Blue Skies Yonder

by Peter Fenton

[12/13/2024 DRAFT 5.0] FULL-LENGTH DARK COMEDY THRILLER. At the lavish launch gala for his debut novel, a promising young author spirals under the weight of his insecurities and the mismanagement of his manuscript. In a tangled web of ambitions, betrayals, and lies, all bets are off when a member of the publishing team is found dead.

[12/13/2024 DRAFT 5.0] FULL-LENGTH DARK COMEDY THRILLER. At the lavish launch gala for his debut novel, a promising young author spirals under the weight of his insecurities and the mismanagement of his manuscript. In a tangled web of ambitions, betrayals, and lies, all bets are off when a member of the publishing team is found dead.

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

Blue Skies Yonder

Recommended by

  • Mike Byham: Blue Skies Yonder by Peter Fenton
    “

    Whodunits are one of the most difficult types of plays to write - requiring a plausible death (or two or three), multiple characters provided with reasonable cause and the ratcheting of suspense as necessary elements. Peter Fenton blends these elements together expertly pulling us into a world where any number of outcomes is possible. I was guessing (wrongly - I might add) the whole way through. Captivating! Additional bonus - the set is a dream. Would love to see it!

    Whodunits are one of the most difficult types of plays to write - requiring a plausible death (or two or three), multiple characters provided with reasonable cause and the ratcheting of suspense as necessary elements. Peter Fenton blends these elements together expertly pulling us into a world where any number of outcomes is possible. I was guessing (wrongly - I might add) the whole way through. Captivating! Additional bonus - the set is a dream. Would love to see it!

    ”
  • Adam Richter: Blue Skies Yonder by Peter Fenton
    “

    [2024-12-05]

    Peter Fenton pulls off the most challenging task of a whodunnit: making you care so much about the characters and their twisted, intersecting motives and actions that you forget to try solving the mystery. "Blue Skies Yonder" is a deft, engaging and fun play that showcases Fenton's talent for creating fascinating characters and intricate plots. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and would love to see a live production. Bravo!

    [2024-12-05]

    Peter Fenton pulls off the most challenging task of a whodunnit: making you care so much about the characters and their twisted, intersecting motives and actions that you forget to try solving the mystery. "Blue Skies Yonder" is a deft, engaging and fun play that showcases Fenton's talent for creating fascinating characters and intricate plots. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and would love to see a live production. Bravo!

    ”
  • Daniel Prillaman: Blue Skies Yonder by Peter Fenton
    “

    A refreshing, commanding play for contemporary who-dun-it-ery. Fenton deftly draws and spins a web of mystery and pure fun in this thriller, b/c I cannot overstate how great of a cast of characters this is, each with potential motives, each maudlinly aware of the genre they're in. This is a script abundant with wit, jokes, and danger. The actors will have so much fun. And the audience might even have more in theorizing all the twists and turns. Christie is certainly grinning from the beyond.

    A refreshing, commanding play for contemporary who-dun-it-ery. Fenton deftly draws and spins a web of mystery and pure fun in this thriller, b/c I cannot overstate how great of a cast of characters this is, each with potential motives, each maudlinly aware of the genre they're in. This is a script abundant with wit, jokes, and danger. The actors will have so much fun. And the audience might even have more in theorizing all the twists and turns. Christie is certainly grinning from the beyond.

    ”
View all 7 recommendations

Character Information

-JASON and JILLIAN are ethnically Chinese and thus must be played by performers of East Asian descent. Their lines in Mandarin are to be delivered with the confidence of a native speaker.
-PRESTON, MARYBETH, COLE, and REBECCA may be played as any ethnicity or nationality. Diversity in casting is encouraged and expected.
-HARRIS must be played as a US Citizen and should appear believably related to PRESTON and MARYBETH, as he is their son.
-AMBER grew up in Owasso, Oklahoma. She may be played as any ethnicity.
  • Harris Fowler
    The Author. A debut novelist unsure of his own talent and worth. His book, Blue Skies Yonder, launches next week with Blackfeather Press and is expected to be a best-seller. He’s yet to be paid a penny of his hefty advance and the book is being published with edits he never approved.
    26
    Any
    Male,
    Gay Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary
  • Jason Yang
    The Fiancé. An app developer and AI expert looking for a new career challenge. He proposed to Harris and their wedding is scheduled for next July. He’s eager to marry soon and is determined to use this party as leverage to ingratiate himself into the publishing startup.
    27
    Chinese
    Male,
    Gay Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary
  • Marybeth Fowler
    The Agent. An Ivy League English professor and highly selective literary agent who recently went through a financially damaging divorce. A ruthless negotiator, Marybeth keeps close tabs on who owes her favors and who she owes. She represents Harris—and she’s also his mother.
    58
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Preston Fowler
    The Host. A New York City real estate mogul who is hosting the launch party for Blue Skies Yonder at his recently-acquired luxury mountain cabin. An aspiring author himself, Preston is keeping a close eye on his son’s budding career and those he rubs elbows with.
    59
    Probably White,
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Amber Crawford
    The Ingenue. The Junior Editor at Blackfeather and editor of Harris’ novel. Fresh out of college and small town Oklahoma, she’s developed a genuine passion for the book which led her to send a draft to print that the author hadn’t approved—a risky move with inevitable fallout.
    22
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      South Asian or South Asian American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Corey Reynolds
    The Publisher. The President and Co-Founder of Blackfeather Press alongside elusive Irish billionaire Heidi McEwan. Much of the company’s future hinges on the success of Fowler’s novel, and Corey is willing to violate boundaries to see his plans through with wit, charisma, and charm.
    36
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      South Asian or South Asian American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary
  • Jillian Chau
    The Marketer. The Marketing Director for Blackfeather Press. Bilingual in Mandarin and English, she has a sharp eye for book covers, writes snappy social media posts, and rents a deluxe apartment on the Upper West Side. How does she manage it all? She’d prefer you didn’t ask.
    29
    Chinese American
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Rebecca Adler
    The Editor. The Acquisitions Editor at Blackfeather and a former student of Marybeth’s. Hardened by a cutthroat industry, Rebecca has learned to strike backroom deals and blur ethical lines to maintain her upward mobility with cold precision as she calculates her most lucrative paths.
    41
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      South Asian or South Asian American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary

Development History

  • Reading, Playwrights Thriving, 2024