Heat of the Summer

by Ryan Michael Dunn

After his dad’s death, Austin drops out of college to raise his little sister through high school. When he discovers his failure to cope with his own pain is what’s wounding her most, Austin must navigate the labyrinth of an injurious mental healthcare system to keep his family together.

After his dad’s death, Austin drops out of college to raise his little sister through high school. When he discovers his failure to cope with his own pain is what’s wounding her most, Austin must navigate the labyrinth of an injurious mental healthcare system to keep his family together.

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Heat of the Summer

Recommended by

  • Michael Tricca: Heat of the Summer by Ryan Michael Dunn
    “

    Ryan Michael Dunn captures so honestly the gut-wrenching spiral of his protagonist's developing psychological condition as he weaves his sharply-wrought tale. Austin's struggle is rendered with such clarity due to the intelligence with which Dunn imbues his characters; not a single member of this ensemble is wasted, capturing not just Austin's struggle against an uncaring system, but also the struggle to love, the struggle to keep a family together, and the struggle to hold onto one's heart long after it all seems hopeless.

    Ryan Michael Dunn captures so honestly the gut-wrenching spiral of his protagonist's developing psychological condition as he weaves his sharply-wrought tale. Austin's struggle is rendered with such clarity due to the intelligence with which Dunn imbues his characters; not a single member of this ensemble is wasted, capturing not just Austin's struggle against an uncaring system, but also the struggle to love, the struggle to keep a family together, and the struggle to hold onto one's heart long after it all seems hopeless.

    ”
  • Izzy Salant: Heat of the Summer by Ryan Michael Dunn
    “

    This gripping, heart racing, and vulnerably real play is one I can't stop reading. Dunn expertly tells a story of a man slowly losing his grip on reality while desperately trying to find grounding again. Every character is unique, the story keeps you wanting to learn more, and I found myself laughing almost as much as I was sobbing. Beautifully done, and thank you for showing us that mental health is not just a plot point in a musical.

    This gripping, heart racing, and vulnerably real play is one I can't stop reading. Dunn expertly tells a story of a man slowly losing his grip on reality while desperately trying to find grounding again. Every character is unique, the story keeps you wanting to learn more, and I found myself laughing almost as much as I was sobbing. Beautifully done, and thank you for showing us that mental health is not just a plot point in a musical.

    ”

Character Information

Heat of the Summer is meant to be cast using color-conscious casting. While no one role is meant to be a particular ethnicity, the playwright encourages the director to provide ample opportunities for POC in this production.
  • Austin
    Struggling to cope with the loss of his dad and the pressure of raising his little sister Riley, Austin battles with both a flawed mental healthcare system and himself.
    20
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary
  • Norman
    The “fun friend” who is also “the wise cousin.”
    early 20s
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary
  • Riley
    Sharing in Austin’s pain, Riley is on a journey to accept or reject Austin as her new guardian, as the cracks in both of their psyches open up.
    12
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Child,
      Teens
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Jason
    Confined to a painful cycle of shifting between homelessness and mental institutions, Jason’s philosophy on the meaning of life clashes with Austin’s beliefs.
    20s/30s
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary
  • Ensemble
    Playing a police officer, doctor, nurse, and CPS agent, this role (or roles) personifies a broken system.
    30s-40s
    Any
    Any
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s