#notacult or Camp Hope: An Interview Retrospective of the Accidental Cult that Started an Actual Movement

by Kate Brennan

Daisy Jones & the Six meets Waiting for Guffman in this kaleidoscopic retrospective of an out-of-work mother of two who accidentally starts a cult. Jillian spends her days doing laundry, keeping her wily children from injuring each other, and cleaning a perpetually messy kitchen.

Once a respected and eloquent poetry professor, she is now at home full-time raising two children under 5 and her poetry collections...

Daisy Jones & the Six meets Waiting for Guffman in this kaleidoscopic retrospective of an out-of-work mother of two who accidentally starts a cult. Jillian spends her days doing laundry, keeping her wily children from injuring each other, and cleaning a perpetually messy kitchen.

Once a respected and eloquent poetry professor, she is now at home full-time raising two children under 5 and her poetry collections are employed as booster seats. When Jillian’s toddler captures a video of her rage-screaming mantras during an at-home workout video and her media-savvy cousin, Neko, makes it into a mock promo video for a wellness retreat and posts to Insta as a joke, it takes off. Apparently everyone is a little angry.

Soon, other stay-at-home moms with careers-on-hold start moving onto Jillian’s property. Surprised by the strangers, but desperate for community, Jillian and Neko study up on running a cult, -er, - commune while pretending to be the gurus everyone thinks that they are. When an outsider threatens to expose Jillian for who she really is, will the grand experiment collapse, or will Jillian become the person she was always meant to be?

Woven from interviews of various commune members as well as Jillian and Neko, this entirely female tale unfolds in comedic snippets, multi-perspective shared memories, and recounts of the disconcertingly smart shenanigans of the commune’s precocious children. #notacult is an unexpectedly poignant portrait of a woman in crisis on a comedic journey to reinvent herself as well as a heartwarming tale of the bizarre lengths women will go to in order to save each other.

Seeking Development.

  • Inquire About Rights
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Reading List

#notacult or Camp Hope: An Interview Retrospective of the Accidental Cult that Started an Actual Movement

Recommended by

  • Lainie Vansant: #notacult or Camp Hope: An Interview Retrospective of the Accidental Cult that Started an Actual Movement

    This delightful celebration of women helping women leaves a lot of creativity for actors and directors. It would make a great radio show, site-specific piece, or (of course) a production in a traditional theatre space.

    This delightful celebration of women helping women leaves a lot of creativity for actors and directors. It would make a great radio show, site-specific piece, or (of course) a production in a traditional theatre space.

Character Information

  • JILLIAN
    40s, former poetry professor, mother of Jonah (3) and Delphine (1)
    Character Age
    40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • NEKO
    early 30s, Jillian’s cousin, co-conspirator, editing and tech-savvy, no kids
    Character Age
    early 30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • JAX
    40s, adventure-seeker, mother to Dean (2) and Liam (4)
    Character Age
    40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • KIM
    40s, colors within the lines, mother of Lyla (1)
    Character Age
    40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • VERA
    late 30s, misses things, mother to Zinnia (3 months)
    Character Age
    late 30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization The Women's Playwrights Circle at Speranza Theatre, Year 2022

Production History

Awards

  • The Jane Chambers Award for Feminist Playwriting
    ATHE
    Finalist
    2023
  • The Judith Royer Excellence in Playwriting Award
    ATHE
    Finalist
    2023