Voir Dire by Carissa Atallah

Have you, or anyone close to you, been sexually assaulted in your lifetime?
“Voir Dire”, a Kennedy Center award-nominated short play, follows a diverse set of women as they are interviewed for jury duty on a sexual assault case in New York City. Winner of the 45th Annual Samuel French Off Off Broadway Theater Festival. Available through Concord Theatricals.
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Voir Dire

Recommended by

  • Shaun Leisher:
    3 Oct. 2020
    “ The framing device for this play is brilliant. So much is packed into this 10 minute play but it all fits so perfectly. The way Atallah looks at the different ways women deal with sexual assault is so powerful. I was stunned by the end of this play and then the anger came. ”
  • George Sapio:
    30 Aug. 2020
    “ There's an awful lot in this short play to think about. As soon as one speech ends, another drops in to challenge your opinions, feelings, and views of who we are what happens to some of us--more than we want to confront. A perfect candidate for productions in serious festivals everywhere. ”
  • Rachel Bublitz:
    24 Aug. 2020
    “ An unflinching look at women and the experiences the vast majority of us are forced to endure. VOIR DIRE is quite brilliant in structure and use of overlap. Incredible work. ”
View all 5 recommendations

Character Information

Woman-identifying Spanish speaker required.

  • Woman 4
    20's + ,
    Latinx
    ,
    woman
    A woman claiming her voice.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Woman 3
    20's + ,
    Any
    ,
    woman
    A confident New Yorker.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Woman 2
    Late teens - 20's ,
    Any
    ,
    woman
    A university student figuring life out.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Woman 1
    20's + ,
    Any
    ,
    woman
    A devout Christian, wife, and mother.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Government Worker
    20's + ,
    Any
    ,
    Any
    A bored government worker.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender

Development History

  • Workshop
    ,
    The University of California Riverside
    ,
    2018

Production History

  • University
    ,
    The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Regionals
    ,
    2019
  • Professional
    ,
    The Kennedy Center
    ,
    2019
  • Professional
    ,
    The Los Angeles Collegiate Playwrights Festival
    ,
    2019
  • University
    ,
    Playworks at The University of California Riverside
    ,
    2018

Awards

Winner
,
The 45th Annual Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival
,
Concord Theatricals
,
2020
Finalist
,
The Gary Garrison National Ten-Minute Play Award
,
The Kennedy Center
,
2019