Jonathan Josephson

A real-life journey through Big Healthcare, cancer, and ultimately gratitude. A little play that asks big question about who all is charge of our healthcare and why.

It's three days after the demise of Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers; Verona is in mourning, Benvolio and Rosaline are heart-broken... but the two schemers have a plan. They've independently procured magical elixirs from Apothecary with hopes of bringing their beloveds back to life. But when they accidentally double-up their dosage, something goes wrong... horribly, deliciously wrong. Now it’s up to Friar Laurence, Juliet’s Nurse, Shylock of "The Merchant of Venice," and Beatrice of "Much Ado About Nothing," and a whole lot of Balthasars to right the world again.

In July of 1903, famed baseball player Edward "Big Ed" Delahanty was found dead at the base of the Niagara Falls gorge. Now, Ed's widow, Norine, is determined to uncover the truth behind her husband's tragic end and find the ones responsible for his death. Little could she have anticipated that her investigation would take her down an ever-darkening road of Big Ed's hidden life, and inner demons. Based on a true story.

A mash-up of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s delightful “A Scandal in Bohemia,” “The Red-Headed League,” and “The Adventure of the Copper Beeches.

The games are afoot! Audiences will follow 25 characters through a literary labyrinth of mysterious clues and misdirection in a story that features Sherlockian mainstays, new characters, and a host of theatrical surprises! Inspired by three classic stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Holmes, Sherlock and The Consulting Detective will delight newbies to the mystery genre as well as Sherlock Holmes super-fans.

After the events of Star Wars: Episode IV, an ambitious teen on a dessert planet is desperate to join the war effort. One teen's rebellion is another teen's great adventure.

A series of new online friends realize they're all being tracked (haunted?) by the same insidious presence. Can it be stopped?

Liev wants to be Romeo; Anise wants to be Juliet. Liev like-likes Anise. Or whatever. But Anise won't go out with another boy playing Romeo (it didn't go great last time). What's a young actor to do?

NOTE: This play is licensed by YouthPLAYS. Please direct all licensing inquires here:
https://www.youthplays.com/pg/how-to-license-a-play

Mia is pregnant and she's not sure what to do.

Three adventurers enter the jungle with grand discoveries on their minds and murder in their hearts. But nature has other plans.

In "ancient" Ireland, Keyroris, Quidove, Iarrieth, and Nerihan gather to honor the dark druidic Night of Spirit Remembrance. But infighting and petty grievances can distract from even the most critical of ancestral rituals.

Crow, Seagull, and Sparrow have gethered on Christmas day to decide on what to do with Humankind: reveal their true sentient nature and make peace with the humans, or, just, friggin' kill 'em all. A "prequel" to Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds."

Chris Maple, Jr. is an MMA fighter with golden fists and a heart of pure iron. She will stop at nothing to ascend to the top of her sport, and she's good enough to be a star... but when tragedy strikes inside the ring, can Chris bring herself to ride the wave of notoriety all the way to the top? Or will her newfound infamy tear her apart?

Returning to the light after descending to the depths of personal tragedy can be a dark, difficult chore… but, when a chance wrong number links two complete strangers in the middle of the night, their common humanity may help them survive their personal demons.

Life can be hard when you're a marshmallow, but Buddy and Piper don't know that yet. As they find each other, fall for each other, break up, reconnect all in a matter of minutes, their lives together as sentient confectionary could only be described as...bliss. That is...until a survivalist marshmallow named Jet introduces them to a campfire. Enjoy this highly theatrical and abundantly sweet comedy about anthropomorphized desserts and their quest for true love.

Chubby Bunny is also available as part of And Hilarity Ensued (Pursued by a Bear), a collection that may be produced in any order (and with any plays left out).

With giants mopping floors and trolls patrolling the roof, Northside Plaza is not your typical shopping mall. Arthur is a conscientious giant who works by day as a janitor – trying to win the heart of Cipriana, an executive, who also works in the mall. Sebastian – the hotheaded knight – is not happy with this and wants to get rid of Arthur, but Arthur’s buddy Gregory (the “troll with a soul”) won’t have anything of it. All the while Cipriana’s father, the magician, watches from a distance with an agenda of his own.

