#GodHatesYou

by Emily Dendinger

Laurel has always been the apple of the church’s eye. She’s the first person to volunteer to picket funerals of dead soldiers, knows what to say to strike a nerve in a crowd, and can debate the Bible with the best of them. Despite the constant hate mail and death threats, she knows she’s saving the sinners of the world before the end of days arrives. However, when Laurel joins social media she’s faced for the...

Laurel has always been the apple of the church’s eye. She’s the first person to volunteer to picket funerals of dead soldiers, knows what to say to strike a nerve in a crowd, and can debate the Bible with the best of them. Despite the constant hate mail and death threats, she knows she’s saving the sinners of the world before the end of days arrives. However, when Laurel joins social media she’s faced for the first time with the outside world, and soon everything she believes is called into question. God Hates You asks what it means to grow up in a church dedicated to spreading hate and intolerance, and what happens when the faith you’ve rigorously adhered to your whole life came shattering down around you.

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#GodHatesYou

Recommended by

  • Brynn Hambley: #GodHatesYou

    A brilliantly compassionate and introspective analysis into the mind of someone raised in a high control group. This play shows what we all know to be true: that openness and kindness are the best way to reach someone. The character of Laurel grows tremendously from beginning to end in a believable and enrapturing way. A great read!

    A brilliantly compassionate and introspective analysis into the mind of someone raised in a high control group. This play shows what we all know to be true: that openness and kindness are the best way to reach someone. The character of Laurel grows tremendously from beginning to end in a believable and enrapturing way. A great read!

  • Cheryl Bear: #GodHatesYou

    When people use God to meet their own needs to oppress, there's a reckoning that will come form the outside world and you'll have to face the distortion you've been raised to promote. Well done.

    When people use God to meet their own needs to oppress, there's a reckoning that will come form the outside world and you'll have to face the distortion you've been raised to promote. Well done.

  • Premiere Stages at Kean University: #GodHatesYou

    Premiere Stages, the professional Equity theatre in residence at Kean University, is pleased to recognize “#GodHatesYou” by Emily Dendinger as a semifinalist for the 2020 Premiere Play Festival. “#GodHatesYou” rose through a competitive selection process conducted by Premiere staff and a panel of outside theatre professionals to become one of 26 semifinalists out of 939 submissions. The panel was particularly impressed by how balanced, smart, funny, and unsentimental this play is. The nuanced arguments between friends about belief are engaging and prompt meaningful self-reflection by Laurel...

    Premiere Stages, the professional Equity theatre in residence at Kean University, is pleased to recognize “#GodHatesYou” by Emily Dendinger as a semifinalist for the 2020 Premiere Play Festival. “#GodHatesYou” rose through a competitive selection process conducted by Premiere staff and a panel of outside theatre professionals to become one of 26 semifinalists out of 939 submissions. The panel was particularly impressed by how balanced, smart, funny, and unsentimental this play is. The nuanced arguments between friends about belief are engaging and prompt meaningful self-reflection by Laurel. Our congratulations and thanks to Emily.

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Development History

  • Type Workshop, Organization Durango PlayFest , Year 2018
  • Type Commission, Organization Curious Theatre Company, Year 2017
  • Type Workshop, Organization Perry Mansfield New Play Festival , Year 2017
  • Type Workshop, Organization Curious Theatre Company, Year 2017

Production History

  • Type University, Organization University of Mississippi , Year 2020
  • Type University, Organization University of Central Florida, Year 2019

Awards