The Reapers On Woodbrook Avenue by Mardee Bennett

Winner of the 2022 Blue Ink Award
Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference Finalist
Seven Devils Playwrights Conference Finalist

Spanning four decades, The Reapers On Woodbrook Avenue traces the Reaper family’s journey from the segregated South to Baltimore during the Great Migration.

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The Reapers On Woodbrook Avenue

Recommended by

  • Emma Goldman-Sherman:
    14 Oct. 2018
    “ I really enjoyed the scope of this play and the characters and all their striving. The multi-generations moving from 1976 to this century in three different times touching on several timely issues felt historical and also mythic yet Bennett keeps the play grounded in American Naturalism. Well done. ”
  • Eugene O'Neill Theater Center:
    27 Apr. 2016
    “ It is the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's pleasure to recommend Mardee Bennett and their play The Reapers On Woodbrook Avenue as a finalist for our 2016 National Playwrights Conference. The play rose through a competitive, anonymous, multileveled selection process that took nearly nine months to execute. As one of 54 finalists out of more than 1,450 submissions, the strength of its writing has allowed this work to prosper in such a competitive selection process. Our readers especially appreciated the deft ear for dialogue and admired the ambition and scope of this work. ”

Character Information

  • Loretta Reaper
    50s,
    African-American
    ,
    (assigned female at birth - plot relevant) Female
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Nell Reaper
    30s,
    African-American
    ,
    (assigned female at birth - plot relevant) Female
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Tamar Reaper
    16,
    African-American
    ,
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Ronald Johnson
    19,
    African-American
    ,
    (assigned male at birth - plot relevant)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Rex
    60s,
    White
    ,
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Corey Reaper Johnson
    22,
    African-American
    ,
    (assigned male at birth - plot relevant)
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Gender: 
      Male

Development History

  • Workshop
    ,
    Signature Theatre
    ,
    2018
  • Workshop
    ,
    Signature Theatre SigWorks - Arlington, VA
    ,
    2017

Awards

Finalist
,
Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center National Playwrights Conference
Finalist
,
Seven Devils Playwrights Conference
Semi-Finalist
,
Prince Grace Awards Playwriting Fellowship
,
New Dramatists