ADIRONDACK CHAIR CIRCLE

by Stephanie Alison Walker

Banna is a perfection-seeking, suburban mom who finds meaning in leading a group of like-minded moms fighting the school district’s indoctrination of children. But behind the impressive facade, her marriage is in trouble, her relationship with her teenager is strained, and she is being tormented by an ever-present crow defiling her backyard. As Banna’s group gains notoriety and some sinister allies, she is faced...

Banna is a perfection-seeking, suburban mom who finds meaning in leading a group of like-minded moms fighting the school district’s indoctrination of children. But behind the impressive facade, her marriage is in trouble, her relationship with her teenager is strained, and she is being tormented by an ever-present crow defiling her backyard. As Banna’s group gains notoriety and some sinister allies, she is faced with a choice: to open up and evolve or to double down and become isolated.

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

ADIRONDACK CHAIR CIRCLE

Recommended by

  • Hallie Palladino: ADIRONDACK CHAIR CIRCLE by Stephanie Alison Walker
    “

    Stephanie's pitch perfect satire is a brilliant response to the very real (this happened in her school district) banning of books by radicalized suburban moms. Everything from the magical talking crow and the title's nod to Brecht are laid out like a luscious charcuterie platter of comedic delight. This play is very real and very important, and every city needs to produce it because it's a study in how anti-democractic ideas spread, morph, and metastasize.

    Stephanie's pitch perfect satire is a brilliant response to the very real (this happened in her school district) banning of books by radicalized suburban moms. Everything from the magical talking crow and the title's nod to Brecht are laid out like a luscious charcuterie platter of comedic delight. This play is very real and very important, and every city needs to produce it because it's a study in how anti-democractic ideas spread, morph, and metastasize.

    ”
  • Shaun Leisher: ADIRONDACK CHAIR CIRCLE by Stephanie Alison Walker
    “

    This play is so of the moment. It's one of those plays that theatres around the country are gonna be dying to include in their upcoming season. It's a play about such a huge issue that is also an intimate character study. Walker could have easily written these three women as caricatures. She could have easily made them one-dimensional bigots. Instead these are complicated characters with messy lives and unique reasons for fighting the school board. Such a great play. Produce this now!!!

    This play is so of the moment. It's one of those plays that theatres around the country are gonna be dying to include in their upcoming season. It's a play about such a huge issue that is also an intimate character study. Walker could have easily written these three women as caricatures. She could have easily made them one-dimensional bigots. Instead these are complicated characters with messy lives and unique reasons for fighting the school board. Such a great play. Produce this now!!!

    ”
  • Deb Hiett: ADIRONDACK CHAIR CIRCLE by Stephanie Alison Walker
    “

    Once again, Stephanie Walker tackles a tricky political topic with a light touch and a withering side-eye. The school board coven's power is at stake, and Walker gives us a new perspective. It's a powerful subject, so of course in Walker's experienced hands, our guide is a wise talking crow. Would be great to see this play in a production!

    Once again, Stephanie Walker tackles a tricky political topic with a light touch and a withering side-eye. The school board coven's power is at stake, and Walker gives us a new perspective. It's a powerful subject, so of course in Walker's experienced hands, our guide is a wise talking crow. Would be great to see this play in a production!

    ”
View all 4 recommendations
BANNA - (30s/40s) Entitled suburban white lady (or entitled suburban white lady energy) and founder of her local chapter of a mom's group that fights against indoctrination of American children in schools. She is a gifted charcuterie board maker and mom to 14 year old Charlie. She is the queen bee and feels lost and untethered when she's not controlling everybody and everything around her. She's also lonely. Very, very lonely.

WINONA - (30s/40s) Enthusiastic "joiner" who is always seeking approval. She is half Cuban and half Polish. She grew up hearing about how both parents escaped communism. She's easily manipulated and eager to please so she is assumed to be "the dumb one" in her circle of moms. But, she's not dumb. She has a very successful mineral gemstone store on Etsy and is really into Pickleball.

LIBBY - (30s) Aggressively confident in herself. Pilates-fit and ready to rumble like a Boston Terrier. She's a mom to 3, doesn't have to work and is a secret shoplifter. She can be any race, but must carry the aura and entitlement of privilege. She walks through life like she owns it. So used to wearing emotional armor that she doesn't feel anything anymore.

CROW- An American Crow who is loyal to the superintendent who lives next to Banna. Any age, any race, any gender. Fierce, feral energy. This crow knows who they are.

MEDIA TRAINER - Played by same actor who plays Crow. Carries big GOP energy. Arrogance, swagger, nothing can touch him.

EVELYN GRACE - (30s/40s) Mom. Pickleballer. Liberal "wacko." Seen as the communist errand mom to the superintendent. She feels like she can never do enough. Interior designer. Open race.

Development History

  • Workshop, Colorado New Plays Festival, 2026
  • Reading, The Gift Theatre, 2024

Production History

  • Professional, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, 2026

Awards

  • O'Neill National Playwrights Conference
    The O'Neill
    Semi-Finalist
    2026