Strange Heart Beating by Kristin Idaszak

Teeny and Lena grew up together in a rural midwestern town, dreaming of leaving for the big city. But now Teeny is the town sheriff and Lena is a newly-single mother. When the body of Lena’s daughter is found near the lake outside of town, their friendship is stretched to the breaking point. Teeny's investigation provides more questions than answers: Have girls been going missing for years? Why are the...
Teeny and Lena grew up together in a rural midwestern town, dreaming of leaving for the big city. But now Teeny is the town sheriff and Lena is a newly-single mother. When the body of Lena’s daughter is found near the lake outside of town, their friendship is stretched to the breaking point. Teeny's investigation provides more questions than answers: Have girls been going missing for years? Why are the loons acting so strange? What has the town's lake witnessed? STRANGE HEART BEATING is a darkly fantastical look at the rural Midwest, the murky nature of justice, and the prejudices that lie just beneath the surface.
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Strange Heart Beating

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear:
    20 May. 2021
    “ A story of discovery as we find the answers to what occurred and the nature of justice. Well done. ”
  • Gabriella Bonamici:
    22 Oct. 2019
    “ In a tight-knit midwestern community, the body of a missing little girl washes ashore, unraveling a chain of horrific discoveries and a mystery that goes all the way to the top. Idaszak's writing carefully carries us through this heartbreaking story with theatrical imagery that is chillingly dark and gorgeous at the same time. ”
  • Natalie Leeper:
    11 Oct. 2019
    “ Idaszak’s Strange Heart Beating took me on a tragic but beautiful story about a mother’s and community's loss of a child. From heartbreakingly intimate moments between friends (or maybe more than), to mutated turkeys, it never ceased to grab my attention. The emphasis on the corruption within the justice system, particularly found in cases containing people of color is startlingly real. It also highlights how prejudice from people in power, can direct a societal view of a certain group of minorities. This is an excellent read along with a truly important and relevant message in today's world. ”
View all 7 recommendations

Lake (she/they) – a lake.
Teeny (she/her) – a sheriff.
Lena (she/her) – a mother.
Ramon (he/him) – a birder.
Casting notes:Teeny is black or mixed race. She’s the only black woman in town. Lena is white. Ramon is first generation Mexican-American. There’s a small but significant Mexican-American community in the next town over.

The lake is a lake.

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Center for Performing Arts Minneapolis
    ,
    2018
  • Reading
    ,
    The Jades
    ,
    2017
  • Workshop
    ,
    The Playwrights Center

Production History

  • Professional
    ,
    Cloudgate Theatre
    ,
    2019