INCARNATE

by Parker Davis Gray

A horror/thriller that follows two artists over the course of a year in their seemingly pointless pursuit of creation while suffering under great grief. Trapped in her cell, Rosamund is hellbent on escaping her fate while the Man who kidnapped her struggles with the consequences of what grief can do, and how far one will go to escape it. Can they live with themselves? Or, more importantly, who else is living...

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INCARNATE

Recommended by

Straton Rushing: INCARNATE by Parker Davis Gray

“

I had the pleasure of seeing this play's premiere in 2025. It is a truly unique story and genuinely terrifying. One of the best new horror plays out there. I highly recommend this piece for professional companies, especially for the October slot.

I had the pleasure of seeing this play's premiere in 2025. It is a truly unique story and genuinely terrifying. One of the best new horror plays out there. I highly recommend this piece for professional companies, especially for the October slot.

”
Stephen Kaplan: INCARNATE by Parker Davis Gray

“

What a treat to read a play that feels like a true "page-turner" - something that would translate powerfully to the stage. Creepy and tense and hypnotic and keeps you guessing until the very end - and even afterwards as well. I'd love to see this play performed and hope theaters will take a chance on more plays in the horror/thriller world.

What a treat to read a play that feels like a true "page-turner" - something that would translate powerfully to the stage. Creepy and tense and hypnotic and keeps you guessing until the very end - and even afterwards as well. I'd love to see this play performed and hope theaters will take a chance on more plays in the horror/thriller world.

”
Leroy Hood: INCARNATE by Parker Davis Gray

“

Parker's play is tense, ethereal, and stays one step ahead of audience expectations. It remains just out of grasp of something you can easily categorize or understand while still remaining suspenseful and satisfying. It also features two very rich roles - any actor would be fortunate to be cast as either character.

Parker's play is tense, ethereal, and stays one step ahead of audience expectations. It remains just out of grasp of something you can easily categorize or understand while still remaining suspenseful and satisfying. It also features two very rich roles - any actor would be fortunate to be cast as either character.

”

Character Information

Rosamund - Female (20's)
Man - Male (50’s)

ROSAMUND

Character is 25 years old.

Character Age

20's (25)

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman
MAN

Character is 50 years old.

Character Age

50's

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  50s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Man

Development History

Type Reading, Organization Undermain Theatre, Year 2022

Production History

Type Professional, Organization Second Thought Theatre, Year 2025

Genre

dark comedy,

drama,

horror,

mystery/thriller,

tragedy

Subject Matter Keywords

horror,

thriller,

reincarnation

Length

90 minutes to two hours

Cast Size

Age of Intended Audience

ages 18 and up

Supporting Materials

Script Sample

Incarnate PREVIEW.pdf

Reviews

DFW CenterStage

“
Parker Davis Gray’s Incarnate is a dark, unsettling psychological thriller directed with maximum visceral intensity by Jenna Burnett. The intimacy of Second Thought’s performance area and the proximity of the actors create an enveloping sense of terror and dread...Gray’s clever, chilling script and Burnett’s bold, unrelenting direction keep us riveted and trapped with Rosamund. INCARNATE is disturbing and thrilling. Its sheer, in-your-face force makes it a unique theatrical experience.
”
Dallas Morning News

“
Using the kind of disorienting sound and lighting design you might encounter in a horror film, Second Thought Theatre takes a cinematic approach to the premiere of executive director Parker Davis Gray’s personally motivated INCARNATE.
Coupled with emotionally calibrated performances by Kristen Lazarchick and Jeffrey Schmidt that jump between quiet and loud like a Pixies or Nirvana song, the highly structured production directed with a claustrophobic grip by Jenna Burnett is one of the most riveting shows of the North Texas theater season so far.
”
Sharp Critic

“
Local playwright Parker Davis Gray (with an impressive batting average) has skillfully and ingeniously crafted INCARNATE, a compelling, intriguing drama, that engages us viscerally, and intellectually. Indirect and subtle, intense and implacable, the narrative is smart and the chemistry palpable. We are submerged in Rosamund’s predicament, and baffled by the gentle lunatic.
”
Dallas Voice

“
The strength of INCARNATE was its intricate character development and the unraveling of Gray’s central mystery...Gray and director Jenna Burnett with a cast of two created a pervasive sense of unease with a gripping narrative that held attention from beginning to end.
”
Onstage NTX

“
Second Thought Theatre closes its season with Incarnate, a chilling and thought-provoking new play from Dallas playwright Parker Davis Gray. It’s a world premiere that feels both intimate and unnerving, a story about grief, control, and what happens when belief pushes too far...Its horror lands because it’s rooted in emotion; its story asks what grief can make of us—and what we’ll do to escape it.
”
Onstage NTX

“
Incarnate is a strong, atmospheric work from a new voice, and definitely something to look forward to seeing produced in full.
”