THIS HAPPENED ONCE AT THE ROMANCE DEPOT OFF THE 1-87 IN WESTCHESTER

Kevin owns a Romance Depot. Beth needs a vibrator. The two of them form an unlikely relationship that straddles the line between friendship and romance. What happens when two lonely people find one another?

Kevin owns a Romance Depot. Beth needs a vibrator. The two of them form an unlikely relationship that straddles the line between friendship and romance. What happens when two lonely people find one another?

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THIS HAPPENED ONCE AT THE ROMANCE DEPOT OFF THE 1-87 IN WESTCHESTER

Recommended by

  • Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend: THIS HAPPENED ONCE AT THE ROMANCE DEPOT OFF THE 1-87 IN WESTCHESTER

    Oh my goodness. This tiny play about lives that converge in a sex shop is actually about huge, huge things, like loneliness, settling, and how much we need other people. It is gorgeous in its specificity and the dialogue, as with all Gina Femia plays, sparkles.

    Oh my goodness. This tiny play about lives that converge in a sex shop is actually about huge, huge things, like loneliness, settling, and how much we need other people. It is gorgeous in its specificity and the dialogue, as with all Gina Femia plays, sparkles.

  • Nick Malakhow: THIS HAPPENED ONCE AT THE ROMANCE DEPOT OFF THE 1-87 IN WESTCHESTER

    This gorgeous play has the beautiful inelegance of watching nuanced, imperfect humans in need of connection and love fumble towards those things in propulsively written scenes. The evolving relationship between Kevin and Beth kept me hooked...the information that's slowly leaked out about the baggage they're both coming to the play with is compelling...this truly profound look at big universal questions about love and intimacy that aches with specificity should be produced far and wide!

    This gorgeous play has the beautiful inelegance of watching nuanced, imperfect humans in need of connection and love fumble towards those things in propulsively written scenes. The evolving relationship between Kevin and Beth kept me hooked...the information that's slowly leaked out about the baggage they're both coming to the play with is compelling...this truly profound look at big universal questions about love and intimacy that aches with specificity should be produced far and wide!

  • Omer Abbas Salem: THIS HAPPENED ONCE AT THE ROMANCE DEPOT OFF THE 1-87 IN WESTCHESTER

    How is this play not produced everywhere? It's so funny and heartwrenching. Gina is a genius.

    How is this play not produced everywhere? It's so funny and heartwrenching. Gina is a genius.

View all 27 recommendations

Character Information

Kevin, a very plain, very working class kinda guy.
male, mid-40s.

Beth, strong and vulnerable, very funny, too.
female, early 30s.

Janice, very sure she can save the world, funny.
she/her, early 20s.
(also plays Amy)

Tom, kindness radiates off of him.
male, late 50s.
(also plays Walt)
  • Kevin
    Plain.
    Character Age
    late 40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Beth
    Pristine.
    Character Age
    early 30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Janice
    Character Age
    early 20s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Tom
    Character Age
    early 60s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male

Development History

  • Type Workshop, Organization The Goodman Theater , Year 2022
  • Type Workshop, Organization Forestburgh Playhouse, Year 2021
  • Type Workshop, Organization The Playwrights Center , Year 2021
  • Type Reading, Organization Mirrorbox Theater, Year 2020
  • Type Workshop, Organization Panndora Productions, Year 2019
  • Type Workshop, Organization Ensemble Studio Theatre, Year 2018
  • Type Reading, Organization Panndora Productions, Year 2018
  • Type Reading, Organization Lather, Rinse, Repeat, Year 2017

Awards

  • Shortlist, Yale Drama Prize
    2024
  • The Kilroys List
    Honorable Mention
    2019
  • Readings in Progress
    Unicorn Theatre
    Finalist
    2019
  • Bay Area Playwrights Festival
    Semi-Finalist
    2019
  • New Play Festival
    Premiere Stages at Kean University
    Semi-Finalist
    2019
  • Blue Ink Playwriting Award
    American Blue Ink
    Semi-Finalist
    2019
  • Phoenix Theatre Festival
    Finalist
    2018
  • DVRF Playwrights Program
    Dennic and Victoria Ross Foundation
    Finalist
    2018