Jacqueline Goldfinger

Jacqueline Goldfinger

Jacqueline Goldfinger (she/they) is a playwright, poet, and librettist who writes funny things into serious things and serious things into funny things. Her equal love for Mel Brooks and Elizabeth Bishop make her an awkward guest at dinner parties. www.jacquelinegoldfinger.com

Plays

  • Backwards Forwards Back
    Winner of the 2023 Susan Glaspell Prize. When a soldier returns from war carrying the ghosts of their tour, they're faced with a sobering decision: address their alarming PTSD with Virtual Reality therapy, or risk losing access to their family forever. Can this new technology recalibrate the brains and bodies of wounded soldiers? This electric, vivid, one-person show explores the power of healing and...
    Winner of the 2023 Susan Glaspell Prize. When a soldier returns from war carrying the ghosts of their tour, they're faced with a sobering decision: address their alarming PTSD with Virtual Reality therapy, or risk losing access to their family forever. Can this new technology recalibrate the brains and bodies of wounded soldiers? This electric, vivid, one-person show explores the power of healing and finding strength in vulnerability. Developed with support from the Sloan Foundation and Operation Warrior Resolution. If you are from a theatre considering producing the show, contact me for private archival video of the premiere at Urbanite Theatre.
  • Bottle Fly
    Winner of the 2017 Yale Drama Prize and a Finalist at the 2018 International Book Awards, Bottle Fly is a beautiful depiction of queer survival in the Everglades. The play captures the many layered dynamics of race, poverty, and bigotry that are sun-baked into life in South Florida. Bottle Fly explores love in many guises and all of its complexity.
  • Babel
    “Babel” is a dark comedy set in the near future. Two couples are having trouble getting pregnant and the lengths they go to in order to have a baby raises the specter of eugenics, explores the societal value of a baby, and asks us what we are willing to risk for love. If you like Booker’s “Black Mirror,” Ishiguro’s “Never Let Me Go,” or Haley’s “The Nether,” then this play is for you. It requires four...
    “Babel” is a dark comedy set in the near future. Two couples are having trouble getting pregnant and the lengths they go to in order to have a baby raises the specter of eugenics, explores the societal value of a baby, and asks us what we are willing to risk for love. If you like Booker’s “Black Mirror,” Ishiguro’s “Never Let Me Go,” or Haley’s “The Nether,” then this play is for you. It requires four characters (3F,1M) and a flexile set.
  • Click
    A techno-thriller that begins when a young woman is raped at a fraternity and ends in a future where corporations promise a new body with the swipe of a screen, CLICK follows a hacktivist named Fresh who turns industrial espionage into high art. As this virtual Banksy takes over the global imagination, the man who stole her life develops a technology that sends the two of them on a collision course at the heart...
    A techno-thriller that begins when a young woman is raped at a fraternity and ends in a future where corporations promise a new body with the swipe of a screen, CLICK follows a hacktivist named Fresh who turns industrial espionage into high art. As this virtual Banksy takes over the global imagination, the man who stole her life develops a technology that sends the two of them on a collision course at the heart of the corporate empire, where innovation comes at any cost. A cyberpunk drama for the #MeToo era, a story of trauma, transformation and reclaiming who you are. (5-12 Characters, Diverse Casting, Flexible Set) This play is meant to be individualized for each community, so changes in pronouns and cultural references are permissible.
  • Arsonist
    A father-daughter arson team burns their relationship to the ground, and then rise from the ashes. ARSONIST is lyrical, heartbreaking, and darkly funny play with music about the eternal bond between parent and child.
  • Queen of the Goths
    "Queen of the Goths" is a fierce retelling of "Titus Andronicus" from the captured Queen’s point of view set in the untamed wilds of Florida during the Victorian Age. The play explores the performance of gender, the effects of PTSD, and how to get a gallon of blood out of an exquisite Brooks Brothers suit. Perfect for fans of the original "Titus Andronicus" and Verdi’s "...
    "Queen of the Goths" is a fierce retelling of "Titus Andronicus" from the captured Queen’s point of view set in the untamed wilds of Florida during the Victorian Age. The play explores the performance of gender, the effects of PTSD, and how to get a gallon of blood out of an exquisite Brooks Brothers suit. Perfect for fans of the original "Titus Andronicus" and Verdi’s "Falstaff" as well as films like Tarantino’s "Inglourious Basterds" and books like Morrison’s "Beloved."
  • The Terrible Girls
    A Horror-Comedy.

