ABIGAIL

When renowned stage diva Savannah Wainscot funds an out-of-town try-out of “The Crucible” hoping to resurrect her once-legendary director husband Ben Meyers’ career, she pushes back when Ben wants to cast Ashley Rose—a beauty influencer with no acting experience—in the role of Abigail, until Ben promises to recruit Broadway star Kai Banks to play Proctor. But as Ashley digs into the history of the play, her...
When renowned stage diva Savannah Wainscot funds an out-of-town try-out of “The Crucible” hoping to resurrect her once-legendary director husband Ben Meyers’ career, she pushes back when Ben wants to cast Ashley Rose—a beauty influencer with no acting experience—in the role of Abigail, until Ben promises to recruit Broadway star Kai Banks to play Proctor. But as Ashley digs into the history of the play, her objections to the play’s misogyny disrupt an early rehearsal. In their private meeting, Ben gets personal, then retaliates by bullying Ashley in front of everyone until Ashley loses it during a rehearsal, upending the play and all its players. ABIGAIL looks at generational differences between women on what constitutes acceptable behavior while exposing how the excuses we make for our revered giants work to perpetuate the cycle of predatory behavior.
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ABIGAIL

Recommended by

  • John Mabey:
    22 Nov. 2023
    This is a an urgent and compelling work of art with layers upon layers of meaning that are revealed throughout. In ABIGAIL by Sarah Tuft, the backdrop of The Crucible connects so vividly and sharply with a modern-day production of that work, bridging together two worlds that aren't so very far apart. With incredible clarity and vision, Tuft brings fresh insight to a classic work while creating a new play that entertains on multiple levels.
  • Karen Saari:
    30 Dec. 2022
    What a compelling piece! More than a generational disagreement, this play forces us to consider the ugly truths that sometimes lie behind our favorite art and artists ... while also taking a look at cancel culture and its implications on art. Taut writing, rich characters ... I didn't just read this play. I devoured it! Would love to see this in production!
  • Atim Udoffia:
    16 Aug. 2022
    Fantastic play. I will never look at The Crucible the same way again. This piece deals with multiple topics and relationships in a nuanced way: social media, gender and power, and the actor-director relationship and the ways it approaches - and then crosses - the line. Plus, what a great role for a young actor to delve into different worlds and spend time with the likes of Abigail Williams on the one hand and Marilyn Monroe on the other!

Character Information

  • ASHLEY ROSE
    21,
    AAPI
    ,
    Cis female
    a beauty influencer
  • BEN MEYERS
    late 50s to early 60s,
    White
    ,
    Cis male
    a theater director
  • SAVANNAH WAINSCOTT
    Late 40s to early 50s,
    White or White-Passing
    ,
    Cis female
    a renowned stage diva
  • KAI BANKS
    30s to early 40s,
    Black
    ,
    Cis male
    a Broadway star

Development History

Awards

Finalist
,
Title Wave New Works Festival
,
Bay Street Theatre
,
2022
Finalist
,
New Plays Festival
,
Broad Horizons Theatre Company
,
2022
Finalist
,
The O'Neill National Playwrights Conference
,
2021
Finalist
,
Ashland New Plays Festival
,
2020
Semi-Finalist
,
Athena Projects Plays in Progress Series
,
2020
Semi-Finalist
,
New American Voices Playwriting Festival
,
The Landing Theatre Company
,
2020