WOMEN OF ZALONGO

by Maria Cominis

Family secrets and intergenerational trauma erupt, leading four generations of Greek women to draw upon the courage of their ancestors whose historical defiant act of bravery help them break their silence.

According to the legend, the entrapped women jumped to their death with their children to flee a life of enslavement but before they jumped, they sang and danced first (Dance of Zalongo). Some survived to...

Family secrets and intergenerational trauma erupt, leading four generations of Greek women to draw upon the courage of their ancestors whose historical defiant act of bravery help them break their silence.

According to the legend, the entrapped women jumped to their death with their children to flee a life of enslavement but before they jumped, they sang and danced first (Dance of Zalongo). Some survived to tell their story.

The surviving ancestors, parallel history repeating itself through the lens of Angie, an art history professor, who is caring for her mother with dementia. She unearths the family history found in her grandmother’s immigrant trunk and decades of secrets unravel, woven together with Greek folk music and dance.

Characterized with familial humor, and the enduring courage of women, the Greek culture is celebrated as it inspires the ongoing fight for women's autonomy and brings hope to end violence and oppression towards women. Cast:8 women and 1 man (multiple roles).

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WOMEN OF ZALONGO

Recommended by

  • Playwrights Foundation: WOMEN OF ZALONGO by Maria Cominis
    “

    Playwrights Foundation enthusiastically recommends this play, WOMEN OF ZALONGO, as a Semi-Finalist for the Bay Area Playwrights Festival 2020. We were moved by the quality of the writing and the relevant and compelling themes that spoke to the mission of our festival. It excelled in a competitive process of 735 plays submitted this year and rose to the top after a six month long process discussing its merits with both national and local Bay Area readers, and we hope it moves swiftly towards production.

    Playwrights Foundation enthusiastically recommends this play, WOMEN OF ZALONGO, as a Semi-Finalist for the Bay Area Playwrights Festival 2020. We were moved by the quality of the writing and the relevant and compelling themes that spoke to the mission of our festival. It excelled in a competitive process of 735 plays submitted this year and rose to the top after a six month long process discussing its merits with both national and local Bay Area readers, and we hope it moves swiftly towards production.

    ”

Character Information

4 Females 40-60's (1 plays multiple roles).
1 Female 10-16
1 Female 60-80's
4 Female 20-30's (1 plays multiple roles).
1 Male 40-50's (plays multiple roles).

With doubling, it can be done with 9F, 1M.

  • Angie
    Greek American, Art Professor. Caregiver to her mother, Charis. Paralyzed by her ambition. Searching.
    40-50's
    Greek American other race/ethnicity welcome
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Eleni
    Greek. Angie's Yiayia and guide. Daughter to Katina, mother
    to Charis. She is a figment of Angie’s memory. We see her in her mid-life. Physically dynamic with a large and ethereal presence.
    50's -60's
    Greek from Turkey,
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Young Eleni
    Greek. Seeking an adult (18-24) who looks young to play teenage girl. A revolutionary spirit. Fierce. Intelligent beyond her years. Stubborn and driven by dreams of a better life.
    10-15
    Greek from Turkey,
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Child,
      Teens
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Yiayia
    The matriarch of the old-world. Rough around the edges, fierce. A warrior. Always working. Judgmental and superstitious.
    50's -60's
    Greek from Turkey,
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Charis
    First generation Greek American. Matriarch of the present world. Lost in the long-term memories due to dementia. Childlike.
    60-80's
    Greek American,
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Katina
    Greek. Eleni's Mother, beautiful, frail and a victim of war.
    20's
    Greek from Turkey,
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Olga
    Greek. Katina's sister. A business woman in the old world. Bossy. Short fused. Smart.
    20-29
    Greek from Turkey,
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Tina
    Present world. Charis's granddaughter. Contemporary.
    18-20
    Greek American,
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Halime
    a stunning, Turkish bride with a revolutionary spirit.
    20's
    Turkish,
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      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,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Zelda
    Turkish motherof the groom. Brazen, big and bold.
    30-50's
    Turkish,
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s
    • 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,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Zoe
    Charis’s cheerful caregiver.
    30-50's
    BIPOC
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • 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,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Gendarme
    Turkish Soldier-must move well. Harsh.
    30-50's
    Turkish,
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Basilio
    Olga’s adoring husband.
    40's
    Armenian-American,
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Man with Cigar
    Non-speaking, creepy uncle of Charis.
    40's
    Greek from Turkey,
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Jimmy the Greek
    Non-speaking. An old lover of Angie's.
    40's
    Greek,
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male

Development History

  • Workshop, National Endowment of the Arts Grants for Arts Project 2022 ,
  • Residency, HB Studio Rehearsal Space Residency 2023,

Production History

  • University, California State University Fullerton, Clayes Performing Arts Center & NEA, 2023
  • Workshop, Basil P. Caloyeras Center for Modern Greek Studies, Loyola Marymount University, 2023 at Santa Monica Playhouse, 2023

Awards

  • Grants for Arts Project
    National Endowment of the Arts-Theatre
    Winner
    2022
  • National Playwrights Conference
    The Eugene O'Neil Theatre Center
    Semi-Finalist
    2022
  • Bay Area Playwright's Festival
    Playwright's Foundation
    Semi-Finalist
    2020