How to Hide Your Monster

by Heidi Kraay

Full-Length Play: Savannah answers a cry for help from her sister, who just met her grandfather and is taking care of him at his home, and travels to support her. When their mom joins them, Savannah discovers that the hidden secrets between all of them are growing a storm in this space between her, her sister and her mom that will blow up out of the monster she’s been pushing down inside herself. They have to...

Full-Length Play: Savannah answers a cry for help from her sister, who just met her grandfather and is taking care of him at his home, and travels to support her. When their mom joins them, Savannah discovers that the hidden secrets between all of them are growing a storm in this space between her, her sister and her mom that will blow up out of the monster she’s been pushing down inside herself. They have to decide if the truth they uncover will connect or fracture them forever.

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How to Hide Your Monster

Recommended by

  • Wolfgang Jones: How to Hide Your Monster by Heidi Kraay
    “

    This is such an inventive, fascinating, and bold way to write for theatre. Kraay manages to imbue this play with all kinds of immersive possibilities while navigating identity, relationships, agency, mental health, intergenerational traumas, and much more. Delivering this story (while finding space for this much humanity) requires both a skill and grace that's hard to come by. HOW TO HIDE YOUR MONSTER needs to be on stage.

    This is such an inventive, fascinating, and bold way to write for theatre. Kraay manages to imbue this play with all kinds of immersive possibilities while navigating identity, relationships, agency, mental health, intergenerational traumas, and much more. Delivering this story (while finding space for this much humanity) requires both a skill and grace that's hard to come by. HOW TO HIDE YOUR MONSTER needs to be on stage.

    ”
  • Unicorn Theatre: How to Hide Your Monster by Heidi Kraay
    “

    This play was a SEMIFINALIST for the 2017-2018 In-Progress New Play Reading Series at Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. It is our pleasure to support HOW TO HIDE YOUR MONSTER.

    This play was a SEMIFINALIST for the 2017-2018 In-Progress New Play Reading Series at Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. It is our pleasure to support HOW TO HIDE YOUR MONSTER.

    ”

Character Information

Multi-racial casting is supported and encouraged.
  • Savannah
    A performance artist. Tired of answering "what that means." Never without her ukulele.
    25
    Any race/ethnic identity
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Jessie Rose
    Savannah's half-sister. Elementary school teacher. Good with kids and takes good care of herself. At least, used to.
    45
    Any race/ethnic identity
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Judith
    Their mother. Lots of jobs. But really, a chronic mother.
    65
    Any race/ethnic identity
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Robert
    Jessie Rose's grandfather. Alzheimer's Disease. Difficult.
    85
    Any race/ethnic identity
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary

Development History

  • Reading, Thingamajig Theatre Company, 2019
  • Workshop, National Winter Playwrights Retreat Workshop, 2018
  • Reading, HBMG: National Playwrights Winter Retreat Workshop, 2018
  • Reading, id Theater, 2017
  • Reading, Boise Contemporary Theater, 2016
  • Reading, California Institute of Integral Studies, 2016
  • Reading, HomeGrown Theatre, 2016
  • Reading, California Institute of Integral Studies, 2015
  • Reading, HomeGrown Theatre, 2015

Awards