Charles Darwin winds up on a 21st-century reality show, said show based on a total mangling of Darwinism. A Sloan Commission from Ensemble Studio Theatre, currently being developed at The Lark. 3F, 3M, running time TBD.
Hamilton Township
Based on a true story, this play chronicles my own history with murder, resurrection, and environmental catastrophe in suburban New Jersey. guest-starring the Jersey Devil, or someone a lot like him. Premiering at Salvage Vanguard in June 2008, upcoming at Soho Rep, 2009. Developed in Soho Rep Writer/Director and Phase 2 Labs. 2F, 2M. 70 minutes.
In His Bold Gaze My Ruin Is Writ Large*
A wacky short take on Racine's Phaedra, using found text from martial arts message boards, some puppets, and lots of cheap red wine. Developed at the Orchard Project with members of Radiohole, The Production Company, and Drama of Works, and published in KNOCK. Cast flexible. 20 minutes.
The Island of Never Giving Way on Your Desire*
A site-specific play about the secret origin of Roosevelt Island, inspired by the writings of Anne Carson and Antonin Artaud, and I don't know, Brigadoon? Published in KNOCK. 1F, 3M, 15 minutes.
Kawaisoo (The Pity of Things)*
A one-woman show about consumerism and loss post 9/11, published in The Back Stage Book of New American Short Plays 2005 and performed all over the place. 1F, 20 minutes.
Luna*
A creation myth of the sun and moon, as told by a cokehead. Premiered at Theatre of NOTE, May 2008.
Maria/Stuart
I adapted Friedrich Schiller's Maria Stuart without actually reading it, sort of (I eventually read it). Contains elements of Kaufman & Hart, Chekhov, and nuts or traces of nuts (i.e., my family. Though any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental, gramma!). Premiering at Woolly Mammoth, August/September 2008. Developed in Soho Rep Writer/Director Lab. 5F, 1M, 110 minutes.
Moloch and Other Demons
A totally insane thing I wrote that had a really terrible production (no offense, actors, it wasn't your fault). It's about an invasion of hell by heaven, and it turns out pretty much like the Iraq War did. Heavily inspired by the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch and Francis Bacon. I'm thinking of rewriting it with act one as a Beijing Opera and act two as a tight one-act about war. Developed with HERE, Salvage Vanguard, The Brick, and Circle X. Cast and length flexible, not too many if you use a lot of puppets.
The New Jersey Book of the Dead
A labor drama in an office park in Jersey City. Contains surveillance and mystical elements. Premiered in Indiana at the Bloomington Playwrights Project in 2004, and will have a production in Austin, TX, with The Vestige Group.
Prometheus Rendered*
Basically Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound, using the officially sanctioned torture techniques used at Guantanamo Bay. Fun for the whole family! Written for Theaters Against War, where it was directed by HERE's Kristin Marting. 1M, 3 any, 15 minutes.
This Storm is what we Call Progress
My Jewish identity play, about heresy, the Kabbalah, the price of power, and schizophrenia. Also featuring the historically inaccurate Yiddishized ghosts of Hannah Arendt and Walter Benjamin. To premiere with Rorschach Theater, June 2008. Developed with Soho Rep, The Lark, Theater J, and P73. 3F, 2M, 2 hours.
