Abigail, For Now

by Jackie Martin

*FINALIST: Woodward/Newman Award 2023

FULL LENGTH. One act version adapted for middle school/high school performance or festivals available. UIL approved.

Abigail grapples with feeling like an outsider, and for good reason - she claims she is from another galaxy, here only to study human behavior. After her behavior intensifies, her parents place her in a psychiatric facility for adolescents. Despite her best...

*FINALIST: Woodward/Newman Award 2023

FULL LENGTH. One act version adapted for middle school/high school performance or festivals available. UIL approved.

Abigail grapples with feeling like an outsider, and for good reason - she claims she is from another galaxy, here only to study human behavior. After her behavior intensifies, her parents place her in a psychiatric facility for adolescents. Despite her best efforts to isolate herself, Abigail forms a connection with another patient which leads her on a journey of self-discovery. As Abigail begins to listen and share, she gains powerful insights about belonging and the complexities of being human. "Abigail, For Now" is a poignant and surprising exploration of mental health, identity, and the search for connection in a world that often feels unfamiliar.

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Abigail, For Now

Recommended by

  • Rebecca Kane: Abigail, For Now

    The gripping set-up pulled me in, the interesting story kept me, and the fast, smooth dialogue moved the whole thing along at impressive speed. I couldn't stop reading once I started; I was so desperate to find out what happened to Abigail, who felt like a new, interesting friend by the end. Speaking of the ending -- goosebumps!!

    The gripping set-up pulled me in, the interesting story kept me, and the fast, smooth dialogue moved the whole thing along at impressive speed. I couldn't stop reading once I started; I was so desperate to find out what happened to Abigail, who felt like a new, interesting friend by the end. Speaking of the ending -- goosebumps!!

  • Emma Goldman-Sherman: Abigail, For Now

    This play quickly became unstoppable for me. I really enjoyed it and was deeply concerned for the characters. I'm also really torn up about the ending in a good way, as a spark for dialogue, and it's so theatrically fabulous, and there are so many ways to imagine it. A producible play about mental illness that is likable and feels so real. Well done!

    This play quickly became unstoppable for me. I really enjoyed it and was deeply concerned for the characters. I'm also really torn up about the ending in a good way, as a spark for dialogue, and it's so theatrically fabulous, and there are so many ways to imagine it. A producible play about mental illness that is likable and feels so real. Well done!

  • Jarred Corona: Abigail, For Now

    It is difficult, living. Confusing. Bitter, at times. Lonely. Alien.

    Abigail would hate that last word. She's not from Earth, or so she claims. People attempt to fix her, to ease her out of delusion. But Jackie Martin refuses to let us follow that well-worn path. Abigail's beliefs aren't her problem. She is lonely. She doesn't belong.

    But she does.

    "Abigail, For Now," filled with likeable characters discussing mental health without ever feeling like walking PSAs, brings us a single, unyielding hope. It is not reality that matters. It's connection. It's kindness. It's living. I very much...

    It is difficult, living. Confusing. Bitter, at times. Lonely. Alien.

    Abigail would hate that last word. She's not from Earth, or so she claims. People attempt to fix her, to ease her out of delusion. But Jackie Martin refuses to let us follow that well-worn path. Abigail's beliefs aren't her problem. She is lonely. She doesn't belong.

    But she does.

    "Abigail, For Now," filled with likeable characters discussing mental health without ever feeling like walking PSAs, brings us a single, unyielding hope. It is not reality that matters. It's connection. It's kindness. It's living. I very much enjoyed reading this.

View all 7 recommendations

Character Information

Additional non-speaking roles such as nurses, orderlies, residents, and visitors could be added at the director's discretion.
  • JEN
    Character Age
    teens
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • NAOMI
    Character Age
    teens
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • AUSTIN
    Character Age
    teens
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • SHAWN
    written male but could be flexible.
    Character Age
    teens
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • ABIGAIL
    Character Age
    teens
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • JAY
    Abigail's father.
    Character Age
    40s-50s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • RONNIE
    Character Age
    40s-50s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • MARTA
    Gender identity could be changed with permission and input from the playwright. Some rewrites would need to occur.
    Character Age
    late 30s or older
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • DR. BAYLOR
    Written with he/him pronouns but this can be changed without permission from the playwright.
    Character Age
    40s or older
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Any

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Play Incubation Collective (formerly The Play Reading Co-op), Year 2021
  • Type Reading, Organization Sandbox Student Productions, Year 2021

Production History

  • Type High School, Organization Cypress Ridge ISD, Year 2024
  • Type High School, Organization Newton South High School, Year 2024
  • Type High School, Organization Lee's Summit North High School , Year 2023
  • Type High School, Organization School of the Future, NYC, Year 2023
  • Type High School, Organization St. Teresa's Academy, Kansas City, MO, Year 2023
  • Type High School, Organization Young Women's Leadership Academy, San Antonio, TX , Year 2023

Awards

  • Woodward/Newman Award
    Constellation Stage and Screen
    Finalist
    2023