Halftime with Don

by Ken Weitzman

Retired NFL player Don Devers has had more surgeries than he can count, experiences violent outbursts, and relies on Post-It notes to offset his struggle with traumatic brain injury. Just when things seem their darkest, a desperate longtime fan arrives at his doorstep. With the help of Don’s daughter Stephanie and Ed’s wife Sarah, both pregnant and plotting from the sidelines, the fan and his hero discover they...

Retired NFL player Don Devers has had more surgeries than he can count, experiences violent outbursts, and relies on Post-It notes to offset his struggle with traumatic brain injury. Just when things seem their darkest, a desperate longtime fan arrives at his doorstep. With the help of Don’s daughter Stephanie and Ed’s wife Sarah, both pregnant and plotting from the sidelines, the fan and his hero discover they may be able to help one another in a way that neither of them could possibly expect.

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Halftime with Don

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear: Halftime with Don by Ken Weitzman
    “

    A testimony to the power of connection to heal in the darkest of times and often unexpectedly. Beautiful, moving work.

    A testimony to the power of connection to heal in the darkest of times and often unexpectedly. Beautiful, moving work.

    ”
Casting: Any ethnicity, race, etc. For Don, do look at the makeup of the NFL.

Don Devers: ex-NLF player. Mid-50s. Big personality. Charming. Which can turn on a dime to volcanic anger. He never gives in to pain or even a shred of self-pity.
**Don need not be huge by today's NFL standards. He was a defensive back in the 80s. Different time,
different bodies.

Stephanie Devers: Early to mid-30s. Don's daughter. Pregnant, almost due. Tough, crass, unapologetic, but, of course, vulnerable beneath it.

Ed Ryan: 40. Trying, trying so hard, never stops trying. Battling to still believe. Awed by Don. Married to Sarah.

Sarah Ryan: Mid-30s. Pregnant, mid-second trimester. Married to Ed. Trying so hard to be supportive, to encourage and urge Ed along, and to cover her panic.

Development History

  • Reading, Theatre Lab at FAU, 2016
  • Reading, Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, National Playwrights Conference, 2015
  • Workshop, PlayLabs at the Playwrights' Center, 2015
  • Reading, City Theatre Company, MOMENTUM New Play Festival, 2014
  • Reading, Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre, 2014
  • Reading, Playwrights Horizons, 2014
  • Reading, Premiere Stages at Kean University, 2014
  • Reading, Lark Play Development Center (Roundtable reading), 2013

Production History

  • Professional, B Street Theatre (NNPN Rolling World Premiere), 2017
  • Professional, NJ Repertory Company (NNPN Rolling World Premiere), 2017
  • Professional, Phoenix Theatre (NNPN Rolling World Premiere), 2017