Rye Bread

by Audrey Lang

Rye (short for Riley) is a precocious sort-of high school graduate, trying to find meaning and purpose in the summer internship she's been forced to do for her cousin Tessa to make up the credit for her failed Econ class. But what meaning and purpose is there really to an office with rats running around and a fellow intern who won't let her so much as sit down at the computer? Her moms "Dr. Kate" and "Rabbi...

Rye (short for Riley) is a precocious sort-of high school graduate, trying to find meaning and purpose in the summer internship she's been forced to do for her cousin Tessa to make up the credit for her failed Econ class. But what meaning and purpose is there really to an office with rats running around and a fellow intern who won't let her so much as sit down at the computer? Her moms "Dr. Kate" and "Rabbi Rachel" want her to stick it out, but Rye's not sure that even a goal as important as graduating high school can get her through this summer. 

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Rye Bread

Recommended by

  • Samantha Marchant: Rye Bread by Audrey Lang
    “

    I admire the refined pace of this script. It's left me thinking a lot about halfness and full.

    I admire the refined pace of this script. It's left me thinking a lot about halfness and full.

    ”
  • Lou Baron: Rye Bread by Audrey Lang
    “

    I was lucky enough to watch a reading of Rye Bread this Spring, and it was absolutely delightful! The characters are colorfully drawn and unique, worming their way into my hearts immediately (which especially impressive considering one of them is a real tennis player with anger management issues!). As a young Jewish woman, I felt Rye's reflections on her relationship to Judaism to be fresh and very real. Hilarious and emotional, definitely give this play a read!

    I was lucky enough to watch a reading of Rye Bread this Spring, and it was absolutely delightful! The characters are colorfully drawn and unique, worming their way into my hearts immediately (which especially impressive considering one of them is a real tennis player with anger management issues!). As a young Jewish woman, I felt Rye's reflections on her relationship to Judaism to be fresh and very real. Hilarious and emotional, definitely give this play a read!

    ”
  • Shaun Leisher: Rye Bread by Audrey Lang
    “

    This play tells such a specific story but Lang still is able to make it so relatable. Also, I love how Lang allows the queer couple in the play to just be and not have their queerness be something to overcome. Liked spending time with these marvelously flawed characters.

    This play tells such a specific story but Lang still is able to make it so relatable. Also, I love how Lang allows the queer couple in the play to just be and not have their queerness be something to overcome. Liked spending time with these marvelously flawed characters.

    ”
View all 5 recommendations

Character Information

(1) Rye can be played by an actor who is female or nonbinary, and the character can be played as female or nonbinary. (She/her pronouns are used in the script, but with permission, those may be changed.)

(2) Dr. Kate and Rachel can be played by female or nonbinary actors, but should be played as characters who identify as women.

(3) Nick Kyrgios must be played by a person of color. All other characters are open ethnicity; Jewish characters need not be white for the story to be understood, and families need not share the same DNA.

(4) Two additional characters, the Chair Umpire and the Commentator, have a few voiceover lines. They can be additional male voice actors, or they could be voiced by the actors playing Dan and Tessa. However, it's preferable that they both be male voices, if possible.
  • Dr. Kate
    40s-50s, female, not Jewish, one of Rye's moms - "Mom." A psychologist. She's proud of her own accomplishments and has high expectations for her child.
    40s-50s
    Any,
    Not Jewish
    Female-identifying
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Rachel
    40s-50s, female, Jewish, one of Rye's moms - "Ima," the Hebrew word for "mom." A Reform rabbi. She's more ready to meet a situation where it is, instead of where she'd like it to be.
    40s-50s
    Any,
    Jewish
    Female-identifying
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Tessa
    30, female, not Jewish, Rye's cousin on Dr. Kate's side, a junior accountant living up to expectations a whole lot better than Rye so far.
    30
    Any,
    Not Jewish
    Female-identifying
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Dan
    18, male, Jewish, Rye's fellow intern, a nice Jewish boy who isn't really that nice. Went to Stuyvesant.
    18
    Any,
    Jewish
    Male-identifying
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Rye
    18, female or nonbinary, half Jewish. Smart and rebellious, and not sure where to put the energy of both of those traits. Went to Bronx Science.
    18
    Any,
    half Jewish
    Female or Non-binary
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Nick Kyrgios
    25, male, 6'4" so pretty tall. Australian, of Greek and Malaysian descent. A tennis player known for his temper, with a lot more to him than what people talk about.
    25
    Male-identifying
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male

Development History

  • Workshop, Ithaca College Hillel, dir. Britt Berke, 2021
  • Reading, Theatrists Theatrics, 2020
  • Reading, Sunday Salon @ Green Gables, Ithaca NY, 2019

Awards

  • Women Are Funny Prize
    Play-Makers Spokane
    Semi-Finalist
    2020