Julie Zaffarano

In April 1918, Mary confronts her sister Anna about their mother’s unexpected death. Mary had been told that her mother died when Mary was a child. As Mary enters adulthood, she is required to attend her mother's funeral and discovers that her mother had not passed on but had been institutionalized. The worst betrayal for Mary is that Anna knew and kept the secret. This is a play about mental health, the associated secrets, fears, and stigmas-- and their effects on families.

Above the Fold is set during the 1935 grand jury investigation of the death of rising musical theater star Evelyn Hoey in Glenmoore Pennsylvania. A group of reporters are covering the grand jury whose job it is to determine if there is sufficient evidence to conduct a trial for the murder of singer Evelyn Hoey by her lover Henry Huddleston Rogers III, the son of one of the richest men in the world. Reporter Dorothy Walton wants to tell Evelyn’s real story, not a typical hyped-up news story.

“A couple months ago, Evelyn Hoey was a living, breathing person with hopes and dreams and fears. Family that loved her. Toast of the town. How does a woman like that end up with a bullet in her brain?”

Dorothy fights convention to be considered an equal partner with her male colleagues. She has to convince her editor to believe in her and in the importance of telling a truthful story. In addition, Dorothy needs to face her own feelings about her colleague and former lover, Carl, who is also assigned to cover the grand jury.

This is a story of victimization, of truth vs. sensationalism, of justice vs. power, and coping with personal demons.

While the incidents on this play are inspired by real events, this is a work of fiction.

Above the Fold is a 2022 Terrence McNally finalist, a Veterans Repertory finalist, and a Eugene O'Neil Semifinalist.

Sunny, a sixty year old perpetual hippie, and her sister, Joni, own “Sweet Revenge,” a quaint bakery in Spring Lake, NJ. Joni’s boyfriend, Brian, convinces them to take an extensive loan using the family home as collateral to renovate the bakery and enter a contest with the Treats and Tweets reality show in order to increase sales. The host of the show, Maurice Bailee and his assistant, Charlie, show up for filming a week early in the midst of the renovations. Expected and unexpected chaos ensues. (Sweet Revenge is available for listening through ArtAge Publications: https://seniortheatre.com/product/sweet-revenge/. Feel free to message the playwright for more information.)

Kentucky Lemonade is the story of two sisters, their mother and their aunt, brought together by the death of their father. In the midst of their grief and practical needs to move on, a family secret is revealed that changes how they define themselves. Funerals often bring out both the best and worst in people, both in what is said and what is not – this story is no exception.

Lisa and Sebastian were a successful romantic comedy playwriting team, and lovers, whose professional and personal relationship crashed and burned. After several years apart, they are thrown together by a producer create a new play. As Lisa and Sebastian try to recapture their signature spark, the characters in the play revolt as the line between reality and fantasy disappears.

In 1976, Johnny and Min accept a challenge to spend the night at Bran Castle in Transylvania, rumored to be the home of Dracula. How had could it be?

It’s Dottie Mouth's 100th birthday at the Sin City Rest Home, where every day is a gamble. Guests are celebrating Dottie’s birthday and reminiscing about her colorful past. At the height of the festivities, Dottie “cashes out” under suspicious circumstances. It’s up to our detective, Jess Fetcher, to unearth the truth in this twisted tale of ambition, love, revenge, and murder.

Olivia, a college freshman, seeks out her birth mother, Darlene. While Olivia is “super excited” about the meeting, Darlene is significantly less enthralled. When Olivia pushes Darlene for in-formation about her birth father, Darlene reluctantly reveals far more than Olivia expects. Darlene is suspicious of Olivia – whose tales don’t quite add up. Can these two find their way to acceptance?

Sean invites Emily to dinner to propose marriage. He brings his grandmother’s engagement ring to the restaurant and instructs the server to place the ring in Emily’s dessert. Justin invites Bria to the same restaurant at the same time, planning to break up with her. When the engagement ring intended for Emily ends up in Bria’s dessert, the chaos begins.

