Eryn Elyse McVay

Eryn Elyse McVay

she/her/hers
Eryn Elyse McVay is a Pacific Northwestern playwright who earned her BA in Theatre from Western Washington University where she concentrated on Playwriting and Acting, and is currently an MFA candidate in Playwriting at Ohio University. Her play “How Sweet The Sound” has been a semi-finalist for the Eugene O’Neill 2019 New Playwrights Conference, the 2019 National Partners of American...
she/her/hers
Eryn Elyse McVay is a Pacific Northwestern playwright who earned her BA in Theatre from Western Washington University where she concentrated on Playwriting and Acting, and is currently an MFA candidate in Playwriting at Ohio University. Her play “How Sweet The Sound” has been a semi-finalist for the Eugene O’Neill 2019 New Playwrights Conference, the 2019 National Partners of American Theatre Region 7 Selection for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, a semi-finalist for the International Wolfe Prize from UNC's PlayMakers Repertory Theater, and received recognition in Distinguished Achievement from KCACTF for their National Undergraduate Playwriting Award in both 2018 and 2019. Eryn's new full-length "what the Gods gave me" received a staged reading at the 27th Annual Seabury Quinn Jr. Playwright's Festival at Ohio University in Spring 2021, and will be premiering as a full production at Ohio University in Fall 2022.

Plays

  • what the Gods gave me by Eryn Elyse McVay
    Recommendations: 8
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    Cast: 
    5
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    Genre: drama, fable/folktale + 4 more
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    Keyword: destructive religion, indoctrination + 4 more
    Genre: drama, fable/folktale, faith-based, horror, mystery/thriller, period
    Keyword: destructive religion, indoctrination, feminism, kill all men feminism, Victorian, some magical realism
    FULL-LENGTH (no intermission) WIP: Miles from any civilization, on a barren stretch of cold wilderness, lies Nevermoore Inn, home to Bedelia, her twin daughters, and her niece Victoria. Once a generation, a disposable outsider is brought to the closed family of women in order to ensure their prosperity and survival. But as Victoria grows more restless with her isolated existence, she begins to dream of life...
    FULL-LENGTH (no intermission) WIP: Miles from any civilization, on a barren stretch of cold wilderness, lies Nevermoore Inn, home to Bedelia, her twin daughters, and her niece Victoria. Once a generation, a disposable outsider is brought to the closed family of women in order to ensure their prosperity and survival. But as Victoria grows more restless with her isolated existence, she begins to dream of life beyond Nevermoore’s walls, encouraged by outsider Henrik. As Henrik and Victoria’s fates become intertwined and Bedelia’s way of life is threatened, the family reaches a sticking point between tradition and the promise of the future.

    CW: graphic violence, gaslighting
  • How Sweet The Sound by Eryn Elyse McVay
    Recommendations: 12
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    Cast: 
    7
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    Genre: drama, fable/folktale + 7 more
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    Keyword: American South, magical realism/supernatural + 6 more
    Genre: drama, fable/folktale, faith-based, fantasy, horror, mystery/thriller, period, political, tragedy
    Keyword: American South, magical realism/supernatural, full length, abuse, ghosts of the past, ghosts, spirits, haunting
    FULL-LENGTH
    2019 Eugene O’Neill NPC Semi-Finalist
    2019 PlayMakers Repertory's International Thomas Wolfe Playwriting Competition Semi-Finalist

    John runs a neat and orderly home in the South where he lives with his three young wards - Ellie, Felicity, and Grace - and his right hand woman, Martha. When Felicity crosses paths with a powerful being, she must choose whether to...
    FULL-LENGTH
    2019 Eugene O’Neill NPC Semi-Finalist
    2019 PlayMakers Repertory's International Thomas Wolfe Playwriting Competition Semi-Finalist

    John runs a neat and orderly home in the South where he lives with his three young wards - Ellie, Felicity, and Grace - and his right hand woman, Martha. When Felicity crosses paths with a powerful being, she must choose whether to stay with her family, or follow the path she's stumbled upon. Felicity's divine encounter, the arrival of a newcomer, Benjamin, and Grace's chance meeting with a mysterious stranger, Caleb, propels fate into motion and hurtles the family toward their dark destiny.

    CW: emotional, mental, and physical abuse
  • In A World Where... by Eryn Elyse McVay
    Cast: 
    2
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    Genre: drama
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    Keyword: break up, very short play + 4 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: break up, very short play, dramatic yet funny, college actors, college age, college age characters
    TEN MINUTE OR LESS
    Ben and Natalie are going to be late for the movies, but maybe they should just skip it entirely
  • Hannah & Maddie by Eryn Elyse McVay
    Cast: 
    3
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    Genre: drama, political
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    Keyword: climate anxiety, climate apocalypse + 1 more
    Genre: drama, political
    Keyword: climate anxiety, climate apocalypse, very short play
    TEN MINUTE OR LESS
    At the end of the world, News Anchor Georgia Haggerty wonders what could have been.
  • As Your Queen Commands by Eryn Elyse McVay
    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: comedy, dark comedy
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    Keyword: monologue, audition monologue + 3 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy
    Keyword: monologue, audition monologue, colleges and high schools, high school actors, high school age actors
    MONOLOGUE
    Penny is crowned Prom Queen and her reign begins
  • Neat. by Eryn Elyse McVay
    Recommendations: 6
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    Cast: 
    3
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    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 1 more
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    Keyword: Relationships, dysfunction + 3 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, drama
    Keyword: Relationships, dysfunction, breakup, Alcohol, trauma
    FULL-LENGTH Rowan and Alex come together 8 months post-breakup and rehash old wounds. Where is the line between what feels good and what is good?

    CW: substance abuse, relationship manipulation, suicide

    NAMES OF CHARACTERS HAVE ALTERED. PREVIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS MAY NOT REFLECT THE MOST CURRENT DRAFTS' CAST OF CHARACTERS
  • Eight Steps for Total Happiness by Eryn Elyse McVay
    Recommendations: 5
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    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: comedy
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    Keyword: monologue, adult relationships + 2 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: monologue, adult relationships, break ups, coming of age
    A set of monologues for one actor; two defining moments in a woman's life as she comes of age at 18 and again at 32
  • the weight of it all by Eryn Elyse McVay
    Recommendations: 1
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    Cast: 
    2
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    Genre: dark comedy, drama + 2 more
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    Keyword: childhood trauma, Religious Trauma + 3 more
    Genre: dark comedy, drama, faith-based, zoom
    Keyword: childhood trauma, Religious Trauma, a short Zoom play, Mormonism, latter day saints
    SHORT ONE-ACT: Hannah and Lehi are both ex-members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and in an online friend group for ex-mormons Hannah attempts to confront Lehi about secrets past and present.
  • Jeremiah's Creeping Arm by Eryn Elyse McVay
    Recommendations: 5
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    Cast: 
    2
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    Genre: fable/folktale, horror + 1 more
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    Keyword: ghost story, horror + 3 more
    Genre: fable/folktale, horror, mystery/thriller
    Keyword: ghost story, horror, Gay and LGBTQ, femme, paranormal
    SHORT Developed at the inaugural Stait Plays Professional Development Retreat at Lummi Island, WA. Bree and Frankie try to bring a piece of local folklore to life in order to find closure.