What the Bones Remember

by Dana Hall

What the Bones Remember is a haunting, lyrical exploration of legacy, womanhood, and the quiet violence of silence. When a young woman arrives at a weathered Southern home seeking answers, she awakens long-buried secrets and the spirits that carry them. Blending magical realism and Appalachian ritual, the play traces three generations of women as they confront the weight of what's been unspoken and what must be...

What the Bones Remember is a haunting, lyrical exploration of legacy, womanhood, and the quiet violence of silence. When a young woman arrives at a weathered Southern home seeking answers, she awakens long-buried secrets and the spirits that carry them. Blending magical realism and Appalachian ritual, the play traces three generations of women as they confront the weight of what's been unspoken and what must be named to heal.

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What the Bones Remember

Recommended by

  • Debra A. Cole: What the Bones Remember by Dana Hall
    “

    BRILLIANT! This magical new play by DANA HALL will have audiences entranced. Think Steel Magnolias meets Practical Magic... and place it in a southern location with colorful characters and language, and you'll have WHAT THE BONES REMEMBER. Hall is a true artist. THIS NEEDS TO BE PRODUCED.

    BRILLIANT! This magical new play by DANA HALL will have audiences entranced. Think Steel Magnolias meets Practical Magic... and place it in a southern location with colorful characters and language, and you'll have WHAT THE BONES REMEMBER. Hall is a true artist. THIS NEEDS TO BE PRODUCED.

    ”
  • Samantha Oty: What the Bones Remember by Dana Hall
    “

    Dana Hall's newest addition to her catalogue is the perfect read (or, better yet, production) for anyone looking for something that brings a "Practical Magic" vibe to the stage. Perfect Autumn addition to any theatrical season.

    Dana Hall's newest addition to her catalogue is the perfect read (or, better yet, production) for anyone looking for something that brings a "Practical Magic" vibe to the stage. Perfect Autumn addition to any theatrical season.

    ”

Character Information

  • Eudora
    The Seer. A Southern rootworker and spiritual matriarch whose rituals echo with both power and regret. Grounded, earthy, and quietly burdened by the choices she didn’t make.
    40+
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Mavis
    The Truth-Teller. Eudora’s older sister. Brazen, unapologetically loud in a world that begged her to be quiet. Emotionally exiled by choice, she returns like a storm: messy, necessary, cleansing.
    45+
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Lena
    The Survivor. Recently escaped from an abusive marriage, Lena is a portrait of someone relearning how to live in her own skin. Her silence is thick, but inside, something is trying to bloom.
    20s+
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Claire
    The Catalyst. Young, pregnant, and uncertain. Claire comes seeking refuge and finds instead a haunted house, spiritual ancestors, and her own place in a lineage she never knew she belonged to.
    19
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Spirit Child
    The Oracle / The Liminal Self No age, no voice only presence. The echo of what was lost and the breath of what might be. Seen best from the corner of your eye.
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Child,
      Teens
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman

Awards

  • Semi-Finalist
    National Playwrights Conference, Eugene O’Neill
    Semi-Finalist
    2026