The Profession (Full-length play)

by Marcia Eppich-Harris

Valerie’s world is turned upside down when she learns she is being unjustly fired by St. Sebastian University. As she attempts to save her career from freefall, she discovers the corruption running rampant among her conservative, religious male colleagues. Meanwhile, Valerie’s star student, Marina, is lured into sex work to pay her tuition. As the costs become too high to bear, Valerie and Marina find the seedy...

Valerie’s world is turned upside down when she learns she is being unjustly fired by St. Sebastian University. As she attempts to save her career from freefall, she discovers the corruption running rampant among her conservative, religious male colleagues. Meanwhile, Valerie’s star student, Marina, is lured into sex work to pay her tuition. As the costs become too high to bear, Valerie and Marina find the seedy underbellies of their career paths exposed, but which profession is more corrupt isn’t entirely clear. As religion, sex, and politics collide, both women must answer the question: how much should be sacrificed for a job?

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The Profession (Full-length play)

Recommended by

  • Pamela Morgan: The Profession (Full-length play)

    The Profession tackles the institutionalized patriarchy of our highest and lowest institutions while following the struggles of two women trapped within them. Eppich-Harris has written two powerhouse female roles with ample room to shine. Their complex stories overlap and intertwine, and their journeys to empower each other are riveting.

    I also appreciated Eppich-Harris' skill in the character of Paul. Like Uncle Peck in Vogel’s How I Learned to Drive, I almost felt sorry for him and the consequences he will face.

    An incredibly relevant story full of heart and humanity. Highly...

    The Profession tackles the institutionalized patriarchy of our highest and lowest institutions while following the struggles of two women trapped within them. Eppich-Harris has written two powerhouse female roles with ample room to shine. Their complex stories overlap and intertwine, and their journeys to empower each other are riveting.

    I also appreciated Eppich-Harris' skill in the character of Paul. Like Uncle Peck in Vogel’s How I Learned to Drive, I almost felt sorry for him and the consequences he will face.

    An incredibly relevant story full of heart and humanity. Highly recommended!

  • Donald E. Baker: The Profession (Full-length play)

    "Higher ed has become some kind of capitalist hellscape," Valerie says in this excellent play about the compromises liberal arts professors are called upon to make when which programs survive is determined by cost-benefit analysis. Corrupting academic politics, petty vindictiveness, ethical lapses, blackmail--all kinds of intellectual prostitution are on display, as is the traditional type available at the nearby strip club. Eppich-Harris's well-drawn characters find themselves in soul-sucking workplace situations that may seem all too familiar to people in nearly any profession. Will any of...

    "Higher ed has become some kind of capitalist hellscape," Valerie says in this excellent play about the compromises liberal arts professors are called upon to make when which programs survive is determined by cost-benefit analysis. Corrupting academic politics, petty vindictiveness, ethical lapses, blackmail--all kinds of intellectual prostitution are on display, as is the traditional type available at the nearby strip club. Eppich-Harris's well-drawn characters find themselves in soul-sucking workplace situations that may seem all too familiar to people in nearly any profession. Will any of them emerge with their humanity intact? Highly recommended.

  • Morey Norkin: The Profession (Full-length play)

    Given her impressive background in English literature, it is not surprising that Marcia Eppich-Harris’s “The Profession” is brimming with the stuff of great literature: morality vs. self-preservation, ambition, finding purpose in our lives, all put together in a strong story with fully developed characters. Eppich-Harris explores these themes while revealing the disheartening state of higher education. I wish I had a professor like Dr. Hardy (or Dr. Eppich-Harris) when I took Shakespeare and Milton as an undergrad.

    Given her impressive background in English literature, it is not surprising that Marcia Eppich-Harris’s “The Profession” is brimming with the stuff of great literature: morality vs. self-preservation, ambition, finding purpose in our lives, all put together in a strong story with fully developed characters. Eppich-Harris explores these themes while revealing the disheartening state of higher education. I wish I had a professor like Dr. Hardy (or Dr. Eppich-Harris) when I took Shakespeare and Milton as an undergrad.

View all 13 recommendations

Character Information

Doubling is an option for Mark and Flint.
  • Valerie
    Professor of Renaissance Literature
    Character Age
    late 30s-40s
  • Marina
    Student, English major, lover of Renaissance literature, comes from a poor background, works for Dr. Hardy, and is an exotic dancer.
    Character Age
    20s
  • Lucy
    Sex worker, confidante to Marina.
    Character Age
    35-40
  • Jill
    Assistant Professor of English, specialist in Women's literature. She is a perfectionist and an opportunist.
    Character Age
    60s-70s
  • Mark
    Provost, PhD in Mathematics, no people skills -- the kind of man who somehow manages to twist people's words to suit his purposes. Secretly attracted to Valerie, but would never act on it with her.
    Character Age
    50s-60s
  • Paul
    Professor of Theology, seems to be a good guy, but is incredibly flawed; married with children.
    Character Age
    late 30s-40s
  • Flint
    Manager of The Cat Nip gentlemen's club
    Character Age
    30s-70s

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Indiana Playwrights Circle, September 29, Year 2019
  • Type Workshop, Organization Indiana Playwrights Circle - Scene Nights, September 18, 25, Year 2019

Production History

Awards

  • Epiphanies New Play Festival Finalist
    Wild Imaginings
    Finalist
    2021
  • Plays In Progress
    The Athena Project
    Semi-Finalist
    2021
  • Campfire Theatre Festival 2020
    Campfire Theatre Festival
    Semi-Finalist
    2020