alex getting better by Audrey Lang

College sophomore Alex tries to sort through the reemergence of an old trauma as she spends time with middle school friends, revisits former stomping grounds, and with help from her therapist, finds the words for what happened to her in seventh grade.
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alex getting better

Recommended by

  • Shaun Leisher:
    17 Jun. 2020
    “ This is a play for the #metoo era unlike any other play I've ever read about this time in history. It's important that we never know the details of what happened to these women in middle school. We don't need to know the details. We just need to know a male student did something awful to them and they are all still dealing with it in their own ways. I hope people will produce this play and not focus on what the man does and try judge it's severity but just believe women and give them the help they need. ”
  • Rachael Powles:
    16 May. 2020
    “ I saw alex getting better in performance over a year ago and I've been thinking about it ever since. As we battle through this new era of recognizing sexual abuse in all forms, it is easy to forget the smaller stories. We read the headlines and the trending hashtags, but we don’t see the young girls sitting in circles at slumber parties wondering if what they felt was wrong. This play reminds us that what feels like the most insignificant battles can be the noblest and that only the long road to getting better, every victory counts. ”
  • Brad Dell:
    2 Mar. 2020
    “ An intense, "me too" era drama, sizzling with complexity and nuance. A perfect play for high school or college performers. It really delves into the many ways that victims remember and deal with their trauma. So grateful to be including this in Iowa State University's Student Directed One Act Festival! ”
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Character Information

When alex getting better has been performed in the past, each character has been played by a different actor; however, if necessary, the roles of Jennie, Ruthie, and Hallie could theoretically be played by the same actor as long as it is made completely clear that they are different people. Depending on the staging of the production, I feel there is also room to include an optional Girl/Young Alex type of character who is present at particular moments, but does not have any spoken lines.

  • Alex
    18+ to play 19,
    Any race / ethnicity
    ,
    Female-identifying
    19, female-identifying, any ethnicity, anxious and confused but trying to figure things out.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Jennie
    18+ to play 19,
    Any race / ethnicity
    ,
    Female-identifying
    19, female-identifying, any ethnicity, one of Alex's close friends from middle school, she has EVERYTHING together and she is OKAY.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Ruthie
    18+ to play 19,
    Any race / ethnicity
    ,
    Female-identifying
    19, female-identifying, any ethnicity, Alex's best friend, she's not sure where she is or where she's going.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Hallie
    18+ to play 19,
    Any race / ethnicity
    ,
    Female-identifying
    19, female-identifying, any ethnicity, one of Alex's close friends from middle school, she is ACTUALLY okay.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Jordan
    Early 30s,
    Any race / ethnicity
    ,
    Female-identifying
    Early 30s, female-identifying, any ethnicity, Alex's therapist.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary

Production History

  • University
    ,
    Iowa State University Theatre (cancelled due to COVID-19)
    ,
    2020
  • University
    ,
    independent student production at Ithaca College (dir. Carin Jennie Estey)
    ,
    2018