To Tread Among Serpents

Winner - Southern Playwrights Competition
Semi-Finalist - O'Neill

FULL LENGTH 65 pgs - In 1959, a New York reporter is sent deep into Southern Appalachia to cover the gruesome ax murders of two men. What she finds is a publishing jackpot - a confessed killer with cover girl appeal. An escalating battle for control emerges when the women’s dual pursuit of illicit wealth and lurid...
Winner - Southern Playwrights Competition
Semi-Finalist - O'Neill

FULL LENGTH 65 pgs - In 1959, a New York reporter is sent deep into Southern Appalachia to cover the gruesome ax murders of two men. What she finds is a publishing jackpot - a confessed killer with cover girl appeal. An escalating battle for control emerges when the women’s dual pursuit of illicit wealth and lurid public adoration brings out the Devil in them both.
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To Tread Among Serpents

Recommended by

  • Daniel Prillaman:
    6 Feb. 2024
    Like water evaporating from the ground in the Alabama heat, this play rises steadily from the pages straight into your mind. McBurnette-Andronicos' worldbuilding is so strong and atmospheric that I had to literally check, then remind myself several times, that the characters depicted were not, in fact, real people. They feel SO real and full of history. An incredible descent into humanity's obsession with spectacle, violence, religion, sex, and everything in-between, I'm astonished by this play, and you will be too.
  • George Sapio:
    15 Aug. 2022
    An outstanding play. Tense, suspenseful, incisive and chilling characterization. Nothing is obvious and the plot turns with devastating effect. Do NOT get involved.
  • Doug DeVita:
    31 Mar. 2021
    Purple prose and yellow journalism are used to deliciously lurid effect in this endlessly fascinating southern gothic mystery/thriller. McBurnette-Andronicos builds the tension slowly and surely, every now and then throwing in a curve ball to keep us off balance, and ultimately delivers a completely satisfying, sensationally entertaining piece of period Americana, except this sure as hell ain’t Mayberry. I loved every colorful word.

Character Information

  • VIOLET HAIGHT
    30s,
    Female
    Pig farmer and murder suspect.
  • JUANITA “JC” COHEN
    30s and up,
    Female
    Ambitious New York reporter.
  • JASPER “JUNIOR” SCROGGINS
    40s and up,
    Male
    Small town sheriff.
  • JANITOR
    30s and up,
    Female
    Low-level hustler working the county jail. Grandmother of Lulu Lemoine.
  • LULU LEMOINE
    30s and up,
    Female
    West Coast attorney and granddaughter of the janitor.

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Curtis Theatre
    ,
    2023
  • Reading
    ,
    Clamour Theatre
    ,
    2020
  • Reading
    ,
    Barter Theatre
    ,
    2016
  • Reading
    ,
    Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette
    ,
    2014

Production History

  • Professional
    ,
    Third Stone Theatre Company at HB Playwrights Theatre NYC
    ,
    2022
  • University
    ,
    Jacksonville State University
    ,
    2015

Awards

Finalist
,
TNT POPS! New Play Project
,
Texas Nonprofit Theatres
,
2016
Semi-Finalist
,
O'Neill National Playwrights Conference
,
Eugene O'Neill Theater Center
,
2016
Dionysia New Play Competition
,
Khaos Company Theatre
,
2015
Finalist
,
The Green House
,
Strange Sun Theatre
,
2015
Semi-Finalist
,
Dionysos Cup Festival of New Plays
,
Polarity Ensemble Theatre
,
2015
Semi-Finalist
,
New American Voices Play Reading Series
,
The Landing Theatre Company
,
2015
Semi-Finalist
,
New Play Festival
,
Centre Stage
,
2015
Semi-Finalist
,
New Play Reading Series
,
New Origins Theatre Company
,
2015
Winner
,
Southern Playwrights Competition
,
Jacksonville State University
,
2014
Winner
,
World Premiere Staged Reading of a New Play
,
Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette
,
2014
Finalist
,
Summer Scribes Series
,
12 Peers Theatre
,
2014
Semi-Finalist
,
Br!nk Award
,
Renaissance Theaterworks
,
2014