Rocket Sex Magic

by David Lee White

In 1947, Jack Parsons came up with a plan to change the world using rocketships, ancient sorcery and group sex.

It worked.

In 1947, Jack Parsons came up with a plan to change the world using rocketships, ancient sorcery and group sex.

It worked.

Windom (Winnie) Wayland is a psychoanalyst living on a desert military base near Pasadena, California with his wife Betty. He struggles with marital strife, a suicidal patient, and the desire to live a more “normal” life. His world is turned upside-down when the military asks him to evaluate Jack Parsons – a rocket scientist with dreams of space travel who his responsible for some major technological breakthroughs. After his first meeting with Parsons, Winnie is whisked away into a world of the occult, mysterious phenomena, and sexual promiscuity that threatens to redefine the world he thought he knew.

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Rocket Sex Magic

Recommended by

Cheryl Bear: Rocket Sex Magic by David Lee White

“

A fascinating journey into an unknown world that will forever change ones outlook. Well done.

A fascinating journey into an unknown world that will forever change ones outlook. Well done.

”
Donna Hoke: Rocket Sex Magic by David Lee White

“

All that is commonplace and accepted now was once unproven and beyond belief. Here, White deftly--and with great humor and theatricality--juxtaposes all that fell into that category in the pre-moon landing days with what defies belief and acceptance in today's world. And then he reminds us that it's been fifty years since the moon landing, and we're still still unwilling to think beyond what we know.

All that is commonplace and accepted now was once unproven and beyond belief. Here, White deftly--and with great humor and theatricality--juxtaposes all that fell into that category in the pre-moon landing days with what defies belief and acceptance in today's world. And then he reminds us that it's been fifty years since the moon landing, and we're still still unwilling to think beyond what we know.

”
Quinn Xavier Hernandez: Rocket Sex Magic by David Lee White

“

David Lee White takes the abnormal and strange masterfully in his hands to make what could be an otherwise mundane moment of history (and subject matter) something full of life and wonder. ROCKET SEX MAGIC has a lot of heart and is certainly a wild ride that no audience member will forget. #PlaywrightPlug

David Lee White takes the abnormal and strange masterfully in his hands to make what could be an otherwise mundane moment of history (and subject matter) something full of life and wonder. ROCKET SEX MAGIC has a lot of heart and is certainly a wild ride that no audience member will forget. #PlaywrightPlug

”

View all 7 recommendations

Character Information

Agent Durwood

Middle-aged, experienced, FBI agent. Same actor plays the roles of PAN and DOPPELGANGER

Character Age

40s - 50s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  40s,
  
  50s
Agent Curtis

Younger, inexperienced FBI agent. Male, but could also be played by a woman or non-binary actor. Same actor plays HANNEMAN and GRADY.

Character Age

20s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s
Jack Parsons

Founder of the Jet Propulsion Lab and a dedicated occultist

Character Age

30s-40s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male,
  
  Non-binary
Liz

Winnie and Betty’s neighbor. Kind hearted, curious, from Appalachia. Desperately in love with Betty. The same actress also plays MOON.

Character Age

30s-40s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
Cameron

(aka Marjorie Cameron) – Mid-30s, Parsons’ wife, an actress and the future leader of the New Age Movement. Same actress also plays BABYLON

Character Age

mid-30s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female,
  
  Non-binary
Winnie

A psychoanalyst working with the military

Character Age

30s-40s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
Betty

Married to Winnie, smart, out-spoken. The same actress also plays SUN.

Character Age

30s-40s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female

Development History

Type Reading, Organization Bristol-Riverside Theatre - America Rising series, Year 2022
Type Reading, Organization Writer's Theatre of New Jersey, Year 2017