Darrin Friedman

SHORT-PLAY (10 pages): A man struggling with the decision to let his comatose wife go sits on a park bench when a serene woman approaches and engages him in conversation. Through their talk, she discusses things she could not possibly know. But know, she does. In so doing, she helps him reflect on his love for his wife and the pain of holding on. Will he be able to let go and listen to this stranger about a possible new future with a chance for closure, or will he be stuck in the agony of the present?

FULL-LENGTH PLAY: A former Olympic swimmer, who once basked in the glory of gold medals, is diagnosed with ALS. Overwhelmed by the frightening prospect of losing his independence, he hesitantly hires an unconventional, spirited young woman to be his full-time caregiver. As their unexpected bond deepens, they realize that both have endured traumatic experiences at the hands of family members and others, preventing them from moving on. Confronted with life-changing choices and an uncontrollable timeline, can these unlikely companions find solace in confronting their painful pasts while embracing the present and future in the limited time they have left?

AWARDS:
Woodward / Newman Finalist 2024
The Colony Theatre, Scripts and Sips Finalist 2024
Epiphanies New Works Festival, Short List Honorable Mention 2024

FULL-LENGTH PLAY: Brought together by the loss of a mutual high school classmate, three middle-aged men meet after decades and forge an unlikely connection. Seth, a quiet, kind-hearted Jewish novelist, is navigating seismic shifts in his family relationships and a disappointing string of flops following his bestselling debut novel. Javi, an easygoing Latino financial whiz turned stay-at-home-dad, seems to be wrestling with more feelings than he lets on beneath his wisecracking exterior. And William, a brilliant Black attorney on the cusp of a big career move, appears to have it all together … but appearances have misled him before. What begins as casual get-togethers for drinks or a game of basketball soon evolves into a legit friendship, as William, Seth, and Javi discover the unexpected solace that comes from sharing their stories — and their feelings — in ways most modern men aren’t taught to do. Their fledgling bond perseveres through adversity, and each mouse find the strength to face his own blind spots and navigate his midlife transitions with grace, thanks to the wisdom, humor, and unwavering support of his new old friends.

SHORT-PLAY (10 pages): A grandfather finds it challenging to bond with his neurodivergent grandson, who spends much of his time gaming online. Their conversation reveals that what may seem like escapism can also serve as a source of safety, connection, and purpose. The connection is in the journey. Will they find it?

SHORT-PLAY (10 PAGES): A man and his therapist explore the depth of his fragile psyche.

FULL-LENGTH PLAY: Amidst a fierce blizzard, a family confronts their grief after a sudden loss. As the snowstorm rages outside, inner turmoil unfolds within as buried secrets, fears, and revelations about the past challenge their understanding of each other, forcing them to question love, loyalty, and what it truly means to know and trust those closest to us.

SHORT-PLAY (10 pages): In Winnebago County, Wisconsin, a farmer licks a frog. Things go wrong soon after.

A Monologue: A woman of a certain age has reached her limit regarding her good-for-nothing husband, for whom she may or may not be responsible for his current health status.

SHORT-PLAY (10 pages): A middle-aged white man from a southern town is set in his ways until he is confronted with the reality that the world around him is changing. People, places, and things that once felt familiar are now anything but, and it is challenging him to his limits. Can he adapt, or will his prejudice and old habits hold him back?

A Monologue: An everyman talks about his special needs son and what he has given up to care for him.

A Monologue: A woman confronts life after divorce and the insanity of what happens next.

SHORT PLAY (10 pages): When a man down in the dumps sits on his park bench brooding about his miserable life, he is approached by a stranger with a proposition that promises to change everything.

SHORT PLAY (10 pages): On a blind date, two people brought together by friends try and find commonality where there is none. Until ...