Super, or, How Clark Graves Learned to Fly

SUPER, OR, HOW CLARK GRAVES LEARNED TO FLY is about the shrinking of the middle class as seen through the eyes of a typical American Family –The Graves. Father Samuel has lost his once thriving construction business, forcing the family to downsize significantly. Each member is coping with their personal loss of power differently; Mother Mary is addicted to scratch-off lotto tickets, sister Dot cannot stop...
SUPER, OR, HOW CLARK GRAVES LEARNED TO FLY is about the shrinking of the middle class as seen through the eyes of a typical American Family –The Graves. Father Samuel has lost his once thriving construction business, forcing the family to downsize significantly. Each member is coping with their personal loss of power differently; Mother Mary is addicted to scratch-off lotto tickets, sister Dot cannot stop picking her skin, Father Samuel has gotten mean and Clark –well, Clark is trying to be everyone’s hero, including his new girlfriend, Laney.

When Laney’s dreams of running away begin to seem like they’ll become a reality, Clark must choose between his family and his chance at happiness. Intercut with scenes from Clark’s comic book world, Super, or, How Clark Graves Learned to Fly explores the increasing hunger crisis as it spreads across America, asking the questions How do we learn to Fly? and What does it really mean to be Super?
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Super, or, How Clark Graves Learned to Fly

Recommended by

  • Nick Malakhow:
    7 Apr. 2020
    Absolutely amazing! I've read/seen several plays that use superhero/comic tropes and motifs, and this is surely top of its genre! Femia deftly utilizes the conventions of the comic world to explore what happens when your real-life mentors' character flaws just might outweigh their positive qualities, mental health, hunger, compulsions and addictions, and living through and overcoming family trauma. Double-casting is done with deft skill, and the dialogue--not a word of it wasted--is absolutely propulsive and dynamic. The ending is unexpected and nuanced, much like the entire play. How I'd love to see this wonderful piece onstage!
  • Lainie Vansant:
    13 Jun. 2019
    This play is beautiful and engaging from beginning to end. The characters' backgrounds are rich and deep, and Femia reveals their stories in little slices that leave the reader hungry for more. The characters are engaging, the questions are big, and the play in general is going to haunt me for a while. Someone get this script a production, STAT!
  • Rachael Carnes:
    15 Nov. 2018
    This play is just gorgeous. Wow. Love how Femia defines and builds these characters with nuance and flaws and lets them stumble and shine. Love how we move in and out of a colorful comic book language and into something that feels hyper realistic, a reminder that we’re all leaping tall buildings in a single bound... just to get through life. This play would be a delight to see staged, with wonderful opportunities for actors and designers alike.

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Fractal Productions
    ,
    2017
  • Reading
    ,
    Playhouse on Park
    ,
    2016
  • Reading
    ,
    Virginia Stage Company
    ,
    2015
  • Reading
    ,
    March Forth Productions
    ,
    2015
  • Reading
    ,
    Hub-Bub, New Plays Exchange
    ,
    2014
  • Reading
    ,
    New Georges
    ,
    2014
  • Reading
    ,
    Samuel French
    ,
    2013

Awards

Semi-Finalist
,
Gulfshore Playhouse
,
2016
Finalist
,
Trustus Theatre
,
2015
Finalist
,
Theatricum Botanicum
,
2015
Finalist
,
NEWvember
,
2015
Semi-Finalist
,
Summer Playwrights' Conference
,
The O'Neill
,
2014
Semi-Finalist
,
The Princess Grace Award
,
2014