Alabaster by Audrey Cefaly

Cast of 4 women | A darkly comic southern drama about love, art, and the power of women. This heart-wrenching story of a reclusive Alabama folk artist won the David Calicchio Emerging American Playwright Prize. After a tornado barrels through town leaving nothing but death and destruction, only June and her pet goat Weezy live to tell the tale. When a prominent photographer visits to take pictures of June’s...
Cast of 4 women | A darkly comic southern drama about love, art, and the power of women. This heart-wrenching story of a reclusive Alabama folk artist won the David Calicchio Emerging American Playwright Prize. After a tornado barrels through town leaving nothing but death and destruction, only June and her pet goat Weezy live to tell the tale. When a prominent photographer visits to take pictures of June’s scars, both are forced to reconcile the pain of loss and recovery. This all-female drama explores the meaning and purpose of art and the struggle of the lost and tortured souls that seek to create it. • Read more about ALABASTER (reviews, pix, upcoming productions): https://www.audreycefaly.com/alabaster-alabamagoatplay • Other plays by Audrey Cefaly: MAYTAG VIRGIN, THE GULF (winner of the 2018 Lammy Award for LGBTQ Drama), THE LAST WIDE OPEN, LOVE IS A BLUE TICK HOUND
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Alabaster

Recommended by

  • Patrick Gabridge:
    6 Jan. 2020
    “ It’s easy to see why this play is getting the huge rolling world premiere it so well deserves. We get deep, deep into these characters, and their wounds and their longing, and loss. There is hope. And even more importantly, it’s one of those scripts that when you read it, you think, “I really want to see this fleshed out on stage, in three dimensions, and see what a great cast and team will do with it.” I hope to see it someday soon. ”
  • Rachael Carnes:
    1 Jan. 2020
    “ I couldn't wait for the Rolling World Premiere at Oregon Contemporary Theatre this season. I had to read this play - now. And what a play! Cefaly dives into grief and its aftereffects with unflinching insight and rewards us throughout with belly-laugh humor. It's breathtaking, heartbreaking, an instant classic. Read it before it disappears from NPX, which I'm sure it will be, snapped up for publication and/or more prizes. This play is an absolute stunner, and a showcase for women actors. Brava! ”
  • Ian Thal:
    28 Dec. 2019
    “ While the emotional journeys of June and Alice are central, it's Cefaly's attention to craft and structure that make the script stand out. The Alabama farmhouse is not an insularity, but intimately connected in surprising ways to a world that also includes NYC and Pakistan. Its themes of trauma and overcoming through acts of creativity are reflected the June's painting, Alice's photojournalism, and Cefaly's own experiments in fourth-wall breaking magical realism and strong sense of mythology. ”
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Character Information

  • June
    30s,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    an artist
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Alice
    30s-40s,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    a photographer
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Weezy
    40s-50s,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    a goat
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s, 50s, 60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Bib
    70s-80s,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    a very old goat

    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      60s, 70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary

Development History

Awards

Selection
,
2019 Kilroys List
,
The Kilroys
,
2019
Selection
,
2018 NNPN Showcase
,
National New Play Network
,
2018