Art Duty

by Daniel Prillaman

DYSTOPIAN SECURITY GUARD SHENANIGANS
FULL-LENGTH: TODAY ONLY! AT ART PLAZA! THE STATE-SANCTIONED ART IS WAITING FOR YOU TO VIEW IT WITH YOUR EYEBALLS! Please don't ask questions or bother the Security. They are just doing their job. Remember, if you make it weird, they're here to kill you, not themselves.

Content Warning: Graphic discussion of violence and suicide. Characters point guns at and fire at one...

DYSTOPIAN SECURITY GUARD SHENANIGANS
FULL-LENGTH: TODAY ONLY! AT ART PLAZA! THE STATE-SANCTIONED ART IS WAITING FOR YOU TO VIEW IT WITH YOUR EYEBALLS! Please don't ask questions or bother the Security. They are just doing their job. Remember, if you make it weird, they're here to kill you, not themselves.

Content Warning: Graphic discussion of violence and suicide. Characters point guns at and fire at one another, but resulting violence is depicted offstage.

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Art Duty

Recommended by

  • Ricardo Soltero-Brown: Art Duty by Daniel Prillaman
    “

    Comfortably akin to Didi & Gogo/Ben & Gus/Rosencrantz & Guildenstern: the duo Tobin & Asher are tasked with the absurd. Nevertheless, achieve it they must, determining how along the way, and damn any complications. Conceivably a metaphor for how preciously we treat art, what is deemed to be art, and art's relationship with class; Daniel Prillaman's 'Art Duty' is, like art, a persistent search for truth, for the genuine, the authentic - mainly from its characters, no matter how taboo or unseemly.

    Comfortably akin to Didi & Gogo/Ben & Gus/Rosencrantz & Guildenstern: the duo Tobin & Asher are tasked with the absurd. Nevertheless, achieve it they must, determining how along the way, and damn any complications. Conceivably a metaphor for how preciously we treat art, what is deemed to be art, and art's relationship with class; Daniel Prillaman's 'Art Duty' is, like art, a persistent search for truth, for the genuine, the authentic - mainly from its characters, no matter how taboo or unseemly.

    ”
  • H. Avery: Art Duty by Daniel Prillaman
    “

    Absolutely hilarious- ART DUTY is a masterful take on where society is heading. I could watch these characters interact with each other all day.

    Absolutely hilarious- ART DUTY is a masterful take on where society is heading. I could watch these characters interact with each other all day.

    ”
  • Brandon Urrutia: Art Duty by Daniel Prillaman
    “

    I am a fan of Art.
    Prillaman has made me a fan of those who guard it.
    Art Duty is a terrific piece that explores every facet of craving nonexistence as well as being comfortable in the not knowing.
    I cannot wait to see it on its feet.

    I am a fan of Art.
    Prillaman has made me a fan of those who guard it.
    Art Duty is a terrific piece that explores every facet of craving nonexistence as well as being comfortable in the not knowing.
    I cannot wait to see it on its feet.

    ”
View all 13 recommendations

Character Information

(NOTE: All roles are and may be played by any ethnicity and any gender)
(OTHER NOTE: Change any pronouns/honorifics as you need)
(LAST NOTE: The play is structured so that it may be performed with a cast as small as 4, with two actors doubling all roles aside from Asher and Tobin. Suggested doubling is provided below. That being said, as long as Asher and Tobin do not double, you may cast each role according the needs of your producing company)
Track 1:
Tobin
Track 2:
Asher
Track 3:
Vomiter
Camera Operator
Sketcher
Rich Lover #2
Bellamy
Critic #1
Sandy Daniels
Track 4:
Leopold Caldwell
Briefcase
Eggs
Rich Lover #1
Tagger
Critic #2
Dude With Truck We Don't See
  • Tobin
    Has an eye patch.
    Older than Asher
  • Asher
    Has no eye patch.
    Younger than Tobin
  • Vomiter
    Has no water.
  • Leopold Caldwell
    Has a spectacular coat.
  • Camera Operator
    Has a camera.
  • Briefcase
    Has a briefcase.
  • Sketcher
    Has a sketchbook.
  • Eggs
    Has a bone to pick.
  • Rich Lover #1
    Has an eyeball guy.
  • Rich Lover #2
    Has a hunger.
  • Bellamy
    Has an apron.
  • Tagger
    Has a can of spray paint.
  • Critic #1
    Has a passion.
  • Critic #2
    Has no penchant for subtlety.
  • Sandy Daniels
    Has a degree in talking.
  • Dude With Truck We Don't See
    Has a truck. That we don't see.

Development History

  • Reading, LakehouseRanchDotPNG, 2024
  • Reading, Waldman Living Room: New Works Lab - Cross-Gen, 2022