Songbird by Rachel Luann Strayer

FULL-LENGTH PLAY WITH SONGS. 2022 Henley Rose Playwriting Competition for Women Finalist.

Jess is an up-and-coming singer/songwriter who destroys her career when she inexplicably goes mute. Her sister, Brit, decides a trip to their old family beach house will get Jess to open up, but she doesn't expect Jess to make friends with the troubled young teenager who breaks into their home. As signs...
FULL-LENGTH PLAY WITH SONGS. 2022 Henley Rose Playwriting Competition for Women Finalist.

Jess is an up-and-coming singer/songwriter who destroys her career when she inexplicably goes mute. Her sister, Brit, decides a trip to their old family beach house will get Jess to open up, but she doesn't expect Jess to make friends with the troubled young teenager who breaks into their home. As signs of abuse show up on the face of her new friend, Jess knows there are words that need to be spoken; she's just hoping she knows the right ones to say.
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Songbird

Recommended by

  • Tyler Joseph Rossi:
    24 Jun. 2020
    “ There is music in silence. This piece highlights that duality - the beauty and life of music and the pain of what is left unsaid. Themes of trauma and abuse are tackled with grace and real humanity. It's got a few really good, hard, dramatic punches that really land. Boy, do they land. Strayer really has a home run on her hands here. ”
  • Nick Malakhow:
    16 Mar. 2020
    “ I love the way that Strayer weaves back and forth through time. These shifts structure the play, keep the tension high, and elegantly reveal the truth behind Jess' selective mutism. All of the characters are well-defined and sympathetic. I rooted for both Brit and Jess even as they bristled against one another. An 11th hour betrayal hits hard and potently motivates Jess' response to trauma. While Strayer tackles weighty issues like abuse, assault, and trauma, there is a great deal of hope and humor in this piece to keep it human. Lastly, the songs are absolutely beautiful! ”
  • Claudia Haas:
    22 Feb. 2020
    “ So many layers of me, too, child abuse, and silence. Silence as protection, silence as a weapon. Quick moving, honest, and searing, there is a lot to be uncovered here. A song can be more honest than a confession. A song heightens a reality. A song can tell a truth. A song heightens reality. And one must choose the words of a song carefully. A poignant look at coping when your world is shattered. ”
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Character Information

  • Jess
    20-35,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    The actor playing Jess should be able to sing well.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Brit
    30-45,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    The actor playing Brit should at least appear to be 5-10 years older than Jess.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Harry
    20-39,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    The actor playing Harry should look about the same age as the actor playing Jess.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Boy
    12-13,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Man
    30+,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male

Development History

Awards

Finalist
,
Henley Rose Playwriting Competition for Women
,
2022