Dead in Two Ways

by Dane Futrell

Ash is in charge of Two Ways, a skatepark within a modern purgatory. His task is simple. Decide the fate of a thousand misled souls who died too soon. Every soul must either ascend the giant staircase into eternity or descend to the depths of the worst hell imaginable: Florida. Nearing the end of his task, Ash is confronted by trauma both in the form of Puzzle, an ambitious cultist with a murderous past, and...

Ash is in charge of Two Ways, a skatepark within a modern purgatory. His task is simple. Decide the fate of a thousand misled souls who died too soon. Every soul must either ascend the giant staircase into eternity or descend to the depths of the worst hell imaginable: Florida. Nearing the end of his task, Ash is confronted by trauma both in the form of Puzzle, an ambitious cultist with a murderous past, and Shade, Ash's manipulative ex-lover. Dead in Two Ways is an original take on queer trauma, and investigates the existential presence of humanity after we are dead and gone.

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Dead in Two Ways

Recommended by

  • Karen Jean Martinson: Dead in Two Ways by Dane Futrell
    “

    PUZZLE: "What I did was virtuous. In the eyes of many, I’m fucking Superman [...] so I don’t deserve to go to Miami."

    Without giving anything away, this line exemplifies the pleasure of Futrell's writing, which blends together sharp dialogue, surreal settings, deep philosophical grappling, and a Florida sensibility. His characters are both larger-than-life archetypes and the person standing in front of you at the grocery store, and his plays wrestle with they best and worst parts of being human.

    PUZZLE: "What I did was virtuous. In the eyes of many, I’m fucking Superman [...] so I don’t deserve to go to Miami."

    Without giving anything away, this line exemplifies the pleasure of Futrell's writing, which blends together sharp dialogue, surreal settings, deep philosophical grappling, and a Florida sensibility. His characters are both larger-than-life archetypes and the person standing in front of you at the grocery store, and his plays wrestle with they best and worst parts of being human.

    ”
  • Straton Rushing: Dead in Two Ways by Dane Futrell
    “

    This is truly a one-of-a-kind piece of theatre. Futrell explores death, trust, sexuality, and uniquely Gen Z burnout in a brilliant manner. I absolutely love this play. If you want to read something truly unlike anything you've read before, "Dead in Two Ways" should be next up on your list.

    This is truly a one-of-a-kind piece of theatre. Futrell explores death, trust, sexuality, and uniquely Gen Z burnout in a brilliant manner. I absolutely love this play. If you want to read something truly unlike anything you've read before, "Dead in Two Ways" should be next up on your list.

    ”

Development History

  • Workshop, Arizona State University, 2023
  • Reading, Arizona State University, 2023