Ben Holbrook

Set in the near future. Sy and Theo, two souls, potentially soul mates, attempt to navigate their bond in a world enhanced by the wonders of technology, AI, and the occasional talking octopus. Building a relationship based on good music, deep conversation, and strong boundaries feels natural to them, but their beautiful bond finds itself struggling against a world turned upside down by the demons of human nature and the need for capital, causing them to wonder if, in a society designed to be more complex and visible than ever, it is possible for two simple souls to truly connect.

Set against the catastrophic Gulf Coast oil spill of 2010, "Ghost on the Black Gulf" follows Aenid, a woman who built her entire life around the sea, who - rising from the disaster - broadcasts dissent over her makeshift pirate radio station, while her son Percy becomes a gentle guardian of the poisoned shore, tending to broken creatures caught in the oil. But when he pulls from the blackened tide an enchanting, otherworldly ghost, the boundary between the living and the spectral begins to dissolve. Aenid's growing visibility soon provokes a more insidious presence: a ruthless oil baron, a “living ghost” whose hunger for power threatens to erase what little they have left. As environmental devastation intertwines with the supernatural, the family is swept into a tide of forces beyond their control, in this Southern Gothic tale that wrestles with greed, inherited sins, and the unyielding spirit of community in the face of obliteration.

” I’d like to tell you another tale of love and war and the struggles we mortals must suffer through. This time, it’s Achilles, the Goddess born son of the sea, rolling in the night with his lovers Patroclus and Briseis, as the Trojan War rages on outside of their camp. When the war, however, forces Achilles into the light, he and soon she, must decide for herself, her place and legacy in this vast time fluid, gender fluid, sexuality fluid world of gods and monsters.” -Tiresias
"Goddess of the Wine Dark Sea" is a meditation on ego, social responsibility, and rebirth. I encourage people to read it aloud, as the verse moves far more quickly and naturally than people assume.

Join 3 divine sisters as they embody several generations, all observing this moment in time from the past, present, and future, while the audience samples dishes and herbs, which provoke their memories. Over the corse of 25 minutes, they playfully examine gentrification, climate change, and learning to love problematic loved ones in this meditation on time, community, our senses, and changing perspectives.
Oracular Recall made it's debut at the 2019 Communal Spaces Festival in NYC.

Jojo has a new job! She's taken it upon herself to memorize and deliver messages in her cozy Brooklyn neighborhood. One message, however, finds her engaging in a fascinating conversation with Thad, which ranges from love, to sex, to chemicals, in this short one act.

Eli just wants to practice his presentation and use the bathroom in peace, but his colleague, Bill, insists on engaging him in a conversation which takes a very uncomfortable turn, very quickly. "The Men's Room", is a comedic meditation on the changing roles of men within our society and what happens when you confront uncomfortable topics head on. 30 minute one act.

"The Whale and the Dog Star", a quirky, fantastical and poignant exploration of grief, dreams, and family, follows
Henry, an astronomer who, upon learning of his wife's deadly illness, seemingly abandons all logic, refusing to visit her in the hospital and choosing, instead, to revisit an old, forgotten project; searching for a whale that NASA once launched into space and then promptly forgot about. His colleagues, Martin, Marie and Selma, all brilliant scientists, and their quick witted janitor, Waldy, all play along, at first, but their dysfunctional relationships and lack of funding soon turn their lab into a powder keg, which, inevitably, explodes. The resulting actions find the entire lab at each other's throats (some literally), making heart breaking revelations, and abandoning their homes to play sleepover, all leading to a stunning conclusion.

Set during a late night bus ride on a warm, misty Alabama night, "Sinners on a Southbound Bus" is a dramatic/comedic meditation on fear, morality, and the ghosts we leave behind.
When Trudy, a quick-thinking young woman, finds herself in the presence of the rash, charismatic Morgan and his more stoic associate, Silas, she sees an opportunity to alleviate some of her boredom on the long, hot bus ride to Dothan.
The pleasant conversation, however, takes an ominous turn after an encounter with the police reveals that the two men share a dark, potentially violent secret, which could place every passenger in danger. Trudy, nevertheless, still sees the good in Morgan and, through their budding friendship, finds a connection that forces him to face demons that make every mile more dangerous and every confrontation more volatile, as they head towards their inevitable destination. A full length play in one act.