Francis RTM Boyle

Francis RTM Boyle has worked from sweeping the stage on up: acting, puppeteering, directing, stage managing, choreographing stage combat, dramaturgy, text coaching, costuming, and teaching theater at the university level. He's also a proud Jeopardy! alum!!!

The William Inge Theater Festival selected Francis' short play "Another Part of the Field" for their inaugural New Play Lab. The Strawberry One Act Festival produced Francis’ "Illusion of a Fantasy" in New York City. Francis' "Mountain of Crime." co-written with James O'Connell, ran for a year and is now available through Uproar Theatrics. Back Porch Theater presented a number of Francis' monologues. Francis' commissioned adaptation of Moby Dick will premiere in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Francis is a summa cum laude graduate of the...

Francis RTM Boyle has worked from sweeping the stage on up: acting, puppeteering, directing, stage managing, choreographing stage combat, dramaturgy, text coaching, costuming, and teaching theater at the university level. He's also a proud Jeopardy! alum!!!

The William Inge Theater Festival selected Francis' short play "Another Part of the Field" for their inaugural New Play Lab. The Strawberry One Act Festival produced Francis’ "Illusion of a Fantasy" in New York City. Francis' "Mountain of Crime." co-written with James O'Connell, ran for a year and is now available through Uproar Theatrics. Back Porch Theater presented a number of Francis' monologues. Francis' commissioned adaptation of Moby Dick will premiere in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Francis is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a BFA in Theater, where he was selected for the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society. He received his MLitt & MFA in Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature in Performance from Mary Baldwin College and The American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, VA. He presented his scholarship at the Blackfriars Conference, the Grand Valley Shakespeare Conference, and has been published in Shakespeare Magazine. He formerly reviewed books for Time Out New York Magazine.

As many of his plays will attest, Francis is a history lover. He cherishes the memories of meeting a survivor of the RMS Titanic, and holding a document bearing William Shakespeare's signature. Francis lives outside of Cincinnati with his wife, Angie, the Statler to his Waldorf.

NOTE: You may NOT use any part of my work to instruct any AI or Language Learning Model.

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Scripts

The Year of the Whale, or Moby-Dick

by Francis RTM Boyle

3
Cast Size
1
Genre
adaptation,
drama,
experimental,
period,
tragedy

Ishmael, the only survivor of Captain Ahab's voyage, vowed never to tell the story of the events on the Pequod. Weeks of rumors, growing accusations, and threats from the families and friends of the lost crew finally force him to tell the story.

Numb from the experience and fighting to stay detached, he brings the tragedy to life for the surviving families of his shipmates. His control begins to crumble as he...

Ishmael, the only survivor of Captain Ahab's voyage, vowed never to tell the story of the events on the Pequod. Weeks of rumors, growing accusations, and threats from the families and friends of the lost crew finally force him to tell the story.

Numb from the experience and fighting to stay detached, he brings the tragedy to life for the surviving families of his shipmates. His control begins to crumble as he processes the disaster.

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Mountain of Crime

by Francis RTM Boyle and James Mainard OConnell

Cast Size
7—8
Genre
comedy,
mystery/thriller,
parody/spoof

Available for licensing through Uproar Theatrics: https://www.uproartheatrics.com/shows/mountain-of-crime

Full Length: In this audience-interactive murder mystery comedy, the head of the National Crime Sydicate has decided to retire and has called a meeting of regional crime bosses to help him choose a successor. But when he ends up murdered before a successor can be chosen, it is up to the audience to help...

Available for licensing through Uproar Theatrics: https://www.uproartheatrics.com/shows/mountain-of-crime

Full Length: In this audience-interactive murder mystery comedy, the head of the National Crime Sydicate has decided to retire and has called a meeting of regional crime bosses to help him choose a successor. But when he ends up murdered before a successor can be chosen, it is up to the audience to help decide whodunnit. With six different endings, improvisational audience interaction, and a script that is adaptable to a variety of spaces, "Mountain of Crime" is a fun show for audiences and performers alike!

