THE STORYTELLER

by Sara Jean Accuardi

"I have done nothing but in care of thee,
Of thee, my dear one—thee my daughter," - William Shakespeare, The Tempest

[full length] 17-year-old Randy has lived her entire life off the grid with her dad on an old rotting houseboat, and she’s sick of it. Inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest, this play explores the magic and power of the narratives we create. Winner of the Oregon Book Award for drama, the...

"I have done nothing but in care of thee,
Of thee, my dear one—thee my daughter," - William Shakespeare, The Tempest

[full length] 17-year-old Randy has lived her entire life off the grid with her dad on an old rotting houseboat, and she’s sick of it. Inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest, this play explores the magic and power of the narratives we create. Winner of the Oregon Book Award for drama, the International Thomas Wolfe Playwriting Competition, and a finalist for the O'Neill Center's National Playwrights Conference.

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THE STORYTELLER

Recommended by

  • Cam Torres: THE STORYTELLER by Sara Jean Accuardi
    “

    Wow. A masterful retelling of one of Shakespeare’s greatest plays. This play has the perfect balance of love, magic, and mystery. I will be keeping my eye out for more of Accuardi’s work. Bravo!

    Wow. A masterful retelling of one of Shakespeare’s greatest plays. This play has the perfect balance of love, magic, and mystery. I will be keeping my eye out for more of Accuardi’s work. Bravo!

    ”
  • Audrey Lang: THE STORYTELLER by Sara Jean Accuardi
    “

    Accuardi has written a magical adaptation with "The Storyteller." Growing up is hard for the person doing the growing, but it's hard for those around her, too, and this play represents that so well.

    Accuardi has written a magical adaptation with "The Storyteller." Growing up is hard for the person doing the growing, but it's hard for those around her, too, and this play represents that so well.

    ”
  • Cheryl Bear: THE STORYTELLER by Sara Jean Accuardi
    “

    Masterful storytelling that captures the magnitude of life in it's uncertainty, struggle and memories. Well done.

    Masterful storytelling that captures the magnitude of life in it's uncertainty, struggle and memories. Well done.

    ”
View all 8 recommendations

Character Information

3w, 3m
  • SPENCER
    Normal. A nice young boy.
    18
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary
  • RANDI
    A little bit lost, a little bit plain, a little bit magical. A daughter.
    17
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • THE LADY
    She tells stories.
    30s
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • PAPS
    Kind of lost too. Has more charisma than magic. A father.
    30s
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • TIFF
    Took a wrong turn somewhere. A friend.
    30s - 50s
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • JIMMY
    Broken. A loner.
    40s
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male

Development History

  • Workshop, Seven Devils New Play Foundry , 2022
  • Reading, PlayMakers Repertory Company, 2020
  • Reading, Something Marvelous (Chicago, IL), 2019
  • Reading, Fertile Ground Festival of New Work, 2018

Production History

  • University, 2025
  • Professional, 2025

Awards

  • Angus Bowmer Award in Drama, Oregon Book Awards
    Literary Arts
    Winner
    2023
  • International Thomas Wolfe Playwriting Competition
    Playmakers Repertory Company
    Winner
    2020
  • The Something Marvelous Festival of Magical Realism
    Selection
    2019
  • Seven Devils Playwrights Conference
    Finalist
    2018