Persephone by Jennifer O'Grady

Published in THE BEST NEW TEN-MINUTE PLAYS 2019 (Applause)

(10 Min) A modern riff on the myth of Persephone, forced to leave her family behind forever. This Persephone returns to give her small child an unusual gift--a new mom.
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Persephone

Recommended by

  • Lucy Wang:
    16 Oct. 2021
    “ What a gorgeous play. Love is about the doing, and O'Grady has done it!! O'Grady has written an imaginative play as timeless and beautiful as the myth of Persephone itself. Brava. ”
  • Elisabeth Giffin Speckman:
    25 Jun. 2021
    “ An astonishingly beautiful play. Moving, poetic, real, and raw, this play deserves production after production. ”
  • Natalia Lugo:
    2 Feb. 2021
    “ Utilizing Greek Mythology in plays can be so exciting to witness. The fourth wall is broken masterfully throughout your writing! I was never once bored when reading this piece because of how outside-the-box its concept could be when staged. ”
View all 27 recommendations

Character Information

  • Persephone
    30s.
    Deceased.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Laurence
    30s.
    Her husband.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Ellen
    30s.
    Her friend.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Jill
    60s.
    Her mother.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    WineBox Players
    ,
    2020

Production History

  • Professional
    ,
    Spark Creative Works (NY)
    ,
    2021
  • Professional
    ,
    Lionheart Theatre Company (GA)
    ,
    2021
  • University
    ,
    El Camino College (CA)
    ,
    2020
  • Professional
    ,
    Lowell Arts Theater (MI)
    ,
    2019
  • Professional
    ,
    The Hive Collaborative (UT)
    ,
    2019
  • Professional
    ,
    Heartland Theatre Company (IL)
    ,
    2018

Awards

Publication, The Best New Ten-Minute Plays 2019
,
Applause Theater & Cinema Books
,
2019
Winner
,
Playbytes by Playwrights Ten-Minute Play Contest
,
Lowell Arts Theater
,
2019
Winner
,
The Ten Show Contest
,
The Hive Collaborative
,
2019
Winner
,
10-Minute Play Contest
,
Heartland Theatre Company
,
2018