Surprise (a ten minute play)

Peter is a psychic who can only see two minutes into the future. Unfortunately, all this gives him is the ability to drive his date slowly insane. But even a psychic can be surprised.

"a lovely little piece of sleight-of-mouth that would be at home in a David Ives collection...a little gem"
Joshua Tanzer, OffOffOff.com (New York)
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Surprise (a ten minute play)

Recommended by

  • James Perry:
    5 Jan. 2024
    As someone who appreciates clever dialogue and unexpected twists, "Surprise" surpassed my expectations. The banter between Peter and Whitney is both humorous and smart, creating a lighthearted atmosphere even in the face of a breakup. Despite the fantastical element of psychic abilities, the play delves into relatable themes of relationships, communication, and the challenges of understanding one another. The relatability of these themes adds a universal appeal to the play.
  • Kate Danley:
    13 Dec. 2023
    Funny, sweet, and charming! You don't have to be a psychic to know this snappy little short would be an audience favorite in any festival! Really fun!
  • John Mabey:
    13 Dec. 2023
    Mark Harvey Levine's SURPRISE is comedy at its best with an amazing premise and hilarious wordplay throughout. The clever story could go in so many directions and ends with a wonderful 'surprise' of its very own. Levine is a writer who never disappoints and it's clear why this fun, high-energy play has enjoyed so much success, too.

Production History

  • Community Theater
    ,
    Aberdeen Community Theatre, Aberdeen, SD
    ,
    2023
  • High School
    ,
    De Smet Jesuit High School, St. Louis, MO
    ,
    2023
  • Professional
    ,
    Southbank Theatre Company, Indianapolis, IN
    ,
    2023
  • Community Theater
    ,
    Not Your Average Theater Group, Sunrise, FL
    ,
    2022
  • High School
    ,
    Victoria School of the Arts, Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA
    ,
    2022
  • High School
    ,
    Milton District High School, Milton, Ontario, CANADA
    ,
    2022
  • High School
    ,
    Royal Oak High School, Royal Oak, MI
    ,
    2022
  • High School
    ,
    Miss Porter’s School, Farmington, CT
    ,
    2022
  • High School
    ,
    Academy for Visual & Performing Arts/Theatre, Paramus, NJ
    ,
    2022
  • Professional
    ,
    Colonial Playhouse, Philadelphia, PA
    ,
    2022
  • Fringe
    ,
    Clerical Error Productions, IndyFringe Festival, Indianaolis, IN
    ,
    2022
  • High School
    ,
    Mundelein High School, Mundelein, IL
    ,
    2022
  • High School
    ,
    Worthington Kilbourne High School, Columbus, OH
    ,
    2022
  • Professional
    ,
    The Magnetic Theatre, Asheville, NC
    ,
    2022
  • High School
    ,
    St. Andrew's Episcopal School, Potomac, MD
    ,
    2021
  • Professional
    ,
    Short+Sweet Festival. Illawarra, NSW, AUSTRALIA
    ,
    2021
  • High School
    ,
    Bishop Fenwick High School, Peabody, MA
    ,
    2021
  • Professional
    ,
    Yohangza Theatre Company, Seoul, SOUTH KOREA
    ,
    2021
  • Community Theater
    ,
    4 Community Theatre (4CT), Maple Plain, Rockford and Delano, MN
    ,
    2021
  • Community Theater
    ,
    Panhandle Community Theatre, Pace, FL
    ,
    2020
  • University
    ,
    California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA
    ,
    2020
  • High School
    ,
    The Marist School, Atlanta, GA
    ,
    2020
  • Professional
    ,
    New Short Play Festival, New York, NY
    ,
    2019
  • University
    ,
    Texas Lutheran University, Seguin, TX
    ,
    2019
  • High School
    ,
    Elgin High School, Elgin, IL
    ,
    2019
  • High School
    ,
    Bellevue West High School, Bellevue, NE
    ,
    2019
  • University
    ,
    University of Northwestern, St. Paul, MN
    ,
    2019
  • University
    ,
    Cayuga Community College Auburn, NY
    ,
    2019
  • Professional
