Load-Bearing Walls (full length)
Sophie fights for her legal rights to inherit the home and accounts of her partner, Lena. Challenged by Lena’s mother, Lauren, the asexual nature of their partnership is called into question and put on trial. Load-Bearing Walls focuses on themes of romance, love, dignity in death, and the value that society places on sexual relationships.
This play was inspired by a Swedish Supreme Court ruling in July 2022. An ace couple lived together for 13 years before one woman died. Despite her will, leaving their home and assets to her partner, her family contested because Swedish law stated that marriage was defined by consummation and inheritance was determined by marriage. The partner won and the Supreme Court amended their constitution, validating relationships that do not include sex.
This is not their story, but one of my own imaginings, because we do live in a society that values sex over intimacy and sexual relationships over platonic ones.
- Reading – Lesbian Thespians, FL (2023)
- Workshop – The Play’s the Thing, Heartland Theatre, IL (2023)
Glory to the Father (full length)
Rachel Allbright, an emerging playwright in her mid-40s, is offered the opportunity to
stage a scene from her life in Glory to the Father, a meta-psychodrama about childhood
trauma, overbearing religion, and complicated family relationships. Rachel struggles to
write and revise a prodigal reunion between her mother, Mary, and her sibling, Beck, at
her father’s deathbed. And as the scene unfolds, again and again, Rachel finds her
characters refusing to do as they’re told and forcing her to process a past that she never
prepared for.
Praise for Glory to the Father
GLORY TO THE FATHER is skillyfully and brilliantly written. The use of dialogue…is an absolute highpoint. Distinct to character, the intelligent, original language serves to reveal hidden and not so hidden motives…The intentional complex structure of the play…is skillyfully handled, and the reader never loses their way. Each character in the script is well rounded, with their backstories laid within the dialogue. GLORY TO THE FATHER is a beautifully drawn stage play…There is a lot in this deep, wonderful story.
Austin Film Festival Reader
- Workshop – Athena Project, CO (2023)
- Semi-Finalist – NAPSeries, NY (2023)
- Second Rounder – Austin Film Festival, TX (2023)
Gloria Mundi (full length)
When Gloria is visited by an angel of God with news of the second Messiah, she’s convinced she has a second chance at motherhood, but her friend Jody thinks she’s invented a lie to cover up the fact that she’s using again. As the truth slowly unravels, Gloria must wrestle with the demons of her past, Jody must reconcile the specters of his future, and both must confront the very real threat of Harold, Gloria’s recovery counselor. Inspired by the poem Gloria Mundi written by Michael Kleber-Diggs, this play explores the resiliency of the human spirit and the power of redemption.
- Workshop – Renaissance Theatre, OH (2023)
- Reading – States of Play, NJ (2022)
- Winner – KCACTF Region 3 Full-Length Plays (2022)
- Finalist – Judith Royer Excellence in Playwriting (2022)
Local School Board (full length)
A local School Board in a small conservative town faces its most difficult decision yet: whether or not school policy should support all students at the risk of making a few uncomfortable. Especially when those few are loud and angry. As their debate threatens to tear apart their small community, a young teenager navigates her gender in the halls of a high school while finding the strength to stand up for her rights.
- Reading – Indiana Playwrights Circle, IN (2022)
- Winner – KCACTF Region V Rosa Parks Playwriting Award (2023)
- Finalist – Jane Chambers Excellence in Feminist Playwriting (2023)