More of a Heart

by Dave Osmundsen

PART ONE of THE HEART TRILOGY

When Mary-Ellen’s son Zachary was diagnosed with Autism, she became his fiercest advocate. But now, Zachary is grown up and having his own thoughts and feelings about her advocacy. When an unexpected crisis hits their lives, mother and son must say the things that need to be said before time runs out.

PART ONE of THE HEART TRILOGY

When Mary-Ellen’s son Zachary was diagnosed with Autism, she became his fiercest advocate. But now, Zachary is grown up and having his own thoughts and feelings about her advocacy. When an unexpected crisis hits their lives, mother and son must say the things that need to be said before time runs out.

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More of a Heart

Recommended by

  • Alli Hartley-Kong: More of a Heart

    MORE OF A HEART was a beautiful and complex play. The playwright explores topics such as representing of neurodiverse people, family relations, terminal illness, and authenticity and voice in a way that feels fully human and fully theatrical. There are no "bad guys" in these plays thanks to the deft work of the playwright in showing the motivations of mothers who do what they think is best but still fail their sons. I think I will be thinking about this play for a long time.

    MORE OF A HEART was a beautiful and complex play. The playwright explores topics such as representing of neurodiverse people, family relations, terminal illness, and authenticity and voice in a way that feels fully human and fully theatrical. There are no "bad guys" in these plays thanks to the deft work of the playwright in showing the motivations of mothers who do what they think is best but still fail their sons. I think I will be thinking about this play for a long time.

  • Playwrights Foundation: More of a Heart

    The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced MORE OF A HEART as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We found compelling the nuanced points of view and strong characters and well-structured scenes. The play dramatizes well how families behave with each other: both brutal and tender. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production. #BAPF46

    The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced MORE OF A HEART as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We found compelling the nuanced points of view and strong characters and well-structured scenes. The play dramatizes well how families behave with each other: both brutal and tender. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production. #BAPF46

  • Jillian Blevins: More of a Heart

    Dave Osmundsen’s plays consistently affect me in three ways: they make me cry, make me laugh, and challenge me. MORE OF A HEART is powerful play about how society suppresses and fetishizes neurodivergence, and how important it is for autistic people to control their own lives and their own narratives. It’s also just a fantastic family play, touching and infuriating and full of messy imperfect love. MORE OF A HEART is a story that I will continue to carry with me as a parent, reminding me that best way to love my kids is to listen.

    Dave Osmundsen’s plays consistently affect me in three ways: they make me cry, make me laugh, and challenge me. MORE OF A HEART is powerful play about how society suppresses and fetishizes neurodivergence, and how important it is for autistic people to control their own lives and their own narratives. It’s also just a fantastic family play, touching and infuriating and full of messy imperfect love. MORE OF A HEART is a story that I will continue to carry with me as a parent, reminding me that best way to love my kids is to listen.

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Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization The Blank Theatre Living Room Series, Year 2022

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization BLUEBARN Theatre, Year 2024