WINNERS

by Emma Goldman-Sherman

FULL LENGTH 2024 O'Neill SemiFinalist, WINNERS is a quirky, queer comedy about a clueless, competitive family. With Mom in Limbo and Dad absent the past 8 years, Fran and Cali fail to connect until a late diagnosis of autism changes everything. WINNERS celebrates the possibilities of queer, nonbinary/trans and autistic authenticity!

FULL LENGTH 2024 O'Neill SemiFinalist, WINNERS is a quirky, queer comedy about a clueless, competitive family. With Mom in Limbo and Dad absent the past 8 years, Fran and Cali fail to connect until a late diagnosis of autism changes everything. WINNERS celebrates the possibilities of queer, nonbinary/trans and autistic authenticity!

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WINNERS

Recommended by

  • Paul Donnelly: WINNERS

    This urgent drama of unique family dysfunction, individual and societal rituals, the vagaries of grief, and the hard road to self-acceptance is populated with four distinctive and compelling family members. Fran's ultimate acceptance of her authentic self offers a path to liberation and relief to the other family members. I can only imagine how vivid it would be to see this play with the stim behaviors fully realized. However, just reading it is a powerful experience.

    This urgent drama of unique family dysfunction, individual and societal rituals, the vagaries of grief, and the hard road to self-acceptance is populated with four distinctive and compelling family members. Fran's ultimate acceptance of her authentic self offers a path to liberation and relief to the other family members. I can only imagine how vivid it would be to see this play with the stim behaviors fully realized. However, just reading it is a powerful experience.

  • Aly Kantor: WINNERS

    This is such a cathartic play, absolutely loaded with unique, specific characters whose distinct characteristics make them painfully relatable. It's a tight, brilliant look at how ignorance leads to othering, even - and especially - among those who are most like you. Though the piece is ostensibly about grief, it's also sharp and funny, maintaining a subtlety that makes the characters feel real and nuanced. Neurodivergent audience members will see themselves in this fractured family, and allistics (or those in denial, like Cali) will come to understand an alternate way of seeing and being in...

    This is such a cathartic play, absolutely loaded with unique, specific characters whose distinct characteristics make them painfully relatable. It's a tight, brilliant look at how ignorance leads to othering, even - and especially - among those who are most like you. Though the piece is ostensibly about grief, it's also sharp and funny, maintaining a subtlety that makes the characters feel real and nuanced. Neurodivergent audience members will see themselves in this fractured family, and allistics (or those in denial, like Cali) will come to understand an alternate way of seeing and being in the world.

  • Shaun Leisher: WINNERS

    This play features great roles for Jewish and neurodivergent actors. A wonderful play about dealing with grief and learning to forgive. This family is so messy but you can't help but be enthralled with their lives.

    This play features great roles for Jewish and neurodivergent actors. A wonderful play about dealing with grief and learning to forgive. This family is so messy but you can't help but be enthralled with their lives.

View all 4 recommendations

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization New Circle Theatre Company, NYC, Year 2024
  • Type Reading, Organization The Tank, NYC, Year 2024

Awards

  • O'Neill
    Semi-Finalist
    2024