    ,
    Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts, Mableton, GA
    ,
    2018
  • High School
    ,
    Westview High School, Portland, Oregon
    ,
    2018
  • Professional
    ,
    Short + Sweet Auckland, Auckland, NEW ZEALAND
    ,
    2018
  • Professional
    ,
    Short + Sweet Hollywood, Hollywood, CA
    ,
    2018
  • Community Theater
    ,
    Town Players of Pittsfield, Pittsfield, MA
    ,
    2018
  • High School
    ,
    Jasper Place HIgh School, Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA
    ,
    2018
  • Professional
    ,
    La Chinchilla MX, Mexico City, MEXICO
    ,
    2017
  • High School
    ,
    Fair Haven Union High School, Fair Haven, VT
    ,
    2017
  • Professional
    ,
    The Colac Players, Inc., Victoria, AUSTRALIA
    ,
    2017
  • University
    ,
    Grove City College, Grove City, PA
    ,
    2017
  • Professional
    ,
    Flat Tire Productions, Queens, NY
    ,
    2017
  • Professional
    ,
    Old Academy Players, Philadelphia, PA
    ,
    2017
  • University
    ,
    Central Penn College, Summerdale, PA
    ,
    2017
  • University
    ,
    Capital University, Columbus, OH
    ,
    2017
  • High School
    ,
    Redwood High School, Larkspur, CA
    ,
    2017
  • University
    ,
    Pine Manor College, Chestnut Hill, MA
    ,
    2017
  • High School
    ,
    Niles North High School, Skokie, IL
    ,
    2017
  • Professional
    ,
    Red Eye 10s Festival, Various Theatres Around The World
    ,
    2016
  • High School
    ,
    Redwood High School, Larkspur, CA
    ,
    2016
  • High School
    ,
    Green Bay West High School, Green Bay, WI
    ,
    2016
  • Professional
    ,
    Teatro Mocha Graña Lima, PERU
    ,
    2016
  • Community Theater
    ,
    Parish Players, Thetford, VT
    ,
    2016
  • High School
    ,
    Kent School, Kent, CT
    ,
    2016
  • Professional
    ,
    Hi5 Entertainment, Bangalore, INDIA
    ,
    2016
  • High School
    ,
    Vernon Hills High School, Vernon Hills, IL
    ,
    2016
  • High School
    ,
    South Shore Vo-Tech High School, Hanover, MA
    ,
    2016
  • Professional
    ,
    Teatro Augusta, Sao Paulo, BRAZIL
    ,
    2016
  • Community Theater
    ,
    Cabaret Players, Surprise, AZ
    ,
    2016
  • Professional
    ,
    The Fools and Kings Project, New York, NY
    ,
    2016
  • Professional
    ,
    Artists Exchange, Providence, RI
    ,
    2016
  • Fringe
    ,
    Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Edinburgh, SCOTLAND
    ,
    2016
  • Professional
    ,
    Teatro Milan Foro Lucerna, Mexico City, MEXICO
    ,
    2016
  • Professional
    ,
    Teatro Augusta, Sao Paulo, BRAZIL
    ,
    2015
  • High School
    ,
    Bishop Hartley High School, Columbus, OH
    ,
    2015
  • High School
    ,
    Wichita High School East, Wichita, KS
    ,
    2015
  • University
    ,
    University Of Tampa, Tampa, FL
    ,
    2015
  • High School
    ,
    Archbishop Hoban High School, Akron, OH
    ,
    2015
  • Professional
    ,
    Theatre Down South, Parañaque, PHILIPPINES
    ,
    2015
  • High School
    ,
    Kent-Meridian High Schoo, Kent, WA
    ,
    2015
  • Professional
    ,
    Watson Art Centre. Dauphin, Manitoba, CANADA
    ,
    2015
  • Professional
    ,
    Cary Players, Cary, NC
    ,
    2015
  • High School
    ,
    Livermore Valley Charter Prep, Livermore, CA
    ,
    2015
  • Professional
    ,
    Ghost Dog Productions, London, ENGLAND
    ,
    2015
  • High School
    ,
    West Carleton Secondary School, Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA
    ,
    2015
  • University
    ,
    University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX
    ,
    2015
  • High School
    ,
    Phillips Academy, Andover, MA
    ,
    2015
  • High School
    ,
    Bard High School Early College, Queens, NY
    ,
    2015
  • University
    ,
    California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
