Rocket Sex Magic by David Lee White

In 1947, Jack Parsons came up with a plan to change the world using rocketships, ancient sorcery and group sex.

It worked.

Windom (Winnie) Wayland is a psychoanalyst living on a desert military base near Pasadena, California with his wife Betty. He struggles with marital strife, a suicidal patient, and the desire to live a more “normal” life. His world is turned upside-down when...
In 1947, Jack Parsons came up with a plan to change the world using rocketships, ancient sorcery and group sex.

It worked.

Windom (Winnie) Wayland is a psychoanalyst living on a desert military base near Pasadena, California with his wife Betty. He struggles with marital strife, a suicidal patient, and the desire to live a more “normal” life. His world is turned upside-down when the military asks him to evaluate Jack Parsons – a rocket scientist with dreams of space travel who his responsible for some major technological breakthroughs. After his first meeting with Parsons, Winnie is whisked away into a world of the occult, mysterious phenomena, and sexual promiscuity that threatens to redefine the world he thought he knew.
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Rocket Sex Magic

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear:
    11 Apr. 2021
    “ A fascinating journey into an unknown world that will forever change ones outlook. Well done. ”
  • Donna Hoke:
    18 Feb. 2019
    “ All that is commonplace and accepted now was once unproven and beyond belief. Here, White deftly--and with great humor and theatricality--juxtaposes all that fell into that category in the pre-moon landing days with what defies belief and acceptance in today's world. And then he reminds us that it's been fifty years since the moon landing, and we're still still unwilling to think beyond what we know. ”
  • Quinn Xavier Hernandez:
    7 Sep. 2018
    “ David Lee White takes the abnormal and strange masterfully in his hands to make what could be an otherwise mundane moment of history (and subject matter) something full of life and wonder. ROCKET SEX MAGIC has a lot of heart and is certainly a wild ride that no audience member will forget. #PlaywrightPlug ”
View all 7 recommendations

Character Information

  • Winnie
    30s-40s,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    A psychoanalyst working with the military
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • Liz
    30s-40s,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Winnie and Betty’s neighbor. Kind hearted, curious, from Appalachia. Desperately in love with Betty. The same actress also plays MOON.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Jack Parsons
    30s-40s,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Founder of the Jet Propulsion Lab and a dedicated occultist
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male, Non-binary
  • Cameron
    mid-30s,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    (aka Marjorie Cameron) – Mid-30s, Parsons’ wife, an actress and the future leader of the New Age Movement. Same actress also plays BABYLON
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Betty
    30s-40s,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Married to Winnie, smart, out-spoken. The same actress also plays SUN.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Agent Durwood
    40s - 50s,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Middle-aged, experienced, FBI agent. Same actor plays the roles of PAN and DOPPELGANGER
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Agent Curtis
    20s,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Younger, inexperienced FBI agent. Male, but could also be played by a woman or non-binary actor. Same actor plays HANNEMAN and GRADY.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Bristol-Riverside Theatre - America Rising series
    ,
    2022
  • Reading
    ,
    Writer's Theatre of New Jersey
    ,
    2017