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Salt the Earth

by Francis RTM Boyle

1
Cast Size
20—25
Genre
docudrama/historic,
drama,
period,
political

FULL LENGTH: 20-25 Actors of any Gender: 149 BC: Rome's survival hangs in the balance. Roman hero Scipio Ameilianus must rebel from his corrupt father and then ally with his father's greatest enemy, Cato, to ensure Rome's survival by destroying neighboring Carthage.

FULL LENGTH: 20-25 Actors of any Gender: 149 BC: Rome's survival hangs in the balance. Roman hero Scipio Ameilianus must rebel from his corrupt father and then ally with his father's greatest enemy, Cato, to ensure Rome's survival by destroying neighboring Carthage.

Treason at the Globe

by Francis RTM Boyle

4
Cast Size
5
Genre
comedy,
dark comedy,
drama,
mystery/thriller,
period,
political,
tragedy

Full Length: The evening after the Earl of Essex's revolt against Queen Elizabeth I fails, a member of Elizabeth's secret police, code named Horatio, investigates any surviving conspirators. He learns that the day before the plot, Essex's men have Shakespeare's Richard II played at the Globe Theatre. A theatre hating puritan, Horatio snaps up the opportunity to persecute the players. Upon meeting Shakespeare and...

Full Length: The evening after the Earl of Essex's revolt against Queen Elizabeth I fails, a member of Elizabeth's secret police, code named Horatio, investigates any surviving conspirators. He learns that the day before the plot, Essex's men have Shakespeare's Richard II played at the Globe Theatre. A theatre hating puritan, Horatio snaps up the opportunity to persecute the players. Upon meeting Shakespeare and his company, Horatio challenges his bigotries and uncovers a deeper plot...

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Valentine

by Francis RTM Boyle

5
Cast Size
5
Genre
drama,
period,
political,
tragedy

FULL LENGTH: 5 characters: 3W, 2M: Eromax, the Emperor of Rome, His wife, Prisca, Eromax's sister, Aurelia, her husband Valentine, and Aurelia's lover, Juliana all change when their lives of pain, abuse, envy, and guilt are touched with faith, love, and forgiveness during the period of the Early Christian Church.

FULL LENGTH: 5 characters: 3W, 2M: Eromax, the Emperor of Rome, His wife, Prisca, Eromax's sister, Aurelia, her husband Valentine, and Aurelia's lover, Juliana all change when their lives of pain, abuse, envy, and guilt are touched with faith, love, and forgiveness during the period of the Early Christian Church.

Another Part of the Field

by Francis RTM Boyle

9
Cast Size
2
Genre
dark comedy,
drama

2023 Eclectic Theater Patchwork Play Festival Semi-Finalist
2016 William Inge Festival New Play Lab

15 MINUTES: 2 Characters, Gender & Race Neutral, flexible pronouns available: Two mortally wounded soldiers from opposing armies face their last moments together.

2023 Eclectic Theater Patchwork Play Festival Semi-Finalist
2016 William Inge Festival New Play Lab

15 MINUTES: 2 Characters, Gender & Race Neutral, flexible pronouns available: Two mortally wounded soldiers from opposing armies face their last moments together.

Don't Disturb the Clams

by Francis RTM Boyle

3
Cast Size
3
Genre
comedy,
satire

Short Play: 2W, 1M: Synopsis: Inspired by “real” events. A young, A-list singer and her new film-star boyfriend look for a place to stage their paparazzi photos. When their photographers cannot find the remote, Rhode Island beach, the two enlist the begrudging help of a local who only wants to continue clamming.

Short Play: 2W, 1M: Synopsis: Inspired by “real” events. A young, A-list singer and her new film-star boyfriend look for a place to stage their paparazzi photos. When their photographers cannot find the remote, Rhode Island beach, the two enlist the begrudging help of a local who only wants to continue clamming.

Naming Rights

by Francis RTM Boyle

3
Cast Size
2
Genre
comedy,
drama

Short Play: 2 Female Roles: Patron and benefactor at war! Ten minutes from announcing plans on their brand new theater, Aurora (a donor) and Kat (Artistic Director) spar over who should get the right to name the new building. Aurora insists on naming it after her family charitable trust, while Kat insists on naming it for their recently deceased founder.

