The Hub by Allyson Dwyer

In the midst of puberty, 12-year-old Marissa discovers The Hub, a chat room where a group of young losers and outcasts can do or be anything, and together escape the confines of reality. Under the alias Ami-chan, Marissa begins her first relationship with a sixteen year old gamer, but soon finds that even online, it's hard to hide who she really is. As Marissa learns to grow up in this new digital frontier...
In the midst of puberty, 12-year-old Marissa discovers The Hub, a chat room where a group of young losers and outcasts can do or be anything, and together escape the confines of reality. Under the alias Ami-chan, Marissa begins her first relationship with a sixteen year old gamer, but soon finds that even online, it's hard to hide who she really is. As Marissa learns to grow up in this new digital frontier, she will begin to understand just how much control she has over her own existence.
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The Hub

Recommended by

  • Shaun Leisher:
    7 Aug. 2021
    “ The theatricality of this play is everything for me!!! Dwyer has done a fantastic job of bringing online life to the stage and forcing us to confront some hard truths about our history of being connected on the web. Love the conversations happening here!! ”
  • Catherine Weingarten:
    8 Oct. 2020
    “ This play is so fricking millenial, raw and fun AF. Allyson takes us to cyber land and captures how it really is it's own world and the darkness of being young and naive in dat world. I love how the play has such a beating heart underneath and captures young, lightly creepy love in a unique way. This also is so zoomable-do it now! ”
  • Cheryl Bear:
    1 Aug. 2020
    “ There was a time when you could exist in a cyber reality on the web, but with these false identities were we better off? A fascinating exploration of the benefits, dangers and value of connection not based in reality. Well done. ”
View all 6 recommendations

Character Information

  • AMI-CHAN
    12,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Young, inexperienced, eager to prove herself. The idealized version of MARISSA. She's 12, but claims to be 13…and then 14…
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • QUEST
    35,
    Any
    ,
    Pangender
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • TJ
    16,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    A horny gamer boy who is misunderstood (also plays JERRY/male)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • ANDI
    15,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    A tomboy, acts way older than she is, TJ's ex
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • CHIBI
    14,
    Any
    ,
    Genderqueer or non-binary
    A vampire with a soft side, and an operator of the chat (also plays EN/male)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Non-binary
  • PIKAPIKA
    Unknown,
    Any
    ,
    No gender
    A mysterious furry (also plays SPIKE/male)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • HAMSTERGOKU
    20,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    A weeaboo aka a western person obsessed with Japan, an operator of the chat who cares deeply (also plays TOM/male)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • MARISSA
    12,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    The REAL Ami-chan, an insecure girl experiencing adolescense
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Playhouse 22
    ,
    2018

Awards

Semi-Finalist
,
Princess Grace Fellowship
,
Princess Grace Awards/New Dramatists
,
2019