Art Duty

by Daniel Prillaman

DYSTOPIAN SECURITY GUARD SHENANIGANS
FULL-LENGTH: TODAY ONLY! AT ART PLAZA! THE STATE-SANCTIONED ART INSTALLATION AWAITS YOUR EYEBALLS!

Asher and Tobin have Art duty. Guarding the state-sanctioned Art is a job, and somebody’s got to do it. Remember, the Security detail is for the Art’s protection, not yours. Please don’t ask questions or be too annoying. If you make it weird, they’re here to kill you, not...

DYSTOPIAN SECURITY GUARD SHENANIGANS
FULL-LENGTH: TODAY ONLY! AT ART PLAZA! THE STATE-SANCTIONED ART INSTALLATION AWAITS YOUR EYEBALLS!

Asher and Tobin have Art duty. Guarding the state-sanctioned Art is a job, and somebody’s got to do it. Remember, the Security detail is for the Art’s protection, not yours. Please don’t ask questions or be too annoying. If you make it weird, they’re here to kill you, not themselves.

Morbidly comic, relentless, and absurd, "Art Duty’s" revolving cast of characters interrogate the purpose of art in a society, its value, and what to do when you meet someone who doesn’t think about killing themself.

Content Warning: Graphic discussion of violence and suicide. Characters point guns at and fire at one another, but resulting violence is depicted offstage.

*Art Duty is published with 1319 Press, who have graciously allowed free access to this script for perusal purposes through www.danielprillaman.com and the New Play Exchange. For performance/royalty rights, please send inquiries to [email protected] or visit their licensing page at www.1319press.com/apply-for-licensing

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Art Duty

Recommended by

  • Nick Malakhow: Art Duty by Daniel Prillaman
    “

    This is an inventive, absurd, and darkly funny piece of political theater. The flexible identities of the characters are not gimmicky and, rather, allow for a producing company to put its individual stamp on the piece and make distinct commentaries within an established framework. The dialogue is sharp and the play continues to surprise the reader while furthering the story and amplifying the big, messy, complex thematic elements of government control, totalitarianism, and capitalism.

    This is an inventive, absurd, and darkly funny piece of political theater. The flexible identities of the characters are not gimmicky and, rather, allow for a producing company to put its individual stamp on the piece and make distinct commentaries within an established framework. The dialogue is sharp and the play continues to surprise the reader while furthering the story and amplifying the big, messy, complex thematic elements of government control, totalitarianism, and capitalism.

    ”
  • Charles Scott Jones: Art Duty by Daniel Prillaman
    “

    Daniel Prillaman’s play gets at something ineffable and central to the human condition. Wildly inventive, Roman-candle-esque - and yet contained, thematically focused - an elusive and mystical running joke, somehow both deep and witty, protean yet fixed, deeply disturbing and reassuring, death and life-affirming, a genius eye-patch routine, astonishing characters like Critic 1, a phone-call monologue I envy, many great absurdist lines, the slyly oxymoronic title. ART DUTY is the thing! [5-25-26]

    Daniel Prillaman’s play gets at something ineffable and central to the human condition. Wildly inventive, Roman-candle-esque - and yet contained, thematically focused - an elusive and mystical running joke, somehow both deep and witty, protean yet fixed, deeply disturbing and reassuring, death and life-affirming, a genius eye-patch routine, astonishing characters like Critic 1, a phone-call monologue I envy, many great absurdist lines, the slyly oxymoronic title. ART DUTY is the thing! [5-25-26]

    ”
  • Greg Mandryk: Art Duty by Daniel Prillaman
    “

    "I will cherish this memory until I forget it." Ha!

    Even if absurdism isn't your jam, Daniel Prillaman peppers Art Duty with enough witticisms to make it well worth a read.

    "I will cherish this memory until I forget it." Ha!

    Even if absurdism isn't your jam, Daniel Prillaman peppers Art Duty with enough witticisms to make it well worth a read.

    ”
View all 17 recommendations

Character Information

(NOTE: All roles are and may be played by any ethnicity and any gender)
(OTHER NOTE: Change any pronouns/honorifics as you need)
(LAST NOTE: The play is structured so that it may be performed with a cast as small as 4, with two actors doubling all roles aside from Asher and Tobin. Suggested doubling is provided below. That being said, as long as Asher and Tobin do not double, you may cast each role according the needs of your producing company)
Track 1:
Tobin
Track 2:
Asher
Track 3:
Vomiter
Camera Operator
Sketcher
Rich Lover #2
Bellamy
Critic #1
Sandy Daniels
Track 4:
Leopold Caldwell
Briefcase
Eggs
Rich Lover #1
Tagger
Critic #2
Dude With Truck We Don't See
  • Tobin
    Has an eye patch.
    Older than Asher
  • Asher
    Has no eye patch.
    Younger than Tobin
  • Vomiter
    Has no water.
  • Leopold Caldwell
    Has a spectacular coat.
  • Camera Operator
    Has a camera.
  • Briefcase
    Has a briefcase.
  • Sketcher
    Has a sketchbook.
  • Eggs
    Has a bone to pick.
  • Rich Lover #1
    Has an eyeball guy.
  • Rich Lover #2
    Has a hunger.
  • Bellamy
    Has an apron.
  • Tagger
    Has a can of spray paint.
  • Critic #1
    Has a passion.
  • Critic #2
    Has no penchant for subtlety.
  • Sandy Daniels
    Has a degree in talking.
  • Dude With Truck We Don't See
    Has a truck. That we don't see.

Development History

  • Reading, LakehouseRanchDotPNG, 2024
  • Reading, Waldman Living Room: New Works Lab - Cross-Gen, 2022

Production History

  • Professional, LakehouseRanchDotPNG, 2025