New Oleanna

by Zach Barr

FULL LENGTH
College senior Hudson is looking for the perfect play to direct for his senior thesis. His advisor, Nona, recommends the perfect script: David Mamet's "Oleanna." But as Hudson gets closer to rehearsals, Nona – who prides herself on trying to expose students to opinions they may disagree with – finds herself overlooking more and more red flags, about the play and about Hudson himself.

A play about...

FULL LENGTH
College senior Hudson is looking for the perfect play to direct for his senior thesis. His advisor, Nona, recommends the perfect script: David Mamet's "Oleanna." But as Hudson gets closer to rehearsals, Nona – who prides herself on trying to expose students to opinions they may disagree with – finds herself overlooking more and more red flags, about the play and about Hudson himself.

A play about the inherent violence of masculinity, what happens when men try to circumvent it, and where the line lies where intention to harm ceases to matter.

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New Oleanna

Recommended by

  • Clara Bentz: New Oleanna

    Read this script. It's acerbic and fascinating and just begging to be put on a stage. Highly recommend for actors, directors, and theater teachers who may want a text to pair with Mamet's original piece or to replace. Give Zach Barr your money instead, honestly.

    Read this script. It's acerbic and fascinating and just begging to be put on a stage. Highly recommend for actors, directors, and theater teachers who may want a text to pair with Mamet's original piece or to replace. Give Zach Barr your money instead, honestly.

  • Skyler Tarnas: New Oleanna

    Just electrically good! The intellectual is personal, the personal is intellectual, and it's just damn exciting to witness. Both characters are excellently crafted with a riveting dynamic you can't help but stare at as it crumbles and explodes. The play's only crime is it's going to make me do something I never wanted to do: read Oleanna.

    Just electrically good! The intellectual is personal, the personal is intellectual, and it's just damn exciting to witness. Both characters are excellently crafted with a riveting dynamic you can't help but stare at as it crumbles and explodes. The play's only crime is it's going to make me do something I never wanted to do: read Oleanna.

  • Karissa Murrell Myers: New Oleanna

    An intriguing and insightful look at power struggles deftly told with a professor/student dynamic. Zach is one to watch!

    An intriguing and insightful look at power struggles deftly told with a professor/student dynamic. Zach is one to watch!

View all 15 recommendations

Character Information

  • HUDSON NOWELL
    A college directing major. Pulling a blanket of self-confidence over a chasm of self-loathing.
    Character Age
    22
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • NONA JOHNSTON
    A college thesis advisor. Trying to see the best in everyone but has had that faith taken advantage of one too many times.
    Character Age
    39
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Fat Theatre Project, Year 2024
  • Type Reading, Organization Valdez Theatre Conference, Year 2024
  • Type Workshop, Organization Bramble Theatre Company, Year 2024
  • Type Reading, Organization Red Theater, Year 2023

Awards

  • WATERWORKS Festival
    Live Arts (Virginia)
    Finalist
    2024
  • NAPSeries 2023
    Normal Ave
    Semi-Finalist
    2023
  • Epiphanies New Works Festival
    Wild Imaginings
    Honorable Mention
    2023