Tumbleweed

by Marcus Scott

Following an interracial family living in a townhouse within the Morningside Park area of New York’s Upper West Side over the course of a weekend, TUMBLEWEED is a slice of life drama about a young girl named Willow whose off-putting natural hair combined with both her family’s open acceptance of it and lack of maintenance, as well as her blooming womanism, causes controversy in the household. Tensions stir even...

Following an interracial family living in a townhouse within the Morningside Park area of New York’s Upper West Side over the course of a weekend, TUMBLEWEED is a slice of life drama about a young girl named Willow whose off-putting natural hair combined with both her family’s open acceptance of it and lack of maintenance, as well as her blooming womanism, causes controversy in the household. Tensions stir even more so when they get a visit from the patriarch’s estranged no-nonsense mother, a former affiliate of the Black Panther party. The play explores beauty standards both in and out of the black community, ethnic relations, the mixed race family, coming of age, interracial marriage and parenting, relationships, womanist identity and the visibility of black men in the family dynamic.

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Tumbleweed

Recommended by

  • Dave Osmundsen: Tumbleweed by Marcus Scott
    “

    A hysterical and deeply layered family drama, Marcus Scott's "Tumbleweed" is also incredibly empathetic, smart, and compelling. Beyond the family dynamics, this play explores the place of Black men and women in society, particularly how they are judged through a white lens. Scott also creates a stunning character in Rebecca, a white woman who struggles to be the most affirming mother for her mixed-race daughters. The ending is brilliant and chilling. Fantastic work!

    A hysterical and deeply layered family drama, Marcus Scott's "Tumbleweed" is also incredibly empathetic, smart, and compelling. Beyond the family dynamics, this play explores the place of Black men and women in society, particularly how they are judged through a white lens. Scott also creates a stunning character in Rebecca, a white woman who struggles to be the most affirming mother for her mixed-race daughters. The ending is brilliant and chilling. Fantastic work!

    ”

Character Information

  • REBECCA ANDERSON
    A fashion magazine stylist, she’s a walking middle-aged Malibu Barbie doll type. While she’s one of those women who dreamt of being a wife and mother, she doesn’t have much of a maternal instinct.
    44
    White
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • ISAIAH ANDERSON
    Wall Street banker who abandoned his blue-collar Chicago neighborhood for a penthouse on Central Park West. Probably votes Republican.
    46
    African American/Black
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • WILLOW ANDERSON
    WILLOW ANDERSON (13 / Black or Interracial)
    Kindhearted, shy, unassuming but down-to-earth tomboy; a budding womanist, she wears a nappy Afro.
    13
    Mixed: African American/Black and White
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • WINTER ANDERSON
    Teenage dream with brilliantine, biblical hair; she's a ballet dancer, speaks with a Valley Girl or slacker accent, is rather shallow and self-absorbed (a symptom of her popularity) but has integrity and loves her sister.
    13
    Mixed: African American/Black and White
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • JAZMINE BANKS
    Rebecca’s assistant, she aspires to one day open her own fashion line. A talented black woman, she is astute, fun loving, highly opinionated and both politically and sociologically cognizant.
    24
    African American/Black
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • NADIA
    A lower class, aggressive and whip-smart around-the-way girl. Winter’s friend.
    14
    African American/Black
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • ANNA MAE
    Isaiah’s estranged but gracious, self-made single mother, who raised three college-educated children.
    72
    African American/Black
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • OTIS FERGUSON
    Handsome, business minded and quick witted and charismatic tutor young man looking to get into graduate school.
    25
    African American/Black
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • EZRA CHANG
    Asian-Jewish neighbor of Willow and Winter with a slightly histrionic and touchy persona, may a have social disability and is a total over-achiever.
    14
    Mixed: Asian and White
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man

Development History

  • Reading, Queens Theatre, 2022
  • Reading, The Bechdel Group's New Play Development Reading Series, 2017
  • Reading, Theatre for the New City's Scratch Night, 2017
  • Reading, National Black Theater's Keep Soul Alive Reading Series, 2015

Production History

  • Workshop, Dixon Place, 2018

Awards

  • Second Rounder, Stage Play & Rooster Teeth BIPOC Fellowship
    Austin Film Festival
    Honorable Mention
    2023
  • SETC Ready to Publish Award
    Stage Rights
    Finalist
    2020
  • Theme: Humor
    The Theater at the 14th Street Y
    Selection
    2021
  • Madison New Works Lab
    James Madison University
    Finalist
    2019
  • Austin Playhouse Festival of New American Plays
    Austin Playhouse
    Finalist
    2017
  • Jerome Fellowship
    Lark Play Development Center
    Finalist
    2015
  • Random Access Workshop Readings
    Random Access Theatre
    Semi-Finalist
    2016
  • PlayGround PlayGroup
    Fresh Ground Pepper
    Semi-Finalist
    2016
  • Black & Latino Playwrights Conference New Play Development
    Texas State University
    Finalist
    2017
  • Play LA Workshop
    Humanitas
    Finalist
    2017
  • Premiere Stages Play Festival
    Premiere Stages at Kean University
    Semi-Finalist
    2016