Tesseract by Scott Sickles

[WORK IN PROGRESS]
[FULL-LENGTH DRAMA/THRILLER (Intermissionless)]
[6 or more female-identifying actors; 2 trans male actors.
Plenty of room for NB casting as well.]

After far-right extremists overthrow a regional government,
a 9-year-old trans boy goes missing during an airlift evacuating the area. His mothers enlist every resource at their disposal, but their son...
[WORK IN PROGRESS]
[FULL-LENGTH DRAMA/THRILLER (Intermissionless)]
[6 or more female-identifying actors; 2 trans male actors.
Plenty of room for NB casting as well.]

After far-right extremists overthrow a regional government,
a 9-year-old trans boy goes missing during an airlift evacuating the area. His mothers enlist every resource at their disposal, but their son could be anywhere on the planet and has left no trace.

TESSERACT asks "What if the Taliban takeover in Kabul happened here? Or anywhere else?"
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Tesseract

Recommended by

  • Jarred Corona:
    12 Aug. 2023
    “ There's a chaotic scene at the end of the film CHILDREN OF MEN... I kept thinking about that film while reading this. That movie plays in the back of my mind randomly. I've no doubt anyone who sees TESSERACT will experience a similar remembrance effect as they go about the rest of their lives. Sickles channels a pessimistic anger here that hopefully, hopefully can serve as a wake-up call to bigots and centrists alike. I think one of the most "thrilling" aspects, is that you know it's coming. Because we do. It does. And we have to stop it. ”
  • Sam Heyman:
    16 Jun. 2023
    “ When I say this play devastated me, you shouldn't have any reason to think I’m exaggerating — this is Scott Sickles we’re talking about after all.

    I think the most terrifying part about Tesseract isn’t that it feels so close to happening, but that it is already happening, in some form, all across our nation and our world. It is both a warning and a warped mirror, a plea and a primal scream. When the curtain falls, or you reach the last page, it will leave you changed. ”
  • Paul Donnelly:
    2 Jun. 2023
    “ This is a simply and utterly devastating play. And I mean that as a salute to its power, its craft, its gripping narrative. The harrowing loss of a child is made all the more horrific by the discovery that the child's identity and their physical person have been violated. What is also devastating is the way that this play functions as a cautionary tale. The seizure of power by religious extremists and the erasure of trans people seems entirely possible in our current political climate. I say this as one who lives in Florida. ”
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At minimum:
Female presenting actors: 6
Trans male actors: 2
•
THE WIFE, THE WOMAN and THE SON cannot be doubled.
•
THE WIFE: A teacher in her 40s. Cis-female. Married to THE WOMAN. “Mumma” to THE SON.
THE SON: A boy of 9. Trans male. Child of THE WOMAN and THE WIFE.
THE GRANDMOTHER: A stern woman in her 70s/80s. Cis-female. THE WOMAN’s mother and THE SON’s grandmother. Also plays THE OLDER ATTENDEE and others.
THE WOMAN: An attorney in her 40s. Cis-female. Married to THE WIFE, birth mother/ “mommy” of THE SON.
AIRPORT SECURITY: Firm but helpful. Cis-female.
MILITARY OFFICER: High ranking US military field officer. Cis-female.
GATE AGENT: Cis-female.
PASSENGER #1: Entitled. Any gender.
PASSENGER #2: No-nonsense. Cis-female.
STATE DEPARTMENT REP: Official but helpful. Female.
INTERPOL LIAISON: Also plays Support Group Member.
ICMP LIAISON: Also plays Support Group Member.
UNHRC LIAISON: Also plays Support Group Member.
UNODC LIAISON: Also plays Support Group Member.
THE LEADER: Support group leader.
Also plays one of the Liaisons.
THE FRIEND: A cis-het woman in the support group.
Also plays one of the Liaisons.
THE FATHER: A trans man separated from their family, in the support group.
Also plays one of the Liaisons and others.
THE OLDER ATTENDEE: An older woman in the support group.
Also plays one of the Liaisons. Played by THE GRANDMOTHER
AIRPORT WORKER: Not played by AIRPORT SECURITY.
MALE AIRPORT SECURITY: Played by THE FATHER
THE MAN: A white man in his late 30s or older, even much older. Played by THE FATHER.
•
Doubling can occur between but not within the following blocks.
Some suggestions and preferences are listed.
•
•
Doubling Block #1*
AIRPORT SECURITY
MILITARY OFFICER
GATE AGENT
PASSENGER #1 (can be played by THE FATHER)
PASSENGER #2 (can be played by THE GRANDMOTHER)
Also double as TRAVERERS (non-speaking)
•
Doubling Block #2
STATE DEPARTMENT REP
ICMP LIAISON
UNHRC LIAISON
UNODC LIAISON
INTERPOL LIAISON
•
Doubling Block #3
THE LEADER
THE FRIEND
THE FATHER
THE OLDER ATTENDEE (played by THE GRANDMOTHER)
•
Doubling Block #4
AIRPORT WORKER (not AIRPORT SECURITY)
MALE AIRPORT SECURITY (played by THE FATHER)