Pre-War by Jennifer O'Grady

Winner of Stage It! Ten-Minute Play Contest and published in STAGE IT 3: Twenty Ten-Minute Plays

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

Recommended by

  • Charlotte Dougherty:
    10 Nov. 2020
    “ Lovely story, dialogue is simple and powerful. Highly recommend. ”
  • Arianna Rose:
    10 Nov. 2020
    “ A stunningly gorgeous short play about love, loss, and limes. Playwright Jennifer O'Grady creates characters of wonderful breadth and matter-of-factness. So much is revealed in just nine pages. I wanted to join Elena and Clara on their foray, or at least be a voyeur on their path to healing. A must-read. ”
  • Mark V Jones:
    15 Nov. 2019
    “ Very warm, touching story about two women 31 and 79 respectively who have dealt with loss. The younger of the two is still coming to terms with her grief. The simplistically of the older woman’s words and wisdom really helps with the pacing of this heart tugging story. I loved it! ”
View all 11 recommendations

Character Information

  • Elena
    31
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Clara
    79,
    Czechoslovakian.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      White
    • Gender: 
      Female

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

  • 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