Karissa Murrell Myers

Winner - Maxim Mazumdar New Play Award (2023)
Finalist - O'Neill National Playwrights Conference (2024)
Semi-Finalist - Blue Ink Awards (2024)

When her estranged childhood sweetheart mysteriously dies, Amitra returns home after a sixteen year absence to Black Bear Island, which legend says is haunted by a monstrous man-killing bear. As she searches for the truth, the forest begins to engulf the house and her past begins to collide with the present as her memory starts to unfog. This gothic, magical realistic thriller explores regret, the unreliableness of our own memories, and the paths we choose to become who we are.

Nominee - Outstanding New Work, The Joseph Jefferson Awards (2023)
Nominee - The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize (2022)
Semi-Finalist - Blue Ink Awards (2021)

Jules saw something terrible in the Idaho hospital the night her mom died, but she’ll never say what it was. Not to her ex, Olivia, and especially not to her brother, Jake, who keeps trying to convince her to go with him to the Greenbelt to spread their mom’s ashes with their father, Alan. But try as she might, Jules can’t shake the memories of the past that haunt her like a gin soaked hangover, and as the day unravels the past events surrounding her mother’s death come to light. A serio-comic play that jumps between past and present, On the Greenbelt is an exploration of Family, Love, Memory and the Question of “How do we process grief?” Content warning: physical violence, murder, substance abuse.

Semi-Finalist - Blue Ink Awards (2022)

Christmas Eve, 1997. A pregnant college student flees to her older sister's house, where she must choose to either abandon her baby or her American dream. But sometimes, the place you run to for safety turns out to be the most dangerous place of all.

Reese is a simple man who just wants the surprise wedding he's planning for his girlfriend to go off without a hitch this weekend. But when a hot air balloon full of blood crashes in his backyard the same day his apparently-not-dead aunt and bad tempered little sister show up looking for a stolen family heirloom, mayhem ensues. This kick-in-the-teeth farce explores true love, family ties, and suburban ennui.

An out-of-work retail worker agrees to become an assassin and "take out" a disgusting blackmailer in order to pay off her overwhelming student loans and start a new life, despite the fact she has absolutely no idea what she's doing and is probably the worst person possible for this job.

How Do We Navigate Space? explores the experiences of Chicagoans navigating through our current, drastically-changed world. The piece is inspired by surveys submitted by Chicago residents sharing their experiences during 2020. It expresses a non-linear story of our diverse and complex city in the search for connection.

This play was commissioned and developed by Strawdog Theatre Company.

FRAGMENTED tells the story of K, a hapa (half Asian) girl growing up in Idaho who is following the rules of her conservative community: marriage, house, planning for kids. But her desire to be an actor burns in her heart, against her husband’s wishes. She decides to leave her hometown and her toxic marriage, and moves to Hawaii to get her masters in performance. After that, her entire life changes as she seeks to find out her true identity. Told in a series of explosive vignettes, this play explores family, politics, and the challenges and joys of being multicultural in America.

Three screenwriters try to find the perfect ending for the strong female lead of their upcoming film - but easier said than done.

Written for PlayGround-Chicago (2022)

To celebrate Stress Awareness Month, a meditation coach/social media influencer comes to the zen center at Gorgon Games' corporate office. Her purpose? To guide the company's leadership through a special seminar to increase their clarity and productivity, and decrease their stress. But will it work?

Commissioned and written for Broken Nose Theatre's 2022 Bechdel Fest

Someone has planted marijuana in the church garden. Wild accusations are flung as five women gather in a church basement to solve the mystery of who among them is responsible.

Three women return to their old school with a score to settle.

Written and commissioned for American Blues Theatre's 2021 RIPPED FESTIVAL.

Jesse is in Florida, defending one of the most hated men in America. When his ex Raina surprises him with a job offer in Chicago, will he take it? Based on the real life events surrounding the trial of Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz.

Written and selected for American Blues Theatre's 2022 RIPPED FESTIVAL

A ragtag bunch of ornaments find themselves all alone on a fake Christmas tree and must decide whether to perform their sacred duty and spread holiday spirit - or not.

Written for PlayGround-Chicago 2022

Joanie is trying to win the approval of her fiance's family by getting her rescue dog into the most exclusive doggy daycare in the city, but will they accept her?

Written for PlayGround-Chicago 2022