The Luminaries

by Jesse Hampsch

When a celebrated professor of world religion discovers he may be the only human without an astrological sign, his perfectly ordered universe collapses. After his cult leader fiancée, Surely, leaves him, he embarks on a surreal journey with American Jesus, encountering cosmic gatekeepers, a blind man and an elephant, and the Sun Himself, in a race to find meaning before uncertainty destroys him. The Luminaries...

When a celebrated professor of world religion discovers he may be the only human without an astrological sign, his perfectly ordered universe collapses. After his cult leader fiancée, Surely, leaves him, he embarks on a surreal journey with American Jesus, encountering cosmic gatekeepers, a blind man and an elephant, and the Sun Himself, in a race to find meaning before uncertainty destroys him. The Luminaries is an absurd, fast-paced exploration of identity, faith, and the terrifying comfort of certainty.

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

The Luminaries

Recommended by

  • Larry White: The Luminaries by Jesse Hampsch
    “

    Oh my dad! What a romp! This is funny, clever, entertaining, thrilling, thoughtful... it's easier to say this gave me all the emotions. A wild ride with an ending you don't see coming (or is it the second coming?). The actor in me wants to play American Jesus. The patron in me wants to see this again and again!

    Oh my dad! What a romp! This is funny, clever, entertaining, thrilling, thoughtful... it's easier to say this gave me all the emotions. A wild ride with an ending you don't see coming (or is it the second coming?). The actor in me wants to play American Jesus. The patron in me wants to see this again and again!

    ”
  • Liam Happe: The Luminaries by Jesse Hampsch
    “

    The Luminaries takes a host of wild, vivid comedic topics and devices, and smoothly arranges them in the vase of a classic philosophical fissure. The directions are as entertaining as the dialogue, which will ensure Jesse gets the very best out of a cast of what would undoubtedly be very eager players.

    The Luminaries takes a host of wild, vivid comedic topics and devices, and smoothly arranges them in the vase of a classic philosophical fissure. The directions are as entertaining as the dialogue, which will ensure Jesse gets the very best out of a cast of what would undoubtedly be very eager players.

    ”
  • John Martin: The Luminaries by Jesse Hampsch
    “

    Wow, what a ride. Clever and heartwarming. Full of amusing inversions and surprises. The comedy really helps enrich the philosophical ideas making it fun instead of dense. Some unforgettable characters. Clever all the way through. The Elephant and Blind Man were my personal favorite touch.

    Wow, what a ride. Clever and heartwarming. Full of amusing inversions and surprises. The comedy really helps enrich the philosophical ideas making it fun instead of dense. Some unforgettable characters. Clever all the way through. The Elephant and Blind Man were my personal favorite touch.

    ”
View all 6 recommendations

Character Information

The play has MANY doublings (21 characters in total), portrayed by only 5 players, generally presenting as 3M, 2W.
  • Dr. Diogenes Hart
    20-40
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • American Jesus
    American Jesus should present as the "white, Anglican Jesus" often portrayed in Western culture.
    33
    White
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Surely (and others)
    20-40
    Any
    Female,
    Any
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Clark Hart (and others)
    50-70
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Carol Hart (and others)
    50-70
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman

Development History

  • Reading, Cincinnati LAB Theatre, 2025
  • Reading, Temple University, 2024