Cherielyn Ferguson

Cherielyn Ferguson is a San Francisco Bay Area playwright. She’s a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Playwrights’ Center, Theatre Bay Area, Pear Playwrights Guild, and Play Café of Berkeley. She participated in the Kennedy Center Playwriting Intensive and continues as a member of the PlayGround-SF writers pool for 2023-2024.

Upcoming Readings/Productions:
Right - Playwrights' Center of San Francisco, Short Play Festival, October 2024
This Flag - Playwrights' Roundtable: Launch 2025, Orlando, FL January 2025

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Past Productions
Fair Play - Fusion Theatre Company's The Seven, Albuquerque, NM, June 2024
Backyard - Pear Theatre, Mountain View, CA, May 2024
Everything's Under Control - Lantern Theatre, Sheffield UK, April 2024...

Cherielyn Ferguson is a San Francisco Bay Area playwright. She’s a member of the Dramatists Guild, the Playwrights’ Center, Theatre Bay Area, Pear Playwrights Guild, and Play Café of Berkeley. She participated in the Kennedy Center Playwriting Intensive and continues as a member of the PlayGround-SF writers pool for 2023-2024.

Upcoming Readings/Productions:
Right - Playwrights' Center of San Francisco, Short Play Festival, October 2024
This Flag - Playwrights' Roundtable: Launch 2025, Orlando, FL January 2025

*****************************************************************
Past Productions
Fair Play - Fusion Theatre Company's The Seven, Albuquerque, NM, June 2024
Backyard - Pear Theatre, Mountain View, CA, May 2024
Everything's Under Control - Lantern Theatre, Sheffield UK, April 2024
Carolers - Quannapowitt Players, Reading MA
An Afternoon's Enjoyment - Salem State University, MA
Lit Crit and Beach House - Monster Box Theatre, Jackson MI
Lit Crit - Pegasus Theater of Sonoma CA
Please Hold On - Gemco Players' Take Ten Festival, Victoria, Australia
Emergency Prep - Adams State University, Alamosa CO
Beach House - Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre, Fargo ND
This Will Be Thine - Pan Theater, Oakland CA

Past Readings:
Right - Playwrights' Center of San Francisco, Short Play Festival
Beach House - The Storefront Theatre, Waxhaw, NC
Lit Crit - The Chameleon Theatre Circle, Minneapolis, MN
Going to the Trouble - PlayGround-SF, San Francisco, CA

Workshop production:
Valuable - Shawnee Playhouse, Shawnee-on-Delaware, PA

Radio:
Interview with Two Octopuses, Vandals Visit Tony and Kevin, A Ride on the Bus - Spokane Public Radio
Doris Predicts, and The Chit-Chat Preserver - Old Tyme Radio, WAMF New Orleans

Cherielyn holds a BA in theatre arts from Santa Clara University and has studied at American Conservatory Theatre, HB Studio, Pittsburgh Playhouse, Berkeley Repertory’s School of Theatre, and the Dramatists Guild Institute.

Scripts

This Flag

by Cherielyn Ferguson

Synopsis

On the 4th of July, Stan brings over an American flag for his son, Kevin, to display outside his house. Stan expects Kevin to fly the flag as enthusiastically as he himself does. Kevin both surprises and disappoints his father when Kevin shares his questions about what it means to fly the flag.

Playwrights' Roundtable: Launch 2025, Orlando, FL January 2025

On the 4th of July, Stan brings over an American flag for his son, Kevin, to display outside his house. Stan expects Kevin to fly the flag as enthusiastically as he himself does. Kevin both surprises and disappoints his father when Kevin shares his questions about what it means to fly the flag.

Playwrights' Roundtable: Launch 2025, Orlando, FL January 2025

Fair Play

by Cherielyn Ferguson

Synopsis

10-minute play
Romeo, Juliet, and Will Shakespeare are shot through time and space—trading their familiar Globe Theatre for a modern marriage bureau. Do all the old rules apply, or is this a whole new world?

Production: Professional, Fusion Theatre Company: The Seven - Albuquerque NM, 2024

10-minute play
Romeo, Juliet, and Will Shakespeare are shot through time and space—trading their familiar Globe Theatre for a modern marriage bureau. Do all the old rules apply, or is this a whole new world?

Production: Professional, Fusion Theatre Company: The Seven - Albuquerque NM, 2024

Father Knows Best

by Cherielyn Ferguson

Synopsis

10-minute play
It’s December 31st, and Father Time is on his way to some well-deserved R&R. But Baby New Year has questions. What’s the strategic plan? Where’s the path to greatest impact? Baby’s annoyed by Father Time’s pushback, until the old man shows that while he can’t talk deliverables and deep dives, he can still pass on the keys to success.

