Marj O'Neill-Butler

Kathy is trying to deal with aging, the loss of her husband and suddenly being on her own at this late stage of life.

A young actress finally gets cast in a part she's worked hard for. She visits the costume room where she has seen magic happen and is made to feel beautiful.

Theatre Lab, Boca Raton, FL
Talking Horse Productions, Columbia, Missouri
Madison College Performing Arts Madison, WI
Some 1 Speaking, Hear Me Out Monologues, NYC, NY

Carol has placed her husband into a Memory Care facility when he became a danger to her. Her son has difficulty in accepting that Mom has met someone online who is caring and kind.

A grown man still fears the results of his father's "business".

A woman reflects on the loss of her husband after his long time in memory care.

Adele tells two friends from high school how her life has changed and evolved. She tells of packing up and tossing her things four years ago, to cleanse herself and her life. When she stops and picks up the silver mirror her father had given her as a child, she cleans it, and sees herself in a new light. And that's when good things start to happen for her.

The Drawing Board, NYC. 2021

Michelle, overshelmed mother of three, gives advice to her younger sister about having kids.

A stranger chats up Patricia who tells him why she's riding the ferry.

A good marriage breaks up for all the wrong reasons.

Some 1 Speaking, NYC

A teenaged girl with no family, desperately seeks to be wanted and looked after.

The Eighth Annual Columbus Black Theatre Festival, Columbus, OH
Negro Ensemble Theatre, NYC, NY
TALKING HORSE PRODUCTIONS, MISSOURI

After his wife leaves him, Bob decides to dip his toes into the internet dating scene with surprising results.

New Deal Creative Arts Center, March 2021

A young woman, who was brought up by a foster mother, returns home on leave from her first year in the Army. The mother has changed and doesn't speak or remember her. The young woman must help her mother before she returns to duty. Something is remembered though.

Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga, TN podcast 2021

Molly's husband Eddie had a stroke two years ago, and life has never been the same.
In fact, life has taken a downward slide and it's not much fun.

An adult woman creates a unique way to visit her father.

Talking Horse Theatre, Columbia, MO. 2021
Quake Theatre, Bath Spa University's Sparkfest, England 2021
Sapphic Voices, London, England 2020
Quarantine Collective e-gallery, England, June 2020
Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, Coral Gables, FL. 2020

A woman remembers a vulgar incident from her childhood.

The Playground Experiment Faces of America Monologue Festival #2, NYC, NY

When women reach a certain age, they often find themselves being ignored and overlooked for work, social occasions and dating. This musical, based on the short play Sneaking A Peek by Marj O’Neill-Butler, introduces us to two mature characters: Elena who is out living her life and not letting let the world dim her wants and needs; and Lorna, who has let life pass her by and who has been made to feel invisible in the world in which she lives. Elena takes Lorna in hand and informs and teaches her how to enjoy life, sex and love all over again. Here’s to all women who want to live their lives in interesting, involved and exciting ways, no matter what their age. Book/Lyrics by Marj O'Neill-Butler; Music by Arianna Rose.

Following a lead given to her by her coworkers, Claire investigates an old, empty, thought to be haunted building. Thinking it will make a good story for her cable TV station, she enters the empty structure one night. She finds more than one surprise there.

https://www.facebook.com/ConeManRunningProductions/photos/a.38749497468…

What does it mean to receive a set of china for your wedding? How does it, and the family last through the years? A quick eleven scenes will tell you.

Masque and Spectacle Literary Magazine, September 2022

Rosalie has been duped by her boyfriend and is out a lot of money, Sophie, Rosalie's friend, steps in and with difficulty, rallies her.

After being apart for a while, two sisters discuss the joys and pains of having children. Mostly the pains!

Aurora Theatre, Hong Kong, November 7, 2020-January 7, 2021
THE MITRE PLAYERS in Croydon, South London, November 22 and 24, 2020.

