Control of the Dirt by Louise Schwarz

In this tragicomic play, grieving widow Vanessa is trying to kick her late wife's nightmare-ish burden of a sister out of her apartment. When an easy way out presents itself through one of her therapy clients, she has a difficult decision to make between her own well-being and that of her patient.

Full-length.
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Control of the Dirt

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Character Information

  • Vanessa
    50ish,
    African / African American / Black
    ,
    Female
    mental health counselor at a small liberal
    arts college, usually a very measured and controlled demeanor
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Selina
    Late 40s,
    a white woman
    ,
    Female
    mid-to-late 40s White woman, very scattered and high-energy demeanor
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Kit
    19,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    19-year-old college student, geeky and owns it
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Gillian
    Late 40s,
    Any
    ,
    Female or Non-binary
    40-something woman, events coordinator at the college, can be female or non-binary
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Fielding
    early 60s,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    early 60s, reticent blue-collar man, Kit's father
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Hudson Valley Theatre Festival
    ,
    2024
  • Reading
    ,
    Playwrights Round Table
    ,
    2023

Production History

Awards

Selection
,
Stage Play Category
,
New York Script Awards
,
2023
Winner
,
Stage Play Category
,
Chicago Script Awards
,
2023
Finalist
,
Stage Play Category
,
Script Awards Los Angeles
,
2023
Semi-Finalist
,
Stage Play Category
,
Austin Film Festival
,
2023