Peter Fenton

Peter Fenton is a playwright, screenwriter, and occasional director and actor making people laugh and think. He specializes in writing dark comedy contemporary theatre plays for young adult audiences, including his Sartre-inspired New York debut ABANDON ALL HOPE, teen satire CORONATION, and Agatha Christie in late-stage capitalism-inspired BLUE SKIES YONDER. He previously directed a production of Frank Wildhorn's BONNIE & CLYDE at Newtown Arts Company and wrote and directed INHERENTLY SPECIAL, an award-winning short family drama film. Based in New Hope, PA, Fenton works in marketing at Passage Theatre Company and works as a bartender for weddings and other events. www.byPeterFenton.com @peterfent

Peter Fenton is a playwright, screenwriter, and occasional director and actor making people laugh and think. He specializes in writing dark comedy contemporary theatre plays for young adult audiences, including his Sartre-inspired New York debut ABANDON ALL HOPE, teen satire CORONATION, and Agatha Christie in late-stage capitalism-inspired BLUE SKIES YONDER. He previously directed a production of Frank Wildhorn's BONNIE & CLYDE at Newtown Arts Company and wrote and directed INHERENTLY SPECIAL, an award-winning short family drama film. Based in New Hope, PA, Fenton works in marketing at Passage Theatre Company and works as a bartender for weddings and other events. www.byPeterFenton.com @peterfent

Scripts

I Think We're Lost

by Peter Fenton

Synopsis

Full-length. A darkly comedic young adult reimagining of Peter Pan. In Philadelphia, when a despairing college senior processes his looming adulthood, he, along with his roommate's "perfect" fiancée, is pulled into Neverland through Peter’s seductive promises and Tinker Bell’s hidden agenda. With no one else to trust, the college kids band together as they work to resolve matters of their own identity and...

Full-length. A darkly comedic young adult reimagining of Peter Pan. In Philadelphia, when a despairing college senior processes his looming adulthood, he, along with his roommate's "perfect" fiancée, is pulled into Neverland through Peter’s seductive promises and Tinker Bell’s hidden agenda. With no one else to trust, the college kids band together as they work to resolve matters of their own identity and existential baggage as they uncover dark secrets lurking in Neverland's past.

A contemporary, darkly comedic feminist, queer not-quite sequel, not-quite adaptation, this is a play for young adult audiences about deconstructing gender roles, making authentic connections, and falling into the insidious trap of eternal adolescence.

Blue Skies Yonder

by Peter Fenton

Synopsis

Full-length. A contemporary Agatha Christie-inspired locked room murder mystery in the shadow of late-stage capitalism. At his lavish book launch party, promising young author Harrison Fowler spirals under the weight of a mismanaged manuscript and the deadly ambitions of his colleagues and loved ones. In the cutthroat world of publishing, the real killer might be whoever tells the best story.

A dark comedy...

Full-length. A contemporary Agatha Christie-inspired locked room murder mystery in the shadow of late-stage capitalism. At his lavish book launch party, promising young author Harrison Fowler spirals under the weight of a mismanaged manuscript and the deadly ambitions of his colleagues and loved ones. In the cutthroat world of publishing, the real killer might be whoever tells the best story.

A dark comedy about queer survival, creative ownership, and the stories we tell to stay relevant—even if it kills us.

Coronation

by Peter Fenton

Synopsis

Full-length. A story of power, privilege, and visibility disguised as a teen comedy. When cornered by the no-nonsense guidance counselor, a charming but overlooked high school senior tells the story of how he hatched a scheme to manipulate the vote for Homecoming Queen in favor of his big-hearted longshot friend to settle a years-long grudge. His plan went horribly right.

Coronation also has a Community &...

Full-length. A story of power, privilege, and visibility disguised as a teen comedy. When cornered by the no-nonsense guidance counselor, a charming but overlooked high school senior tells the story of how he hatched a scheme to manipulate the vote for Homecoming Queen in favor of his big-hearted longshot friend to settle a years-long grudge. His plan went horribly right.

Coronation also has a Community & School Edition available to read upon request and produce ONLY with a cast of Amateur Performers. This version tweaks some characterization, dialogue lines, and stage directions to make the play friendlier for these environments and with important notes for how to cast DAN and MARIA to tell the story in the spirit it was written.

Abandon All Hope

by Peter Fenton

Synopsis

Full-length. Basically No Exit if Jean-Paul Sartre was raised Baptist. When three college freshmen (a scrappy feminist, a naïve evangelical, and a cocky analyst) meet in Hell—which appears as a dorm room—a fun-loving demon forces them to play a game with eternal stakes: The winner goes to Heaven. The others are tortured for eternity.