    ,
    2015
  • Professional
    ,
    The Matthews Opera House, Spearfish, SD
    ,
    2014
  • Professional
    ,
    Actors Theatre Playhouse, West Chesterfield, NH
    ,
    2014
  • Community Theater
    ,
    Arlington Children's Theatre (ACT), Arlington, MA
    ,
    2014
  • High School
    ,
    Carrboro High School, Carrboro, NC
    ,
    2014
  • High School
    ,
    Cape Henry Collegiate, Virginia Beach, VA
    ,
    2014
  • Professional
    ,
    Oh Dragon Theatre Co., Austin, TX
    ,
    2014
  • High School
    ,
    Columbus City Schools, Columbus, OH
    ,
    2014
  • Professional
    ,
    City Island Theatre Group, Bronx, NY
    ,
    2014
  • Professional
    ,
    Short + Sweet Bangalore, Bangalore, INDIA
    ,
    2014
  • Professional
    ,
    Changing Scene Northwest, Bremerton, WA
    ,
    2014
  • High School
    ,
    Mountain Range High School, Thornton, CO
    ,
    2014
  • Professional
    ,
    Theatre Down South, Parañaque, PHILIPPINES
    ,
    2014
  • Professional
    ,
    Marronnier Summer Festival, Seoul, SOUTH KOREA
    ,
    2014
  • Professional
    ,
    15 Minute Play Festival, Incheon, SOUTH KOREA
    ,
    2014
  • Professional
    ,
    Curveballs, Ahmedabad, INDIA
    ,
    2013
  • University
    ,
    George Washington University, Washington, DC
    ,
    2013
  • Professional
    ,
    RAL Productions, New York, NY
    ,
    2013
  • High School
    ,
    The Selwyn School, Denton, TX
    ,
    2013
  • High School
    ,
    Jesuit College Preparatory School, Dallas, TX
    ,
    2013
  • High School
    ,
    Hilliard Bradley High School, Hilliard, OH
    ,
    2013
  • University
    ,
    Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
    ,
    2013
  • University
    ,
    Linfield College, McMinnville, OR
    ,
    2013
  • Professional
    ,
    Pacific Resident Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
    ,
    2013
  • University
    ,
    Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA
    ,
    2013
  • High School
    ,
    Fair Haven Union High School, Fair Haven, VT
    ,
    2013
  • High School
    ,
    Downers Grove North High School, Downers Grove, IL
    ,
    2013
  • Professional
    ,
    Washington Street Players, Holliston, MA
    ,
    2013
  • Professional
    ,
    Ticket 2 Eternity Productions, New York, NY
    ,
    2013
  • Professional
    ,
    LIC Festival, New York, NY
    ,
    2013
  • Professional
    ,
    Diez Minutos, San Miguel de Allende, MEXICO
    ,
    2013
  • Professional
    ,
    Awkward Turtle Productions, Daejon, SOUTH KOREA
    ,
    2013
  • Professional
    ,
    In Short Theatre, London, ENGLAND
    ,
    2013
  • Professional
    ,
    Blackout Theatre Company, Sydney, AUSTRALIA
    ,
    2012
  • Professional
    ,
    Pan Theater, San Francisco, CA
    ,
    2012
  • High School
    ,
    Marist School, Atlanta, GA
    ,
    2012
  • Professional
    ,
    Changing Scene Theatre Northwest, Bremerton, WA
    ,
    2012
  • Professional
    ,
    Universal Theatre, Provincetown, MA
    ,
    2012
  • University
    ,
    Ohio State University Mansfield, OH
    ,
    2012
  • High School
    ,
    Colorado Springs Conservatory, Colorado Springs, CO
    ,
    2012
  • University
    ,
    University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, British Columbia, CANADA
    ,
    2012
  • Professional
    ,
    Xoregos Performing Company, New York, NY
    ,
    2012
  • Community Theater
    ,
    Alumnia Community Theatre (ACT), Cairo, EGYPT
    ,
    2012
  • Professional
    ,
    Orange Tea Theatre Co. Amsterdam, THE NETHERLANDS
    ,
    2012
  • Professional
    ,
    Madlab Theatre, Columbus, OH
    ,
    2012
  • Professional
    ,
    Laurel Mill Playhouse, Laurel, MD
    ,
    2012
  • Professional
    ,
    Seoul Players, Seoul, SOUTH KOREA
    ,
    2012
  • High School
    ,
    Grosse Pointe High School, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI
    ,