[20-minute musical] When women reach a certain age, they often find themselves being ignored and overlooked for work, social occasions and dating. This musical, based on the short play Sneaking A Peek by Marj O’Neill-Butler, introduces us to two mature characters: Elena who is out living her life and not letting let the world dim her wants and needs; and Lorna, who has let life pass her by and who has been made to feel invisible in the world in which she lives. Elena takes Lorna in hand and informs and teaches her how to enjoy life, sex and love all over again. Here’s to all women who want to live their lives in interesting, involved and exciting ways, no matter what their age.

Two unrelated people. Two babies waiting to be born. A friendship is developed between two
strangers.

A husband and wife discuss their different philosophies about Christmas decorations. What is tacky, and can it be useful?

Leo has a message for Isobel, but she has an even better one for him.

Marcia is trying to get her mother, who has recently had a fall, to move into an assisted living complex. Billie, the mother, wants no part of it as she has found a new life. Marcia is in for more than one surprise after Brad enters the scene.

While their grandchildren play, a schoolyard bully finally meets her nemesis years after the incident.

Midnight Sun Theatre, Anchorage, AK
Not Your Average Theatre Group, Plantation, FL

Ella thought she'd finally found a mate in Bill after many years of being single. But after moving in together and planning for a future, Bill changes his mind. Ella turns to her friend Cora to help her through her disappointment.

Mom is overwhelmed with the demands of her family. By writing she creates a dream world. But does it last?

Laurie and Gwen, mothers of "tween" daughters, are interrupted by a third Mom with bad news about Laurie's daughter. Neither Laurie nor Gwen think the news is bad and a conflict develops between the three women. Who is right?

As the end of summer approaches, a young woman comes to the realization that she and her
boyfriend have different goals and plans for the future.

Two women discuss the political scene about truth and lying and decide to get involved. Sumara's calendar is full-up though, until she confesses she's just like the politicians.

Noreen is amazed that Wendy runs in the park. While Wendy stretches near her, Noreen starts up a conversation. She's sorry afterwards.

Daphne and her Mother are at loggerheads concerning assisted living or bringing in a caregiver. When
Daphne tries to solve the problem, she is surprised by her Mother's attitude.

Weathervane Playhouse, Akron, OH
Sea Shorts, Lauderdale by the Sea, FL.
Recorded by https://gatherbytheghostlight.podbean.com/
Theatre Odyssey's Short Play Festival, Sarasota, FL runner-up Best Play
Barrington Stage, Pittsfield, MA
Lakeshore Players Theater, White Bear Lake, MN 1
Actors Theatre of Newburyport, MA
Tarpon Springs Short Play Festival, Tarpon Springs, FL
Spark Creative Works, NY
4th Street Theater Ten-Minute Play Festival, Chesterton, IN
Acting Naturally Theatre, Langhorne, PA
The Bridge PHL Theatre, Philadelphia, PA
Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop, Monticello, NY.
Old Academy Theatre Company, Philadelphia, PA.
Stillwater Short Play Festival, Stillwater, OK
Dragonfly Arts, Metuchen, NJ
The Best 10-Minute Plays, 2021 Anthology, Smith & Kraus Publishers
The Best Women's Monologues from New Plays, 2020 / edited by Lawrence Harbison

Three mature friends have gathered for coffee and a discussion of Judy's expected new grandson. After joking about how Judy will get to Denver to see the baby being born, she receives a phone call that her son has been in a serious accident. Using game playing, her friends try to talk Judy, who is afraid of planes, into flying out to be with him.

Pigs Do Fly, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Several women have gathered in a community class to learn about going on a dating website. Catherine, the teacher is experienced and maybe just a bit jaded. A ten minute comedy.

Sea Shorts Play Festival, Lauderdale by the Sea, FL

Gwen, an older woman, has a date with a man she met at the grocery store. Her two friends come with her to meet and vet this man.

Bates College, Lewiston, ME

Lauren and Nick are caught up in their day to day activities, work and schooling. Nick wants a little alone time with her, but she is overwhelmed with her life as a wife, mother and student. He plans an important date and helps her to remember their past.