10-minute play
It’s December 31st, and Father Time is on his way to some well-deserved R&R. But Baby New Year has questions. What’s the strategic plan? Where’s the path to greatest impact? Baby’s annoyed by Father Time’s pushback, until the old man shows that while he can’t talk deliverables and deep dives, he can still pass on the keys to success.

Twinkle, twinkle

by Cherielyn Ferguson

Synopsis

10-minute play
Rygos finds the love of his life while on vacation. Now back on his own planet, he can’t wait to introduce her to his mother. Once Mom finds out where her son’s intended comes from, she’s determined to put a stop to it all. But Rygos finds a way to make her see the light.

Finalist - "Views from a Lamp Post" Cork Arts Theatre, Cork, Ireland

10-minute play
Rygos finds the love of his life while on vacation. Now back on his own planet, he can’t wait to introduce her to his mother. Once Mom finds out where her son’s intended comes from, she’s determined to put a stop to it all. But Rygos finds a way to make her see the light.

Finalist - "Views from a Lamp Post" Cork Arts Theatre, Cork, Ireland

Lit Crit

by Cherielyn Ferguson

Synopsis

10-minute play
Ben paces anxiously behind Tara while she finishes reading his newly-completed novel. She turns a page and sighs. She makes a note. What’s she really thinking? Ben insists that Tara give it to him straight, no matter what. And then she does . . .

Production: Community Theater, Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre, 2023
Production: Community Theater, Pegasus Theatre of Sonoma, 2023...

10-minute play
Ben paces anxiously behind Tara while she finishes reading his newly-completed novel. She turns a page and sighs. She makes a note. What’s she really thinking? Ben insists that Tara give it to him straight, no matter what. And then she does . . .

Production: Community Theater, Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre, 2023
Production: Community Theater, Pegasus Theatre of Sonoma, 2023
Production: Professional, Monster Box Theatre, 2023
Reading: The Chameleon Theatre Circle, Winner 10-minute play category, 2022

Into the Air

by Cherielyn Ferguson

Synopsis

Full-length play
Early 20th century American aviatrix Blanche Stuart Scott doesn’t wait around for adventure and fame to find her. This Rochester-born woman goes after it, discovering that all along the way men want to claim her ideas as their own, use her flying expertise to enhance their own celebrity, or narrow her ambitions through marriage. Whether it’s confronting her mother’s disapproval of her choices...

Full-length play
Early 20th century American aviatrix Blanche Stuart Scott doesn’t wait around for adventure and fame to find her. This Rochester-born woman goes after it, discovering that all along the way men want to claim her ideas as their own, use her flying expertise to enhance their own celebrity, or narrow her ambitions through marriage. Whether it’s confronting her mother’s disapproval of her choices, defending her record as the best female pilot of her time, or battling for her rights in a male-dominated field—Blanche meets every challenge head on.

Finalist, Hudson Valley Theatre Festival 2024

Please Hold On

by Cherielyn Ferguson

Synopsis

10-minute play
Who’s behind those placid voices that announce the next bus stop, tell us to exit from the rear, urge us to hold on for our own safety? Those voices want to connect with others, just the way the rest of us do. Take a 10-minute bus ride and hear them share a secret desire or two, and also reveal the course they take to find a life outside the bus.

Production: Community Theater, Gemco Players...

10-minute play
Who’s behind those placid voices that announce the next bus stop, tell us to exit from the rear, urge us to hold on for our own safety? Those voices want to connect with others, just the way the rest of us do. Take a 10-minute bus ride and hear them share a secret desire or two, and also reveal the course they take to find a life outside the bus.

Production: Community Theater, Gemco Players, Victoria, Australia 2023

Socks, Mugs, and Mouse Pads

by Cherielyn Ferguson

Synopsis

A short play
Our earthly competition for fame doesn’t die in the Afterlife, it just takes a different form: The Ceremony of Induction into the Sock and Mug Hall of Fame. Recent inductees Mozart and Mona Lisa will judge the newest nominees’ memorabilia collections to select the next master or mistress of merchandising. Will it be Jane Austen, Coco Chanel, Alexander Hamilton, or Napoleon Bonaparte? May the best...

A short play
Our earthly competition for fame doesn’t die in the Afterlife, it just takes a different form: The Ceremony of Induction into the Sock and Mug Hall of Fame. Recent inductees Mozart and Mona Lisa will judge the newest nominees’ memorabilia collections to select the next master or mistress of merchandising. Will it be Jane Austen, Coco Chanel, Alexander Hamilton, or Napoleon Bonaparte? May the best socks, mugs, and mouse pads win.

This Will Be Thine

by Cherielyn Ferguson

Synopsis

10-minute play
Overwhelmed as she clears out the family house, Julie mistakenly tosses out a memento of great importance to her late mother. Help comes from an unexpected source when she races to save the “treasure” she was told to hold on to—forever. A philosophizing refuse worker advises her let go of this thing that, as the saying now goes, does not spark joy. And to keep the thing that rings a bell...

