A Long Trip

by Dan McGeehan

An elderly man desperately attempts to connect with his wife one last time before he loses her completely to dementia. He tells her the story of when they fell in love and does it so vividly she can almost see it.
*Included in The Best American Short Plays 2013-2014 by Applause Books, 2015
*Available through Dramatic Publishing: https://www.dramaticpublishing.com/a-long-trip
An excerpt available here: https:/...

An elderly man desperately attempts to connect with his wife one last time before he loses her completely to dementia. He tells her the story of when they fell in love and does it so vividly she can almost see it.
*Included in The Best American Short Plays 2013-2014 by Applause Books, 2015
*Available through Dramatic Publishing: https://www.dramaticpublishing.com/a-long-trip
An excerpt available here: https://media.dramaticpublishing.com/uploads/products/excerpt_file/626a…

Additionally, A Long Trip was adapted by the playwright as an opera, with music by Jordan Kuspa, which premiered at the Boston Opera Collaborative in January 2023. Inquiries may be sent to the playwright for additional information.

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A Long Trip

Character Information

  • The Woman, Older
    Wife of The Man, Older. She suffers from dementia. Wears a housecoat or robe.
    60+
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • The Man, Older
    Husband of The Woman, Older. Dressed casual.
    60+
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • The Woman, Younger
    Younger version of The Woman, Older. Dressed casual.
    Late teens/early 20s, Female
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • The Man, Younger
    Younger version of The Man, Older. Dressed casual.
    Late teens/early 20s
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man

