Pre-War

Winner of Stage It! 10-Minute Play Contest and published in STAGE IT! 3

(10 Min) Traumatized by a recent loss, Elena finds it hard to leave her NYC apartment until she meets Clara, her older Czechoslovakian neighbor, and the women discover they have more in common than they realized.
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Pre-War

Recommended by

  • Scott Sickles:
    7 Sep. 2023
    I have a basic philosophy about healing and suffering. The examples change but it’s basically, “Your apocalypse doens’t make my paper cut hurt less.” People who’ve endured hardship in the past often push their resilience onto those enduring present pain. We can’t foist our paneceas on other people’s wounds.

    However…

    We can pass along our experiences and encourage the best.

    PRE-WAR presents two survivors. O’Grady sheds just enough light on thier lives to inspire them to share more with each other, showing how history and simple gestures can heal great wounds.
  • James McLindon:
    7 Sep. 2023
    A delicate, beautiful play that slowly unfolds as two women, separated by background and age, learn how much they have in common, and how they can help each other.
  • Morey Norkin:
    5 Aug. 2023
    A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. For Elena, the journey outside her apartment and back into life is overwhelming since suffering a tragic loss. A hallway encounter with her neighbor could be the key to opening new doors. Jennifer O’Grady has beautifully crafted this tender story of loss and trauma and, ultimately, hope. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to see this in September 2023 as presented by PlayZoomers.

Character Information

  • Elena
    31
  • Clara
    79,
    Czechoslovakian.

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    PlayZoomers
    ,
    2022
  • Reading
    ,
    Plays for Us Series, The Actors Center
    ,
    2020
  • Reading
    ,
    29th Street Playwrights Collective: SHE Plays
    ,
    2019
  • Reading
    ,
    13th Street Repertory Theatre (NYC)
    ,
    2016

Production History

  • Community Theater
    ,
    Silver Theater Productions, Firehouse Center for the Arts (MA)
    ,
    2024
  • Professional
    ,
    PlayZoomers
    ,
    2023
  • Professional
    ,
    Stage It! Ten-Minute Play Festival, Center for the Arts Bonita Springs, FL
    ,
    2019

Awards

Honorable Mention
,
Playwrights' CageMatch
,
Town Hall Theatre
,
2019
Publication--Stage It 3: Twenty Ten-Minute Plays
,
Bonita Springs Center for the Arts
,
2019
Winner
,
Stage It! Ten-Minute Play Contest
,
Bonita Springs Center for the Arts
,
2019
Selection
,
SHE Plays
,
29th Street Playwrights Collective
,
2019
Selection
,
In Her Name Festival
,
13th Street Theater
,
2016