The Wonderful Out There

by Dave Osmundsen

As four kids living in a group home for neurodivergent children embark on their own journeys of personal discovery, they begin to uncover secrets of their own existence and are forced to confront the harrowing truth about their reality.

As four kids living in a group home for neurodivergent children embark on their own journeys of personal discovery, they begin to uncover secrets of their own existence and are forced to confront the harrowing truth about their reality.

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The Wonderful Out There

Recommended by

  • Gregory Jafari VanAcker: The Wonderful Out There by Dave Osmundsen
    “

    THIS IS SO GOOD!!! IT'S GIVING Coraline, Amazing Digital Circus, The Promised Neverland (3 of my VERY favorites!!!!). Dialogue is fire. Character development is detailed and heartbreaking. The pacing is PERFECTION.

    Thanks you, Dave, for the work you do.

    THIS IS SO GOOD!!! IT'S GIVING Coraline, Amazing Digital Circus, The Promised Neverland (3 of my VERY favorites!!!!). Dialogue is fire. Character development is detailed and heartbreaking. The pacing is PERFECTION.

    Thanks you, Dave, for the work you do.

    ”
  • Elenna Stauffer: The Wonderful Out There by Dave Osmundsen
    “

    Was lucky to catch the streamed staged reading of The Wonderful Out There, and I find that days later it has stayed with me. The subject matter is dark, but the pervasive sense of mystery and deep sadness that underpin these characters' efforts to understand why they are where they are make the play compelling, and Osmundsen deftly and strategically intersperses moments of levity along with engaging details about these characters' unique obsessions, so that one can't help but bear witness.

    Was lucky to catch the streamed staged reading of The Wonderful Out There, and I find that days later it has stayed with me. The subject matter is dark, but the pervasive sense of mystery and deep sadness that underpin these characters' efforts to understand why they are where they are make the play compelling, and Osmundsen deftly and strategically intersperses moments of levity along with engaging details about these characters' unique obsessions, so that one can't help but bear witness.

    ”
  • Rebecca Kane: The Wonderful Out There by Dave Osmundsen
    “

    Had the pleasure of taking in this play through the Epiphanies festival at Wild Imaginings. Osmundsen has the incredible ability to command empathy for his characters from just seconds of seeing them on stage. The reveal of what is "out there" is devastating, but there is a beautiful thread of hope for these characters throughout, and I'm beyond excited to take in more of this playwrights' work to seek more of wonderful emotional layering like that.

    Had the pleasure of taking in this play through the Epiphanies festival at Wild Imaginings. Osmundsen has the incredible ability to command empathy for his characters from just seconds of seeing them on stage. The reveal of what is "out there" is devastating, but there is a beautiful thread of hope for these characters throughout, and I'm beyond excited to take in more of this playwrights' work to seek more of wonderful emotional layering like that.

    ”
View all 12 recommendations

Character Information

While these characters are children, it's probably best practice to have them played by adults who can feasibly play children. However, no attempt should be made to "cuten-up" these children--they are real people, with complex needs, wants, and desires.


All of these characters identify as neurodivergent, and therefore should be played by neurodivergent-identifying performers. Neurodiversity is an umbrella terms that encompasses innumerable identities (Autism Spectrum Disorder, OCD, ADD/ADHD, anxiety, PTSD, Down Syndrome, Bipolar I and II, etc.) The neurodiversities of the characters are unspecified in the script so that the actors can bring their own identities to these roles. I encourage directors of this play to work with neurodivergent actors to find the characters on their own terms.


Color-conscious casting is especially encouraged in light of the inequitable diagnosis rate of BIPOC individuals.
  • Daryl
    11, almost 12 (played by adult)
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Jennifer
    14 (played by adult)
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Larry
    16 (played by adult)
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Bethany
    8 (played by adult)
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Carly
    15 (played by adult)
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female

Development History

  • Workshop, The Artist Co-op, 2022