Blood Moon

by John Haman

An aeronaut’s wife leads a double life as the Cold-War U.S. military races to build the first base on the moon, while a controversial religious movement inspires women to subvert patriarchy. June/Marie creates her own reality as she weaves between other extraordinary women: a hardscrabble female detective; an imaginative visionary daughter; an undercover Soviet agent; and a brilliant U.S. Army captain with...

An aeronaut’s wife leads a double life as the Cold-War U.S. military races to build the first base on the moon, while a controversial religious movement inspires women to subvert patriarchy. June/Marie creates her own reality as she weaves between other extraordinary women: a hardscrabble female detective; an imaginative visionary daughter; an undercover Soviet agent; and a brilliant U.S. Army captain with unexplained physical prowess. This 90-minute alternate-reality mystery drama made the second round of consideration for the Kernodle New Play Award. 13 roles.

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Blood Moon

Character Information

CASTING NOTE

7 MALE ROLES AND 6 FEMALE. THE ROLE OF ALY BEGINS THE PLAY AT AGE 12 AND GROWS TO AGE 17. SHE CAN BE PLAYED BY ONE ACTRESS.

SETTING

THE PLAY TAKES PLACE IN A WORLD LIKE OURS, BUT THIS IS NOT OUR WORLD. THE ACTION OCCURS FROM 1959-1964, MOSTLY IN THE AREA AROUND WASHINGTON, D.C., BUT WITH TWO SCENES TAKING PLACE UNDER THE SURFACE OF THE MOON.
  • June/Marie
    MARIE, FRUSTRATED HOMEMAKER AND FORMER ACTRESS, WIFE OF AN AERONAUT. SHE LONGS FOR HER OWN IDENTITY. HER ALIAS, JUNE, IS A WAITRESS AT THE PIE SHOP WHO SLEEPS WITH MALE U.S. BUREAUCRATS FOR MONEY.
    30s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Aly Griffin
    DAUGHTER OF BOB AND MARIE. SEEN IN THE FIRST ACT AS 12 YEARS OLD, THEN AS 17 IN THE SECOND ACT. SHE IS COMING TO TERMS WITH A GIFT OF "VISION"
    12 and 17
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Child,
      Teens
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Capt. Janet Pearson/The Woman
    ARMY OFFICER. AN IMPRESSIVE PHYSICAL SPECIMEN, THE FIRST WOMAN IN THE REGULAR U.S. ARMY. SHE BECOMES AN AERONAUT AND A MAJOR. SHE POSSESSES AN UNCANNY PHYSICAL AND MENTAL PROWESS.
    20s or 30s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Womble
    INVESTIGATOR FOR D.C. POLICE. MAKING HER WAY, UNDER THE RADAR, IN A MAN'S JOB. EMPATHIC, OBSERVANT.
    30s to 40s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Adherent/Robin
    THE ADHERENT IS AN UNSEEN CHARACTER, A PRIESTESS IN THE LUNA RELIGION WHO IS HEARD SPEAKING TO OTHER WOMEN AT A RELIGIOUS SERVICE. ROBIN, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS A FRIEND OF MARIE'S WHO SHE MEETS AT AN AUDITION. ROBIN IS SECRETLY A SOVIET SPY. THEY ARE DISTINCT CHARACTERS WHO ARE DOUBLED BY ONE ACTRESS.
    30s to 50s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Bob Griffin
    AERONAUT/ENGINEER WITH U.S. SPACE COMMAND.
    30s to 40s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary
  • Gen. Delachamps
    DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING, U.S. ARMY, THEN CHIEF OF STAFF, UNIFIED SPACE COMMAND.
    Late 40s to early 60s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary
  • Tanner
    INVESTIGATOR FOR D.C. POLICE. A BIT THREATENED BY WOMBLE'S TALENT.
    30s to 40s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary
  • Mid 40s to late 50s
    CHARISMATIC, ECCENTRIC, GERMAN OWNER OF THE PIE SHOP.
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Ray
    AERONAUT/ENGINEER WITH U.S. SPACE COMMAND. BOB'S BEST FRIEND.
    Late 20s to late 30s.
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary
  • Yates
    U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.
    50s to 60s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary
  • Keith Gammon
    HEAD OF NASA
    40s to 50s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary

Development History

  • Workshop, Convergences Theatre Collective, New York City, N.Y., 2019
  • Reading, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Little Rock, Arkansas, 2018

Awards

  • Kernodle New Play Award
    University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Department of Theatre
    Semi-Finalist
    2019