Helen R. Murray

Helen R. Murray is an award-winning playwright and director. Formerly she was the Producing Artistic Director of American Stage in Florida, Executive Producer of the Aurora Fox Arts Center in Colorado, and Artistic Director of the Hub Theatre in Virginia. Her original plays have been produced by Capital Rep, The Hub Theatre, Theatre Alliance, ArtsWest, Hotel Café, Malibu Playhouse, The Kennedy Center's P2S Festival and many more. Her co-adaptation of Wonderful Life earned her a Helen Hayes Award nomination for Outstanding New Play; her original play Abominable was nominated for the national Steinberg New Play Award; and her play Redder Blood won the Jewish Playwriting Contest. She has directed across the country and mentored writers through the Writer's Guild Initiative NYC. She is the...

Helen R. Murray is an award-winning playwright and director. Formerly she was the Producing Artistic Director of American Stage in Florida, Executive Producer of the Aurora Fox Arts Center in Colorado, and Artistic Director of the Hub Theatre in Virginia. Her original plays have been produced by Capital Rep, The Hub Theatre, Theatre Alliance, ArtsWest, Hotel Café, Malibu Playhouse, The Kennedy Center's P2S Festival and many more. Her co-adaptation of Wonderful Life earned her a Helen Hayes Award nomination for Outstanding New Play; her original play Abominable was nominated for the national Steinberg New Play Award; and her play Redder Blood won the Jewish Playwriting Contest. She has directed across the country and mentored writers through the Writer's Guild Initiative NYC. She is the recipient of the Puffin Foundation Award for Outstanding Emerging Artist and the Washington Canadian Partnership Award for Leadership in the Arts.

Scripts

Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth

by Helen R. Murray

Synopsis

This wild new adaptation launches Shakespeare's Macbeth into a three-person theatrical hurricane. Heroes become villains, witches become warriors, and kings don't stay kings for long as performers swap roles at breakneck speed. It's a hilarious, high-stakes game of theatrical musical chairs—with daggers. But as the laughter builds, so does the question at the heart of the story: Why do we crave power... even...

This wild new adaptation launches Shakespeare's Macbeth into a three-person theatrical hurricane. Heroes become villains, witches become warriors, and kings don't stay kings for long as performers swap roles at breakneck speed. It's a hilarious, high-stakes game of theatrical musical chairs—with daggers. But as the laughter builds, so does the question at the heart of the story: Why do we crave power... even when we know it will cost us everything? A sharp, physical, and riotous escapade that proves the fastest way to the throne is also the messiest.

How to be Human

by Helen R. Murray

Synopsis

Hero lives alone, not by choice. We can hear the sounds of the empty, wind swept world devoid of life that is just outside her door. Yet she somehow is full of hope and wants. And what she hopes for and wants more than anything is to become human. And then one day, another survivor arrives at Hero's door and brings with him possibilities and problems and forces her to wrestle with what makes a being human. And...

Hero lives alone, not by choice. We can hear the sounds of the empty, wind swept world devoid of life that is just outside her door. Yet she somehow is full of hope and wants. And what she hopes for and wants more than anything is to become human. And then one day, another survivor arrives at Hero's door and brings with him possibilities and problems and forces her to wrestle with what makes a being human. And if that is really something she wants to be.

Clara's Little Questions

by Helen R. Murray

Synopsis

Lydia is doing her best to raise Clara by herself, but now a secret about Clara’s origins, and the arrival of Lydia’s new lover, threatens to upset their delicate balance. A play about why we lie to our children, go running, and listen to pop music. Told with a puppet that asks a million little questions.

Lydia is doing her best to raise Clara by herself, but now a secret about Clara’s origins, and the arrival of Lydia’s new lover, threatens to upset their delicate balance. A play about why we lie to our children, go running, and listen to pop music. Told with a puppet that asks a million little questions.

Redder Blood

by Helen R. Murray

Synopsis

God just won’t let up. Sadie has heard the voice of God her entire life. But she has never answered back, after all, why her? As her her parent’s marriage crumbles, and her own love interest takes off, Sadie’s life takes a comical turn toward the absurd. And in the midst of it all she must come to terms with her own worth and whether or not its time to let in the voice.

