Winter People by Laura Neill

[O'Neill National Playwrights' Conference] The Hamptons. The dead cold of March. A giant beach mansion burns down--and someone local will take the blame. Economic and racial tensions rise, a witch-hunt begins, and the lives of five local Long Island families start falling to pieces (if they were ever whole). Each actor plays an entire family In this love-hate letter to a complicated community.
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Reading List

Winter People

Recommended by

  • Abraham Johnson:
    28 Mar. 2023
    “ Deeply theatrical with a dreamy backdrop and some huge retina-burn moments (Claudia's "Spring" moment??? Wreck me!), this play is sharply crafted and inventive as the 5 families blur across generations. The stakes are driven by the wonderful drama of the mansion fire and the racial/financial tensions it inspires, but even more driven by these 5 teenagers standing on the edges of themselves, confronted with decisions so beyond their years. Nuanced. Intentional. Really, really smart writing. I love this play! College programs would be especially wise to produce it! ”
  • Ryan Dumas:
    3 Mar. 2021
    “ How do our actions, even without our knowledge, shape the fortunes and futures of others? Just how easy is it to act selfishly, without regard to how our actions will effect someone else?

    By looking at the social strati between "Locals," Laura is able to confront privilege in really subtle and varied ways. The conceit of using five women to play all the characters also made sense to me—it unites everyone in the play through their embodiment. I was struck by the idea that one major event can have incredibly wide-reaching consequences, which people respond to differently. ”
  • Noel VanDenBosch:
    28 Nov. 2020
    “ This script wants to be on a stage. Great roles for 5 women/non-binary actors to dig into, as they play different people in their families throughout the show. ”
View all 7 recommendations

Character Information

Each family is played by a single actor (cast of 5).
Heritage is everything, here, or has been.
All parts should be cast with young women+ or non-binary actors.

  • Taylor
    18,
    Black
    ,
    woman
    A smart and trying-not-to-be-anxious young woman who wants to figure out who she is and hopes college is The Answer. As her mom expected, she won the big local scholarship.
    Also plays LYNN, she/her, 40s (mother).
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Cat
    18,
    White
    ,
    woman
    A well-off and sheltered young woman who wishes she could escape the expectations of her "Village Supervisor" father and settler ancestors. Also plays ROB, M, 20s (cousin) and LUKE, M, 20s (cousin).
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Raven
    19,
    indigenous - Shinnecock
    ,
    woman
    A rebellious and creative young woman who plays with fire and choreographs her own songs. Mourning her mother. Tries very hard not to shoulder others' problems because that's all her father does.
    Also plays JASON, he/him, 40s (father).
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Claudia
    18,
    Latina - Salvadoran American
    ,
    woman
    A trying-to-be-hopeful young woman who is trying to balance her love of the ocean with her hatred of old white people laughing at her parents and also teen hormones and also fear of her dad getting deported.
    Also plays RAÚL, he/him, 40s (father) and PATRICIA, she/her, 40s (mother).
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Haley
    18,
    White
    ,
    woman
    A desperate young woman who really, really does not want to be pregnant and end up like her single mother but... well. That's happening, and she's not handling it well. Also plays SUE, W, 30s (mother) and SHAUN, M, 30s (cousin).
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    O'Neill National Playwrights Conference
    ,
    2019
  • Workshop
    ,
    Boston Playwrights' Theatre
    ,
    2018

Awards

Selection
,
O'Neill National Playwrights Conference
,
2019