If I Die Before I Wake

by Maggie Smith

Based on the Faustus myth, a young woman sells her soul to the Devil in order to spark creativity. Told through poetry, this play focuses on what to make of our limited time on earth, asking if it is better to be known well or well-known.

Based on the Faustus myth, a young woman sells her soul to the Devil in order to spark creativity. Told through poetry, this play focuses on what to make of our limited time on earth, asking if it is better to be known well or well-known.

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If I Die Before I Wake

Character Information

As a writer, I am dedicated to creating diverse worlds onstage. Some of the most defining moments of my life involve me seeing myself represented onstage, television, or in literature. Because of this, I highly recommend casting this play diversely in regards to race, gender identity, and disability. You won’t be depicting the real world if you ignore this request.

This is acknowledging, however, that some roles are specific in the way they must be casted. In this play, the following roles have these limitations:

| FAUSTUS and MEPHISTOPHELES should not be portrayed by cisgendered men.

  • FAUSTUS
    A genius, so much knowledge, so little time
    Character Age
    Twenty-One
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race
    Character Gender Identity
    woman
  • MEPHISTOPHILES
    Tempting, fallen from Heaven
    Character Age
    Immortal
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race
    Character Gender Identity
    Genderfluid,
    she/her pronouns
  • WAGNER
    If someone could give him a happy ending that'd be appreciated
    Character Age
    Twenty-One
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race
    Character Gender Identity
    Man
  • LUCIFER
    Mr. Satan Himself, there are absolutely no boundaries
    Character Age
    Immortal
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race
    Character Gender Identity
    Genderfluid,
    He/Him Pronouns
  • VIRGIL
    Local Satanist, here for a good time, a lot happier than you'd think she'd be
    Character Age
    Twenty-One
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race
    Character Gender Identity
    Any gender
  • URIEL
    Angel of Creativity, a guardian angel
    Character Age
    Immortal
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race
    Character Gender Identity
    Genderfluid