To Tread Among Serpents by Kelly McBurnette-Andronicos

FULL LENGTH - In the summer of 1959, an ambitious magazine reporter is sent deep into Southern Appalachia to cover the gruesome ax murders of two men. The killer, a religious snake handler with shady connections to organized crime, doesn’t resist the writer’s attempts to reinvent her into a sexy, celebrity-like cover girl. An escalating battle for control of the truth emerges when the women’s pursuit of...
FULL LENGTH - In the summer of 1959, an ambitious magazine reporter is sent deep into Southern Appalachia to cover the gruesome ax murders of two men. The killer, a religious snake handler with shady connections to organized crime, doesn’t resist the writer’s attempts to reinvent her into a sexy, celebrity-like cover girl. An escalating battle for control of the truth emerges when the women’s 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

  • Everett Robert:
    11 Jul. 2018
    “ To Tread Among Serpents is a play that should be produced right now, by theaters across the country. A haunting tale that is a pot boiler while also turning the light on those that would profit from horrific tales of true crime that the public feeds on. Less, in my mind, southern Gothic and more Southern Noir, this powerful play weaves a story of religion, small town life, corruption and the destruction of the innocent (and who is innocent) where the snake handling worship is both an inciting factor and metaphor. A must read, a must SEE. ”
  • Dave Osmundsen:
    20 Nov. 2017
    “ An intriguing and atmospheric Southern Gothic story about a gruesome crime in a small Southern community. But beyond that, it tells of how we use and twist the truth to our own advantage. Bleak, but very believable. Two strong female characters at the center, and some opportunities for chilling theatricality. ”
  • Robert Lynn:
    23 Oct. 2017
    “ "To Tread Among Serpents" drops the audience into another place and time, with the deeply drawn characters and attention to detail you would expect from a McBurnette-Andronicos play. A brilliant expose of corruption--not just of the players in the system, but of all people who hide their true intentions for their personal gain. The question of why the killer did it expands into Why are any of them REALLY doing what they are doing? ”
View all 6 recommendations

CHARACTERS
(5 Characters/4 Actors)
In order of appearance

JANITOR: Low-level hustler working the county jail. African American, female.

JASPER “JUNIOR” SCROGGINS: Small town sheriff. White, male.

JUANITA “JC” COHEN: Ambitious New York reporter. White, female.

VIOLET HAIGHT: Pig farmer and murder suspect. White, female.

LULU LEMOINE (played by the actor playing the JANITOR): West Coast attorney and granddaughter of the janitor.

CHORUS
A small chorus to serve as the recorded radio voices and live offstage voices of inmates, worshipers, crowds, judge, juror, courtroom participants, etc.

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Barter Theatre
    ,
    2016
  • Reading
    ,
    Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette
    ,
    2014

Production History

  • 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
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
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
,
Br!nk Award
,
Renaissance Theaterworks
,
2014
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