Juice

by Janet Meyer-Jackman

Set in 1970's Greenwich Village, a young single mother, Juice, struggles to build a new life for her and her daughter, Angel, with the support of her gay friend Patrick. Her estranged mother, Margaret, arrives unannounced, after ten years, for reasons unknown. Juice scurries to hide the fact that Margaret has a granddaughter until she knows why her mother is there. Everything is jeopardized when Bill...

Set in 1970's Greenwich Village, a young single mother, Juice, struggles to build a new life for her and her daughter, Angel, with the support of her gay friend Patrick. Her estranged mother, Margaret, arrives unannounced, after ten years, for reasons unknown. Juice scurries to hide the fact that Margaret has a granddaughter until she knows why her mother is there. Everything is jeopardized when Bill, Margaret’s husband shows up, opening painful truths and long hidden secrets leaving Juice to make a choice to either let go or remain a victim of her past.

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Juice

Recommended by

  • Ryan Vaughan: Juice by Janet Meyer-Jackman
    “

    This piece is real, raw, and packs an emotional wallop. The writing flows easily but you can feel the character's emotions cutting daggers at one another. A very well done piece.

    This piece is real, raw, and packs an emotional wallop. The writing flows easily but you can feel the character's emotions cutting daggers at one another. A very well done piece.

    ”
  • Paul Donnelly: Juice by Janet Meyer-Jackman
    “

    A harrowing portrait of the cumulative effects of levels of dishonesty in a mother-daughter relationship. The unwanted arrival of a husband/step father leads to a cascade of painful revelations. This is a well-wrought and compelling narrative.

    A harrowing portrait of the cumulative effects of levels of dishonesty in a mother-daughter relationship. The unwanted arrival of a husband/step father leads to a cascade of painful revelations. This is a well-wrought and compelling narrative.

    ”
  • Brent Alles: Juice by Janet Meyer-Jackman
    “

    This is a well written play indeed. I'm a sucker for 70's-set New York pieces, so that hooked me right away, and I loved the references to the music, culture, etc. Beyond that, the characters are just engagingly written; you quickly come to care for all of them, and you definitely want to see what's going to be in store for them. And then the ending is a real gut punch, but it's an understandable ending for the story that Meyer-Jackman has created here. Going to be very excited to see how this work continues to develop!

    This is a well written play indeed. I'm a sucker for 70's-set New York pieces, so that hooked me right away, and I loved the references to the music, culture, etc. Beyond that, the characters are just engagingly written; you quickly come to care for all of them, and you definitely want to see what's going to be in store for them. And then the ending is a real gut punch, but it's an understandable ending for the story that Meyer-Jackman has created here. Going to be very excited to see how this work continues to develop!

    ”
View all 4 recommendations

Character Information

Actor cast as Bill also doubles for Male Voice that is off stage.
  • Juice
    Mother, waitress and songwriter.
    26
    a half Latina/half white
    (assigned female at birth - plot relevant) Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Patrick
    Gay Gypsy dancer and bartender.
    Mid-twenties
    A black male
    (assigned male at birth - plot relevant)
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Margaret Stiver
    Mother and housewife.
    Late 40's
    Any but preferably Caucasian
    (assigned female at birth - plot relevant) Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Bill Stiver (doubles as Male Voice)
    Credit Collections Analyst.
    Mid-fifties
    A white male
    (assigned male at birth - plot relevant) Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male

Development History

  • Reading, MIchigan Theatre of Jackson, Inc. , 2023
  • Reading, Concert Reading - Michigan Theatre of Jackson, 2023
  • Reading, States of Play, 2023
  • Reading, Dramatist Guild - End of Play Reading, 2023
  • Reading, Jackson District Library, 2019