    2011
  • Fringe
    ,
    Regina International Fringe Festival, Regina, Saskatchewan, CANADA
    ,
    2011
  • Professional
    ,
    Artists Exchange, Providence, RI
    ,
    2011
  • Community Theater
    ,
    Greenville Little Theater, Greenville, SC
    ,
    2011
  • Professional
    ,
    Neo Ensemble Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
    ,
    2011
  • High School
    ,
    Tesoro High School, Las Flores, CA
    ,
    2011
  • Professional
    ,
    Northwest Actors Lab, Bainbridge Island, WA
    ,
    2011
  • Professional
    ,
    Redwood Coast Players, Point Arena, CA
    ,
    2011
  • University
    ,
    College of Mount Saint Vincent, Riverdale, NY
    ,
    2011
  • Professional
    ,
    Drama For The Masses, Bucharest, ROMANIA
    ,
    2011
  • High School
    ,
    Warren Central High School, Indianapolis, IN
    ,
    2010
  • Professional
    ,
    The Tre Stage, Los Angeles, CA
    ,
    2010
  • High School
    ,
    Belmont High School, Belmont, MA
    ,
    2010
  • High School
    ,
    Stadium High School, Tacoma, WA
    ,
    2010
  • University
    ,
    Escuela Oficial de Idiomas de Tudela, Navarra, SPAIN
    ,
    2010
  • Professional
    ,
    Pausa Companhia, Touring BRAZIL
    ,
    2010
  • High School
    ,
    Vashon Island High School, Vashon, WA
    ,
    2010
  • Professional
    ,
    Minnesota Shorts Play Festival, Mankato, MN
    ,
    2010
  • Professional
    ,
    Sweet & Tart Productions, New York, NY
    ,
    2010
  • Professional
    ,
    Madlab Theatre, Columbus, OH
    ,
    2010
  • Professional
    ,
    Above The Curve Theater, Los Angeles, CA
    ,
    2010
  • High School
    ,
    Weston High School, Weston, MA
    ,
    2010
  • Professional
    ,
    Stage East, Eastport, ME
    ,
    2010
  • Professional
    ,
    MMQ Theatre, Manila, PHILIPPINES
    ,
    2010
  • University
    ,
    Kentucky Christian University, Grayson, KY
    ,
    2010
  • Professional
    ,
    The Elephant Theatre Company, Los Angeles, CA
    ,
    2010
  • Community Theater
    ,
    Siesta Village Players, Weslaco, TX
    ,
    2010
  • Professional
    ,
    Brewster Theater Company, Brewster, NY
    ,
    2009
  • University
    ,
    California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
    ,
    2009
  • University
    ,
    Grove City College, Grove City, PA
    ,
    2009
  • Professional
    ,
    Pausa Companhia, Touring BRAZIL
    ,
    2009
  • Professional
    ,
    Actors Theatre Of Louisville, Louisville, KY
    ,
    2009
  • University
    ,
    University Of Louisville, Louisville, KY
    ,
    2009
  • University
    ,
    South Mountain Community College, Phoenix, AZ
    ,
    2009
  • University
    ,
    Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
    ,
    2009
  • Professional
    ,
    Pensacola Little Theatre, Pensacola, FL
    ,
    2009
  • High School
    ,
    Hazel Green High School, Hazel Green, AL
    ,
    2009
  • High School
    ,
    Kent School, Kent, CT
    ,
    2009
  • High School
    ,
    Woodward Academy, Atlanta, GA
    ,
    2009
  • University
    ,
    La Sierra University, Riverside, CA
    ,
    2009
  • University
    ,
    Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
    ,
    2009
  • University
    ,
    Rose Bruford College, Sidcup, Kent, ENGLAND
    ,
    2009
  • Professional
    ,
    Play de Luna, Winter Park, FL
    ,
    2009
  • Professional
    ,
    Semi Circle Theatre, Basel, SWITZERLAND
    ,
    2009
  • High School
    ,
    Woodland Hills High School, Pittsburgh, PA
    ,
    2009
  • University
    ,
    Black Hawk College, Kewanee, IL
    ,
    2009
  • High School
    ,
    Northgate High School, Walnut Creek, CA
    ,
    2009
  • Community Theater
    ,
    Little Theater of Hazard, Hazard, KY
    ,
    2009
  • University
    ,
    Broward College, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
    ,
    2009
  • High School
    ,