Reading: Thinking Cap Theatre, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. 2020
Femuscripts, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 2022

While traveling to the city on a ferry, Ashley's future is foretold.

Carla, a young, not very successful artist, visits a small gallery to view some modern art. While there, she learns several lessons about her work and possible future as an artist.

One Act Play Depot in Canada, published.
Open Theatre Project, Boston, MA

It is 1894. Julia is intent on getting Henry Flagler to come south to what was Ft. Dallas. She figures that if he could see the area, he’d extend his railroad to South Florida, and it would change everything. Business. International visitors. Vacationers. It would become the Gateway to South America. Fannie, Julia’s daughter wants to photograph Julia and send a copy of the picture to Henry along with a fresh orange blossom branch and a postcard of the sunny weather to encourage his railroad. Julia decides that the town needs a new name after the river. Fannie tells Julia she will be known as the mother of Miami. Julia poses for the photo.

New Theatre, Miami, Florida
White Mouse Productions, Tallahassee, FL
Femuscripts, Miami Florida

Two young women are the last two candidates vying for a good job. Isabel is very sure of herself while Clare is shy and less aggressive. Tables are turned.

After their business fails and they lose their home to foreclosure, Emma and Craig seem to be moving apart. With less than an hour left before the bank comes to change the locks, Emma and Craig try to repair their relationship while packing up their lives and leaving home.

Nancy, whose husband has passed away, is dealing with her feelings now that she is alone. Her friends have suggestions, but are surprised when Nancy confesses what she has been dreaming about doing in the near future. LEAVING THINGS BEHIND is about finding oneself in her golden years.

Joshua goes to the North Pole to interview for an elf position. What he finds is the opposite of what he expects.

AlphaNYC Theater Company, NYC, NY
Thinking Cap Theatre, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Caravan Productions, UK
Miami 1 Acts, Miami FL

Ciara catches her fiancé with his hands up her girlfriends skirt and escapes to the ladies room of the restaurant. There she meets Jennifer who teaches her more than one lesson about love and respect.

Kelly has come home after the death of her mother to clean out her mother's things. In the boxes she finds memories and revelations.

Edward and Sonny are on their honeymoon when Edward discovers his ex Arthur on the adjacent balcony. Sparks fly and so do they.

Rosie meets a great guy Bob, at Whole Foods, but after a good conversation they part without exchanging contact information. Rosie places a notice on “Missed Connections” on Craigslist in hopes of meeting up with this guy again. Bob tells his friend Norm about a chance meeting and how much he liked this girl he met at Whole Foods. Norm sees Rosie’s listing on “Missed Connections” and tells Bob the girl he met is trying to contact him. Bob contacts Rosie and they agree to meet for coffee where unexpected complications arise.

Bryant has been called to his English teacher's office. There, Mrs. Dunn offers her failing student the opportunity that will change the course of his life. Will he be able to take it?

Danielle has dreams of a big career in the theatre. Realism is not in her lexicon. When confronted by the stage manager and the leading lady, she takes matters into her own hands…so to speak.

Academy of Arts University San Francisco, CA. 2021
City Shorts, City Theatre, Key Biscayne, FL 2022

A mother goes missing and her daughter finally finds her. Jane, in trying to get her mother to go home, we begin to understand the lives of both of them.

Tigers Heart Players, Online Reading, Bronx NY, July 2024

Gram looks for and finds her granddaughter Cassie after she's been missing for a day. Through questions and cajoling, Gram and Cassie find out they are very much alike.

Gemco Community Theatre Company, Emerald, Australia
Miami 1 Acts, Miami, FL
Odyssey Theatre, Sarasota, FL

A man tries to pick up a woman he thinks is his old girlfriend. She has other plans.

During the first eighteen months of being a mother, three women
muse about breast feeding, baby teeth, frustrations, husbands and
the joys and woes of being a Mom.

