Chasing The Ghost

by Ashley Lauren Rogers

FULL LENGTH - Kurt was a vlogger in the early days of YouTube where he screamed about video games he hated. But he's left that behind him, finding a wife and keeping his characters anger in check. Until one night where he is visited by a shadow person...who won't stop tickling his feet.

Script will be available Via Next Stage Press

FULL LENGTH - Kurt was a vlogger in the early days of YouTube where he screamed about video games he hated. But he's left that behind him, finding a wife and keeping his characters anger in check. Until one night where he is visited by a shadow person...who won't stop tickling his feet.

Script will be available Via Next Stage Press

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Chasing The Ghost

Recommended by

  • Jack Crory: Chasing The Ghost by Ashley Lauren Rogers
    “

    This play is dark, funny, and profoundly feminist. I was drawn in by the connections the play makes between the supernatural, online gamer culture, podcasts, and young adult lit, all tied to the story of a troubled marriage. This could be staged simply but also open up possibilities for use of recorded video. Highly highly recommend.

    This play is dark, funny, and profoundly feminist. I was drawn in by the connections the play makes between the supernatural, online gamer culture, podcasts, and young adult lit, all tied to the story of a troubled marriage. This could be staged simply but also open up possibilities for use of recorded video. Highly highly recommend.

    ”
  • Gina Femia: Chasing The Ghost by Ashley Lauren Rogers
    “

    I cannot recommend this piece enough, I love how Ashley has created a horror story where the true horror is within the flaws of our humanity. It speaks to the world we live in now and does so with wit, empathy and extreme humor. I'm hoping to see this piece produced very soon and encourage all to support this play.

    I cannot recommend this piece enough, I love how Ashley has created a horror story where the true horror is within the flaws of our humanity. It speaks to the world we live in now and does so with wit, empathy and extreme humor. I'm hoping to see this piece produced very soon and encourage all to support this play.

    ”
  • Emily Hageman: Chasing The Ghost by Ashley Lauren Rogers
    “

    What a fabulously unique play that tackles an important issue with complete and total bluntness. It's almost an allegory, and a really good one at that. At first, the play seems like a silly joke, but it's peppered with these moments of the main character being totally vile, but as we watch more and learn more, we see, no, it's not a joke. Just like what Kurt used to joke about isn't a joke, but how sickly satisfying that it comes full circle on him. Really cool idea with a great execution.

    What a fabulously unique play that tackles an important issue with complete and total bluntness. It's almost an allegory, and a really good one at that. At first, the play seems like a silly joke, but it's peppered with these moments of the main character being totally vile, but as we watch more and learn more, we see, no, it's not a joke. Just like what Kurt used to joke about isn't a joke, but how sickly satisfying that it comes full circle on him. Really cool idea with a great execution.

    ”

Character Information

NOTE ON CASTING
With characters whose ethnicity is marked as “any,” diverse casting should be strived for.

POLICE, DR. FALGUT, PROFESSOR ADICI, and FATHER WAEGNER can be portrayed by the same actor, and SPECTRE/PERSON can also be double cast as FALGUT, ADICI, and/or WAEGNER.
  • KURT
    A former web-series creator called the Enraged Gamer Geek, in the early days of Youtube. After a few years he decided he wanted to stop leaving a small but vocal and ravenous fan-base on the internet.

    (NOTE for the first production KURT MUST be played by a cisgender white man. After it’s premiere, casting can be more flexible but a note must be put in the program stating the playwright’s initial intent to talk about Straight, cis, het, white supremacy and how it can be prominent in internet culture on the internet).
    Late-Twenties-Early/mid-thirties
    White
    Cis male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • PATTY
    KURT’s wife, a writer of paranormal young adult books. She has a tendency to offer too much information to strangers when she’s upset or thrown off her guard. Open to a wide variety of ghost stories and affirming of them however she has her hard limits on what she’ll put up with and won’t.
    Late Twenties-Early/Mid-thirties
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary
  • POLICE
    Policeman called to investigate the breaking and entering of Kurt and Patty’s home. He is quirky as well, just trying to do his job, but is and has been an avid gamer. He used to watch Kurt’s old youtube channel.
    Similar age to Kurt, maybe a bit younger
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man,
      Non-binary
  • STEPH
    Main host on the Podcast “Darkness Calls,” where she and her co-host Andrea interview experts and experiencers of the paranormal. She is welcoming and inquisitive, almost like if Rachel Maddow were to focus on spooky topics.
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary
  • ANDREA
    Co-host of “Darkness Calls.” Andrea is a little bit more of the every-woman type. A little bit more scared and put off by the stories but equally as fascinated as Steph. She is also a little bit more comedic, but she knows when to step back. She and Steph have gotten their chemistry down to a T.
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary
  • DR. FALGUT
    We’re never quite clear on what Dr. Falgut is a doctor of but we know that at least in Falgut’s free time they are very passionate about talking to, and finding proof of, extraterrestrial life.
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • PROFESSOR ADICI
    Adici is a theoretical physicist. A primary focus of their study is the Many-Worlds Interpretation, and the concept of parallel realities. While Adici’s topic may seem absurd they are very serious about it and often forgets what information they might need to break down for non-theoretical physicists. Adici is still charming, just sometimes it’s hard to figure out what people like them don’t know.
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • FATHER WAEGNER
    A priest, one who is very interested in the study of demonology. He does often have to remind people that, no being a priest does not make you a demonologist, nor does admitting the existence of demons mean all claims of demonic experience are real. He’s kind of a cool Priest.
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man,
      Non-binary
  • SPECTRE/PERSON
    The shadow which may or may not be tickling Kurt's feet at night.
    Late Teens-Early/Mid-thirties.
    BIPOC
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman

Development History

  • Reading, Forge Theatre Lab, 2019
  • Workshop, Forge Theatre Lab, 2019
  • Reading, Judson Arts Wednesdays Magic Time, 2017
  • Reading, Lather Rinse Repeat, 2017

Production History

  • Professional, The Forge Theatre Lab December, 2019