Production History

  • High School, Churchill High School (Eugene, OR), 2026
  • High School, Jenks High School (Jenks, OK), 2026
  • High School, Standing Bear High School (Lincoln, NE), 2026
  • University, Sterling College (Sterling, KS), 2026
  • Community Theater, The Roxy Theater (Longview, WA), 2025
  • High School, Blue Springs High School (Blue Springs, MO), 2025
  • High School, Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School (Manassas, VA), 2025
  • High School, Eustace High School (Eustace, TX), 2025
  • High School, Greenbrier Christian Academy (Chesapeake, VA), 2025
  • High School, Independence High School (Thompson's Station, TN), 2025
  • High School, Middleton High School (Middleton, UT), 2025
  • High School, Mt. Spokane High School (Mead, WA), 2025
  • High School, Three Rivers Christian School (Longview, WA), 2025
  • High School, Tohopekaliga High School (Kissimmee, FL), 2025
  • Community Theater, Ghostlight Theatre Ensemble (Brentwood, CA), 2024
  • High School, Assumption High School (Davenport, IA), 2024
  • High School, Aztec High School (Aztec, NM), 2024
  • High School, Central High School (Woodstock, VA), 2024
  • High School, Churchill High School (Eugene, OR), 2024
  • High School, Clarke County High School (Berryville, VA), 2024
  • High School, Haverhill High School (Haverhill, MA), 2024
  • High School, Interlochen Center for the Arts (Interlochen, MI), 2024
  • High School, Mead High School (Spokane, WA), 2024
  • High School, North Thurston High School (Lacey, WA), 2024
  • University, Harding University (Searcy, AR), 2024
  • University, University of Central Missouri (Warrensburg, MO), 2024
  • Community Theater, Ashby Ponds Drama Club (Ashburn, VA), 2023
  • Community Theater, T-Bird Community Arts (Gibbon, MN), 2023
  • High School, Berkmar High School (Lilburn, GA), 2023
  • High School, Cameron R-i High School (Cameron, MO), 2023
  • High School, Cascade Junior-Senior High School (Cascade, IA), 2023
  • High School, Central City High School (Central City, IA), 2023
  • High School, Cienega High School (Vail, AZ), 2023
  • High School, Circle High School (Toward, KS), 2023
  • High School, Culpepper County High School (Culpepper, VA), 2023
  • High School, Eau Gallie High School (Melbourne, FL), 2023
  • High School, Homestead High (Cupertino, CA), 2023
  • High School, Maquoketa Valley Senior High School (Delhi, IA), 2023
  • High School, Parkway South High School (Manchester, MO), 2023
  • High School, Rockledge High School (Rockledge, FL), 2023
  • High School, Spooner High School (Spooner, WI), 2023
  • High School, Taylorsville High School (Taylorsville, UT), 2023
  • High School, Waterloo West High School (Waterloo, IA), 2023
  • Community Theater, Darlington Theatre Players (Greenmount, Western Australia), 2022
  • High School, Churchill High School (Eugene, OR), 2022
  • High School, Gateway High School (Aurora, CO), 2022
  • High School, Grinnell Community Senior High School (Grinnell,IA), 2022
  • High School, North Little Rock High School (North Little Rock, AR), 2022
  • High School, Thunder Ridge High School (Idaho Falls, ID), 2022
  • University, East Central College (Union, MO), 2022
  • University, University of Hartford (West Hartford, CT), 2022
  • Community Theater, Archdiocese of St. Louis, 2021
  • Community Theater, Calumet Players (Calumet, MN), 2021
  • High School, Courtland High School (Spotsylvania, VA), 2021
  • High School, Interlochen Center for the Arts (Interlochen, MI), 2021
  • High School, Prior Lake High School (Savage, MN), 2021
  • High School, Richmond Hill High School (Richmond Hill, GA), 2021
  • High School, St. Francis Borgia Regional High School (Washington, MO), 2021
  • University, El Camino Community College (Torrance, CA), 2021
  • University, Illinois College (Jacksonville, IL), 2021
  • Community Theater, Oldham County Arts Center (Crestwood, KY), 2020
  • High School, Air Academy High School (USAFA, CO), 2020
  • High School, Bedford High School (Bedford, IA), 2020
  • High School, Churchill High School (Eugene, OR), 2020
  • High School, Ecole Camrose Composite High School (Camrose, AB), 2020
  • High School, Lindbergh High School (St. Louis, MO), 2020
  • High School, Mariner High School (Everett, WA), 2020
  • Community Theater, Independence Community Theatre (Independence, OH), 2019
  • High School, Lutheran High School (Parker, CO), 2019
  • High School, Ola High School (McDonough, GA), 2019
  • High School, Wichita High School East (Wichita, KS), 2019
  • Professional, Winding Road Theatre Ensemble (Tucson, AZ), 2019
  • University, Culver-Stockton College (Canton, MO), 2019
  • University, Ripon College (Ripon, WI), 2019
  • Professional, Sketchy: London 2018 (London, UK), 2018
  • Professional, St. Sebastian Players (Chicago, IL), 2018
  • Professional, JIB Productions (Westport, CT), 2017
  • Professional, Phoenicia Playhouse (Phoenicia, NY), 2017
  • Professional, Playwrights' Round Table (Orlando, FL), 2017
  • Professional, T. Schreiber Studio, Schreiber Shorts (NYC, NY), 2017
  • University, Harding University (Searcy, AR), 2017
  • High School, Oak Park High School (Oak Park, CA), 2016
  • Professional, Carrollwood Players Theatre (Tampa, FL), 2016
  • Professional, K Dance: Shorts (Richmond, VA), 2016
  • Professional, Lion's Paw Theatre Company (St. Louis, MO), 2016
  • Professional, On Our Own (Tulsa, OK), 2016
  • Professional, The Road Theatre Company (North Hollywood, CA), 2016
  • University, Acadia Theatre Co. 23rd Internat'l Minifest (Wolfville, NS, Canada), 2016
  • University, Oklahoma Christian University (Edmond, OK), 2016
  • Professional, Gary Garrison Playwriting Festival (Beaumont, TX), 2015
  • Professional, HartBeat Ensemble (Hartford, CT), 2015
  • Professional, Philbrook Museum of Art (Tulsa, OK), 2015
  • Professional, Storefront Theatre (Waxhaw, NC), 2015
  • Professional, Theatre Workshop of Owensboro (Owensboro, KY), 2015
  • Professional, Annual Nantucket Short Play Festival (Nantucket, MA), 2014
  • Professional, Annual Paw Paw One Acts Festival (Paw Paw, MI), 2014
  • Professional, Boston Play Café (Boston, MA), 2014
  • Professional, Starting Point Festival, DuAl Theatrics (St. Paul, MN), 2014
  • Professional, The 2014 BolderLife Festival (Denver, CO), 2014
  • Professional, The 6x10 Play Festival, Barn Players (Mission, KS), 2014
  • Professional, The Town Players of Pittsfield (Pittsfield, MA), 2014
  • Professional, Annual Judith Karman Hospice Short Play Festival (Stillwater, OK), 2013
  • Professional, Annual Method & Madness Festival, Denton Community Theatre (Denton, TX), 2013
  • Professional, Annual Minnesota Shorts Play Festival (Mankato, MN), 2013
  • Professional, Annual New York City 15-Minute Play Festival (NYC, NY), 2013
  • Professional, Annual Phoenix Stage Company’s One-Act Festival (Naugatuck, CT), 2013
  • Professional, Annual Summer Reading Series, Core Artist Ensemble, (NYC, NY), 2013
  • Professional, LabWorks Festival, Valley Repertory Company (Enfield, CT), 2013
  • Professional, Landmark Festival, Prologue Theatre Company (Chicago, IL), 2013
  • Professional, Annual Heller Shorts Festival, presented by Heller Theatre (Tulsa, OK), 2012

Awards

  • The Best American Short Plays 2013-2014
    Applause Books
    Selection
    2015
  • First Place
    Pikes Peak Regional One Act Competition
    Winner
    2020
  • Best Drama Award
    BolderLife Festival (Denver, CO)
    Winner
    2014
  • Second Place
    Twenty-Second Annual Nantucket Short Play Festival (Nantucket, MA)
    Winner
    2014
  • People's Choice Award
    Seventeenth Annual Paw Paw One Acts Festival (Paw Paw, MI)
    Winner
    2014
  • First Place Award
    Seventeenth Annual Paw Paw One Acts Festival (Paw Paw, MI)
    Winner
    2014
  • Second Place Award
    Fifth Annual Minnesota Shorts Play Festival (Mankato, MN)
    Winner
    2013
  • Audience Favorite Award
    Second Annual Method & Madness Festival (Denton, TX)
    Winner
    2013
  • First Place Award
    Second Annual Method & Madness Festival (Denton, TX)
    Winner
    2013
  • First Place Award
    First Annual Phoenix Stage Company’s One-Act Festival (Naugatuck, CT)
    Winner
    2013
  • Drama Award
    Fourth Lab-Works 15-Minute Play Festival (Enfield, CT)
    Winner
    2013
  • Best of Festival
    Annual Heller Shorts Festival (Tulsa, OK)
    Winner
    2012