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 by Maggie Smith
    “

    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
    Twelve
    Any Race
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Child,
      Teens
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Non-binary
  • IDA
    Always up for an adventure
    Twelve
    Any Race
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Child,
      Teens
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • LAURA
    Knows more than everyone else and won't shut up about it
    Thirteen
    Any Race
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Child,
      Teens
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • NELLIE
    Just... Nellie
    Fourteen
    Any Race
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • EDGAR
    Desperately wants to fit in
    Eleven
    Any Race
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Child,
      Teens
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • ALICE
    Too much of a working moral compass to let anyone out of her sight
    Fourteen
    Any Race
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • FRANK MAYELL
    Missing.
    Forty-Three
    Any Race
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male

Development History

  • Reading, Municipal Hole Company, 2023