Marianas Trench (Part One of The Second World Trilogy) by Scott Sickles

[FULL LENGTH • SCIENCE FICTION]
2019 O'NEILL FINALIST

2F/6M (3M roles are East Asian/Korean)
The first piece in a science fiction trilogy that follows a love story between two men from when they're 11-year-old pen pals until the end of the world nearly 50 years later.

Teddy Passanante and Anzor Khasanov are eleven-year-old pen pals. Teddy is an unathletic,...
[FULL LENGTH • SCIENCE FICTION]
2019 O'NEILL FINALIST

2F/6M (3M roles are East Asian/Korean)
The first piece in a science fiction trilogy that follows a love story between two men from when they're 11-year-old pen pals until the end of the world nearly 50 years later.

Teddy Passanante and Anzor Khasanov are eleven-year-old pen pals. Teddy is an unathletic, half-Korean nerd living in a liberal U.S. made up of what used to be Blue States. Anzor is the child of Muslim refugees trapped in a militant right-wing Christian theocracy that used to be the Red States. The boys know their correspondence is mandated and monitored by Anzor’s government. This is a love story.

Developmental readings at Portland Stage's Little Festival of the Unexpected and the Road Theatre Company's Summer Playwrights Festival.
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Marianas Trench (Part One of The Second World Trilogy)

Recommended by

  • Greg Mandryk:
    28 Mar. 2024
    “ Look, my attention span is nothing to brag about. If I even manage to finish reading a full-length script, it should be considered high praise. I not only finished Marianas Trench, but I'm eager to dive into the second part of Scott Sickles' Second World Trilogy, Pangea.

    Yes, I entered into this foolishly hoping it would read like a staged adaptation of The Meg 3: Megsistential Dread. Instead, it's a political thriller that, at times, feels like The Diary of Anne Frank, only standing in the road before us instead of in the rearview mirror. I'm glad it's getting produced. ”
  • Jarred Corona:
    11 Nov. 2023
    “ I try to never go into art with expectations. Of course, that's impossible. We all make judgments from the slightest things we can. I've read a handful of Scott Sickles' plays by now. They've come to carry a certain expectation. The writing will be good and the characters well-made. Something queer will be afoot. But the expectation is less material than that. His plays evoke, for me, a fading lilac, a still from a forgotten film, a heavy caesura after a sforzando. This play has received plenty of love. It's all deserved. I hope one day to see it performed. ”
  • Michael C. O'Day:
    7 Nov. 2023
    “ Here's the thing: if you grew up a nerdy child in America and you lived to tell the tale, then nothing about our present, frightening political moment is the least bit surprising - the impulse towards fascism is just the bullying instinct writ large. Sickles knows this truth in his bones, and he's used it as the foundation of MARIANAS TRENCH - a magnificent melange of science-fiction epic, coming-of-age story, immigrant saga, queer romance, political satire, and possibly (gods I hope not) prophesy. A spectacular achievement. ”
View all 54 recommendations

Teddy Passanante: 11-year-old, half-Korean (east Asian) boy; smart and unathletic

Anzor Khasanov: 11-year-old of Chechen descent; smart and well-rounded

[The boys can be played by actors in their late teens or early 20s]

Gerry Passanante: late 30s, Korean (East Asian); traditional, strict, proud (also voices Neighbor)

Opal Passanante: late 30s, any race; also traditional, strict, proud

Rico Passanante: 70s (but can look younger), Korean (East Asian); loving, kind

Zeliha Khasanov: 50s, of Chechen descent, former Muslim; strong willed, fiery (also plays Female Border Agent)

Yukub Khasanov: 50s, of Chechen descent, former Muslim; calm, outwardly mild-mannered (also plays Male Border Agent)

Bashshar Melikov: late 30s; of Chechen descent, Christian; handsome, heroic-looking, kind

NOTE: All of the characters speak with American (generic mid-Altantic accents).

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Leviathan Lab
    ,
    2023
  • Reading
    ,
    Mixed Asian Media Fest
    ,
    2022
  • Reading
    ,
    Portland Stage
    ,
    2020
  • Reading
    ,
    Elephant Room Productions
    ,
    2018

Awards

Runner Up
,
Finstrom Festival of New Work
,
Zoetic Stages
,
2021
Semi-Finalist
,
New Works Festival 2020
,
Garry Marshall Theatre
,
2020
Finalist
,
The Crossroads Project: Diverse Voices Playwriting Initiative Award
,
Illinois State University
,
2020
Finalist
,
2020-2021 In-Progress New Play Reading Series
,
Unicorn Theatre
,
2020
Finalist
,
Mario Fratti-Fred Newman Political Playwriting Contest
,
Castillo Theatre
,
2019
Honorable Mention
,
Panndora's Box Annual Festival of New Works
,
Panndora Productions
,
2018
Semi-Finalist
,
New American Voices Reading Series
,
The Landing Theatre Company
,
2018
ScreenCraft Stage Play Competition
,
ScreenCraft
,
2018