The story of Ichabod Crane is well known - the schoolteacher falls for the blooming lass Katrina Van Tassel, and he would have won her heart too, had he not been run out of town by the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow. But what really happened on the faithful night in the woods, and what is the true story behind Brom Bones' knowing looks? This new adaptation of the classic ghost story tells Washington Irving's tale as it is widely known in act one, but then follows up with the REAL story of Ichabod and the Horseman as retold by Gunpowder, Ichabod Crane's faithful horse.

Every mechanical in Athens has a dream of treading the boards, and Peter Quince has just posted auditions for "The Most Lamentable Comedy and Most Cruel Death of Pyramus and Thisbe." Who will be cast and have their midsummernights-dream come true?

One of Jonathan's favorite actors is sitting right over there. Just sitting there. He'd love to speak to him, but will he be able to build up the nerve? This "hilarious" meta-within-meta-theatrical comedy was championed a "2013 Humana Festival Hit."

Set 8 years after the "2013 Humana Festival Hit" play "27 Ways I Didn't Say 'Hi' To Laurence Fishburne," this self-deprecating comedy features a phone call from Mr. Fishburne to one of his biggest fans... but the fan doesn't believe that it's him. Awkward hilarity ensues.

Supervillains convene to develop revised plans for world domination amidst the global pandemic.

An urban police chief considers an extreme change in police procedure in order to protect his community, and save his job.

February 1st, 1966 - it's the Opening Night of the new Broadway smash Tacoma, Trains, and Toothpaste and radio host Jimmy Swallow is guiding the ladies and gentlemen listening at home through the bustling Who's Who after party. When the unthinkable happens, can the audacity of theatre people ensure that the show does go on?

Note - an ensemble of sound engineers, party-goers, and policeman can be added to support a larger ensemble cast if needs be,

Family quarrels come to a head in this sweet comedy that is equal parts schmaltz and chicharrones.

These poor actors, They're in a terrible production of "Flash Gordon: The Musical" (music by Queen), and for Draven - it's personal. The 1980 movie that is the basis for this unstageable drek is the reason he became an actor... now he's a dancing leaf. But hope springs eternal when producer shenanigans and golden showers rear their ugly heads.

Grandpa Abe just found out that the gregarious, insightful young Rabbi of his synagogue is gay – and he’s not taking it well. While his Rabbi had been helping him through the mourning period of his late wife, old biases die-hard. This is a heartfelt play about coming together, patience and above all things – grace.

It's three days after the demise of Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers; the city is in mourning, Benvolio and Rosaline are heart-broken... but the two schemers have a plan. They've independently procured magical elixirs from the apothecary with hopes of bringing their beloveds back to life. But when they accidentally double-up their dosage, something goes wrong... horribly, deliciously wrong.

Part of "Seven Deadly Tens: A sinful collection of short plays," published by Original Works Publishing.

Bunning is an occult writer who has recently been cursed by a set of evil runes. If this situation doesn't change he will surely be ripped to a million bloody pieces by an inter-dimensional beastie. Can Bunning and his hapless sidekicks survive the dire jinx by pulling off a fast one on a crazed literary rival? This madcap riff on the M.R. James horror short "Casting the Runes" is full of zany mischief and misfiring magic.

Part of "Seven Deadly Tens: A sinful collection of short plays," published by Original Works Publishing.

Wilbur Wyoming is perturbed. His agency has been getting blasted all over social media for unfair business practices, and he's gunnin' for the no good ad man whose responsible... who happens to be Dakota Dawson, and she's not exactly gun shy. Enjoy this modern day Western-spoof set in a San Francisco ad agency.

NOTE: This is a tall tale set in present day with the look and feel and language of frontier Western. Lean in when it gets ridiculous or technical. I wouldn't suggest the characters being too self-aware unless otherwise noted.

Part of "Seven Deadly Tens: A sinful collection of short plays," published by Original Works Publishing.

