Carroll County Fix

by Val Dunn

This summer, Tess has a plan: make a boundary-pushing documentary in the local Walmart parking lot, get a full-ride to fancy film school, and say goodbye to Carroll County for good. With her best friend Rach home from college, now’s the time to make it happen. But as they try to tell their town’s story, they find themselves asking: do they still agree on what that story is? Amid a chorus of croaking frogs...

This summer, Tess has a plan: make a boundary-pushing documentary in the local Walmart parking lot, get a full-ride to fancy film school, and say goodbye to Carroll County for good. With her best friend Rach home from college, now’s the time to make it happen. But as they try to tell their town’s story, they find themselves asking: do they still agree on what that story is? Amid a chorus of croaking frogs, rattling pill bottles, wry humor and heartfelt humanity, CARROLL COUNTY FIX pushes past small-town clichés to explore the deep currents of change wracking rural communities.

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Carroll County Fix

Recommended by

  • Shaun Leisher: Carroll County Fix by Val Dunn
    “

    Got a chance to catch this play in zoom reading and full-production forms and I had a blast catching back up with it on the page. A wonderful play about small town America going through changes and how some people get out and some stay.

    Got a chance to catch this play in zoom reading and full-production forms and I had a blast catching back up with it on the page. A wonderful play about small town America going through changes and how some people get out and some stay.

    ”
  • Christian Flynn: Carroll County Fix by Val Dunn
    “

    I was lucky enough to see and not just read this play. Like a hometown-hangout movie a-la Clerks or Slacker shot-through with politics, queerness, heartbreak and concern. Me and my partner still use the term "Stinky Pete" to refer to a certain type of townie that we all know and recognize. When a character can stick with you like that... well... I don't know what higher compliment I can give. Read this play.

    I was lucky enough to see and not just read this play. Like a hometown-hangout movie a-la Clerks or Slacker shot-through with politics, queerness, heartbreak and concern. Me and my partner still use the term "Stinky Pete" to refer to a certain type of townie that we all know and recognize. When a character can stick with you like that... well... I don't know what higher compliment I can give. Read this play.

    ”
  • Azuka Theatre: Carroll County Fix by Val Dunn
    “

    Both funny and challenging, Carroll County Fix pushes past small-town cliches to examine the history and changes wracking rural communities, centering queer youth. Dunn's writing is brilliantly balanced with witty humor, youthful energy, and honest charm while addressing deeper, more exacting topics. A truly moving piece of theatre that needs to be experienced!

    Both funny and challenging, Carroll County Fix pushes past small-town cliches to examine the history and changes wracking rural communities, centering queer youth. Dunn's writing is brilliantly balanced with witty humor, youthful energy, and honest charm while addressing deeper, more exacting topics. A truly moving piece of theatre that needs to be experienced!

    ”
View all 9 recommendations

Character Information

  • Tess
    tess will one day leave this town to tell the world about this town and maybe wonder why she left, but for now she is an aspiring film artist going to carroll community college, working her ass off, trying to find a way out
    19
    Latinx
    Cis Woman (She/Her)
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Rach
    rach (as in the first syllable of rachel) is home for the summer so she can do an unpaid internship at the local paper and live at home to save money doing the unpaid internship.
    19
    White
    Cis Woman (She/Her)
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Crash
    crash has zero sense of consequence but you just can’t look away. incredibly blunt, no filter, doesn't understand sarcasm or cruelty. crash hasn’t really figured it all out yet but is always down to clown.
    19
    White
    Non-Binary (They/She)
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Non-binary
  • Stinky Pete
    stinky pete has never been farther than the next county over yet nevertheless seems worldly. a local with a heart of gold who sells weed to bored ass kids and maybe got tess’s sister pregnant a couple of years ago.
    late 20s
    White
    Cis Man (He/Him)
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Paul
    paul is rach’s mom’s longterm boyfriend who surprisingly doesn’t suck but is really cool and decent; a local legend, aka a middle school mentor of quality (the actor playing paul also provides the voice of tess’s dad)
    mid 50s
    African American / Black
    Cis Man (He/Him)
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male

Development History

Production History

  • Professional, Azuka Theatre, 2022

Awards