Strange Heart Beating

Teeny and Lena grew up together in a rural midwestern town, dreaming of leaving for the big city. But now Teeny is the town sheriff and Lena is a newly-single mother. When the body of Lena’s daughter is found near the lake outside of town, their friendship is stretched to the breaking point. Teeny's investigation provides more questions than answers: Have girls been going missing for years? Why are the loons...

Teeny and Lena grew up together in a rural midwestern town, dreaming of leaving for the big city. But now Teeny is the town sheriff and Lena is a newly-single mother. When the body of Lena’s daughter is found near the lake outside of town, their friendship is stretched to the breaking point. Teeny's investigation provides more questions than answers: Have girls been going missing for years? Why are the loons acting so strange? What has the town's lake witnessed? STRANGE HEART BEATING is a darkly fantastical look at the rural Midwest, the murky nature of justice, and the prejudices that lie just beneath the surface.

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Strange Heart Beating

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear: Strange Heart Beating

    A story of discovery as we find the answers to what occurred and the nature of justice. Well done.

    A story of discovery as we find the answers to what occurred and the nature of justice. Well done.

  • Daniel Smith: Strange Heart Beating

    A moving and provocative play about problems of justice and revenge. Experimentation with style and genre gives actors and designers a lot to chew on!

    A moving and provocative play about problems of justice and revenge. Experimentation with style and genre gives actors and designers a lot to chew on!

  • Ixion Ensemble: Strange Heart Beating

    An intriguing exploration of magical realism against stark realities and contemporary issues. The opening scene of a mother facing loss and her friend trying to console and consider the possibilities is heart wrenching.

    An intriguing exploration of magical realism against stark realities and contemporary issues. The opening scene of a mother facing loss and her friend trying to console and consider the possibilities is heart wrenching.

View all 5 recommendations
Lake (she/they) – a lake.
Teeny (she/her) – a sheriff.
Lena (she/her) – a mother.
Ramon (he/him) – a birder.
Casting notes:Teeny is black or mixed race. She’s the only black woman in town. Lena is white. Ramon is first generation Mexican-American. There’s a small but significant Mexican-American community in the next town over.

The lake is a lake.

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Center for Performing Arts Minneapolis, Year 2018
  • Type Reading, Organization The Jades, Year 2017
  • Type Workshop, Organization The Playwrights Center,

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Cloudgate Theatre, Year 2019