Jan Rosenberg

Jan's play Pluck was selected for the 2023 National Playwright Conference. Their short film 'guts' premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2024 and has since screened at CIFF, PSIFF (Jury Award), HollyShorts, LA Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, Nashville Film Festival, and more. Their plays have been finalists for The O'Neill, the Princess Grace Award, Playwrights Realm Writing Fellowship, Ars Nova Play Group, Colt Coeur Artist Residency, Irons in the Fire, Lanford Wilson New Play Festival, and the Theatre503 World Playwriting Award. They have collaborated with the LAByrinth Theater Company, Seattle Rep, IAMA Theatre, Shotgun Players, The Cherry Lane, The Lark, The Last Frontier Conference, Breaking and Entering Theater, and countless others. They were the playwright in residence at...

Jan's play Pluck was selected for the 2023 National Playwright Conference. Their short film 'guts' premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2024 and has since screened at CIFF, PSIFF (Jury Award), HollyShorts, LA Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, Nashville Film Festival, and more. Their plays have been finalists for The O'Neill, the Princess Grace Award, Playwrights Realm Writing Fellowship, Ars Nova Play Group, Colt Coeur Artist Residency, Irons in the Fire, Lanford Wilson New Play Festival, and the Theatre503 World Playwriting Award. They have collaborated with the LAByrinth Theater Company, Seattle Rep, IAMA Theatre, Shotgun Players, The Cherry Lane, The Lark, The Last Frontier Conference, Breaking and Entering Theater, and countless others. They were the playwright in residence at Stella Adler Studio and The Farm Theater. They are a member of the Playwright/Directors Unit at The Actors Studio. Their audio play We Came All This Way is available wherever you listen to podcasts (episode 2 of The Lovely Dark).

Scripts

Pluck

by Jan Rosenberg

Synopsis

It's 2003. Fourteen year-old Cleo and Bea are twins. Cleo can't stop running away from womanhood. Bea can't stop running away, period. When we don't have the words for what we're becoming, we make up myths instead. A play about gender identity, dysphoria, twins, and monsters in the age of AOL.

It's 2003. Fourteen year-old Cleo and Bea are twins. Cleo can't stop running away from womanhood. Bea can't stop running away, period. When we don't have the words for what we're becoming, we make up myths instead. A play about gender identity, dysphoria, twins, and monsters in the age of AOL.

How To Destroy An American Girl Doll

by Jan Rosenberg

Synopsis

Gen and Vee are best friends. Gen teaches Vee how to throw up. Vee sells Gen weed. Gen teaches Vee how to pretend like you don't hate sex. Vee tries to pretend like she doesn't love Gen a little too much. Through parties, treatment centers, and college, they keep each other's secrets. Because that's what friends are for--right? A dark comedy about toxic friendships, asexuality, and addiction.

Gen and Vee are best friends. Gen teaches Vee how to throw up. Vee sells Gen weed. Gen teaches Vee how to pretend like you don't hate sex. Vee tries to pretend like she doesn't love Gen a little too much. Through parties, treatment centers, and college, they keep each other's secrets. Because that's what friends are for--right? A dark comedy about toxic friendships, asexuality, and addiction.

GUSHER!

by Jan Rosenberg

Synopsis

Davie and her girlfriend Jules are trying to enjoy their vacation — but Davie can't stop bleeding. A storm is brewing, and when some unexpected visitors show up, things get more than a little freaky... and messy.

Davie and her girlfriend Jules are trying to enjoy their vacation — but Davie can't stop bleeding. A storm is brewing, and when some unexpected visitors show up, things get more than a little freaky... and messy.

Amputations

by Jan Rosenberg

Synopsis

Celebrated novelist Nat has returned home for their sister's wedding. But when they meet their soon to be brother-in-law, dark things that should've been left buried in the backyard arise...

Celebrated novelist Nat has returned home for their sister's wedding. But when they meet their soon to be brother-in-law, dark things that should've been left buried in the backyard arise...

I Know the End

by Jan Rosenberg

Synopsis

Three teenagers intern at a cemetery. Charlie wants a sky burial when she dies. Vernon wants to scatter his Mom's ashes. Em wanted to intern at the vet's office, but she got the short straw.

A play about the way we memorialize the ones we love, and how climate change and overpopulation have impacted the Death Industry.

Three teenagers intern at a cemetery. Charlie wants a sky burial when she dies. Vernon wants to scatter his Mom's ashes. Em wanted to intern at the vet's office, but she got the short straw.

A play about the way we memorialize the ones we love, and how climate change and overpopulation have impacted the Death Industry.

Janie Wants A Dog

by Jan Rosenberg

Synopsis

You're invited to Janie's sleepover party! I know we're all a little uncomfortable after what happened, but PLEASE be nice to Janie and don't tell her your parents forced you to come. Don't say anything that will "trigger" her or whatever. Her Moms just really want her to have a nice, normal time with her friends, okay? So bring your cutest PJs, leave your stuffed animals at home, AND your bras-let's be honest...

You're invited to Janie's sleepover party! I know we're all a little uncomfortable after what happened, but PLEASE be nice to Janie and don't tell her your parents forced you to come. Don't say anything that will "trigger" her or whatever. Her Moms just really want her to have a nice, normal time with her friends, okay? So bring your cutest PJs, leave your stuffed animals at home, AND your bras-let's be honest, you don't have anything to put in a training bra anyway, Sierra.
RSVP to let Janie's Moms know you're coming! And remember! PRETEND LIKE EVERYTHING IS NORMAL!