Four Quarter Theatre, NYC, NY
OnAir Players recording.

Kayla is horrified by her Florida mother, who dresses colorfully and always says what's on her mind. When Gladys comes to visit, Kayla is afraid to have her mother meet her boyfriend, Ardwyn. Tables are turned.

Phoenix Stage Company, Oakville, Connecticut
Lakeshore Players Theatre, White Bear Lake, MN

Dad is grieving the loss of his wife. The three adult siblings grapple over how to help Dad, and
what each wants to take from the house. After conferring with his wife at the cemetery, Dad
surprises his kids with some future life changes.

Shouting Theatre Company, UK 2022
Sea Shorts Play Festival, Lauderdale by the Sea, FL 2022

Josh and Sarah hike to the top of the mountain near their collage for some alone time. Grover, an amateur photographer hired by Josh to photograph them for a special occasion, manages to screw up almost everything including getting a bad case of vertigo.

Loneliness. Grieving. Reminiscing. Strangers. Conversations. Memories.
ROUGH WATERS is a play about all of these things. Two strangers, Andrew and Betty, meet on the Staten Island ferry. After a while they find out they have a lot in common. Betty discovers it doesn't hurt to talk to a stranger, because this time it leads her to share a very private and moving moment.

Seaside Players, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL production spring 2021
Clocktower Players, Irvington, NY produced in 2020/2021 season
Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop, Monticello, NY 2021
The Storefront Theatre, Waxhaw, North Carolina 2021
Midwest Dramatists Center, Olathe, KS 2020

Adam and Carrie are on a family scavenger hunt. Adam takes Carrie into a funeral parlour to find some objects. His motivation has nothing to do with the hunt, but is about keeping a promise to his Grandmother.

Vermont Playwrights Circle, Montpelier, VT

Encouraged by Jeff's sister, an awkward meeting takes place between old college lovers Jeff and Judy . Jeff walked out on Judy back then and now hopes are high that he can rekindle his relationship with her. But he has a secret.

It's possible to make a new friend even under the worst circumstances.

Dragon Eggs Short Play Incubator at Dragon Productions Theatre Company, CA
Women+ Theatre Conference, MD

Paul returns to his lakeside home four years after being sent away by his family because of the accidental drowning of his sister. He again claims his innocence to his mother and blames his lying, scheming younger sister, Page. When Page returns home, Paul turns the table on her and finally their mother hears the truth.

Midnight Sun Theatre, Anchorage, AK

Lorna feels invisible as she ages. Gail, the same age, has been out and about, and takes Lorna in hand to rejoin the world.

Dorie is upset because she has had to move to Miami, and Christmas will not be the same. She wants to go north for Christmas, but Dan doesn't have vacation time with his new job. On top of everything Dorie's Dad has told her they can't come south for the holiday. How will they solve the problem?

Miami1Acts Miami FL

Molly and Eddie have grown old together, but one of them has added dementia into the mix

Francie calls her friend Wanda to come over because she thinks she's being stalked. Stranger things have happened, especially if you don't like clowns.

Know Theatre, Binghamton, NY

A scruffy man chats up a women sitting on a bench. There's a reason for speaking to her.

Mariel, a young woman with common sense, tries to get her friend Desiree to be more down to earth. The guy she wants to fix Desiree up with likes his women "natural". Desiree is a bit of a poser who wears too much makeup and too many labels. Mariel gets her friend to a campground for the surprising first date.

City Theatre, Miami FL-reading
Miami1Acts, Miami, FL.

May, an older woman, thinks her friend Dorothy is lonely and wants her to meet up with a nice man. Dorothy resists when May suggests dating, but May has already set up her profile on media websites. After one failed “meet” May is about to give up, but Dorothy wants to get involved and learn about using the internet for dating.

Performance Eden Prairie Players, MN.