Updated 2/6/2023

Short Play: 2 Female Roles: Patron and benefactor at war! Ten minutes from announcing plans on their brand new theater, Aurora (a donor) and Kat (Artistic Director) spar over who should get the right to name the new building. Aurora insists on naming it after her family charitable trust, while Kat insists on naming it for their recently deceased founder.

Updated 2/6/2023

The Relief

by Francis RTM Boyle

3
Cast Size
3—4
Genre
comedy,
drama,
science fiction

Short Play (15 Minute): 3-4 Characters, Gender & Race Neutral: Set on the Ark, a generation-colony ship 20 years from Earth and 60 years from its target, four mid to late teenagers have been training since birth to be the relief crew, when Loba, the trainee captain, decides to quit. Fate and Free Will collide with little time to spare.

Short Play (15 Minute): 3-4 Characters, Gender & Race Neutral: Set on the Ark, a generation-colony ship 20 years from Earth and 60 years from its target, four mid to late teenagers have been training since birth to be the relief crew, when Loba, the trainee captain, decides to quit. Fate and Free Will collide with little time to spare.

Renegade Elfs' Christmas Workshop

by Francis RTM Boyle

5
Cast Size
4
Genre
comedy,
drama,
holiday

SHORT PLAY: 4 Characters, Gender & Race Neutral: Santa is our unreliable narrator as Christmas Elfs Hadley, Ellery, and Robin break away from Santa's egotistical business practices and begin their own toy factory.

SHORT PLAY: 4 Characters, Gender & Race Neutral: Santa is our unreliable narrator as Christmas Elfs Hadley, Ellery, and Robin break away from Santa's egotistical business practices and begin their own toy factory.

Revived Presidential Debate

by Francis RTM Boyle

3
Cast Size
3
Genre
comedy,
drama,
experimental,
parody/spoof,
political

10 MINUTE PLAY: 3 Characters: Gender and Race Neutral: In a year of unparalleled political nastiness, the American people have recalled the major party candidates, and have brought Presidents Washington and Lincoln back to life to run for president once more. Edward R. Murrow has also been revived to serve as moderator. The three realize this is not their America.

10 MINUTE PLAY: 3 Characters: Gender and Race Neutral: In a year of unparalleled political nastiness, the American people have recalled the major party candidates, and have brought Presidents Washington and Lincoln back to life to run for president once more. Edward R. Murrow has also been revived to serve as moderator. The three realize this is not their America.

Spite Check

by Francis RTM Boyle

6
Cast Size
2
Genre
comedy,
drama

2019 Inge New Play Lab Alternate

SHORT PLAY: 2 Actors, Gender and Race Neutral: A young chess champion and his/her interviewer spar in code over the details of his/her life. A simple interview with an acerbic, reclusive prodigy is not what it seems.

2019 Inge New Play Lab Alternate

SHORT PLAY: 2 Actors, Gender and Race Neutral: A young chess champion and his/her interviewer spar in code over the details of his/her life. A simple interview with an acerbic, reclusive prodigy is not what it seems.

Amid the Bombs, a Monologue

by Francis RTM Boyle

3
Cast Size
1
Genre
comedy,
docudrama/historic,
drama,
fable/folktale,
young audiences

During a crisis, it falls to a teacher to calm their students.

During a crisis, it falls to a teacher to calm their students.

Before the Storm, a Monologue

by Francis RTM Boyle

6
Cast Size
1
Genre
drama,
political

An emergency: the Chief of Surgery briefs the ER and hospital staff as the President of the United States and her husband are arriving with gunshot wounds.

Reading: Back Porch Theatre, December 2020.

An emergency: the Chief of Surgery briefs the ER and hospital staff as the President of the United States and her husband are arriving with gunshot wounds.

Reading: Back Porch Theatre, December 2020.

