Couch Tomb

by Maggie Smith

Based on true events, Laura, Phoebe, Nellie, Alice, Ida, and Edgar embark on an all-night journey to protect the city they love from vampires. Despite their young ages and constant need for adult supervision, the six Chicago children are determined to prove their neighbor's disappearance is related to the supernatural, though their excursion may prove to reveal something more sinister.

Based on true events, Laura, Phoebe, Nellie, Alice, Ida, and Edgar embark on an all-night journey to protect the city they love from vampires. Despite their young ages and constant need for adult supervision, the six Chicago children are determined to prove their neighbor's disappearance is related to the supernatural, though their excursion may prove to reveal something more sinister.

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Couch Tomb

Recommended by

  • Kelly McBurnette-Andronicos: Couch Tomb

    Smith brings to light a little known incident from Chicago history - the true story of kid vampire hunters. How much fun it would be to see a production of this play on location at the Couch Tomb in Lincoln Park. Great roles for tweens, particularly girls. If I were 13 years old, I’d die to be in this play. A fresh subject with a fresh approach I truly enjoyed. Not your average TYA play!

    Smith brings to light a little known incident from Chicago history - the true story of kid vampire hunters. How much fun it would be to see a production of this play on location at the Couch Tomb in Lincoln Park. Great roles for tweens, particularly girls. If I were 13 years old, I’d die to be in this play. A fresh subject with a fresh approach I truly enjoyed. Not your average TYA play!

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:

| IDA must be performed as a woman.
  • PHOEBE
    Not as smart as they think, braver than they should be
    Character Age
    Twelve
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race
  • IDA
    Always up for an adventure
    Character Age
    Twelve
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race
  • LAURA
    Knows more than everyone else and won't shut up about it
    Character Age
    Thirteen
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race
  • NELLIE
    Just... Nellie
    Character Age
    Fourteen
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race
  • EDGAR
    Desperately wants to fit in
    Character Age
    Eleven
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race
  • ALICE
    Too much of a working moral compass to let anyone out of her sight
    Character Age
    Fourteen
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race
  • FRANK MAYELL
    Missing.
    Character Age
    Forty-Three
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Municipal Hole Company, Year 2023