Claudia has found out that her father is meeting a woman he met on a dating site and goes with him to the cafe. She discovers that things are not always what they seem

A.C.T. Studio, Stuart, FL. 2023

Eleven Short Plays For and About The Over 40’s. Comedies, dramas and dramadies. The perfect set of plays for production and touring. All you need is a bench! You could add projections. Or plants. Or anything else you can dream up. But keep it simple. The plays can be produced in any order. Pick and choose the ones you like. Have fun!

A lonely and homeless young man seeks refuge in a police station. There he learns what it is like to receive kindness and needed life lessons.

Bella is tested for a gene that might mean she's in for the fight of her life. Jon, her husband, wants to know the truth, so they can move on and get her treatment if necessary. The letter has been unread while Jon is away on business. He tries to allay her fears by opening the letter and facing the truth.

Abby meets a man on the ferry but doesn’t get to exchange numbers. As he dashes off the ferry to get to a meeting, he says he’ll see her the next day, same seat. She sits in the same seat for weeks until one day she finds the seat occupied. Nothing seems to move the man sitting in “her” seat, so she tries everything she can think of to make him move. In the end, he makes a move.

Doris has recently lost her very sick husband after for caring for him for years. She goes to the library looking for self-help books. The librarian, Millie, thinks she wants books on grieving, but is surprised when Doris asks for books on another subject.

First Place winner Kauai Shorts 2019 Ten Minute-Play Festival
2020 Finalist for National Award for Short Playwriting, City Theatre Miami 2020
Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN 2021

In the years since the Vietnam war, the Moran family has lived without incident in their household. A late morning knock on the door brings new and startling information, and the return of some well-loved dog tags.

Know Theatre, Binghamton, NY November 2020

Norman and Suzanne, who have been together and in love since high school, get their revenge on the people who bullied them all those years ago.

Pigs Do Fly, FT. Lauderdale, FL

Families...you can't live with them and you hate to live without them. One incident can tear a family apart. What do you do to mend the situation as the year passes? Four people, four differences of opinion. Will the problem be solved?

Is there solace in holding onto grief? After her father's death, Diane visits her mother to comfort her by taking over her father's loving ritual.

Jersey City Theatre Company's New Play Festival, Jersey City, NJ 2021
Shortlisted for the Billy Roche International Short Play Award, Wexford, Ireland
Eden Prairie Players, Eden Prairie MN

Looking for love in her later years, Susie gets her friend to go with her, looking to find
a suitable man. Bad food, grabbing widowers and the death of a prior bully make the search all the more fun.

Grange Hall Cultural Ctr & Across Roads Center, VT
2024 Riverina Water Ten x 10 Play Fest, Wagga Wagga, Australia
Actors Theatre Playhouse, Chesterfield, NH
The Storefront Theatre, Waxhaw, NC

One day it's a bit different when two brothers sit on a bench in the park and a nice lady comes along.

Grieving is always difficult. If you have a friend to whom you can talk, it's a bit easier getting back into the swing of life.

Amazing Theatre Company, Silver Springs, MD

Old friends meet at the park and converse about being lonely and the lack of interest from their
kids and grandkids. They then come up with a plan to call attention to George and his fake
young girlfriend which may stir up the family.

A young woman drops some coins into a homeless woman's cup, and changes the life of one of them.

ESP Theatre, Frederick, MD-reading
Dragon Eggs Short Play Incubator at Dragon Productions Theatre Company-reading

Emily is overwhelmed with motherhood and all that comes with it.
Steven is concerned because the children are unhappy. He manages
to remind Emily of the joys of being a parent.

Tired of wasting time on dating sites, Lois decides to group potential dates into one morning
meet-up.. Her friend Jeannie goes along for moral support, but much to Lois' dismay, Jeannie
finds she is of interest to one of the men.

Miami 1 Acts, Miam FL

A mother's nose gets out of joint when discussing wedding plans with her daughter. She feels left out, and is out of sorts until she opens her birthday present.

Zoom performance by Theatre Three, Port Jefferson, NY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uAaWd28Vr0
Stage Door Productions, Fredericksburg, VA
Call Playhouse, Pompano Beach, FL.

