Rye Bread by Audrey Lang

Rye (short for Riley) is a precocious sort-of high school graduate, trying to find meaning and purpose in the summer internship she's been forced to do for her cousin Tessa to make up the credit for her failed Econ class. But what meaning and purpose is there really to an office with rats running around and a fellow intern who won't let her so much as sit down at the computer? Her moms "Dr. Kate...
Rye (short for Riley) is a precocious sort-of high school graduate, trying to find meaning and purpose in the summer internship she's been forced to do for her cousin Tessa to make up the credit for her failed Econ class. But what meaning and purpose is there really to an office with rats running around and a fellow intern who won't let her so much as sit down at the computer? Her moms "Dr. Kate" and "Rabbi Rachel" want her to stick it out, but Rye's not sure that even a goal as important as graduating high school can get her through this summer. 
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Rye Bread

Recommended by

  • Lou Baron:
    20 May. 2021
    “ I was lucky enough to watch a reading of Rye Bread this Spring, and it was absolutely delightful! The characters are colorfully drawn and unique, worming their way into my hearts immediately (which especially impressive considering one of them is a real tennis player with anger management issues!). As a young Jewish woman, I felt Rye's reflections on her relationship to Judaism to be fresh and very real. Hilarious and emotional, definitely give this play a read! ”
  • Shaun Leisher:
    15 Jun. 2020
    “ This play tells such a specific story but Lang still is able to make it so relatable. Also, I love how Lang allows the queer couple in the play to just be and not have their queerness be something to overcome. Liked spending time with these marvelously flawed characters. ”
  • Rachael Powles:
    16 May. 2020
    “ Lang curates intensely realistic situations in her writing. Amid her poignant observations and metaphors, she does not lose the beauty of everyday language, from debates over who gets the extra tomatoes from the salad, to who’s responsible for getting rid of the rats in the office to the decadence of pre-dinner ice cream. Rye Bread reminds you that real life is just as complex as the fantastical, a stark reminder in these uncertain times. (read my full review on buzzsawmag.org on May 20th!) ”
View all 4 recommendations

Character Information

(1) Rye can be played by an actor who is female or nonbinary, and the character can be played as female or nonbinary. (She/her pronouns are used in the script, but with permission, those may be changed.)

(2) Dr. Kate and Rachel can be played by female or nonbinary actors, but should be played as characters who identify as women.

(3) Nick Kyrgios must be played by a person of color. All other characters are open ethnicity; Jewish characters need not be white for the story to be understood, and families need not share the same DNA.

(4) Two additional characters, the Chair Umpire and the Commentator, have a few voiceover lines. They can be additional male voice actors, or they could be voiced by the actors playing Dan and Tessa. However, it's preferable that they both be male voices, if possible.

  • Rye
    18,
    Any, half Jewish
    ,
    Female or Non-binary
    18, female or nonbinary, half Jewish. Smart and rebellious, and not sure where to put the energy of both of those traits. Went to Bronx Science.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Tessa
    30,
    Any, Not Jewish
    ,
    Female-identifying
    30, female, not Jewish, Rye's cousin on Dr. Kate's side, a junior accountant living up to expectations a whole lot better than Rye so far.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Rachel
    40s-50s,
    Any, Jewish
    ,
    Female-identifying
    40s-50s, female, Jewish, one of Rye's moms - "Ima," the Hebrew word for "mom." A Reform rabbi. She's more ready to meet a situation where it is, instead of where she'd like it to be.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s, 60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Nick Kyrgios
    25, Array,
    Male-identifying
    25, male, 6'4" so pretty tall. Australian, of Greek and Malaysian descent. A tennis player known for his temper, with a lot more to him than what people talk about.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, South Asian or South Asian American
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Dr. Kate
    40s-50s,
    Any, Not Jewish
    ,
    Female-identifying
    40s-50s, female, not Jewish, one of Rye's moms - "Mom." A psychologist. She's proud of her own accomplishments and has high expectations for her child.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s, 60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Dan
    18,
    Any, Jewish
    ,
    Male-identifying
    18, male, Jewish, Rye's fellow intern, a nice Jewish boy who isn't really that nice. Went to Stuyvesant.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male

Development History

  • Workshop
    ,
    Ithaca College Hillel, dir. Britt Berke
    ,
    2021
  • Reading
    ,
    Theatrists Theatrics
    ,
    2020
  • Reading
    ,
    Sunday Salon @ Green Gables, Ithaca NY
    ,
    2019

Awards

Semi-Finalist
,
Women Are Funny Prize
,
Play-Makers Spokane
,
2020