JONNA/JACK (award-winning one-act play)

by Arianna Rose

[one-act play: approximately 20 minutes]

Production, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant MI 2024
Online Reading, Tigers Heart Players, Zoom Readers Theatre, NYC, 2024
Production, Pineapple Playhouse One-Act Festival, Ft. Pierce FL 2024
Reading, Tipjar Theatre/Readers Theatre, Celtic Calling, Charleston WV, 2024 - specialized version with only Celtic past life

Jonna and Jack are arguing in the car when...

[one-act play: approximately 20 minutes]

Production, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant MI 2024
Online Reading, Tigers Heart Players, Zoom Readers Theatre, NYC, 2024
Production, Pineapple Playhouse One-Act Festival, Ft. Pierce FL 2024
Reading, Tipjar Theatre/Readers Theatre, Celtic Calling, Charleston WV, 2024 - specialized version with only Celtic past life

Jonna and Jack are arguing in the car when their lives suddenly end. With the help of the Akashic Records, they are able to view past lives and forge a path forward. Their journey takes them to Renaissance Italy and late 1700s Ireland.

  • Inquire About Rights
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Reading List

JONNA/JACK (award-winning one-act play)

Recommended by

  • Morey Norkin: JONNA/JACK (award-winning one-act play)

    Sometimes couples are meant to be together even over several lifetimes. In Jonna/Jack, Arianna Rose allows a couple to explore their past lives when they enter the afterlife. In this realm, they discover more about themselves and what they truly want than they were able to during their most recent life. We can’t help but hope that whatever is next for these two will not be short lived. A lovely story with multiple casting/staging options. I have no doubt it will find its way to the stage soon and often.

    Sometimes couples are meant to be together even over several lifetimes. In Jonna/Jack, Arianna Rose allows a couple to explore their past lives when they enter the afterlife. In this realm, they discover more about themselves and what they truly want than they were able to during their most recent life. We can’t help but hope that whatever is next for these two will not be short lived. A lovely story with multiple casting/staging options. I have no doubt it will find its way to the stage soon and often.

  • Claudia Haas: JONNA/JACK (award-winning one-act play)

    Can the past create hope for the future! Are there soulmates? Rose creates a grand sweeping story in a short one act that speaks of love, redemption and what is everlasting. Not a small feat for a large and expansive play.

    Can the past create hope for the future! Are there soulmates? Rose creates a grand sweeping story in a short one act that speaks of love, redemption and what is everlasting. Not a small feat for a large and expansive play.

  • Cindi Sansone-Braff: JONNA/JACK (award-winning one-act play)

    Have you ever wondered if you and your partner were ever together in another life? If you are intriqued by reincarnation, past lives, and the Akashic Records, then this well-crafted creative one-act play is definitely for you. Intersting characters and a compelling plot propel the story forward to the satisfying ending. A must-see!

    Have you ever wondered if you and your partner were ever together in another life? If you are intriqued by reincarnation, past lives, and the Akashic Records, then this well-crafted creative one-act play is definitely for you. Intersting characters and a compelling plot propel the story forward to the satisfying ending. A must-see!

View all 7 recommendations

Character Information

Characters
Author note on casting: Jonna and Jack are souls viewing their past lives together. The actors playing Jonna and Jack can either play all three aspects of their soul, or observe as other actors play those past lives and Rosa/Roisin/Rita. If other actors as used, inventive staging can occur as the past lives can shadow the present and vice versa. Diversity in casting is encouraged. Three different casting variations are below:

Double cast version, 5 actors:

JONNA, woman, 20s-30s

JACK, man, 20s-30s

GIANNI/SEAN Italian servant/Irish sailor Tradesman, 30s+
(pronounced Gee-AH-nee)/ (pronounced SHAWN)

GIOVANNA/SIOBHAN Italian humanist scholar, widow/Irish wife and mother, 30s+
(pronounced Gee-oh-VAHN-na)/ (pronounced Shi-VAWN)

ROSA/ROISIN/RITA Italian housekeeper/Irish aunt/Spirit Guide 30s+
(pronounced ROH-sheen)

Triple cast version, 3 actors:

JONNA/GIOVANNA/SIOBHAN
JACK/GIANNI/SEAN
ROSA/ROISIN/RITA

1 triple casting, 7 actors:
JONNA
JACK
GIANNI
GIOVANNA
SEAN
SIOBHAN
ROSA/ROISIN/RITA
  • Jonna
    deceased, in love with Jack through many lives. Tenacious, funny, sensitive
    Character Age
    20s-30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    Character Gender Identity
    woman
  • Jack
    deceased, confused about what is happening. Smart, scholarly.
    Character Age
    20s-30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Gianni
    servant, romantic, loose-lipped
    Character Age
    30s+
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any race to play Italian during the Renaissance
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Giovanna
    young widow, secret scholar, humanist
    Character Age
    teens-20s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any race to play Italian during the Renaissance
    Character Gender Identity
    Femaie
  • Sean
    hardworking, successful sailor tradesman, loves his wife Siobhan, is a flirt
    Character Age
    30s-40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any race/ethnicity to play an Irish sailor,
    Late 1700s
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Siobhan
    hard-working wife of Sean, mother of two children, late 17th century Irish.
    Character Age
    30s-40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race/ethnicity to play Irish,
    Late 1700s
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Rosa/Roisin/Rita
    One actor plays all three roles:
    Rosa - Italian housekeeper during the 1500s
    Roisin- Irish woman, aunt to Siobhan, pragmatic
    Rita - spirit guide to Jack. matter of fact but kind
    Character Age
    any adult age
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race/ethnicity; Rosa is Italian,
    Roisin is Irish,
    Rita is a spirit guide
    Character Gender Identity
    Female

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Tipjar Theatre, Celtic Calling Readers Theatre, Charleston WV, Year 2024
  • Type Reading, Organization Tigers Heart Players, Zoom Reading NYC, Year 2024

Production History

Awards

  • Best Play
    Pineapple Playhouse One-Act Play Festival, Ft. Pierce FL
    Runner Up
    2024
  • 2nd Place
    TipJar Theatre/Celtic Calling Readers Theatre, Charleston WV
    Winner
    2024