The Lucky Ones

by Evan Neiden

The anatomy of a mass shooting, the hollow promise of the wellness industry, and the mantle of “lucky” we bestow upon survivors as if it magically makes it possible to carry on. THE LUCKY ONES is a darkly comedic psychological thriller that turns its very venue into a crime scene.

Blake, a musician, spends their days cold-calling strangers to sell “honest placebo” pills for The Esca Healing Company, on the...

The anatomy of a mass shooting, the hollow promise of the wellness industry, and the mantle of “lucky” we bestow upon survivors as if it magically makes it possible to carry on. THE LUCKY ONES is a darkly comedic psychological thriller that turns its very venue into a crime scene.

Blake, a musician, spends their days cold-calling strangers to sell “honest placebo” pills for The Esca Healing Company, on the verge of breaking out of a call center stocked with fellow starving artists. When a gunman tears through the office, Blake survives, and is delivered to Lena, a seasoned EAP counselor whose toolkit of deep breaths, takeout-bag trash liners, and Oprah quotes runs headlong into a grief that refuses to be managed.

Full length with no intermission.

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The Lucky Ones

Recommended by

  • Bailey Jordan Garcia: The Lucky Ones by Evan Neiden
    “

    A gorgeously harrowing new take on survivor’s guilt – “The Lucky Ones” explores how easily victims’ grief can lead them to becoming perpetrators. Neiden’s a master of lulling the audience into false senses of security through brilliant structure, dark humor, and characters we relate to a bit too deeply for comfort. (Also, the roles of Blake and Lena are absolute dreams for any actor.) An incredible piece that leaves you questioning – under the wrong circumstances, who are we capable of becoming?

    A gorgeously harrowing new take on survivor’s guilt – “The Lucky Ones” explores how easily victims’ grief can lead them to becoming perpetrators. Neiden’s a master of lulling the audience into false senses of security through brilliant structure, dark humor, and characters we relate to a bit too deeply for comfort. (Also, the roles of Blake and Lena are absolute dreams for any actor.) An incredible piece that leaves you questioning – under the wrong circumstances, who are we capable of becoming?

    ”

Character Information

Minimum of four performers. One performer of any gender to play Blake. Two female-presenting performers to play Lena (30s-50s) & Martha (early 20s). One male-presenting performer to play various bit parts (Guy in Hoodie, Cop, Delivery Guy) – though these may be split among multiple performers if the budget allows.
  • Blake
    An up-and-coming musician and one of the many "starving artists" working the phones at The Esca Healing Company's call center. Quick-witted and disarming, with bravado that hides more than it shows. Demands range, stamina, and the capacity to induce fear.
    20s-30s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
  • Lena
    An EAP counselor, formidably competent and armed with a toolkit of breathing exercises, stuffed animals, and Oprah quotes. Warm, relentless, and fraying underneath.
    30s-50s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Martha
    A new hire. Warm, earnest, and determined to do a good job.
    early 20s
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Guy
    One actor to play three roles: Delivery Guy, Cop, and Guy in Hoodie. Calls for stillness and the capacity to induce fear. (These roles can be split among more than one performer if the budget allows.)
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man

Development History

  • Reading, Ripley Grier NYC, 2026