Fear the Violinist

by Annie Schoonover

Kate wakes up in a hospital room, tied to a bed, with a mysterious tube attached to her body. A nurse informs her that on the other side of the wall is a dying man whose circulatory system is attached to Kate's. As long as Kate stays attached to him for nine months, he will live. Kate, who did not consent to this procedure, is desperate to escape, but must match wits with the nurse in order to do so. Based on a...

Kate wakes up in a hospital room, tied to a bed, with a mysterious tube attached to her body. A nurse informs her that on the other side of the wall is a dying man whose circulatory system is attached to Kate's. As long as Kate stays attached to him for nine months, he will live. Kate, who did not consent to this procedure, is desperate to escape, but must match wits with the nurse in order to do so. Based on a pro-abortion thought experiment originally created by Judith Jarvis Thomson.

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Fear the Violinist

Recommended by

  • Samara Siskind: Fear the Violinist by Annie Schoonover
    “

    A riveting read that is so deeply layered, so deeply terrifying. What better way to die than to lay down your life for another?... What kind of a woman are you? Who really is that man on the other side of that wall? The threat and emotional impact of this play packed so much into such a short span of time, leaving me shaken to my core.

    A riveting read that is so deeply layered, so deeply terrifying. What better way to die than to lay down your life for another?... What kind of a woman are you? Who really is that man on the other side of that wall? The threat and emotional impact of this play packed so much into such a short span of time, leaving me shaken to my core.

    ”
  • Ayibatari Owei: Fear the Violinist by Annie Schoonover
    “

    How I felt reading this: I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream. This is a necessary read.

    How I felt reading this: I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream. This is a necessary read.

    ”
  • Kate Isabel Foley: Fear the Violinist by Annie Schoonover
    “

    DEEPLY obsessed with this piece (and not just because Kate shares my name). Intense, gripping, and timely. It will haunt you in the best way possible.

    DEEPLY obsessed with this piece (and not just because Kate shares my name). Intense, gripping, and timely. It will haunt you in the best way possible.

    ”
View all 5 recommendations

Character Information

  • Kate
    My ideal Kate is a plus-sized woman. I encourage you to consider trans women and women of color--especially Black women--for the role as well.
    Any age
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Nurse
    If casting a woman of color as the Nurse, ideally Kate should be a woman of color as well.
    Young
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman

Development History

  • Reading, Mid-America Theatre Conference, 2026
  • Reading, American College Theatre Festival, 2026

Production History

  • Professional, Memoriam Development, 2026