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The Plays

FULL-LENGTH PLAYS

MERCY FALLS
Marcy Wuggelson is a jinx, she’s always known it, so when she decides to visit her favorite self-help author, Wanda Moore, in the hospital on Christmas Eve, the scene is ripe for disaster. But Wanda discovers something priceless in Marcy – the subject for her new book. With the help of Santa’s Reindeer, the Ghost of Christmas Future, a Nun, and phenomenologist Martin Heidegger, Marcy performs a true Christmas miracle. ​
Genre: Comedy
Cast:  3 Women, 1 Man, 1 Off-Stage Voice (old German lady, can be played by any gender)
Run-time: 1hr, 10min (+ optional Hospital-themed Holiday Party)
​PRODUCTION HISTORY
  • World Premiere, Key City Public Theater - 2019, Port Townsend, WA
  • ​Workshops: PT PlayFest Key City Public, Port Townsend, Washington; 30th Street Theatre, Aegean Theatre, NYC
  • ​Other Readings: Playwrights Horizons Theater School (NYC), Chicago Womans Theater Alliance (Chicago), Expanded Arts (NYC), Friends of the Devils, Alpine Playhouse (ID)
FATA MORGANA
For Tori and Jack, life off the grid offers a welcome alternative to the turmoil of life back home… until Morgan shows up seeking sanctuary and offering the promise of long lost hopes for happiness. Having already walked away once, can Jack and Tori hold on to their separate peace, or will they risk it all for a shot at their dreams?
Genre: Drama/Magic-Realism
Cast: 3 Women, 1 Man, 1 Talking Crow (any gender)
Run-time: 1hr, 40min
PRODUCTION HISTORY
  • World Premiere, Boise Contemporary Theater -  2015
  • Workshop: PTPlayFest, Key City Public, Port Townsend, WA
  • Readings: Seven Devils Playwrights Conference (ID), And Toto Too at the Mercury (Denver)
2016 Kilroy List, Honorable Mention      I       IndieTheaterNow.com list of best plays of 2016
THE FEAST OF THE FLYING COW...and Other Stories of War
Audrey, a socialite turned relief worker, finds herself in a war-torn nation awarding a free feast and celebrity-style photo shoot to the besieged family of Anya Andonov. Trapped in a world that is as absurd and laughable, as it is brutal, Anya and Audrey struggle to salvage their feast as the world around them spirals into collapse. ​
Genre: Dark Comedy/Satire
Cast: 3 Women, 2 Men
​Run-time: 1hr, 30min
  • World Premiere: InterAct Theater, Philadelphia, PA
  • Rocky Mountain Premiere: And Toto Too Theater Company​, Denver, CO
  • ​Workshops: National Playwrights Conference (Waterford, CT); Midwestern New Play Festival, Prop Theater (Chicago, IL); Rattlestick Theater Exposure NY Festival; Grey Light Productions: American Voices Series, Greenwich Playhouse, (London)
  • ​Staged Readings: The Lark Theater, Playwrights Week (NYC); Revolution Books (NYC); Fat Chance Theatre (NYC); Sit-In NYC
2014 Kilroy List, Honorable Mention 
KANDAHAR
Against a suburban backdrop of suicide, lawn darts and affairs of heart, Ginger and Freddie Hofsteadler discover that the most dangerous game is indeed life, and the most lethal opponent… one’s own heart.  Inspired by Arthur Schnitzler’s 1910 masterpiece Das weite Land, Kandahar  traverses the unknowable peaks and the chaotic depth of the human heart.
Genre: Drama
Cast: 4 women, 3 men, 1 Trans Woman
​Run-time: 1hr, 40min
PRODUCTION HISTORY
  • Workshop - PT PlayFest at Key City Public Theater - Port Townsend, WA
  • Staged Reading - Seven Devils Playwrights Conference
  • NYC Sit In! Reading - New York City
  • Finalist, National Playwrights Conference
THE MARTYRDOM OF WASHINGTON BOOTH
Virgilia’s plan to impress a local militia hero is thrown into jeopardy when the lethal virus they’ve arranged to purchase from a mysterious African nationalist is accidentally unleashed… on her own father. As she struggles to find a way out of her dilemma she is forced to ask herself: who hears the voice of God? And who is qualified to decipher it?
Genre: Dark, Social/Political Comedy
Cast: 2 Women, 3 Men
Length: 1hr, 40min
PRODUCTION HISTORY
  • Workshop - PT PlayFest at Key City Public Theater, Port Townsend, Washington
  • Workshop - HotInk Festival, NYU
  • Rattlestick Playwrights Theater Two on Tuesday Reading Series,  
  • NYC Sit In! Reading Series at Jimmy's No. 43, New York City
  • 2 time Finalist, National Playwrights Conference
BAD WATER JUJU
The Bad Water Juju Circus has hit hard times. Luckily, the clowns have a plan... but watch out because the jokers are willing to do whatever it takes to push their extreme, and very final, solution all the way to it's dramatic, and not so funny, end.
Genre: Scripted Circus
Cast: Flexible: 10-20 actors
Length: Flexible 90-120 minutes
  • Workshop - Playwrights Horizons Theater School/Robert Moss Theater
  • Workshop - Juggarnaut ArtsGym