God just won’t let up. Sadie has heard the voice of God her entire life. But she has never answered back, after all, why her? As her her parent’s marriage crumbles, and her own love interest takes off, Sadie’s life takes a comical turn toward the absurd. And in the midst of it all she must come to terms with her own worth and whether or not its time to let in the voice.

Abominable

by Helen R. Murray

Synopsis

In Abominable, Sam is dealing with a lot, but so do all teenagers. His bones are growing so fast that sometimes he feels inhuman. Meanwhile, a mysterious and beastly footprint is discovered in the middle of town. While his mother tries to find out what is happening to Sam, more footprints appear and terrify the community as gossip and mayhem abound. A play that walks the brink between boy and man, and man and...

In Abominable, Sam is dealing with a lot, but so do all teenagers. His bones are growing so fast that sometimes he feels inhuman. Meanwhile, a mysterious and beastly footprint is discovered in the middle of town. While his mother tries to find out what is happening to Sam, more footprints appear and terrify the community as gossip and mayhem abound. A play that walks the brink between boy and man, and man and beast.

Eat Dirt

by Helen R. Murray

Synopsis

Jett is collecting geological samples from all over the world trying to recreate the exact makeup of the sinkhole that took her family. Hoping that somehow her discovery will put to rest her loved ones, she drives her research partner Gray to the breaking point. They are aided by the ever present Intern as they they uncover this mystery. A dirty play that questions how the ones you love can shake the ground...

Jett is collecting geological samples from all over the world trying to recreate the exact makeup of the sinkhole that took her family. Hoping that somehow her discovery will put to rest her loved ones, she drives her research partner Gray to the breaking point. They are aided by the ever present Intern as they they uncover this mystery. A dirty play that questions how the ones you love can shake the ground beneath your feet.

Weird In St. Pete

by Helen R. Murray

Synopsis

The strange and mysterious residents of the sunny town of St. Pete confess their secrets in this immersive promenade piece based on real history of this once quiet beach town. Follow them as they draw you in to their funny, aching, and wild stories.

The strange and mysterious residents of the sunny town of St. Pete confess their secrets in this immersive promenade piece based on real history of this once quiet beach town. Follow them as they draw you in to their funny, aching, and wild stories.

Wonderful Life

by Helen R. Murray

Synopsis

Co-Written with Jason Lott
George Bailey’s struggle to grasp why life is worth living finds a fresh voice in this imaginative one-person retelling of Frank Capra’s classic film It’s a Wonderful Life. This Helen Hayes nominated memory play introduces a new generation to the residents of Bedford Falls, New York on a fateful Christmas Eve in 1945. Wonderful Life is a heartwarming story about the effect one man’s...

Co-Written with Jason Lott
George Bailey’s struggle to grasp why life is worth living finds a fresh voice in this imaginative one-person retelling of Frank Capra’s classic film It’s a Wonderful Life. This Helen Hayes nominated memory play introduces a new generation to the residents of Bedford Falls, New York on a fateful Christmas Eve in 1945. Wonderful Life is a heartwarming story about the effect one man’s sacrifices have on the people and town he loves.

The Magi

by Helen R. Murray

Synopsis

Nix and Jude have been touring their band The Magi for 8 years. They have been in love for 7 years and 11 months of that tour. But now the band and the couple may be breaking up. Part concert, part love story, and part awkward to be sure. Music & Lyrics by Eli Pafumi

Nix and Jude have been touring their band The Magi for 8 years. They have been in love for 7 years and 11 months of that tour. But now the band and the couple may be breaking up. Part concert, part love story, and part awkward to be sure. Music & Lyrics by Eli Pafumi

Merry, Happy... What?

by Helen R. Murray

Synopsis

Molly has the same trouble every year. When Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa roll around she always feels left out. No one else celebrates the same holiday that she does. This is a play for the whole family about winter, celebrations and snow days. Music by Eli Pafumi

Molly has the same trouble every year. When Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa roll around she always feels left out. No one else celebrates the same holiday that she does. This is a play for the whole family about winter, celebrations and snow days. Music by Eli Pafumi