Full-length. Basically No Exit if Jean-Paul Sartre was raised Baptist. When three college freshmen (a scrappy feminist, a naïve evangelical, and a cocky analyst) meet in Hell—which appears as a dorm room—a fun-loving demon forces them to play a game with eternal stakes: The winner goes to Heaven. The others are tortured for eternity.

Good Knight and Goodbye

by Peter Fenton

Synopsis

Full-length. A whimsical knight’s quest taking inspiration from THE PRINCESS BRIDE for a time when following the King isn’t such a good idea, actually. When a legendary knight is charged with a quest by the silly king to marry the rejected Disney archetype princess, a dark force plots to take the princess for himself. Along his quest, the knight develops feelings for the king's down-to-earth messenger.

Full-length. A whimsical knight’s quest taking inspiration from THE PRINCESS BRIDE for a time when following the King isn’t such a good idea, actually. When a legendary knight is charged with a quest by the silly king to marry the rejected Disney archetype princess, a dark force plots to take the princess for himself. Along his quest, the knight develops feelings for the king's down-to-earth messenger.

The Thousand-Year Rose

by Peter Fenton

Synopsis

Full-length. Theater for young audiences contemporary comedy/fantasy adventure asking what makes a person good or evil. Three storybook witches on the hunt for a treasure, which will only appear for a pure heart, decide to kidnap a kind person. They weren't expecting her to fight back.

An earlier version was published by Heuer Publishing in 2019.

Full-length. Theater for young audiences contemporary comedy/fantasy adventure asking what makes a person good or evil. Three storybook witches on the hunt for a treasure, which will only appear for a pure heart, decide to kidnap a kind person. They weren't expecting her to fight back.

An earlier version was published by Heuer Publishing in 2019.

Yuletide Shakedown (2019 Version)

by Peter Fenton

Synopsis

*UNDERGOING REVISION* Full-length. A holiday rom-com interrupted by local politics and conspiracy at the North Pole. She's a village school teacher. He's the son of Santa and Mayor Claus. When an otherwise festive romantic comedy plot unfolds, a blackmail scandal in Santa's Workshop turns the peaceful North Pole upside down during Mrs. Claus's campaign for Mayor. Narrated by a sassy talking Snowman.

*UNDERGOING REVISION* Full-length. A holiday rom-com interrupted by local politics and conspiracy at the North Pole. She's a village school teacher. He's the son of Santa and Mayor Claus. When an otherwise festive romantic comedy plot unfolds, a blackmail scandal in Santa's Workshop turns the peaceful North Pole upside down during Mrs. Claus's campaign for Mayor. Narrated by a sassy talking Snowman.

The Wild Turducken

by Peter Fenton

Synopsis

10-Minute. Amy wants to keep a Thanksgiving tradition alive with her teenage children, an easygoing son and a politically anxious daughter. By the way, it's 2016. And we're in Pennsylvania. [Written as part of the 2025 Playwrights Thriving Secret Santa Title Swap]

10-Minute. Amy wants to keep a Thanksgiving tradition alive with her teenage children, an easygoing son and a politically anxious daughter. By the way, it's 2016. And we're in Pennsylvania. [Written as part of the 2025 Playwrights Thriving Secret Santa Title Swap]

Angles in the Snow

by Peter Fenton

Synopsis

3-Minute. Carolyn begged to have math class outside, Mr. Beckett finally honors her request. It's December. [Written as part of the 2024 Playwrights Thriving Secret Santa Title Swap]

3-Minute. Carolyn begged to have math class outside, Mr. Beckett finally honors her request. It's December. [Written as part of the 2024 Playwrights Thriving Secret Santa Title Swap]

Crossing an Ocean (STANDALONE MONOLOGUE)

by Peter Fenton

Synopsis

COMEDIC/DRAMATIC MONOLOGUE for a young man, any ethnicity. English is his first language. Ivan gives his response to the question, "have you ever been in love?" Could be easily gender-flipped. Portions of this monologue are re-contextualized in Peter Fenton's full-length play, I THINK WE'RE LOST.

COMEDIC/DRAMATIC MONOLOGUE for a young man, any ethnicity. English is his first language. Ivan gives his response to the question, "have you ever been in love?" Could be easily gender-flipped. Portions of this monologue are re-contextualized in Peter Fenton's full-length play, I THINK WE'RE LOST.