SHORT PLAYS

CHUCK ROAST TOAST
Ro and Tuck stand by the waters edge, toasting – and roasting – their friend Chuck as he is killed and devoured by a ravenous alligator. Is his death tragic? An opportunity for reflection? Or just a reminder that there is always someone else having a far worse day than you are.
RUNNING IN CIRCLES SCREAMING
Louise and Heather watch their kids on the playground sharing stories of mommy-hood joys but when Heather shares her disappointment, Louise turns out not to be the soul-sister she was looking for.  Heather doesn't know how right she is.  Available in Best Short American Plays 2006-2007.  (Applause)
COME RAIN OR COME SHINE
Mom doesn't know why it's taken Luke so long to break the news, she's liberal after all, but she's thrilled that after years away Luke finally coming home to tell her he's gay. He's even bringing his new boyfriend Chris! Chris is his boyfriend… right? Available in Best Short American Plays 2005-2006.  (Applause) 
SCATTER
​Randi's plan to bring her shrinking family together to scatter the ashes of her grandmother are thrown into jeopardy  when, much to her surprise, her family actually shows up. Named one of the top 13 plays in the 2015 Boston Theater Marathon. 
THROW OF THE MOON
Midge knows her mechanic husband Tony is stepping out on her, and with the begrudging help of her couch-potato brother Bobby, she manages to catch him red-handed, only to discover that Tony’s not in love with another woman, he’s in love with Shakespeare! Available in Plays & Playwrights 2001 (NY Experience)
LIGHT
A spiritual rebirth, under the guidance of a mysterious, self-proclaimed guru, is Helena’s motivation for re-connecting with her childhood friend, and recent divorcee, Abby. But the joyous reunion is short-lived when Abby discovers out that Helena’s new path requires her to forget her past… including Abby. Available in: Best Short American Plays 2007-2008 (Applause) & Great Short Plays, Volume 6 (Playscripts)
AMERICAN EYES
Soso thinks he understands English and he hopes to impress Maka on their first date to Washington Square Park. When they stumble across an outdoor production of “A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream,” Soso finds himself seriously challenged – as does the interpreter trying to translate their date (and the play) for the audience – in this meta-play about love, language and the plight to be understood.  Available in Plays & Playwrights 2001 (NY Experience)
SALTY
To celebrate his birthday, Chase takes her friend Franklin on his first trip to see the ocean. Facing the wide expanse, Franklin musters the courage to finally free himself from a truth he’s still learning to come to terms with, and embrace the newfound optimism that comes with self-acceptance. ​
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION: A Report for Mrs. Abernathy's 5th Grade Class
What do inclusion and diversity mean to the students of Mrs. Abernathy's 5th grade class? If only someone would stop being a stupid butthead long enough for us to find out!
One-Minute Plays
Third Avenue - Indie Theater One-Minute Play Festival
​Chicken World - Boston One-Minute Play Festival
Neophilia - The 2nd Annual New York Indie Theatre One-Minute Play Festival
The Ya'Know - New York's One Minute Play Festival: Our Response/Our Country
​Shimmy - 3rd Annual Indie Theater One-Minute Play Festival "America Is..."
ChuckRoastToast, Abridged! - ​​IndieTheaterNow.com's 1st One-Minute Play Festival

SCREENPLAYS

No Place Like Home
Dot, a young, wannabe novelist from Kansas and Alek, a cynical scientist from a far-flung corner of the former Soviet Empire who find each other, and themselves, slinging hash and chasing dreams in Greenwich Village. Cultures clash when Alek’s sister arrives unexpectedly; as it turns out “coming to America” isn’t quite what any of them expected.
Top Dogs
Two young attorneys magically switch bodies with their own dogs when they take the wrong side of an animal cruelty case. While the lawyer’s dogs struggle to manage their lives and careers in their newfound bodies, the canine lawyers chase their only hope: put things right before the case goes to trial. (co-written with Ben Sahl)
Family Belongings
All Molly wants to do is spend a few hours in her childhood home contemplating the death of her mother, and leave. But Peter and Ellen are having none of it. Caught in the crossfire between battling siblings, Molly plans her escape, and plans her escape and plans her escape until it finally becomes clear that leaving just isn't an option.
Produced by Stella Productions / Director: Susan diRende

IN PRINT

Plays, Monlogues

Jeni Mahoney
Playwright, Director, Teacher
New Play Development Geek
​jenidog@gmail.com