Ben Verschoor

Ben is a playwright and filmmaker. Originally from Idaho, with a degree from the College of Idaho, he has lived on the Oregon coast and in Washington, DC; New York City; and, currently, Chicago. As a function of his Gem State upbringing, he writes about right-wing extremists. His play Internet Hate Machines was a 2015 Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference Finalist, and his first directed short film, Birthday Wish, was included in the 2018 Directors Circle Festival of Shorts. His monologue “When in Rome” was published in Smith & Kraus’s collection 222 More Comedy Monologues. While enrolled in Northwestern University's Writing for the Screen and Stage MFA program he organized a 48-Hour Film Festival and began work on his upcoming short film Jokers. Along with writing Ben enjoys...

Ben is a playwright and filmmaker. Originally from Idaho, with a degree from the College of Idaho, he has lived on the Oregon coast and in Washington, DC; New York City; and, currently, Chicago. As a function of his Gem State upbringing, he writes about right-wing extremists. His play Internet Hate Machines was a 2015 Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference Finalist, and his first directed short film, Birthday Wish, was included in the 2018 Directors Circle Festival of Shorts. His monologue “When in Rome” was published in Smith & Kraus’s collection 222 More Comedy Monologues. While enrolled in Northwestern University's Writing for the Screen and Stage MFA program he organized a 48-Hour Film Festival and began work on his upcoming short film Jokers. Along with writing Ben enjoys going to the movies, riding his bike, and direct-action politics.

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Scripts

Cruisefix

by Ben Verschoor

2
Cast Size
8—20
Genre
drama,
experimental

A gay conservative Christian university student discovers that a campus bathroom is a cruising spot. He begins cruising as an outlet for his sexuality, but when it becomes clear that he can no longer compartmentalize these two parts of his life, he resorts to elaborate and extreme means to reconcile his religious and sexual selves.

A gay conservative Christian university student discovers that a campus bathroom is a cruising spot. He begins cruising as an outlet for his sexuality, but when it becomes clear that he can no longer compartmentalize these two parts of his life, he resorts to elaborate and extreme means to reconcile his religious and sexual selves.

The Empty Orchestra

by Ben Verschoor

Cast Size
5
Genre
drama,
musical

Young actress Bree is stuck in a rut, romantically and professionally. While she commiserates with former co-worker Rhonda at O'Malley's Irish Pub on karaoke night, she takes a fancy to one of the regulars, Lewis, who's venting about his own love life with the pub's barfly Alan. Bree and Lewis begin dating, but her aspirations expose fissures between them and their friends, and between and within themselves...

Young actress Bree is stuck in a rut, romantically and professionally. While she commiserates with former co-worker Rhonda at O'Malley's Irish Pub on karaoke night, she takes a fancy to one of the regulars, Lewis, who's venting about his own love life with the pub's barfly Alan. Bree and Lewis begin dating, but her aspirations expose fissures between them and their friends, and between and within themselves. Through the medium of karaoke, the Empty Orchestra asks: what does it take to make dreams come true--and what happens if they never do?

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Internet Hate Machines

by Ben Verschoor

2
Cast Size
7—8
Genre
dark comedy,
political

Slacker hacker Elliot Hernandez, a.k.a. Brony2012, spends his days helping notorious internet troll Farticus entertain himself at others’ expense. The two are nearly ready to ruin the life of electronic security blowhard Robert Stark, when Stark comes to Elliot’s door and forces him to spy on and bring down his partner. A play about the use and abuse of 21st century communication.

Slacker hacker Elliot Hernandez, a.k.a. Brony2012, spends his days helping notorious internet troll Farticus entertain himself at others’ expense. The two are nearly ready to ruin the life of electronic security blowhard Robert Stark, when Stark comes to Elliot’s door and forces him to spy on and bring down his partner. A play about the use and abuse of 21st century communication.