Is revenge a dish best served cold? Or is it that much worse when it's steaming hot? Get to know Will and Dave -- two "friends" are linked by two truly awful birthday celebrations.

Part of "Seven Deadly Tens: A sinful collection of short plays," published by Original Works Publishing.

Edward "Big Ed" Delahanty was baseball player in the 1880s and '90s - he was handsome, successful, and on his way to Hall of Fame career. His story was tragically - and mysteriously - cut short at the age of 35 when his body was discovered at the base of Niagara Falls, seven days after he was kicked off a train bound for New York. First-hand accounts state that he was removed for "drunken and disorderly behavior" - allegedly he had been threatening train passengers with a straight razor. But - was his death a suicide, a murder or an accident? We'll never know for sure, but her's a "what-if" that endeavors to give some clarity to this fascinating, unexplained, true mystery.

Part of "Seven Deadly Tens: A sinful collection of short plays," published by Original Works Publishing.

Two bros-turned-frenemies get hostile when sexual proclivities are revealed at the workplace.

Part of "Seven Deadly Tens: A sinful collection of short plays," published by Original Works Publishing.

Zeke’s girlfriend has left him, but she wasn’t nearly as clear in her communications as she could have been. Now his friends know, they can read the signs, but he has no idea. Worst poker night ever.

Part of "Seven Deadly Tens: A sinful collection of short plays," published by Original Works Publishing.

Andrea’s husband just left her and she is in her funk. To try and shake her out of it, her best friend Tawny convinces her to break into Sea World to perform and “ancient” ritual that is supposed to bring her good fortune.

Life is pretty awful when you’ve accidentally locked yourself in the bathroom, especially on the night you're supposed to meet your girlfriend’s parents. Enjoy this madcap comedy about four friends, one very important date, and the locked door that brings them together

A lyrical reimaging of the beloved tale of the good-hearted schoolmaster Ichabod Crane who falls for the blooming lass Katrina Van Tassel and his deadly encounter with the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow.

(NOTE: This is the 30-minute "first act" of the 60-minute "Legend(s) of Sleepy Hollow," also by Jonathan Josephson. Legend(s) tells the "real" story of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman told from the perspective of Gunpower, Ichabod's horse)

The Mexican legend "La Llorona" tells the story of a scorned woman who drowns her children and then haunts the earth searching for their souls. The play "Las Lloronas" examines this myth as it has evolved through the ages - from the days of La Malinche and the conquest of Mexico through present day events. El Diablo guides us through five unique stories - some literal, some theatrical, some abstract - that reflect the horror and regret embodied by this timeless tale. Freely adapted from the legend "La Llorona" and historical events.

A British colonial ambassador tries to rid the African village in his charge of a purported demon, but Anansi the trickster and her friends have other ideas.

Freely adapted from the canon of Anansi stories and Ashanti proverbs.

Adapted from “In A Grove” by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa

Masago, a maiden, is missing and her samurai, Takehiko, is dead. As her mother investigates the brutal crime, she encounters numerous versions of what happened on that fateful night in a haunting cedar grove. Set in 12th Century Japan and written as a highly theatrical piece with mask work, dance, and Noh-inspired movement, "The Grove of Rashomon" is a reimagining of the iconic short story that inspired the Akira Kurosawa film "Rashomon."

It's pouring and Vincent, a Brown student, happens upon an abandoned hotel with two flat tires and nowhere else to go. There, he encounters a Ghost with an identity crisis and a bulldog of a Shadow who is determined to banish his soul to hell. Hilarity ensues.

Berger, the American, and Kennedy, the Brit, are great friends and have been since their days at university. But when Berger makes a life-altering discovery in the depths of a long-forgotten Roman crypt, their friendship may be put to the ultimate test.

According to the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia, this is the only theatrucal adaptation of this fantastic short story! Ideal for an immersive experience, the play can also be staged in an intimate theatre setting.

“There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast.” – Charles Dickens. The Chimes tells the story of a conflicted father and the goblins that bring him to the brink of death and back again.