The Light Keepers

by Lindsay Partain

When a window to another timeline opens in the quiet Oregon hillside, high school seniors, Carmen and Max are given with the opportunity of a lifetime to reunite with lost loved ones, find their courage, and to see their skies full of stars for the very first time.

When a window to another timeline opens in the quiet Oregon hillside, high school seniors, Carmen and Max are given with the opportunity of a lifetime to reunite with lost loved ones, find their courage, and to see their skies full of stars for the very first time.

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The Light Keepers

Recommended by

  • Rachel Greene: The Light Keepers

    I had the privilege of watching a reading of this play performed by college students for an audience of their peers, and the impact of the story was palpable and electric. The Light Keepers is full of just that: light. Partain weaves a dark and intricate story and uses it to uncover the sparkle and beauty that lives inside each character. Full of beautiful monologues, rich characters, and relatable scenes, this play will be an instant favorite for high school and college aged performers. I can't wait for the opportunity to one day see it fully staged!

    I had the privilege of watching a reading of this play performed by college students for an audience of their peers, and the impact of the story was palpable and electric. The Light Keepers is full of just that: light. Partain weaves a dark and intricate story and uses it to uncover the sparkle and beauty that lives inside each character. Full of beautiful monologues, rich characters, and relatable scenes, this play will be an instant favorite for high school and college aged performers. I can't wait for the opportunity to one day see it fully staged!

  • C. Meaker: The Light Keepers

    This sweet, earnest play examines grief and friendship by looking at the world through a temporal rip in the universe that allows us to see how our lives might be different. Rather than a simple "grass is greener" metaphor, this play shows the complicated and messy lives of teenagers who have experienced too much loss on both sides of the rift. At times funny and incredibly moving, the play allows a younger cast to explore deep feelings through a sci-fi lens.

    This sweet, earnest play examines grief and friendship by looking at the world through a temporal rip in the universe that allows us to see how our lives might be different. Rather than a simple "grass is greener" metaphor, this play shows the complicated and messy lives of teenagers who have experienced too much loss on both sides of the rift. At times funny and incredibly moving, the play allows a younger cast to explore deep feelings through a sci-fi lens.

  • Jessica Moss: The Light Keepers

    I saw this with a group of 20-something actors and it's difficult to express how impacted and moved they were by this. They were laughing through tears, they gasped, they clapped, they were absorbed completely the whole time. It was SO incredibly resonant for them, and me. It's a beautiful, delicate play that balances science-fiction and poetry, comedy and drama, real worlds and things beyond our understanding so skillfully. It gives young actors incredible roles that let them both flex and develop their skills. A rare, singular, shining star of a play.

    I saw this with a group of 20-something actors and it's difficult to express how impacted and moved they were by this. They were laughing through tears, they gasped, they clapped, they were absorbed completely the whole time. It was SO incredibly resonant for them, and me. It's a beautiful, delicate play that balances science-fiction and poetry, comedy and drama, real worlds and things beyond our understanding so skillfully. It gives young actors incredible roles that let them both flex and develop their skills. A rare, singular, shining star of a play.

View all 6 recommendations

Character Information

  • Nebulas Squad (x3)
    Gender N/A. Age varies from 16-18. A very peppy, sometime cruel chorus. The Squad needs to be able to cheer and do tricks.
  • Captain Heather
    Female, Senior and Captain of The Squad, she is a former bully and locally famous for her pep-rally gymnastics.
  • DeeDee
    Female, High School Senior. Desperately trying her best to be a good friend and keep Maxine alive. Tendency to act more like a sister than a friend.
  • Maxine
    Female, Prefers “Max”, High School Senior. Latinx. Trying to keep her family together by working as a streamer and content creator while her mom goes off the rails.
  • Max
    Non-Binary, High School Senior. Latinx. Funny, charismatic, and Carmen’s best friend. They effortlessly balance dark humor with gentleness.
  • Carmen
    Female, High School Senior. Kind, brilliant, and thoughtful. Max’s best friend. Practices film photography.

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization The Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival, Year 2023
  • Type Reading, Organization Theatre33, Year 2022