FOUR DOORS DOWN

by Donna Hoke

Janelle and Brittany haven't spoken since they were teen besties at summer camp; when they're accidentally reunited years later, they happily pick up where they left off, sharing vacations, the PTA, and their BFF daughters. Brittany wants nothing more than a friend for life, but when Janelle and her daughter's lives are upended, the fragility of their relationship is laid bare. Are female friendships conditional...

Janelle and Brittany haven't spoken since they were teen besties at summer camp; when they're accidentally reunited years later, they happily pick up where they left off, sharing vacations, the PTA, and their BFF daughters. Brittany wants nothing more than a friend for life, but when Janelle and her daughter's lives are upended, the fragility of their relationship is laid bare. Are female friendships conditional on commonality? And is there a special place in hell for women who won't support other women?

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FOUR DOORS DOWN

Recommended by

  • Stephen Kaplan: FOUR DOORS DOWN by Donna Hoke
    “

    A great modern play that deals honestly and candidly with class and friendship. This all-female cast would be a great addition to a theatre's season looking for a play that is funny, smart, and incredibly moving.

    A great modern play that deals honestly and candidly with class and friendship. This all-female cast would be a great addition to a theatre's season looking for a play that is funny, smart, and incredibly moving.

    ”
  • Tina Esper: FOUR DOORS DOWN by Donna Hoke
    “

    What happens when BFFs discover their forever friendship might not stand the test of time? In this moving play, a decades-long friendship is challenged by a sudden turn in luck and the harsh realities that unspool when someone loses their foothold in society.
    I've been lucky enough to hear this play in an earlier iteration and even luckier to read the most recent draft. Donna has an uncanny way of refining her story without losing any of the beauty or magic of the original.
    And I always cry at the end.

    What happens when BFFs discover their forever friendship might not stand the test of time? In this moving play, a decades-long friendship is challenged by a sudden turn in luck and the harsh realities that unspool when someone loses their foothold in society.
    I've been lucky enough to hear this play in an earlier iteration and even luckier to read the most recent draft. Donna has an uncanny way of refining her story without losing any of the beauty or magic of the original.
    And I always cry at the end.

    ”
  • Heather Helinsky: FOUR DOORS DOWN by Donna Hoke
    “

    I read this script during the development stage, and I encourage you to look at this piece, especially if you're looking for an all-female cast and realize that most theatre ticket purchasers are women. Hoke's dialogue is smart, funny, nuanced, and tense as she explores the fragility of female friendship. There are several events in this play that cause these BFFs to drift apart, and Hoke does a great job keeping multiple stories going at once. The family secret at the center is also the stuff of Greek tragedy...read & produce this!

    I read this script during the development stage, and I encourage you to look at this piece, especially if you're looking for an all-female cast and realize that most theatre ticket purchasers are women. Hoke's dialogue is smart, funny, nuanced, and tense as she explores the fragility of female friendship. There are several events in this play that cause these BFFs to drift apart, and Hoke does a great job keeping multiple stories going at once. The family secret at the center is also the stuff of Greek tragedy...read & produce this!

    ”
View all 4 recommendations

Character Information

While the suburbs might conjure and convey certain attitudes, in this day and age, it shouldn’t be assumed that those attitudes always belong to white, thin, attractive, able-bodied white people. Keep this in mind when casting.

Casting note: Angie, Sue, and Server are played by the same actor.
  • Brittany
    40s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Janelle
    40s, same as Brittany
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Lenna
    Lenna and Brittany need to be the same ethnicity, as they will play each other later in the play.
    18
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Paulette
    Paulette and Janelle need to be the same ethnicity as they will play each other later in the play.
    18
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Angie/Sue/Server
    This actor plays three roles that can be presented as various ages.
    30s-50s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female