Night Night, Roger Roger

by Roni Ragone

Published by Dramatic Publishing Company

It's midnight, but that doesn't mean the world slows down. "Night Night, Roger Roger" by Roni Ragone is a comedic fanciful play about the world after the sun goes down. Roller skating Nanas, kids with tin cans, literary obsessed vampires, clumsy security guards, kids without tin cans, quirky game show hosts, and more. This play is a plea for every person to stop growing up so fast. Take your moment with the...

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Night Night, Roger Roger

Recommended by

Kyle Smith: Night Night, Roger Roger by Roni Ragone

“

Ragone's beautiful ode to night time, dreamers, and youth has it all. Interconnected scenes, dinosaurs, sparkly vampires, grandmas on roller skates, and a surplus of peaches. While reading this play, I swear I smelled onions in the air. A beautiful play for any younger actors looking to cut their teeth on meaningful, restorative theatre.

Ragone's beautiful ode to night time, dreamers, and youth has it all. Interconnected scenes, dinosaurs, sparkly vampires, grandmas on roller skates, and a surplus of peaches. While reading this play, I swear I smelled onions in the air. A beautiful play for any younger actors looking to cut their teeth on meaningful, restorative theatre.

”
Vita Patrick Morales: Night Night, Roger Roger by Roni Ragone

“

I have been reading a satchel-load of plays recently, some of them reflecting the anxiousness of the pandemic, and some pushing against it. This delightful, starry, night of jesters type of play is the medicine we need to heal us. It reminds me of Maurice Sendak's 'In the Night Kitchen.' It made my heavy heart smile and dance.

I have been reading a satchel-load of plays recently, some of them reflecting the anxiousness of the pandemic, and some pushing against it. This delightful, starry, night of jesters type of play is the medicine we need to heal us. It reminds me of Maurice Sendak's 'In the Night Kitchen.' It made my heavy heart smile and dance.

”

Character Information

I have found that this play works best when doubling characters that are related (i.e Augustus Gustav/Auggie, Robin/Wren, Benny/Mabel). Those that are not family can be double cast however you see fit.

Ivy

a mean vampire, has a Transylvanian meets valley girl accent.

Character Age

Any Age

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Nana

Lives for adventure

Character Age

87 & 3/4

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman,
  
  Non-binary
Alice

Mabel's human best friend, Wren's girlfriend, a little self centered, but not a bad person

Character Age

18

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman
Mabel

a vampire, has a love for academia, specifically literature, Benny's older sibling

Character Age

18

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Non-binary
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens,
  
  20s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Non-binary
Ian the Landlord

the building's landlord, the amount he puts up with on a daily basis is truly amazing

Character Age

Adult

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
Michael

has a deviated septum

Character Age

Teen/Adult

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens,
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
Kayden

a night person, gets very emotional over fictional characters

Character Age

Teen/Adult

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens,
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
Joyce

a light sleeper, lives in an apartment building

Character Age

20+

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens,
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
Auggie

Gus Gus's brother, sings a little, in college

Character Age

18

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male,

Non-binary
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens,
  
  20s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Man,
  
  Non-binary
Gus Gus (Jr.)

Augustus Gustav's son, a light sleeper

Character Age

10

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male,

Non-binary
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Child
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Man,
  
  Non-binary
Vladimir

a mean vampire, has a Transylvanian meets valley girl accent

Character Age

Any Age

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
William

a nice vampire, has a Transylvanian meets valley girl accent

Character Age

Any Age

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Dawn

a mean vampire, has a Transylvanian meets valley girl accent.

Character Age

Any Age

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Robin

Freddie's neighbor and friend, can't sleep, a kid

Character Age

12

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Femme or non-binary
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Child,
  
  Teens
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman,
  
  Non-binary
Mercy

a nice vampire, has a Transylvanian meets valley girl accent.

Character Age

Any Age

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Benny

a new vampire, young, shy, sweet, loves flowers and peaches and sunlight, VERY rosy cheeks, wears a dinosaur head mask

Character Age

Young Teen

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male,

Non-binary
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Man,
  
  Non-binary
Zach

works as a security guard at the history museum with Nolan, a mess but a nice one

Character Age

20+

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens,
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
Nolan

works as a security guard at the history museum with Zach, Vee's cousin, does the bare minimum for her night shifts

Character Age

20+

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens,
  
  20s
Wren

Freddie's older brother, a teenager trying to impress his girlfriend, Alice

Character Age

18

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Man
Vee

a contestant of Midnight Snack, Nolan's cousin, Nana's granddaughter, overly dramatic in a fun way

Character Age

20+

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
Andy

a contestant on Midnight Snack

Character Age

20+

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
Augustus Gustav

Game Show Host of the hit series "Midnight Snack", has an Australian accent, has a weird distinct act, eccentric, Gus Gus Jr. and Auggie's father.

Character Age

30+

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
Madison

young, bubbly, awkward in a cute way, really likes
Benny

Character Age

Young Teen

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman
The Moony

Freddie's monster in the closet, looking over her,
a protector of dreams and thoughts, a protective figure with a big
personality and a New York accent

Character Age

Any Age

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any
Freddie

Robin's neighbor and friend, likes to find things, a
kid

Character Age

12

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female,

Non-binary
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Child,
  
  Teens
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman,
  
  Non-binary

Development History

Type Commission, Organization Young Artist Ensemble, Year 2020
Type Workshop, Organization Hillcrest Center for the Arts, Year 2020

Production History

Type Community Theater, Organization Boone Community Theatre, Year 2025
Type Community Theater, Organization Topeka Civic Theatre & Academy, Year 2025
Type Community Theater, Organization Willow Glen, Year 2025
Type Community Theater, Organization Abundant Grace Community Theatre, Year 2024
Type High School, Organization Armuchee High School, Year 2024
Type High School, Organization Arts & Communication Magnet Academy, Year 2024
Type High School, Organization Buffalo Seminary, Year 2024
Type High School, Organization Atlantic Jewish Academy, Year 2023
Type High School, Organization Grant Union High School, Year 2023
Type University, Organization University of California, Santa Barbara, Year 2023
Type Community Theater, Organization College of Siskyous , Year 2021
Type High School, Organization Pascack Valley High School, Year 2021
Type Community Theater, Organization Young Artist Ensemble, Year 2020

Awards

Comedic Monologue - Performed by Lauren Kalfus

NJ Governor's Awards in Theatre, sponsored by the Speech & Theatre Association of NJ

Finalist

2022

Genre

comedy,

fantasy,

young audiences,

zoom

Subject Matter Keywords

family friendly,

comedy

Length

90 minutes to two hours

Cast Size

6—25

Age of Intended Audience

all ages

Narrative Attributes

Centers Female Characters,

Centers LGBTQ Characters

Supporting Materials

Published Script

https://www.dramaticpublishing.com/browse/full-length-plays/night-night-roger-r…

Script Sample

Roger Roger (Part 1, 2, & 3) Updated.pdf

Supporting Video

https://www.facebook.com/YoungArtistsEnsemble/videos/night-night-roger-roger-tr…

Reviews

The Press Group

“
It really addresses a lot of important themes in childhood and imagination and how we interact as people and how our minds work, and some of the silly things kids do — but also how that represents more important topics.
”
PV Theater Holds First In-Person Performance Since Pandemic

“
Night Night, Roger Roger was really helpful, for the first time welcoming an audience back [in-person]
”
The Siskiyou Daily News

“
“Night Night, Roger, Roger” is play written that has fun with its quirkiness and is performed by a cast and crew at COS who seem to enjoy bringing this work to life.

”