The Hall of Final Ruin

by Kelly McBurnette-Andronicos

Finalist - Stowe Story Labs
Semi-finalist - Princess Grace (twice), BAPF Playwrights Foundation, Garry Marshall

FULL LENGTH 97 pgs - Someday, the ‘madrina’ of 19th century Santa Fe would like to die a good Catholic death and be buried in her beloved church, La Parrochia. But Death is coming sooner than she thinks and the arrival of a needy Protestant, a fortune in gold, and the invasion of the American Army...

Finalist - Stowe Story Labs
Semi-finalist - Princess Grace (twice), BAPF Playwrights Foundation, Garry Marshall

FULL LENGTH 97 pgs - Someday, the ‘madrina’ of 19th century Santa Fe would like to die a good Catholic death and be buried in her beloved church, La Parrochia. But Death is coming sooner than she thinks and the arrival of a needy Protestant, a fortune in gold, and the invasion of the American Army complicate her perfect exit into Purgatory. In order to save her family from ruin and earn her way into Heaven, the gambler must orchestrate a final, high-stakes card game in which all is both lost and won.

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The Hall of Final Ruin

Recommended by

  • Nora Louise Syran: The Hall of Final Ruin

    "The Hall of Final Ruin" is utterly captivating. McBurnette-Andronicos gifts the theatre a dynamic all-female cast that masterfully blends historical authenticity with suspense and humor. This is a theatrical treat on so many levels. Rich characterizations, symbolism, atmosphere... The audience will be squirming uncomfortably as they are inevitably charmed by our guide to the underworld Doña Sebastiana. "To know what is to come, you must first know what is." I think I'll go pour myself a bebida alcohólica.

    "The Hall of Final Ruin" is utterly captivating. McBurnette-Andronicos gifts the theatre a dynamic all-female cast that masterfully blends historical authenticity with suspense and humor. This is a theatrical treat on so many levels. Rich characterizations, symbolism, atmosphere... The audience will be squirming uncomfortably as they are inevitably charmed by our guide to the underworld Doña Sebastiana. "To know what is to come, you must first know what is." I think I'll go pour myself a bebida alcohólica.

  • Doug DeVita: The Hall of Final Ruin

    I’m late to the party reading this, but Oh. My. God: Better late than never. McBurnette-Andronicos grabs you from the opening monologue, and you willingly let her take you wherever she wants you to go; from high comedy to dark despair and all points in between, her script is a masterclass in story, structure, and characterization, and is whopping good fun to boot. A funny play about death? Absolutely. And oh, how I want to see it staged. So many wonderfully theatrical possibilities.

    I’m late to the party reading this, but Oh. My. God: Better late than never. McBurnette-Andronicos grabs you from the opening monologue, and you willingly let her take you wherever she wants you to go; from high comedy to dark despair and all points in between, her script is a masterclass in story, structure, and characterization, and is whopping good fun to boot. A funny play about death? Absolutely. And oh, how I want to see it staged. So many wonderfully theatrical possibilities.

  • Rachael Carnes: The Hall of Final Ruin

    Irreverent, humane, profound and profane, McBurnette-Andronicos' play takes us on a sweeping journey through the history of the American Southwest, swinging us into an impasse, the introduction of settler-colonial assimilation over a tight-knit community. With rich detail and historical investigation, balanced by humor and theatricality, this piece resonates with the dynamics of community survival across the ages.

    Irreverent, humane, profound and profane, McBurnette-Andronicos' play takes us on a sweeping journey through the history of the American Southwest, swinging us into an impasse, the introduction of settler-colonial assimilation over a tight-knit community. With rich detail and historical investigation, balanced by humor and theatricality, this piece resonates with the dynamics of community survival across the ages.

View all 17 recommendations

Character Information

  • SISTER JANE
    A hustler and charlatan masquerading as a Protestant missionary, she’s bent on retrieving her lost fortune. Severe appearance, superior attitude, Puritanical sense of right and wrong and dresses the same.
    Character Age
    40s-50s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • DOÑA SEBASTIANA
    The fantastical, whimsical death cart driver on a mission to collect La Tules’ soul. Not bound by time, she is stylized and both traditional and modern.
    Character Age
    Any
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Mexican
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • LA TULES
    Professional gambler, monte dealer, entrepreneur, business woman. Elegant, stoic and calculating, she loads and unloads pistols out of habit. She wants to die well.
    Character Age
    40s-50s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Spanish
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • CARMELITA
    The adopted granddaughter of La Tules, a moody teenager with a penchant for Goth and vintage clothing. She wants to build a ventilated cemetery.
    Character Age
    Late teens
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Hispanic
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • RALLITOS
    The other adopted granddaughter of La Tules. Younger, naïve, and apparently pregnant. She wants a world of infinite romantic possibility.
    Character Age
    Teens
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Hispanic
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • PILAR
    La Tules’ assistant, confidante, and ears in the community. Trafficking in the lucrative trade of information and gossip, she wants a business of her own.
    Character Age
    40s-50s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    native american
    Character Gender Identity
    Female

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Great Plains Theatre Conference, Year 2020
  • Type Reading, Organization Women Playwrights International Conference, Year 2018
  • Type Workshop, Organization Teatro Vivo, Year 2017
  • Type Reading, Organization The Bechdel Group, New York, Year 2015
  • Type Workshop, Organization Something Marvelous Festival of Magical Realism, Chicago, IL , Year 2015

Production History

  • Type Professional, Year 2022
  • Type Community Theater, Organization Something Something Theatre, Year 2019

Awards

  • New Voices New Mexico
    Stowe Story Lab
    Finalist
    2023
  • Playwriting Award
    Stage Raw
    Winner
    2022
  • Princess Grace Playwriting Fellowship Award
    , Princess Grace Foundation
    Semi-Finalist
    2021
  • Garry Marshall Theatre New Works Festival 2020
    Garry Marshall Theatre
    Semi-Finalist
    2020
  • Br!nk Award
    Renaissance Theaterworks
    Winner
    2015
  • New Play Festival
    Tennessee Stage Company
    Finalist
    2016
  • Northeast Indiana Playwrights Festival
    Fort Wayne Civic Theatre
    Finalist
    2015
  • Activate: Midwest New Play Festival
    Western Michigan University
    Finalist
    2016
  • Bay Area Playwrights Festival
    Playwrights Foundation
    Semi-Finalist
    2016
  • Princess Grace Playwriting Fellowship Award
    Princess Grace Foundation
    Semi-Finalist
    2015