Chagutok

by Vince Gatton

***Semifinalist, O'Neill National Playwrights Conference
***Finalist, Dayton Playhouse FutureFest

[FULL-LENGTH] Four Americans each make a solitary pilgrimage to a remote, unpopulated island off the Alaskan coast, hoping to witness an obscure and mysterious atmospheric phenomenon known as the Chagutok Lights, which occurs only once every seventeen years. They each expect to be camping alone out there, but find...

***Semifinalist, O'Neill National Playwrights Conference
***Finalist, Dayton Playhouse FutureFest

[FULL-LENGTH] Four Americans each make a solitary pilgrimage to a remote, unpopulated island off the Alaskan coast, hoping to witness an obscure and mysterious atmospheric phenomenon known as the Chagutok Lights, which occurs only once every seventeen years. They each expect to be camping alone out there, but find themselves stuck in each others' company - an unwelcome situation for these people-skills-challenged individuals, but they manage...until a dead body appears. And it's just the first. Alone on this barren island, these four loners must work together to solve the mysteries of the dead, the Lights...and each other.

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Chagutok

Recommended by

  • Samantha Oty: Chagutok by Vince Gatton
    “

    This play is stunning. So many great twists that I didn’t see coming—and when they did it made previous moments and conversations make so much more sense. However, I think the biggest twist is how heartwarming and sweet the ending of this piece is. Overall incredible.

    This play is stunning. So many great twists that I didn’t see coming—and when they did it made previous moments and conversations make so much more sense. However, I think the biggest twist is how heartwarming and sweet the ending of this piece is. Overall incredible.

    ”
  • Doug DeVita: Chagutok by Vince Gatton
    “

    I love this play; by turns eerie, funny, mysterious, and ultimately touching, Gatton’s sure hand guides his assorted mismatched characters through a gauntlet of emotional revelations that build in intensity until everything coalesces into a surprise — and surprisingly touching — denouement. A stunning work.
    .

    I love this play; by turns eerie, funny, mysterious, and ultimately touching, Gatton’s sure hand guides his assorted mismatched characters through a gauntlet of emotional revelations that build in intensity until everything coalesces into a surprise — and surprisingly touching — denouement. A stunning work.
    .

    ”
  • Craig Houk: Chagutok by Vince Gatton
    “

    Vince Gatton reaches into the darkness with precision and depth. In Chagutok, he builds a premise that seems impossible to sustain, yet every moment lands with clarity and emotional truth. The characters are vivid, their lives intersecting in ways both cosmic and deeply human. Most striking is how such a cerebral play cuts straight to the heart, sneaking up and undoing you. This fusion of intellect and emotion is rare, a powerful reminder of theater’s potential. Read this and produce it.

    Vince Gatton reaches into the darkness with precision and depth. In Chagutok, he builds a premise that seems impossible to sustain, yet every moment lands with clarity and emotional truth. The characters are vivid, their lives intersecting in ways both cosmic and deeply human. Most striking is how such a cerebral play cuts straight to the heart, sneaking up and undoing you. This fusion of intellect and emotion is rare, a powerful reminder of theater’s potential. Read this and produce it.

    ”
View all 14 recommendations

Character Information

  • Tasha
    American-born granddaughter of Russian Jewish immigrants; her natural-fiber, crunchy-granola aesthetic clashes with her prickly personality.
    early 20s
    White
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Rex
    Ideally of meaty/beefy build, scruffy or bearded. Conversationally and emotionally guarded, if not downright secretive. A photographer.
    Late 30s
    White
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Mary Jo
    A redneck in sound and vibe, but smart and well-educated. Witty, cantankerous, and a loner -- but also a talker.
    50s
    White
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Daniel
    An American-born son of South African immigrants. A science nerd. Smart, insightful, a little excitable but emotionally grounded.
    early 30s
    African American/Black
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man

Development History

  • Reading, Actors Theatre of Louisville/Louisville Fringe Storytelling Revolution Festival, 2026

Awards