    St. Albans School, Washington, DC
    ,
    2009
  • Professional
    ,
    Cedar Lane Stage, Chevy Chase, MD
    ,
    2008
  • Professional
    ,
    Actors Refuge Repertory Theatre (ARRT), Boston, MA
    ,
    2008
  • High School
    ,
    Rolling Meadows High School, Rolling Meadows, IL
    ,
    2008
  • Community Theater
    ,
    Our Town Theatre Group, North Creek, NY
    ,
    2008
  • Professional
    ,
    Cary Players, Cary, NC
    ,
    2008
  • Professional
    ,
    Blackout Theatre Company, Sydney, AUSTRALIA
    ,
    2008
  • Professional
    ,
    In Players, Amsterdam, THE NETHERLANDS
    ,
    2008
  • University
    ,
    The Colleges Of The Fenway, Boston, MA
    ,
    2008
  • Professional
    ,
    FoxWell Productions, Brookings, OR
    ,
    2008
  • High School
    ,
    Montgomery Blair, High School Silver Springs, MD
    ,
    2008
  • Professional
    ,
    French Woods Festival Of The Performing Arts, Hancock, NY
    ,
    2008
  • Professional
    ,
    Madcap Players, Washington, DC
    ,
    2007
  • Professional
    ,
    Cafe Theatre, Montclair, NJ
    ,
    2007
  • Community Theater
    ,
    Paw Paw Village Players, Paw Paw, MI
    ,
    2007
  • Professional
    ,
    Pausa Companhia, National Tour of BRAZIL
    ,
    2007
  • Professional
    ,
    Devanaughn Theatre Company, Boston, MA
    ,
    2007
  • University
    ,
    University of Richmond, Richmond, VA
    ,
    2007
  • University
    ,
    College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA
    ,
    2007
  • University
    ,
    McLennan College, Waco, TX
    ,
    2006
  • University
    ,
    Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
    ,
    2006
  • Professional
    ,
    Acme Theatre Company, Maynard, MA
    ,
    2006
  • Professional
    ,
    Flint City Theatre, Flint, MI
    ,
    2006
  • Professional
    ,
    Pausa Companhia, Sao Paulo, BRAZIL
    ,
    2006
  • Professional
    ,
    Theatre@First, Somerville, MA
    ,
    2006
  • Professional
    ,
    Shelterbelt Theatre, Omaha, NE
    ,
    2005
  • Professional
    ,
    Snowdance, Racine, WI
    ,
    2005
  • Professional
    ,
    Boston Playwrights' Theatre, Boston, MA
    ,
    2005
  • Professional
    ,
    Madhouse Theatre Co., Philadelphia, PA
    ,
    2005
  • Professional
    ,
    Madlab Theatre, Columbus, OH
    ,
    2005
  • Professional
    ,
    Pausa Companhia, Curitiba, Paraná BRAZIL
    ,
    2005
  • Professional
    ,
    DramaWorks Studio Theatre, Dublin, GA
    ,
    2005
  • Professional
    ,
    Fine Arts Association, Willoughby, OH
    ,
    2004
  • Professional
    ,
    Heartlande Theatre Company, Rochester, MI
    ,
    2004
  • Professional
    ,
    Colonial Playhouse, Philadelphia, PA
    ,
    2004
  • Professional
    ,
    Sacred Fools Theater Co., Los Angeles, CA
    ,
    2004
  • Professional
    ,
    Herring Run ArtsFest, Cambridge, MA
    ,
    2004
  • Professional
    ,
    10 By 10 in Triangle, Chapel Hill, NC
    ,
    2004
  • Professional
    ,
    Little Fish Theatre Company, San Pedro, CA
    ,
    2004
  • Professional
    ,
    Alleyway Theatre, Buffalo, NY
    ,
    2004
  • Professional
    ,
    Wasatch Theatre Company, Salt Lake City, UT
    ,
    2004
  • Professional
    ,
    Theatre Neo, Los Angeles, CA
    ,
    2004
  • Professional
    ,
    12 Miles West Theatre Company, Montclair, NJ
    ,
    2003
  • Professional
    ,
    GuerriLA Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
    ,
    2003
  • Professional
    ,
    Playwrights Circle, Palm Springs, CA
    ,
    2003
  • Professional
    ,
    ZJU Theatre Group, North Hollywood, CA
    ,
    2002
  • Professional
    ,
    George Street Playhouse, New Brunswick, NJ
    ,
    2002
  • Professional
    ,
    Company of Angels, Los Angeles, CA
    ,
    2001
  • Professional
    ,
    Theatre Neo, Los Angeles, CA
    ,
    2000

Awards

Finalist
,
National Ten-Minute Play Contest
,
Actors Theatre of Louisville
,
2000