The Wizard Unworthy

The Wizard Unworthy is a psychedelic horror-fantasy about a drunk and retired wizard, Garathiander (Garath) who is struck with guilt about his sister’s death. The creation of the Vessel for Garath’s sister goes horribly awry when Garath’s minion, Zorp, feeds it human flesh, resulting in an abomination who is sure to be responsible for their deaths. Garath scrambles to find a means of survival, including...

The Wizard Unworthy is a psychedelic horror-fantasy about a drunk and retired wizard, Garathiander (Garath) who is struck with guilt about his sister’s death. The creation of the Vessel for Garath’s sister goes horribly awry when Garath’s minion, Zorp, feeds it human flesh, resulting in an abomination who is sure to be responsible for their deaths. Garath scrambles to find a means of survival, including communing with dark powers, when his estranged nephew Sonny conveniently arrives. As the Vessel grows in power, will Garath sacrifice Sonny or Zorp to survive? Or will he sacrifice himself?

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

The Wizard Unworthy

Recommended by

  • Kate Isabel Foley: The Wizard Unworthy

    Magical, gripping, and not quite like anything else you'll ever see onstage. I love the weird and unsettling worldbuilding of this play, and Zorp has captured my heart forever.

    Magical, gripping, and not quite like anything else you'll ever see onstage. I love the weird and unsettling worldbuilding of this play, and Zorp has captured my heart forever.

  • Ayibatari Owei: The Wizard Unworthy

    Hilarious and heart wrenching. Truly this play is a psychedelic trip through a 70s fantasy movie.

    Hilarious and heart wrenching. Truly this play is a psychedelic trip through a 70s fantasy movie.

  • Annie Schoonover: The Wizard Unworthy

    This is one of those plays I wish I could make everyone watch. Weird and creative and slyly brilliant. Come for the psychedelic out-of-the-box aesthetic and clever use of fantasy archetypes, stay for the moving exploration of love and grief.

    This is one of those plays I wish I could make everyone watch. Weird and creative and slyly brilliant. Come for the psychedelic out-of-the-box aesthetic and clever use of fantasy archetypes, stay for the moving exploration of love and grief.

Character Information

The Vessel is a non-speaking role and could be portrayed by an actor or a puppet of any kind.
  • Garathiander (Garath)
    GARATHIANDER (GARATH): 50 years old. Male presenting. The Wizard. A drunk, a prima donna with a hefty dose of self-loathing.
    Character Age
    30-60
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Zorp
    ZORP: 5 years old – cast as an adult. Can be portrayed by any gender. A flesh golem (gow-luhm) – composed of roadkill (some human). A rather happy duckling. Should appear truly grotesque, scary and large.
    Character Age
    Adult body (canonically 5 years old)
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Sonny
    SONNY: 17 years old. Male presenting. A lovesick fool, a numbskull. He thinks himself a weakling, a coward. He is very emotional, that is his strength.
    Character Age
    17
    Character Gender Identity
    Male

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization CMU Center for New Work Development , Year 2026

Awards

  • Mary Marlin Fisher Playwriting Award at Carnegie Mellon
    Carnegie Mellon School of Drama
    Winner
    2026