Dead Giveaway

by Daniel Guyton

DEAD GIVEAWAY - 1M,1F. One-Act (10 min); Robert buys his wife an unconventional gift for Valentine's Day, which leads to an awkward conversation about love after death.

*Winner of the Judge's Choice Award in the Short + Sweet Festival in Sydney, Australia, 2017.*
Winner of the People's Choice Award in the Short + Sweet Festival in Sydney, Australia, 2017.*
*Winner of the Audience Favorite Award in the Short...

DEAD GIVEAWAY - 1M,1F. One-Act (10 min); Robert buys his wife an unconventional gift for Valentine's Day, which leads to an awkward conversation about love after death.

*Winner of the Judge's Choice Award in the Short + Sweet Festival in Sydney, Australia, 2017.*
Winner of the People's Choice Award in the Short + Sweet Festival in Sydney, Australia, 2017.*
*Winner of the Audience Favorite Award in the Short+Sweet Festival in Manila, Philippines, 2016*
*Winner of the A.R.T. Valentine's Day Playwriting Competition, 2015*
*Winner of the End of the Road New Play Festival Judges' Choice Award, 2015*
*Semi-Finalist in the Minnesota Shorts Festival of Plays, 2015*
*Honorable Mention in the Storefront Theatre Playwriting Competition, 2015*

"I am the bearer of great news. The independent assessor of the plays has decided [DEAD GIVEAWAY] was the BEST play of all the plays (over 70) submitted. The play was rehearsed yesterday and the actors concerned (as we piloted 8 plays) ALSO decided it was the best play. What this means is that it WILL be performed. There is still one more judging process - the audience - but the likelihood [is that] yours will be the overall winner." (Margaret Taylor, Almost Random Theatre, 2015)

"Excuse me for gushing forth, but that was a dynamite piece you brought in - a laugh-a-minute piece of entertainment... You are amazingly talented." (Hank Kimmel, Working Title Playwrights, 2015)

"That was one of the best Shorts I have ever seen." (Mary Marshall, Working Title Playwrights, 2015)

"On Valentine’s Day, Denise (Elisabeth Cooper) is presented with funeral arrangements as a gift by husband Robert (Charlie Miller). Their light-hearted discussion about their mortality leads to the hypothetical romantic future of each possible surviving spouse. It’s pleasant and cute." (Playgoer, www.theaterreview.com, 2015)

"This is a modern take of 'Until Death Us Do Part'. An excellent play. Well-written, and well-performed." (Anonymous audience member, Almost Random Theatre, 2015)

"Fantastic writing. Brilliant winner of the competition." (Anonymous audience member, Almost Random Theatre, 2015)

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Dead Giveaway

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  • Asher Wyndham: Dead Giveaway by Daniel Guyton
    “

    Those who are committed or married gotta talk about it - it - y'know, the big D - Death - and funeral arrangement, burial etc - and what better day to to do that than on Valentine's Day. Not. What's wrong with Daniel Guyton? A lot, and thankfully it continually results in some twisted plays. From the head of this wonderfully morbid writer comes a Valentine's Day play like no other. If you're a producer or director thinking about including a Valentine's Day play in your February showcase on love, choose this play.

    Those who are committed or married gotta talk about it - it - y'know, the big D - Death - and funeral arrangement, burial etc - and what better day to to do that than on Valentine's Day. Not. What's wrong with Daniel Guyton? A lot, and thankfully it continually results in some twisted plays. From the head of this wonderfully morbid writer comes a Valentine's Day play like no other. If you're a producer or director thinking about including a Valentine's Day play in your February showcase on love, choose this play.