A Little Piece Of You

by Jan Rosenberg

Synopsis

Fen finds a lost, feral child in the woods and decides to become his friend. But some might call Fen dangerous, and the price of keeping his new friend a secret could have deadly consequences for those around him. A play about found family and monsters.

Fen finds a lost, feral child in the woods and decides to become his friend. But some might call Fen dangerous, and the price of keeping his new friend a secret could have deadly consequences for those around him. A play about found family and monsters.

What's Wrong With You

by Jan Rosenberg

Synopsis

When troubled student Caden sees his classmate have a seizure on a train, it sets off an increasingly dangerous chain of events as he and his new friends embark on a sick game that's based on shock value.

When troubled student Caden sees his classmate have a seizure on a train, it sets off an increasingly dangerous chain of events as he and his new friends embark on a sick game that's based on shock value.

Unaccompanied Minors

by Jan Rosenberg

Synopsis

Camp is where you go to feel more like yourself and have fun. Preteens Molly and Clyde are NOT having fun. They're tired, lonely, hungry, and scared. And they're starting to realize that there are more dangers in the woods than they anticipated before coming on this Solo. What started out as 48 hours alone in the woods to reflect, think, and challenge themselves has turned into a nightmare. But it'll all be okay...

Camp is where you go to feel more like yourself and have fun. Preteens Molly and Clyde are NOT having fun. They're tired, lonely, hungry, and scared. And they're starting to realize that there are more dangers in the woods than they anticipated before coming on this Solo. What started out as 48 hours alone in the woods to reflect, think, and challenge themselves has turned into a nightmare. But it'll all be okay in the end. Because if it's not okay, it's not the end.

Inspired by culty horse girls, Slenderman, homophobic summer camp practices, and the horrors of realizing the adults are just as scared as you are.

The RENT Play

by Jan Rosenberg

Synopsis

The year is 2007. The war in Iraq is booming. Steve Jobs is about to release the first ever iPhone. More importantly, RENT is one year away from closing its doors on Broadway. And life for a group of RENTheads is about to change forever.

This play is a love letter, an apology, a memory, a diary entry.

The year is 2007. The war in Iraq is booming. Steve Jobs is about to release the first ever iPhone. More importantly, RENT is one year away from closing its doors on Broadway. And life for a group of RENTheads is about to change forever.

This play is a love letter, an apology, a memory, a diary entry.

In The Dream I Was A Werewolf

by Jan Rosenberg

Synopsis

As Mickey and Gory break up (for the 19th time), Mickey can no longer hide the secrets she's been keeping about what she really is and the person who raised her.

It was Mickey's job to feed the monster. But how much longer can she keep it up?

A play about inherited trauma, harm reduction, and where we go when we go away.

As Mickey and Gory break up (for the 19th time), Mickey can no longer hide the secrets she's been keeping about what she really is and the person who raised her.

It was Mickey's job to feed the monster. But how much longer can she keep it up?

A play about inherited trauma, harm reduction, and where we go when we go away.

Eggplant

by Jan Rosenberg

Synopsis

A theater nerd and a punk kid meet in a mosh pit hours before one of them has gender affirming surgery.

A theater nerd and a punk kid meet in a mosh pit hours before one of them has gender affirming surgery.

The Last Halloween

by Jan Rosenberg

Synopsis

There used to be this thing called Trick or Treating. You could wear a mask and knock on people's doors, and you wouldn't even get shot!

There used to be this thing called Trick or Treating. You could wear a mask and knock on people's doors, and you wouldn't even get shot!

Spider Girl

by Jan Rosenberg

Synopsis

Tarantulas hate flash photography.

Written on request from Shenandoah Conservatory.

Tarantulas hate flash photography.

Written on request from Shenandoah Conservatory.

Never Have I Ever

by Jan Rosenberg

Synopsis

A college student faces a forced medical leave when rumors that she has relapsed in her Eating Disorder spread. Callie is fighting hard to for her recovery...so who's the one that's really struggling? It isn't who you think!

A college student faces a forced medical leave when rumors that she has relapsed in her Eating Disorder spread. Callie is fighting hard to for her recovery...so who's the one that's really struggling? It isn't who you think!

Playthings

by Jan Rosenberg

Synopsis

It's Kelly's first time. She's nervous because she's heard the first time hurts, and he's in college, but she's got her friend Agatha for moral support. And it's okay, because you know even if someone gets hurt-it's gonna be SO worth it.

It's Kelly's first time. She's nervous because she's heard the first time hurts, and he's in college, but she's got her friend Agatha for moral support. And it's okay, because you know even if someone gets hurt-it's gonna be SO worth it.

The Discarded

by Jan Rosenberg

Synopsis

A ventriloquist dummy, a cabbage patch kid, and a furby have been dumped inside a clothing donations bin. They are bruised and broken, but they are not trash.

A ventriloquist dummy, a cabbage patch kid, and a furby have been dumped inside a clothing donations bin. They are bruised and broken, but they are not trash.

Swallow

by Jan Rosenberg

Synopsis

My body is a haunted house. A monologue. Maybe part of a full-length.

Trigger Warning: ghosts, phantoms, bulimia.

My body is a haunted house. A monologue. Maybe part of a full-length.

Trigger Warning: ghosts, phantoms, bulimia.