bloody noses by Matilda Corley Schulman

What’s the cost of winning? After the assault of one of their own, three female collegiate soccer players are forced to confront the dark realities of college athletics and being a female athlete in the American University System. A split narrative between the “date” that led to the assault and the present unraveling of the team, “bloody noses” focuses on the girls who are often left behind in the aftermath of...
What’s the cost of winning? After the assault of one of their own, three female collegiate soccer players are forced to confront the dark realities of college athletics and being a female athlete in the American University System. A split narrative between the “date” that led to the assault and the present unraveling of the team, “bloody noses” focuses on the girls who are often left behind in the aftermath of broken fairytale dreams.
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bloody noses

Recommended by

  • Eliza Kuperschmid:
    9 Jun. 2023
    “ When I first read "bloody noses," I felt breathless. Schulman's uniquely poetic voice simultaneously presents the horrors experienced by young athletes while providing a comforting hand to the audience, reminding survivors that their stories are just as valid as the ones unfolding on stage.

    "bloody noses" is so much more than the story of four female college athletes - it's a discussion of the confusions of girlhood, spoken about in the most raw and candid manner. "bloody noses" is a reckoning, a reflection and, above all, a reminder that you are not alone. ”
  • Shaun Leisher:
    8 Jun. 2023
    “ Pure poetry. Can't wait to see what a lighting designer does with this play. This play tackles heavy themes with such care and nuance. ”
  • Aly Kantor:
    31 May. 2023
    “ Wow, wow, wow. This play is utterly raw, surprisingly poetic, and extremely satisfying in its bloody, brazen symmetry. The scale of the story is perfect, allowing a level of honesty and specificity to shine through, making this a piece about people rather than a run-of-the-mill "issue play." It is not a "sports play" and absolutely, unquestionably a "sports play," and I think that's part of what makes it so staggering. Every scene is high stakes, even though the brilliant structure informs the audience precisely where this runaway train is headed in scene one. A challenging read but an important one! ”
View all 5 recommendations

BEC fire and dancing flame, forward - 19
RILEY molten metal trapped in stone, the oldest of the group, midfielder - 23
LOU a star wandering, cosmic, the goalie - 22
TEDDY butterfly who had to grow up into a bee, defender; a.k.a Teresa, the Spanish pronunciation - 21,
CODY the monster who didn’t have to be a monster, 28-30
COACH 40s-50s, been in this job too long, has free rein in this job—no one looks at him and what he has to do for this program, because honestly they don’t want to
WIFE/WAITER/ COUNSELOR; the women, the different women, who see this…happening…
*if need be the waiter/counselor can be doubled by some of the girls

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    USC
    ,
    2021

Production History

  • University
    ,
    USC Workshop Production (fully staged), Directed by David Warshofsky
    ,
    2023

Awards

Second Rounder
,
Austin Film Festival Stage Play Competition
,
2023
Winner
,
Joan Beber Playwriting Award
,
USC
,
2022
Honorable Mention
,
Jane Chambers Award
,
2021