JONNA/JACK (award-winning one-act 20-minute play for 3 to 7 actors)

[one-act play: approximately 20 minutes]

Two romantic partners, recently deceased, reconnect at the Akashic Hall of Records in heaven. Questioning their tumultuous lifetime together, they consult the records to view their past lives and what answers may lie there for them both. Their journey takes them to Renaissance Italy and late 1700s Ireland.

Production, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant MI 2024...

[one-act play: approximately 20 minutes]

Two romantic partners, recently deceased, reconnect at the Akashic Hall of Records in heaven. Questioning their tumultuous lifetime together, they consult the records to view their past lives and what answers may lie there for them both. Their journey takes them to Renaissance Italy and late 1700s Ireland.

Production, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant MI 2024
Online Reading, Tigers Heart Players, Zoom Readers Theatre, NYC, 2024
Production, Pineapple Playhouse One-Act Festival, Ft. Pierce FL 2024
Reading, Tipjar Theatre/Readers Theatre, Celtic Calling, Charleston WV, 2024 - specialized version with only Celtic past life

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JONNA/JACK (award-winning one-act 20-minute play for 3 to 7 actors)

Recommended by

  • Donald Loftus: JONNA/JACK (award-winning one-act 20-minute play for 3 to 7 actors)

    A poignant and imaginative one-act, Jonna/Jack blends romance, humor, and metaphysical intrigue into a deeply moving exploration of love across lifetimes. Arianna Rose crafts vibrant, shifting worlds with fluid theatricality, while the central relationship remains heartfelt and authentic. The interplay between past and present adds emotional depth, culminating in a hopeful, resonant conclusion.

    A poignant and imaginative one-act, Jonna/Jack blends romance, humor, and metaphysical intrigue into a deeply moving exploration of love across lifetimes. Arianna Rose crafts vibrant, shifting worlds with fluid theatricality, while the central relationship remains heartfelt and authentic. The interplay between past and present adds emotional depth, culminating in a hopeful, resonant conclusion.

  • Dan West: JONNA/JACK (award-winning one-act 20-minute play for 3 to 7 actors)

    Jonna and Jack have struggled as a couple throughout the years. Throughout 500 years and three different lifetimes in fact. After their most recent failed romance, the couple is confronted with the Akashic Record of their times together, and are left to see if they can finally figure the whole soulmate thing out before the next go. Arianna Rose has written a compelling and emotional authentic yarn about two star-crossed lovers that can’t quite get it figured out over multiple lives, but seem committed to keep trying.

    Jonna and Jack have struggled as a couple throughout the years. Throughout 500 years and three different lifetimes in fact. After their most recent failed romance, the couple is confronted with the Akashic Record of their times together, and are left to see if they can finally figure the whole soulmate thing out before the next go. Arianna Rose has written a compelling and emotional authentic yarn about two star-crossed lovers that can’t quite get it figured out over multiple lives, but seem committed to keep trying.

  • Morey Norkin: JONNA/JACK (award-winning one-act 20-minute play for 3 to 7 actors)

    Sometimes couples are meant to be together even over several lifetimes. In Jonna/Jack, Arianna Rose allows a couple to explore their past lives when they enter the afterlife. In this realm, they discover more about themselves and what they truly want than they were able to during their most recent life. We can’t help but hope that whatever is next for these two will not be short lived. A lovely story with multiple casting/staging options. I have no doubt it will find its way to the stage soon and often.

    Sometimes couples are meant to be together even over several lifetimes. In Jonna/Jack, Arianna Rose allows a couple to explore their past lives when they enter the afterlife. In this realm, they discover more about themselves and what they truly want than they were able to during their most recent life. We can’t help but hope that whatever is next for these two will not be short lived. A lovely story with multiple casting/staging options. I have no doubt it will find its way to the stage soon and often.

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Character Information

Characters
Author note on casting: Jonna and Jack are souls viewing their past lives together. The actors playing Jonna and Jack can either play all three aspects of their soul, or observe as other actors play those past lives and Rosa/Roisin/Rita. If other actors as used, inventive staging can occur as the past lives can shadow the present and vice versa. Diversity in casting is encouraged. Three different casting variations are below:

Double cast version, 5 actors:

JONNA, woman, 20s-30s

JACK, man, 20s-30s

GIANNI/SEAN Italian servant/Irish sailor Tradesman, 30s+
(pronounced Gee-AH-nee)/ (pronounced SHAWN)

GIOVANNA/SIOBHAN Italian humanist scholar, widow/Irish wife and mother, 30s+
(pronounced Gee-oh-VAHN-na)/ (pronounced Shi-VAWN)

ROSA/ROISIN/RITA Italian housekeeper/Irish aunt/Spirit Guide 30s+
(pronounced ROH-sheen)

Triple cast version, 3 actors:

JONNA/GIOVANNA/SIOBHAN
JACK/GIANNI/SEAN
ROSA/ROISIN/RITA

1 triple casting, 7 actors:
JONNA
JACK
GIANNI
GIOVANNA
SEAN
SIOBHAN
ROSA/ROISIN/RITA
  • Jonna
    deceased, in love with Jack through many lives. Tenacious, funny, sensitive
    Character Age
    20s-30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Jack
    deceased, confused about what is happening. Smart, scholarly.
    Character Age
    20s-30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Gianni
    servant, romantic, loose-lipped
    Character Age
    30s+
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Giovanna
    young widow, secret scholar, humanist
    Character Age
    teens-20s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Sean
    hardworking, successful sailor tradesman, loves his wife Siobhan, is a flirt
    Character Age
    30s-40s
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Siobhan
    hard-working wife of Sean, mother of two children, late 17th century Irish.
    Character Age
    30s-40s
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Rosa/Roisin/Rita
    One actor plays all three roles:
    Rosa - Italian housekeeper during the 1500s
    Roisin- Irish woman, aunt to Siobhan, pragmatic
    Rita - spirit guide to Jack. matter of fact but kind
    Character Age
    any adult age
    Character Gender Identity
    Female

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Tipjar Theatre, Celtic Calling Readers Theatre, Charleston WV, Year 2024
  • Type Reading, Organization Tigers Heart Players, Zoom Reading NYC, Year 2024

Production History

Awards

  • Best Play
    Pineapple Playhouse One-Act Play Festival, Ft. Pierce FL
    Runner Up
    2024
  • 2nd Place
    TipJar Theatre/Celtic Calling Readers Theatre, Charleston WV
    Winner
    2024