Initiative

by Jacob York

Dave has cancer. It's aggressive. And terrifying.

He looks at his life and all he sees are holes; the moments he won't be able to have, if this cancer is successful in its malign task. He only sees one way out: Dungeons and Dragons.

Dave has a circle of friends that still play, and as he thinks back on the moments they've experienced in game, he doesn't remember sitting around a table, rolling dice. He...

Dave has cancer. It's aggressive. And terrifying.

He looks at his life and all he sees are holes; the moments he won't be able to have, if this cancer is successful in its malign task. He only sees one way out: Dungeons and Dragons.

Dave has a circle of friends that still play, and as he thinks back on the moments they've experienced in game, he doesn't remember sitting around a table, rolling dice. He remembers every spell cast, every enemy vanquished, and every cataloged item.

So, the new quest: to play through potential “memories” Dave might miss. His three friends, Tyrone, Benny, and Sky, sit down with Dave's girlfriend, Meg (a gaming newbie) and chart out a path to victory. If all goes well, Dave will be able to experience events as important as the birth of his first child and as seemingly minuscule as seeing the ocean for the first time.

But. That's if everything goes well. For, in the game, The Shade lurks...

"INITIATIVE is heartfelt and ... emotional... the intrinsic message is real and the characters are challenged by a reality that will impact their lives forever."
Kevin Reynolds, League of Cincinnati Theatres

“Initiative is at its best when embracing the geeky awesomeness of D&D. The warmth and connection created among the group as they gather around the table is truly engaging. The performers have a clear affection for the work, which surfaces through the show’s core themes: deep love among friends, loss, and high-speed memory making.”
Harper Lee, CityBeat

“Initiative was a wonderful addition to the Cincinnati theatre scene... A play (with) a good kind of sadness that makes you feel. (Initiative) really should have a life on its own and one hopes they will choose another one of (York's) plays for latter Y.E.S. Festival productions.”
Alan Jozwiak, League of Cincinnati Theatres

“Initiative is a beautiful appreciation of friendship, and what friends will do for one another. The story of Dave’s struggle with cancer, and the way his friends use a role playing game to provide him with a lifetime full of memories, is full of both loss and laughter. Jacob York shows a mastery of dialogue, pace, and structure.”
Michael King, Co-Project Director – The YES Festival

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Initiative

Recommended by

  • Benji Carr: Initiative by Jacob York
    “

    I recently saw the Aurora Theatre production of this full-length play, which provided lots of interesting, inventive moments that fans of Dungeons & Dragons in particular would appreciate. Though it has darker elements, it doesn’t dwell in the misery and trauma of death, which some audiences looking for a good time might appreciate. But there’d something deeper that could be explored more in future productions - if it dared - for a scene that allowed the characters to truly weep or suffer.

    I recently saw the Aurora Theatre production of this full-length play, which provided lots of interesting, inventive moments that fans of Dungeons & Dragons in particular would appreciate. Though it has darker elements, it doesn’t dwell in the misery and trauma of death, which some audiences looking for a good time might appreciate. But there’d something deeper that could be explored more in future productions - if it dared - for a scene that allowed the characters to truly weep or suffer.

    ”
  • Daniel Prillaman: Initiative by Jacob York
    “

    I caught a reading of this the other night and was floored by the immensity of York's achievement. Suddenly finding that your life has a much earlier than expected end date throws everything into anguished questioning, and it is extremely difficult to balance genuine comedy amongst these heavy, life-altering thematic issues. But York does it, at the same time legitimately reminding us of the true power and magic of DND. Building a world with friends and loved ones, building memories, even ones we may never get to see, they still mean everything. And every second is worth it.

    I caught a reading of this the other night and was floored by the immensity of York's achievement. Suddenly finding that your life has a much earlier than expected end date throws everything into anguished questioning, and it is extremely difficult to balance genuine comedy amongst these heavy, life-altering thematic issues. But York does it, at the same time legitimately reminding us of the true power and magic of DND. Building a world with friends and loved ones, building memories, even ones we may never get to see, they still mean everything. And every second is worth it.

    ”
  • Trevor Browning: Initiative by Jacob York
    “

    An immensely human play with an incredible amount of heart that explores the strength of friendships in the face of a truly impossible obstacle; you should see it with your closest pals--your nerdy high school friends or your college D&D group. It perfectly balances laughs and tragedy in a way that most stories cannot. Every character on stage is a person you know and you'll definitely find yourself feeling as though you're sitting at the dining room table with Dave and his friends at some point in the plot--and you definitely won't leave the theatre with dry eyes.

    An immensely human play with an incredible amount of heart that explores the strength of friendships in the face of a truly impossible obstacle; you should see it with your closest pals--your nerdy high school friends or your college D&D group. It perfectly balances laughs and tragedy in a way that most stories cannot. Every character on stage is a person you know and you'll definitely find yourself feeling as though you're sitting at the dining room table with Dave and his friends at some point in the plot--and you definitely won't leave the theatre with dry eyes.

    ”
View all 4 recommendations
Dave – A 28-year-old man, smacked in the face with impending mortality.
Lawful Neutral Human Wizard

Meg – Dave's girlfriend. Trying very hard to understand a world she has no experience with, in more ways than one. Late 20’s – Early 30’s.
Neutral Good Half-Elf Cleric

Tyrone – The DM. The storyteller. Tasked with one of the most heroic quests possible: Giving his friend a send-off, while holding on tightly. Late 20’s – Early 30’s.
Chaotic Good Dwarven Artificer

Sky – Flighty, clever, and easily distracted. The wild card. Late 20’s – Early 30’s. Seems younger, though. In actuality the oldest person in the group.
Chaotic Neutral Halfling Barbarian

Benny – They can never decide if his intelligence is a boon or a hindrance. Easy for him to keep people at a distance. Late 20’s – Early 30’s.
True Neutral Gnome Rogue

Note: A diverse cast is insisted upon. Also, in the collegiate premiere, Tyrone was played by an actor in a wheelchair. It isn’t required but added a wonderful dimension. I would specifically encourage directors to consider actors with disabilities.

Development History

  • Reading, The Seedling Project, 2016

Production History

Awards

  • Best Small-Stage Play
    Nashville Scene
    2020
  • The Y.E.S. Festival
    Northern Kentucky University
    Winner
    2019