The Condemned, a Monologue

by Francis RTM Boyle

9
Cast Size
1
Genre
drama

Monologue: An assassin's last words before he/she is executed for killing "the most hated man in the nation."

Monologue: An assassin's last words before he/she is executed for killing "the most hated man in the nation."

Host Duties, a Comedic Monologue

by Francis RTM Boyle

7
Cast Size
1
Genre
comedy

Monologue: An energetic and sometimes inappropriate Eucharistic Minister prepares to ask to be promoted from hawking the Blood of Christ to dispensing the Body of Christ hosts. In their multiple attempts to ask what should be a simple question, their motivations and the inner workings of the Eucharistic Ministry at Saint Stephens are revealed.

Monologue: An energetic and sometimes inappropriate Eucharistic Minister prepares to ask to be promoted from hawking the Blood of Christ to dispensing the Body of Christ hosts. In their multiple attempts to ask what should be a simple question, their motivations and the inner workings of the Eucharistic Ministry at Saint Stephens are revealed.

How I Joined the Navy, A Monologue

by Francis RTM Boyle

11
Cast Size
1
Genre
drama,
period

Monologue: On the eve of his first battle, a Navy Corpsman, whose job it is to serve as a medic to the Marines on Guadalcanal, reveals how he came to be there.

Monologue: On the eve of his first battle, a Navy Corpsman, whose job it is to serve as a medic to the Marines on Guadalcanal, reveals how he came to be there.

I Deflagrate, a Monologue

by Francis RTM Boyle

3
Cast Size
1
Genre
drama,
young audiences

Monologue: An eighth grade student stays behind to explain to their teacher why they didn't give the answer in Chemistry class. They did know the answer, but the reasons why they didn't go to the board are more complicated.

Monologue: An eighth grade student stays behind to explain to their teacher why they didn't give the answer in Chemistry class. They did know the answer, but the reasons why they didn't go to the board are more complicated.

The North Responds, 1861, a Monologue

by Francis RTM Boyle

Cast Size
1
Genre
docudrama/historic,
drama,
period,
political

1861, the United States Senate: after the confederates start the US Civil War by firing on Fort Sumter, a southern senator rails against the north before he leaves with his state. During the slaveholder's speech, a northern abolitionist senator cannot keep from laughing. The abolitionist speaks--

1861, the United States Senate: after the confederates start the US Civil War by firing on Fort Sumter, a southern senator rails against the north before he leaves with his state. During the slaveholder's speech, a northern abolitionist senator cannot keep from laughing. The abolitionist speaks--

Parent / Teacher Night, a Monologue

by Francis RTM Boyle

11
Cast Size
1
Genre
comedy,
dark comedy,
drama

Monologue: an exasperated English teacher explains a failing grade to disinterested parents.

Reading: Back Porch Theatre, Feb. 2021

Monologue: an exasperated English teacher explains a failing grade to disinterested parents.

Reading: Back Porch Theatre, Feb. 2021

Paperweight, a Monologue

by Francis RTM Boyle

8
Cast Size
1
Genre
drama,
experimental

Monologue: A mundane item's incredible story: the relationship of a handgun with her owner.

Monologue: A mundane item's incredible story: the relationship of a handgun with her owner.

Three Little Words, a Monologue

by Francis RTM Boyle

7
Cast Size
1
Genre
drama,
faith-based,
tragedy

The aftermath of one desperate person's search for human kindness on the internet.

Reading, Back Porch Theater, August 2021

The aftermath of one desperate person's search for human kindness on the internet.

Reading, Back Porch Theater, August 2021

When I Open my Eyes, a Monologue

by Francis RTM Boyle

4
Cast Size
1
Genre
comedy,
romantic comedy

He's been Elyssa's best friend for years and he's secretly in love with her. When Elyssa's boyfriend makes her cry once too often, he tells her how he feels about the boyfriend... and about her. What will happen after he professes his love?

He's been Elyssa's best friend for years and he's secretly in love with her. When Elyssa's boyfriend makes her cry once too often, he tells her how he feels about the boyfriend... and about her. What will happen after he professes his love?