Tragedy Sells!

by Jonathan O'Neill

Eight-year-old Carth Parish has terminal cancer. To make up for lost time, his mother throws him a birthday party every day. ATC43's last place newsteam has the full scoop — they helped create the story, after all.

A comic Greek tragedy for the 21st century.

Eight-year-old Carth Parish has terminal cancer. To make up for lost time, his mother throws him a birthday party every day. ATC43's last place newsteam has the full scoop — they helped create the story, after all.

A comic Greek tragedy for the 21st century.

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Tragedy Sells!

Recommended by

  • Steven G. Martin: Tragedy Sells! by Jonathan O'Neill
    “

    It begins as a workplace comedy, but this full-length play turns dark, oh so dark. It takes a satirical look at broadcast media as entertainment (the exclamation point in the title is terrific), but the focus is precise. We see the deaths and downfall of a very specific group of people as a cause of selfishness and avarice. And it all feels inevitable.

    It begins as a workplace comedy, but this full-length play turns dark, oh so dark. It takes a satirical look at broadcast media as entertainment (the exclamation point in the title is terrific), but the focus is precise. We see the deaths and downfall of a very specific group of people as a cause of selfishness and avarice. And it all feels inevitable.

    ”

Character Information

  • Patti Popkin
    An insecure but resourceful TV news producer.
    50
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Anchor
    An intelligent, self-centered womanizer.
    Doubles with the Channel 13 Anchor.
    30s-50s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Cameraman
    A nervous loner with a strong sense of conviction.
    Doubles with Carth Parish.
    20s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Intern
    Cool. Smart. Attractive. Tenacious.
    Maybe her bosses don't care to learn her name, or maybe her name really is just 'Intern.'
    21
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Mother
    A self-sacrificial optimist. Lovably kooky, charmingly creative, and deeply generous.
    Doubles with Patti's Drunk Mom.
    30s-40s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Father
    A brooding pessimist. A thirteen-year-old girl trapped in a Pennsylvania trucker's body.
    Doubles with Mr. Nielsen.
    30s-40s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man

Development History

  • Workshop, The Tank, 2019
  • Workshop, Playwrights Studio Scotland, 2016
  • Reading, Traverse Theatre, 2016