    In this wicked dark comedy of friendship, obsession, and Southern sensibilities, Mr. Witherose leaves Birdie, Gretch, and Minnie to tend to his bar while he is away on business in Atlanta. Birdie and Gretch are battling for Mr. Witherose's affection in his absence, but neither knows that Minnie is guarding his terrible secret. When an innocent tryst goes awry, the ghosts of...
    A Horror-Comedy.

    In this wicked dark comedy of friendship, obsession, and Southern sensibilities, Mr. Witherose leaves Birdie, Gretch, and Minnie to tend to his bar while he is away on business in Atlanta. Birdie and Gretch are battling for Mr. Witherose's affection in his absence, but neither knows that Minnie is guarding his terrible secret. When an innocent tryst goes awry, the ghosts of sordid secrets come out into the open, providing a wild mix of fearless comedy and Southern Gothic horror.
  • Skin and Bone
    In Skin & Bone, Goldfinger returns to her roots as a Southern Gothic storyteller to spin a darkly comic tale of a set of twin cannibal grandmothers, Midge and Madge, and the love of their life. "Skin & Bone" explores the absurd adherence to the time honored traditions that destroy you.
  • The Little Mermaid (for ages 5+)
    A new adaptation of THE LITTLE MERMAID for ages 5+. A Classic Fable of Love, Music, and Adventure from the timeless tale by Hans Christian Anderson. This adaptation of MERMAID focuses on finding true friendship and the power of love. In order to make it fun for younger audiences, this adaptation is told by a present day family using multi-sensory and story theater techniques.
  • Edie and Mae
    The water’s gone. Mae can hear the future rushing back, maybe. Edie fell in love at first sight, definitely. A love story of two women at the edge of the world, reaching through the pipes for one last drop of salvation. (30 minute one-act for two female performers)
  • Love, Sometimes
    A romantic screwball comedy about a couple who meet on the one year anniversary of their divorce. (10 minute play, 1 male and 1 female performer)
  • A Wind in the Door
    Adapted from the bestselling novel by Madeleine L'Engle, A WIND IN THE DOOR, it will be published by Stage Partners in 2022: https://www.yourstagepartners.com
  • Little Women
    In this affecting, delightful adaptation of Alcott's classic novel, the four spirited March sisters -- Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy -- endeavor to sustain their family in the absence of their father, who is away fighting the Civil War. Led by their devoted Marmee and accompanied by music from the period, each girl struggles to overcome her own limitations to become the best version of herself, even in the midst...
    In this affecting, delightful adaptation of Alcott's classic novel, the four spirited March sisters -- Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy -- endeavor to sustain their family in the absence of their father, who is away fighting the Civil War. Led by their devoted Marmee and accompanied by music from the period, each girl struggles to overcome her own limitations to become the best version of herself, even in the midst of disease, jealousy, and poverty. 40 productions and counting!!
  • A Christmas Carol
    This swift adaptation of the Christmas classic remains true to the original story by incorporating portions of the Dickens' novella not usually seen on the stage or screen. Infused with a myriad of popular Christmas carols and a subtle twist of contemporary humor, the morality tale of Ebenezer Scrooge is once again alive with holiday spirit. 90 productions and counting!
  • Special Correspondent
    Inspired by the classic film comedy, "His Girl Friday," "Special Correspondent" is a sweeping romantic comedy set in present day NYC. Reporters at a trendy news site are more interested in laughing, loving, and playing poker than writing headlines. But when they stumble onto a scandalous story, their lives are upended as they try to save the world without leaving the comfort of their office...
    Inspired by the classic film comedy, "His Girl Friday," "Special Correspondent" is a sweeping romantic comedy set in present day NYC. Reporters at a trendy news site are more interested in laughing, loving, and playing poker than writing headlines. But when they stumble onto a scandalous story, their lives are upended as they try to save the world without leaving the comfort of their office. This new play celebrates love, friendship, and the eternal beauty of a Royal Flush.