THE DELAYS by Sara Jean Accuardi

[full length] In an airport, where everyone's busy going somewhere, THE DELAYS focuses on a group going nowhere. A play about the small moments that connect us. Winner of the 2019 Drammy Award for Outstanding Original Script.

“It’s a moving, well-crafted play that shows how easy it is to get trapped… I enjoyed THE DELAYS immensely. Accuardi’s writing is sharp, and I love her decision to...
[full length] In an airport, where everyone's busy going somewhere, THE DELAYS focuses on a group going nowhere. A play about the small moments that connect us. Winner of the 2019 Drammy Award for Outstanding Original Script.

“It’s a moving, well-crafted play that shows how easy it is to get trapped… I enjoyed THE DELAYS immensely. Accuardi’s writing is sharp, and I love her decision to reveal the characters’ lives in reverse. Somehow, knowing the end makes the journey even more poignant.” – Krista Garver, Broadway World

“Accuardi's play is both new and a masterpiece... It takes regret and satisfaction, pain and joy, and fuses them together to create a tapestry of spectacularly honest stories and characterizations." - Bennett Campbell Ferguson, Willamette Week
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THE DELAYS

Recommended by

  • Nick Malakhow:
    19 Oct. 2023
    “ What a tightly, cleanly structured play that zeroes in on a profoundly interesting constellation of people. Accuardi illustrates the interconnectedness of humanity and other major themes--upward mobility, identity, the ways people tie socio-economic class to self worth, definitions of home--in a series of well-observed and intricately detailed scenes. While the focus here is definitely on drawing vivid characters, forward momentum of narrative and theme (using the word "forward" is ironic with the backwards chronology, of course!) is never sacrificed. A play of real beauty and subtlety. ”
  • Aly Kantor:
    4 Oct. 2023
    “ There is a gorgeous, almost voyeuristic feel to this play—at moments, I really felt like I was eavesdropping on conversations in an airport terminal. It has a simple but sublime structure, going back in time with each act, providing a little more context for the one that came before. Nothing extravagant happens (which, I'd argue, is the conceit - a story about the only people in an airport who never go anywhere), and yet I found myself utterly riveted. The moment the three timelines come full circle is magical, and the doubling is brilliant. A surprisingly efficient, moving play. ”
  • Cheryl Bear:
    23 Jan. 2021
    “ A terrific capture of life in its reality. Wanting to take off, but sometimes getting stuck or tangled. Well done. ”
View all 7 recommendations

Character Information

  • ANDREAS
    Hasn't been out of high school for very long
    The actor who plays Andreas doubles as THE TRAVELER.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • THALIA
    Older than Andreas, then not
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • HASKELL
    Older than she looks
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • FRANK
    Around Thalia's age
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • SHELBY
    A little younger than Frank
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • CADEN
    Also around Thalia's age
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male

Development History

  • Commission
    ,
    Theatre Vertigo
    ,
    2018

Production History

  • University
    ,
    Ball State University
    ,
    2021
  • Professional
    ,
    Theatre Vertigo
    ,
    2019

Awards

Finalist
,
Angus Bowmer Award in Drama
,
Oregon Book Awards
,
2021
Finalist
,
21st Century Voices New Play Festival
,
American Stage
,
2020
Semi-Finalist
,
The Working Farm Residency
,
SPACE on Ryder Farm
,
2020
Winner
,
Best Original Script
,
The Drammy Awards
,
2019