Haunted

by Tara Moses

Twenty years have passed since Ash and Aaron died, and they're sick and tired of haunting the house they've been tethered to with no end in sight. But they have found ways to entertain themselves as new residents move in, especially in spite of the harmful stereotypes and myths of Native people they still have to encounter in the afterlife. Even though this "Indian Burial Ground" has early 2000s bops, classic...

Twenty years have passed since Ash and Aaron died, and they're sick and tired of haunting the house they've been tethered to with no end in sight. But they have found ways to entertain themselves as new residents move in, especially in spite of the harmful stereotypes and myths of Native people they still have to encounter in the afterlife. Even though this "Indian Burial Ground" has early 2000s bops, classic ouija board scares, and even a "Conjuring" movie style home destruction sequence, the siblings can't help but wonder why they're stuck haunting this house and not in the Spirit World.

read more
  • Inquire About Rights
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Library

Haunted

Recommended by

  • Shaun Leisher: Haunted by Tara Moses
    “

    Brilliant use of the horror genre to share information about the Land Back movement. I loved that the BIPOC characters are the ones given names and actual depth and all the white characters are generic and interchangeable. I loved the way the relationship between Ash and Aaron is written and how the complexity of sibling relationships is depicted. I loved that Ash's two-spirit identity is just a given. No focus on pronouns or coming out. It's just who they are. Really want to see someone do this play with all the stage magic.

    Brilliant use of the horror genre to share information about the Land Back movement. I loved that the BIPOC characters are the ones given names and actual depth and all the white characters are generic and interchangeable. I loved the way the relationship between Ash and Aaron is written and how the complexity of sibling relationships is depicted. I loved that Ash's two-spirit identity is just a given. No focus on pronouns or coming out. It's just who they are. Really want to see someone do this play with all the stage magic.

    ”
  • Neil Ruttenberg: Haunted by Tara Moses
    “

    The perfect formula for a entertaining ghost story. . . Poltergeist+Beetlejuice+Reservation Dogs with a little Smoke Signals for good measure. Great comedic bits help attenuate the length of the play. I was half expecting a guest appearance by the Deer Lady.

    The perfect formula for a entertaining ghost story. . . Poltergeist+Beetlejuice+Reservation Dogs with a little Smoke Signals for good measure. Great comedic bits help attenuate the length of the play. I was half expecting a guest appearance by the Deer Lady.

    ”

Character Information

Ash and Aaron should be cast with actors in their late 20s-early 30s.
  • Ash
    ASH, an 18-years-old (but spiritually, now in their 30s) Indiqueer Native person. They are trendy and a prep. Sibling to AARON.
    18 years old
    Indigenous/Native American/First Nations
    Non-binary,
    Two-Spirit
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Non-binary
  • Aaron
    AARON, a 20-year-old (but spiritually, now in his 30s) Native man. A little more jaded but not quite emo. Brother to ASH.
    20 years old
    Indigenous/Native American/First Nations
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Vincent Jones
    VINCENT JONES, a 30-something Black man who is the relator of the property. He also plays JERRY, a paranormal investigator.
    late 20s - late 30s
    African American/Black
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • White Man
    WHITE MAN, a middle-aged white man who plays the standard single dad in like every paranormal horror movie where he moves his family to a strange, new home to “get a fresh start”. This character plays multiple of those dads. He also plays THE QUAKER.
    middle-aged
    White
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • White Girl
    WHITE GIRL, a teenaged white girl who is the daughter of WHITE MAN and is very upset at him for making her move her senior year of high school. You know, the standard angsty teen in those movies. This character plays multiple of those girls.
    teens
    White
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • White Girl 2
    WHITE GIRL 2, a teenaged white girl who knows all about the mysterious town lore and befriends the new WHITE GIRL. You know the trope. She also plays THE MEDIUM and another WHITE GIRL 2.0.
    teens - 20s
    White
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman

Development History

Production History

  • Professional, Cleveland Public Theatre, 2026 - NNPN Rolling World Premier
  • Professional, Native Voices, 2025 - NNPN Rolling World Premier

Awards