Sean invites Emily to dinner to propose marriage. He brings his grandmother’s engagement ring to the restaurant and instructs the server to place the ring in Emily’s dessert. Justin invites Bria to the same restaurant at the same time, planning to “put their relationship on pause.” When the engagement ring intended for Emily ends up in Bria’s dessert, the chaos begins

Nadia’s final item on her bucket list is a bungee jump off a scary. high bridge. Can her best
friends from childhood, Ang and Mel, overcome their fears and help Nadia complete her list?

Rene parks her car in front of Petey’s house to attend a Black Lives Matter Rally. When Petey sees her sign, he accosts her. Will this chance meeting divide or heal?

Coke and Denny meet face to face after “meeting” on line. They are both expecting a simple hook-up, but the meeting takes some unexpected twists.

Finneas, a fish who lives in the ocean in Rock Bottom, is flunking fish school. Finneas needs to learn how to be better at playing games. Finneas’s friends suggest asking Clark the Shark to help. Clark is very smart, but also a little scary. Will Finneas be able to become a getter game player and pass fish school?

A visit to an historic cemetery brings out tension between a parent and teen. Can they move beyond their loss and differences?

Bailey and Trip reach back to a night of drunken ideas to “spice up” their evening. Can they see beyond their fears?

A Dad wants his daughter to be prepared for the worst. But hasn’t she already gone through the worst?

Taylor has adopted two small children and wants to have a plan for them should something happen. Taylor reaches out to a new friend, Carmen, rather than a sibling, Addison. Is this the best choice?

Dana and Micky are next door neighbors and arrange a dinner to introduce their roommates, Crystal (a superhero!) and Dusty, who seem perfect for each other. Crystal and Dusty have more in common than Dana and Micky imagined

Sydney, proud of her new café, invites her sister, Madison, to lunch. Sydney is excited to show Madison the plans for the renovations and assumes Madison will make good on her promise to provide financial support

Mom has been setting four places at the Sunday dinner table even though only she and Frankie are dining. Why?

Maryann has chosen a special time to tell her sixteen year old daughter Kelly how she was conceived. Kelly’s feelings are decidedly mixed.

Morgan returns home from college on Spring break to fill in last minute for a lead role in her father’s theatre. She is to play opposite Jennifer, her old secret crush, who is annoyed she wasn’t asked to fill in for the role. Is there healing in whipped cream?

Naughty Marietta Revised is a relook at the classic operetta by Victor Herbert (music) and Rida Johnson Young (dialogue and lyrics). This show is set in New Orleans in 1780 and centers on a group of French “casquette maids” who come to New Orleans seeking a new life. Among them is the Marietta (Italian Contessa Marie D'Altena) who has escaped an arranged marriage. Captain Dick Warrington arrives in New Orleans at the same time, in search of a notorious pirate. How Marietta and Dick meet, and at last find love, is a great, sweet mystery of life.
The original libretto of this work is problematic. In order to save the intent of the story and the beautiful music for the next generations, a new version was created. William V. “Pete” Dorwart, an experienced music editor and engraver and Julie Zaffarano, a playwright, created Naughty Marietta Revised 2018. They retained the Victor Herbert music as well as most of the Rida Johnson Young lyrics, but with completely new dialogue and modified characterization. Zaffarano streamlined the plot, eliminating the various subplots, making the story more appropriate for today’s audiences. Zaffarano also highlighted the plight of the casquette maids – adventurous women who dared to travel to an unfamiliar country to start a new life. The result is a fun and entertaining play with gorgeous music.

Celebration Bread is the story of a mother (Felicia) and her daughter (Mag) who do not see eye to eye. The conflict comes to a head as Mag prepares to return to college, which is also the one hundredth anniversary of the 19th suffrage amendment. A reminder from their ancestors helps them see the bigger picture.

Colleagues meet virtually during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic and their true colors show.

Hailey and her bridal party are preparing for Hailey and Evan’s wedding. As they wait in their hotel room, both Hailey and her carefully laid plans start to fall apart. Some quick decisions are needed to save this most important day.

Shelly awakes from a coma after 16 years. One day, she is 34. The next day she is 50. Her daughter is grown and married. Her husband, responsible for her injuries, has moved on.

Kaye and her son Shawn spar over their political differences and pizza rolls.