ONCE ON RUMSPRINGA

by Ellis Abigail Stump

Amish childhood best friends Sadie Smucker and Willa Stoltzfus share a run-down trailer, crystal meth addiction, and romantic tension thick as a milkshake. The teens have spent their Rumspringa together higher than Heaven, but today face their rite-of-passage choice: surrender their forbidden love, or flee Lancaster and be shunned forever. With 24 hours until the autumn baptism ceremony, six twisted interrelated...

Amish childhood best friends Sadie Smucker and Willa Stoltzfus share a run-down trailer, crystal meth addiction, and romantic tension thick as a milkshake. The teens have spent their Rumspringa together higher than Heaven, but today face their rite-of-passage choice: surrender their forbidden love, or flee Lancaster and be shunned forever. With 24 hours until the autumn baptism ceremony, six twisted interrelated sinners must come...clean. This ensemble-oriented dark comedy sheds electricity-powered light on the rural drug epidemic and navigation of repressed identity. BYOBonnet.

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ONCE ON RUMSPRINGA

Recommended by

  • SMJ .: ONCE ON RUMSPRINGA by Ellis Abigail Stump
    “

    An incredible play that juggles numerous serious topics with a wit rarely seen with amazing scenes for the actors playing Sadie & Willa. Looking forward to this piece's next steps!

    An incredible play that juggles numerous serious topics with a wit rarely seen with amazing scenes for the actors playing Sadie & Willa. Looking forward to this piece's next steps!

    ”
  • Shaun Leisher: ONCE ON RUMSPRINGA by Ellis Abigail Stump
    “

    Loved this play. Stump writes about the Amish culture with so much heart. Such well-written characters.

    Loved this play. Stump writes about the Amish culture with so much heart. Such well-written characters.

    ”

Character Information

  • Willa Stolzfus
    deep, dark, broody, but with a heart secretly soft as butter; addicted to automobiles and crystal meth and Sadie, though still becoming comfortable with that
    19
    Masc-presenting,
    Trans Masculine,
    Female,
    Agender/Non-binary or Female,
    Agender,
    Nonbinary
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Sadie Smucker
    lighter, brighter, more femme; Willa’s longtime best friend; curious about knowledge and higher education; expected to marry Levi but obviously in love with Willa
    19
    Female,
    feminine presenting,
    Feminine,
    bisexual Female,
    Gay female,
    Lesbian
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Levi Zook
    treated and perceived as a stereotypically meth-dealing deadbeat; flaunts a 90’s gangsta attitude in redneck land; desperately seeking any guiding source worth trusting
    19
    Cis male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary
  • Ruth Zook
    Sadie’s sister; married and committed to the Church; hard-working waitress at Shady Maple Smorgasbord; responsible, determined, occasionally condescending; would “wear the pants” if Amish women wore pants
    21
    Cis female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Jedidiah Zook
    Ruth’s submissive husband and Levi’s goody two shoes brother; bumbling; anxiously undertaking new role as the next Church preacher
    25
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male,
      Non-binary
  • Jacob Beiler
    ex-Amish; undercover cop for the DEA; goofy enough in public, but intense and relentless behind closed doors; also an alcoholic and Levi’s real dad
    40
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male

Development History

  • Reading, Chain Theatre, 2022
  • Workshop, Chain Theatre, 2022
  • Reading, Columbia University Theatre Department , 2021
  • Workshop, Yonder Window Theatre Company, 2021

Production History

Awards

  • Blue Ink Playwriting Award
    American Blues Theater
    Semi-Finalist
    2023
  • Workshop Semi-Finalist
    Emerson Stages
    Semi-Finalist
    2022
  • 2nd Round Finalist
    Austin Film Festival
    Finalist
    2022
  • 2nd Round Finalist
    Austin Film Festival
    Semi-Finalist
    2022
  • Stories of Diversity Play Festival
    Fulton Theatre
    Finalist
    2022
  • Playwriting
    Austin Film Festival
    Semi-Finalist
    2021
  • Ascending Playwright Award
    Yonder Window Theatre
    Winner
    2021