    ”
1 male, 1 female - married couple

Development History

  • Reading, Georgia Military College in Fayetteville, GA, 2021
  • Reading, Clamour Theatre Company in Fleming Island, FL, 2018
  • Reading, Storefront Theatre in Waxhaw, NC, 2016
  • Reading, Decatur Arts Festival in Atlanta, GA, 2015
  • Reading, End of the Road Short Play Festival in Gulf Shores, AL, 2015

Production History

  • High School, Blessed Oscar Romero High School in Edmonton, AB, Canada, 2026
  • High School, Green City High School in Green City, MO, 2026
  • High School, Rampart High School in Colorado Springs, CO, 2026
  • Professional, Grief Dialogues in Detroit, MI, 2026
  • Community Theater, Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua, NY, 2025
  • Community Theater, Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, CT, 2025
  • Professional, Acting Factory, Inc. in New South Wales, Australia, 2025
  • University, University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC, 2024
  • Community Theater, Lionheart Theatre in Norcross, GA, 2023
  • High School, Austin Catholic High School in Chesterfield, MI, 2023
  • High School, Cambridge Rindge & Latin School in Cambridge, MA, 2023
  • High School, Pelham High School in Pelham, GA, 2023
  • High School, Staples High School in Westport, CT, 2023
  • Professional, Kettlerock Brewing Company in Norcross, GA, 2023
  • High School, Wellesley High School in Wellesley, MA, 2021
  • High School, Woodside Priory School in Portola Valley, CA, 2021
  • Professional, Philly Flava Productions in Philadelphia, PA, 2021
  • Community Theater, Malverne Community Theatre in Malverne, NY, 2020
  • Professional, Aux Dog Theatre in Albuquerque, NM, 2020
  • Professional, The Baxter Perkinson Center for Arts and Education in Richmond, VA, 2020
  • University, Union University in Jackson, TN, 2020
  • University, Union University in Jackson, TN, 2020
  • High School, Bob Jones High School in Madison, AL, 2019
  • High School, The Blake School in Minneapolis, MN, 2019
  • Professional, Dubai Drama Club in Dubai, UAE, 2019
  • Professional, Pinewood Players of Munds Park, AZ, 2019
  • Community Theater, Staged Right Theatre in Lilburn, GA, 2018
  • Professional, Director's Cut Theatre in London, UK, 2018
  • Professional, Dramatists Guild Foundation, National Conference in Manhattan, NY, 2018
  • Professional, Metro Theatre in Brisbane, Australia, 2018
  • Professional, Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks, CA, 2018
  • High School, Warren Hills Regional High School in Washington, NJ, 2017
  • Professional, Cohasset Dramatic Club in Cohasset, MA, 2017
  • Professional, Short + Sweet Festival in Sydney, Australia, 2017
  • Professional, Westfield Theatre Group in Westfield, MA, 2017
  • University, University of Memphis in Memphis, TN, 2017
  • Professional, ACME Theatre in Maynard, MA, 2016
  • Professional, Grief Dialogues in Seattle, WA, 2016
  • Professional, Short + Sweet Festival in Manila, Philippines, 2016
  • Professional, Almost Random Theatre in London, UK, 2015
  • Professional, Almost Random Theatre in Oxford, UK, 2015
  • Professional, Almost Random Theatre in Warsaw, Poland, 2015
  • Professional, Onstage Atlanta in Atlanta, GA, 2015
  • Workshop, Ashland Brethren in Christ Church in Ashland, OH, 2015

Awards

  • People's Choice Award
    Short + Sweet Festival in Sydney, Australia
    Winner
    2017
  • Judge's Choice Award
    Short + Sweet Festival in Sydney, Australia
    Winner
    2017
  • Audience Choice Award
    Short + Sweet Festival in Manila, Philippines
    Winner
    2016
  • Playwriting Competition
    Storefront Theatre
    Honorable Mention
    2015
  • 10-Minute Play Competition
    Minnesota Shorts Festival of Plays
    Semi-Finalist
    2015
  • Judges' Choice Award
    End of the Road New Play Festival
    Winner
    2015
  • Valentine's Day Playwriting Competition
    Almost Random Theatre
    Winner
    2015