Zharia O'Neal

Zharia O’Neal (she/her/hers) is a playwright, poet, and multi-medium storyteller. Plays include seven stage circle (2026 National Playwrights Conference Finalist, 2025 Princess Grace Award Finalist, 2024 Ashland New Plays Festival Finalist), ROOST (2023 National Playwrights Conference Semifinalist, HUMANITAS Play LA Prize), FLING (2024 Golden Tongues Festival), and DAY ONE (New Theatre Hollywood).

Zharia O’Neal (she/her/hers) is a playwright, poet, and multi-medium storyteller. Plays include seven stage circle (2026 National Playwrights Conference Finalist, 2025 Princess Grace Award Finalist, 2024 Ashland New Plays Festival Finalist), ROOST (2023 National Playwrights Conference Semifinalist, HUMANITAS Play LA Prize), FLING (2024 Golden Tongues Festival), and DAY ONE (New Theatre Hollywood).

Scripts

ROOST

by Zharia O'Neal

Cast Size
6
Genre
adventure,
comedy,
dark comedy,
drama

The Roost, a rehabilitation retreat for Black women who have starred in reality television, is on the brink of collapse — and founder and Chief Sage Eliaza has a risky scheme to keep up attendance.

The Roost, a rehabilitation retreat for Black women who have starred in reality television, is on the brink of collapse — and founder and Chief Sage Eliaza has a risky scheme to keep up attendance.

seven stage circle

by Zharia O'Neal

Cast Size
5
Genre
dark comedy,
drama,
fable/folktale,
movement/physical

a (kinda) drum circle on (kinda) grieving

The Kid's gone. His best friend, Yaya, organizes a vigil for him and the group chat, accidentally summoning the percussive powers of laughter, jealousy and heartbreak; not to mention the spirit of The Kid they loved.

a (kinda) drum circle on (kinda) grieving

The Kid's gone. His best friend, Yaya, organizes a vigil for him and the group chat, accidentally summoning the percussive powers of laughter, jealousy and heartbreak; not to mention the spirit of The Kid they loved.

FLING

by Zharia O'Neal

Cast Size
4
Genre
adaptation,
drama

In a Marriott conference room in Toledo, Ohio, four young Miss Teen Scene beauty-pageant contestants trapped during a blackout are forced to reckon with their own ambitions, bare their secrets, and come together. An adaptation of Los empeños de una casa by Sor Juana de la Cruz.

Developed as a commission for UCLA's Diversifying the Classics.

In a Marriott conference room in Toledo, Ohio, four young Miss Teen Scene beauty-pageant contestants trapped during a blackout are forced to reckon with their own ambitions, bare their secrets, and come together. An adaptation of Los empeños de una casa by Sor Juana de la Cruz.

Developed as a commission for UCLA's Diversifying the Classics.

DAY ONE

by Zharia O'Neal

Cast Size
1
Genre
dark comedy

It’s your first day as a greeting specialist at The Webster, a high-rise luxury building in Downtown Los Angeles. Your mentor for the day? Ree, a veteran greeter who’s already tired of your shit. A one-woman one-act.

It’s your first day as a greeting specialist at The Webster, a high-rise luxury building in Downtown Los Angeles. Your mentor for the day? Ree, a veteran greeter who’s already tired of your shit. A one-woman one-act.