BRILLIANT WORKS OF ART by Donna Hoke

Kilroys List
Winner, Firehouse Festival of New American Plays
Nominated for the Susan Blackburn Prize

Law student Abby Gates has no qualms about becoming a sugar baby to get her tuition bills paid--until it means keeping a secret from the man she loves, an artist exploring confession and thresholds of shame. When Abby's two worlds collide, she discovers her sugar daddy has...
Kilroys List
Winner, Firehouse Festival of New American Plays
Nominated for the Susan Blackburn Prize

Law student Abby Gates has no qualms about becoming a sugar baby to get her tuition bills paid--until it means keeping a secret from the man she loves, an artist exploring confession and thresholds of shame. When Abby's two worlds collide, she discovers her sugar daddy has taught her about more than good wine.

Selection, 2016 Kilroys List; Nominated for the Susan Blackburn Prize; Finalist, nuVoices , Actors Theatre Charlotte; Winner, Firehouse Festival of New American Plays; Winner, HRC Showcase ; Finalist, Rising Sage; Finalist, Woodward/Newman Drama Award;
Finalist, Theatre Conspiracy New Play Contest; Semi-Finalist, Playwrights First; Last Frontier Theatre Conference
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BRILLIANT WORKS OF ART

Recommended by

  • Charles Riffenburg:
    29 Aug. 2021
    “ A tight, intelligent script with compelling and layered characters. There is so much to unpack in this story that cuts to the heart of human interactions around trust, lies, power, and desire. "Brilliant Works of Art" leaves audiences with a lot to discuss on the ride home, which is what theatre should continually strive for. I cannot recommend this play highly enough. ”
  • Katie Capp:
    22 Aug. 2021
    “ Donna is truly phenomenal, and her play proves to be just as phenomenal as she is! I am assistant directing a staged reading of BWOA right now, and the amount of depth, honesty, and courage in her script has allowed our cast to have such impactful and thoughtful conversations about relationships, double-standards, male vs. female roles in society, and our views on what love truly means and the many ways we are capable of loving. We know our audience will leave having these meaningful conversations, as well. Her play is bold, truthful, and BRILLIANT...and will leave everyone wanting more. ”
  • Ashland New Plays Festival:
    11 Jun. 2021
    “ Donna Hoke is always surprising, her characters disarming, her themes intricately explored. We recorded BWOA at play4keeps.org with Anthony Heald, Stefani Potter, and Román Zaragoza and the play just smokes! It was a very deft, in-your-face look at the way priorities shape the relationships we build and the choices we own. The conclusion may rattle you a bit, but it won't leave you doubting who's really in charge. ”
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Character Information

  • Abby
    24,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    first year law student, sexually at ease girl next door
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Grant Parrish
    late 40s-early 50,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    businessman, impeccably dressed, self-aware
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • James Gould
    29,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    artsy, sexy, dramatic, nerdy-manic, focused, innocent
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Waiter
    any,
    Any
    ,
    Any
    Briefly needed in scene one. Can be played by stage manager, or a very disguised James actor.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Outvisible Theatre, Detroit New Works
    ,
    2019
  • Reading
    ,
    Kennedy Center Page to Stage
    ,
    2019
  • Reading
    ,
    The Reading Parlor
    ,
    2017
  • Reading
    ,
    The Barrow Group
    ,
    2016
  • Reading
    ,
    Writers Theatre New Jersey
    ,
    2016
  • Reading
    ,
    Williamston Theatre
    ,
    2016
  • Reading
    ,
    Winner, Firehouse Festival of New American Plays, Richmond, VA
    ,
    2015

Awards

Selection
,
Detroit New Works Festival
,
Outvisible Theatre
,
2019
Selection
,
2016 Kilroys List
,
The Kilroys
,
2016
Winner
,
Firehouse Festival of New American Plays
,
Firehouse Theatre
,
2015
Winner
,
HRC Showcase
,
HRC Showcase
,
2015
Selection
,
Last Frontier Theatre Conference
,
Last Frontier Theatre Conference
,
2015