10-minute play
Overwhelmed as she clears out the family house, Julie mistakenly tosses out a memento of great importance to her late mother. Help comes from an unexpected source when she races to save the “treasure” she was told to hold on to—forever. A philosophizing refuse worker advises her let go of this thing that, as the saying now goes, does not spark joy. And to keep the thing that rings a bell.

Professional: Pan Theater - Anything Can Happen in 10 Minutes Play Festival 2022

Beach House

by Cherielyn Ferguson

Synopsis

10-minute play
Newly-widowed Carolyn surprises her adult son Mark when she says she’s ready to complete the sale of the family’s beloved vacation home—ASAP. Carolyn will do whatever it takes to get the house ready to sell—even if that mean erasing much of what makes the house so special to Mark. When Mark presses his mother about her hurry, he learns something about the house that he wishes he hadn’t....

10-minute play
Newly-widowed Carolyn surprises her adult son Mark when she says she’s ready to complete the sale of the family’s beloved vacation home—ASAP. Carolyn will do whatever it takes to get the house ready to sell—even if that mean erasing much of what makes the house so special to Mark. When Mark presses his mother about her hurry, he learns something about the house that he wishes he hadn’t.

Community Theatre: Reading, The Storefront Theatre, 2024
Community Theatre: Production, Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre, 2023
Professional: Production, Monster Box Theatre, 2023

Going to the Trouble

by Cherielyn Ferguson

Synopsis

10-minute play
A son wants to spare his forgetful mother the trouble of making a full-blown Thanksgiving dinner. He’s sure he has the perfect alternative, but she has other ideas.

Professional: Reading, PlayGround-SF, 2022

10-minute play
A son wants to spare his forgetful mother the trouble of making a full-blown Thanksgiving dinner. He’s sure he has the perfect alternative, but she has other ideas.

Professional: Reading, PlayGround-SF, 2022

Everything's Under Control

by Cherielyn Ferguson

Synopsis

10-minute play
It’s 1951 and Bob comes home with something special from his research lab at Phillips Petroleum: a bottle you use once and throw away. For Bob, the future’s so bright, we’ll have to wear shades. His wife Marion’s not so sure about that. What if we said “no” to the future?

Production: Community Theater, The Lantern Theatre, Sheffield, UK 2024
Reading: Community Theatre, Kumu Kahua Theatre, 2024...

10-minute play
It’s 1951 and Bob comes home with something special from his research lab at Phillips Petroleum: a bottle you use once and throw away. For Bob, the future’s so bright, we’ll have to wear shades. His wife Marion’s not so sure about that. What if we said “no” to the future?

Production: Community Theater, The Lantern Theatre, Sheffield, UK 2024
Reading: Community Theatre, Kumu Kahua Theatre, 2024

Valuable

by Cherielyn Ferguson

Synopsis

One-act play
An impossibly high rent hike forces Jane to sell off her treasured collectible and antiques inventory to make way for a trendy store owned by Nicholas, a determined Millennial. Rebecca, a young merchandise liquidator, only makes matters worse by questioning the prices of Jane’s merchandise. And just as Jane tries to hold on to everything that’s safe and familiar, Jane’s autistic adult daughter Lucy...

One-act play
An impossibly high rent hike forces Jane to sell off her treasured collectible and antiques inventory to make way for a trendy store owned by Nicholas, a determined Millennial. Rebecca, a young merchandise liquidator, only makes matters worse by questioning the prices of Jane’s merchandise. And just as Jane tries to hold on to everything that’s safe and familiar, Jane’s autistic adult daughter Lucy presses her mother for more responsibility and independence. What’s the real value of Jane’s collection of old clocks, china, and vintage records—to Jane and to others? Are Lucy’s ambitions reasonable? And who gets to decide?

Emergency Prep

by Cherielyn Ferguson

Synopsis

One-act play
Four eccentric tenants gather to create a plan to survive whatever emergency lurks out there for them in these uncertain times. The orderly process of getting contact info and sharing their own oddball personal protection strategies devolves into chaos when they decide to stage a response to an imagined emergency. Lights blow out, an intruder arrives, and cover is taken. Will they be safer when the...

One-act play
Four eccentric tenants gather to create a plan to survive whatever emergency lurks out there for them in these uncertain times. The orderly process of getting contact info and sharing their own oddball personal protection strategies devolves into chaos when they decide to stage a response to an imagined emergency. Lights blow out, an intruder arrives, and cover is taken. Will they be safer when the evening’s over? Who will go home feeling wronged and peeved? And who will stay to embark on the most promising security plan of all?