A woman in her 60's recalls her illegal abortion. A man in his 30's recalls his life as an adoptive child. What if
things had been different?

Mom is unschooled in the ways of the internet and has resisted learning. Gabby wants Mom to talk with her other daughter in New Zealand through an app, because she has important news. Mom reacts differently than expected.

Tiger's Heart Players, Bronx, NY. 2022

A young couple celebrating their first Christmas find their yuletide traditions are at odds.

The Variations Project Baltimore, Maryland July 2021
Thinking Cap Theatre, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. December 2020

Alone during the pandemic, three people who live in the same building finally meet on their fire escape and discover they don't have too much in common except their need for connection, acceptance and new found friendship.

Susan has “adopted” a foreign student and invited her to live as her guest in her unit. Nicole comes to visit unexpectedly, and planning to stay in her grandmother’s condo while on vacation, and is alarmed to find she is not wanted there. Julia, Susan’s estranged daughter gets involved and turns the household upside down. Things are not what they seem, or are they?

The play tells the story of two mature sisters Beth and Pamela, who have failed at love. Their friends, a group of women over the age of fifty who all belong to the same book club, decide to make a study of "how to attract a man" through the books they read to help the two sisters find love. One of the women invites a man to join the discussion and Beth resists to the point of rudeness. Finally Beth ventures into an on-line dating web site where she finally finds "Mr. Right." Or so she thinks.

Carol, (60’s), has been left with a second mortgage and no pension by her late gambler of a husband. She and her friend Ellie come up with the idea of a female boarding house for older women who have lost their pensions or have medical expenses. By sharing the costs, four women can live easily in a large home in a good college town neighborhood and Carol can save her house. The women thrive in the new situation and develop new educational goals and successful late careers. When Carol’s “New York” daughter Megan comes for a sudden visit, she belittles the situation. A year later her daughter has been fired, is bankrupt and in need of a place to stay. Will Carol open her home to her and disrupt the lives of the women and the financial stability they bring to her life? Is this small college town now good enough for the daughter?

LATE LEARNING is the story of Muriel, an illiterate woman who is trapped by her adult children in her own home. Determined to finally change her situation, she escapes to the library when hearing about a free program teaching reading and writing. With literacy threatening their status, her son and daughter continue to lock Muriel up, and threaten Shaina, the volunteer, who works educating Muriel.

Susan, in her 50's, suddenly starts forgetting things and blanking out. It’s as if she’s
suddenly left the room. Both her mother Joyce and her daughter, Alli have noticed
this and become concerned. When, after mishaps at work and in her car, Susan is
finally diagnosed with early onset dementia, the world of the three women changes
drastically. Susan makes her mother promise to care for her at home, and the
grandmother and the daughter after making the promise, are forced to play
caretaker and breadwinner as the dementia worsens. The grandmother and Alli pay
the price as their lives begin to degrade as well. But a promise is a promise, isn’t it?

Published 2021 by Next Stage Press

Five women, including two sisters, all undercover
cops, meet regularly for drinks, games and relaxation. Late
one night they get a call that the sisters’ husbands were
involved in a one-car accident. Two women were with them and
all were killed. Carol, the eldest sister seems able at
first to cope, but then folds with the grief of her husband's
death and seeming unfaithfulness. She blames Linda, the
younger sister, whose husband was suspected of being
unfaithful. Linda seems unable to cope in the beginning, but
then starts drinking and sleeping around, putting her career
in jeopardy. The three other friends rally around them,
helping them through their grief and loss with humor and
love, and giving support to the women when they need it most.

Teenaged brothers Timen and Miah have been on the street for almost two years, having run away from their last (of six) foster families. They duck into an abandoned house where they meet Millie in her squat. With quarrels, fights and new found affection, they form an unlikely family in the months that follow.

The play was workshopped at the Greenhouse at FIU in Miami 2020
The play was read online through the Playwright Development Program, Miami