Hearts Like Planets by Adam Szymkowicz

FULL LENGTH: A very bright, very fast object is careening towards the Earth and in this moment of imminent death, our heroes and villains make big life and love choices. Dr. X leads a prison break. He and Orphan Drillnose are off to find the woman with the face like a plate. The New Crimefighters, Magpie, Hummingbird and Butterfly fight to restore order and save the world. Harry Hardnose, ace reporter,...
FULL LENGTH: A very bright, very fast object is careening towards the Earth and in this moment of imminent death, our heroes and villains make big life and love choices. Dr. X leads a prison break. He and Orphan Drillnose are off to find the woman with the face like a plate. The New Crimefighters, Magpie, Hummingbird and Butterfly fight to restore order and save the world. Harry Hardnose, ace reporter, will record it all.

*sort of a sequel to Hearts Like Fists but stands on its own.
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Hearts Like Planets

Recommended by

  • Abigail Imgrund:
    12 May. 2023
    “ "Hearts Like Planets" is unique because I’ve never read a play about superheroes. Szymkowicz did a fantastic job of making the characters and painting a picture of this world. Furthermore, Szymkowicz lets there be creative liberty with stage directions and characters. The main character often talks to the audience, making you keep reading and get involved with the characters. This is perfect for modern audiences!
    ”
  • Bethany Dickens Assaf:
    16 Sep. 2021
    “ A treat from start to finish: from the first few lines, I found myself completely enraptured by Szymkowicz's confident and colorful world-building. I also appreciated the oxygen the play gives each moment to develop into something hilarious and human (examples abound, from a wildly funny scene between two nurses to the "doughnut" conversation). These are not digressions; rather, they sum up to a very fine exploration of the joys of life: ever present if we would only embrace them. ”
  • Corinna Schulenburg:
    20 Jun. 2021
    “ After falling in love with Hearts Like Fists, I was so thrilled to watch a reading of Hearts Like Planets. It has everything I love about Fists--kickass women, great fight scenes, delirious love, and of course, Doctor X--but it's also Queerer and stranger in exciting ways. I particularly loved meeting Orphan Drillnose and the intoxicating Darkness (who should totally get a spinoff, I mean a girl can hope). ”
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(9-10 with doubling. 3M, 5F, 2 Any Gender. 19 without doubling.)..........................................................

HENRY HARDNOSE, male, mild mannered reporter, never stops taking notes

MAGPIE, female, crimefighter

DR. X, male, evil doctor

ORPHAN DRILLNOSE, any gender, villain

BUTTERFLY, female, crimefighter, also plays
HARRIET, a nurse

HUMMINGBIRD, female, crimefighter, also plays
VERNA, a nurse

NURSE, female, a nurse, also plays
THE SHRIEKER, a villain

GENE, male, nurse's fiance, also plays
THE POET, a villain
ROCKET, a retired hero
BYSTANDER, a bystander

DARKNESS, any gender, neutral superhuman, also plays
PROFESSOR DACE, an astronomer
ABBOTT, a kindergarten teacher
TAXI DRIVER, a taxi driver.

STARDUST, an alien hero, female (could double with DARKNESS track if female)

FIGHT HELPERS, optional, in all black.

Development History

  • Workshop
    ,
    The Chance Theater
    ,
    2021
  • Commission
    ,
    The Chance Theater, Anaheim CA
    ,
    2020