Production: University, Adams State University, Colorado 2023
Finalist: Chameleon Theater Circle New Play Contest 2021

Museum Story

by Cherielyn Ferguson

Synopsis

One-act play
Angie, a guard at a large urban art museum, is on the verge of becoming a supervisor, which promises even more access to the art she’s proud to protect every day. But her path is threatened when Garrett, a street artist, visits her workplace with a shady plea for help. Angie must protect herself and her future from Garrett’s flimsy claims that he’s left his troubled life behind.

One-act play
Angie, a guard at a large urban art museum, is on the verge of becoming a supervisor, which promises even more access to the art she’s proud to protect every day. But her path is threatened when Garrett, a street artist, visits her workplace with a shady plea for help. Angie must protect herself and her future from Garrett’s flimsy claims that he’s left his troubled life behind.

Backyard

by Cherielyn Ferguson

Synopsis

10-minute play
If you hear something, do you say something: Two women overhear a neighbor lace into her kids with an obscenity-laden rant. Is it their responsibility to intervene?

Production: Professional, The Pear Theatre 2024
Finalist: Chameleon Theatre Circle New Play Contest 2021

10-minute play
If you hear something, do you say something: Two women overhear a neighbor lace into her kids with an obscenity-laden rant. Is it their responsibility to intervene?

Production: Professional, The Pear Theatre 2024
Finalist: Chameleon Theatre Circle New Play Contest 2021

Right

by Cherielyn Ferguson

Synopsis

10-minute play
When Kim, a newly retired-teacher, asks for her neighbor Amy’s help on her school board campaign, Amy’s ready to enlist. Kim’s objectives for the district sound reasonable-- up to a point. And Amy finds she has a new decision to make.

Workshop: Playwrights' Center of San Francisco 2024
Production: Playwrights' Center of San Francisco 2024

10-minute play
When Kim, a newly retired-teacher, asks for her neighbor Amy’s help on her school board campaign, Amy’s ready to enlist. Kim’s objectives for the district sound reasonable-- up to a point. And Amy finds she has a new decision to make.

Workshop: Playwrights' Center of San Francisco 2024
Production: Playwrights' Center of San Francisco 2024

Dinner

by Cherielyn Ferguson

Synopsis

10-minute play
After two grueling days of interviews Rory, an ambitious young tech worker, takes up a spur-of-the-moment invitation to have dinner with Sam, his potential manager. As the meal winds down, casual assumptions about class and background play a much greater part in Rory’s future than he could have predicted.

10-minute play
After two grueling days of interviews Rory, an ambitious young tech worker, takes up a spur-of-the-moment invitation to have dinner with Sam, his potential manager. As the meal winds down, casual assumptions about class and background play a much greater part in Rory’s future than he could have predicted.

To Light or Not to Light

by Cherielyn Ferguson

Synopsis

10-minute play
Nate and his family are new to the neighborhood, and when the holidays roll around, long-time resident John expects Nate to fall in line with the Cherry Avenue Tree Tradition. But Nate has more questions about the regimented decoration scheme than John’s prepared for and John begins to reconsider the whole thing. Who’s in and who’s out? And why?

10-minute play
Nate and his family are new to the neighborhood, and when the holidays roll around, long-time resident John expects Nate to fall in line with the Cherry Avenue Tree Tradition. But Nate has more questions about the regimented decoration scheme than John’s prepared for and John begins to reconsider the whole thing. Who’s in and who’s out? And why?

Special Delivery

by Cherielyn Ferguson

Synopsis

10-minute play
The 1950s weren’t all about Bing Crosby singing White Christmas and Silver Bells; some people could still have trouble getting into the holiday spirit. To wit—Jake’s got an anger management problem and he’d like to fix everyone’s wagon. He finds an unwitting accomplice in Irma, his mild-mannered, elderly neighbor. And then all hell—or rather, all fruitcake—breaks loose.

10-minute play
The 1950s weren’t all about Bing Crosby singing White Christmas and Silver Bells; some people could still have trouble getting into the holiday spirit. To wit—Jake’s got an anger management problem and he’d like to fix everyone’s wagon. He finds an unwitting accomplice in Irma, his mild-mannered, elderly neighbor. And then all hell—or rather, all fruitcake—breaks loose.

The Point of No Return

by Cherielyn Ferguson

Synopsis

10-minute play
Everyone’s holiday traditions are just like your own, right? Not so fast. When your new in-laws gift-giving customs make no sense to you, do you speak up or shut up? Newlywed Kristen finds out what happens when she goes with the first, risky option.

10-minute play
Everyone’s holiday traditions are just like your own, right? Not so fast. When your new in-laws gift-giving customs make no sense to you, do you speak up or shut up? Newlywed Kristen finds out what happens when she goes with the first, risky option.