Wendy-Marie Martin

Wendy-Marie Martin

Wendy-Marie Martin is a playwright, dramaturg, and director as well as the Department Chair of the Undergraduate Theatre Department at Hollins University. She has a PhD in Interdisciplinary Arts & Theatre from Ohio University with a focus on intersectional feminist theatre and 20th/21st century women playwrights. She also has an MFA in Playwriting from The Playwright’s Lab at Hollins University. For over...
Wendy-Marie Martin is a playwright, dramaturg, and director as well as the Department Chair of the Undergraduate Theatre Department at Hollins University. She has a PhD in Interdisciplinary Arts & Theatre from Ohio University with a focus on intersectional feminist theatre and 20th/21st century women playwrights. She also has an MFA in Playwriting from The Playwright’s Lab at Hollins University. For over twenty-five years, Wendy-Marie has taught, directed, and performed in Europe and the U.S. Her work has been produced in Germany, The Netherlands, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Ireland, and the U.S . She has also been published by Smith & Krauss, Theatrefolk, and YouthPLAYS and is currently a resident playwright at First Look Buffalo Theatre Company. Wendy-Marie is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild, the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE), the American Society for Theater Research (ASTR), and the National Women’s Studies Association (NWSA).

Plays

  • The Day I Learned to Fly
    One day, while walking her dog, Daisy, Hattie was struck by a direct hit from 100 million of volts lightning-tastic electricity and SuperHattie was born. SuperHattie instantly became fluent in a language of flashes and sparks and zzzzts and screams and learned to use them to her advantage. Although SuperHattie has honed her ability to read minds and withstand unbelievable amounts of pain, she still hasn’t...
    One day, while walking her dog, Daisy, Hattie was struck by a direct hit from 100 million of volts lightning-tastic electricity and SuperHattie was born. SuperHattie instantly became fluent in a language of flashes and sparks and zzzzts and screams and learned to use them to her advantage. Although SuperHattie has honed her ability to read minds and withstand unbelievable amounts of pain, she still hasn’t found the courage to fly. Will she finally let go of her fears and soar?
  • To Be a Starfish
    Growing up, Em’s Mama told her they were both starfish that had to return to the sea, but then she committed suicide and left Em on her own to figure out how to get there. Now an adult, Em decides to avoid her mother’s fate by leaving the men in her life behind and forging her own path—a choice that puts her on the wrong end of a gun whose bullet begins the longest day of her life. Will help from her maternal...
    Growing up, Em’s Mama told her they were both starfish that had to return to the sea, but then she committed suicide and left Em on her own to figure out how to get there. Now an adult, Em decides to avoid her mother’s fate by leaving the men in her life behind and forging her own path—a choice that puts her on the wrong end of a gun whose bullet begins the longest day of her life. Will help from her maternal ancestors allow Em break the cycle of oppression she’s inherited and set the women in her family free?
  • Breathless
    national finalist, John Cauble Short Play Award, KCACTF (2015)

    Three girls named Summer. Three races of discovery. If each runs hard enough, she just might find what she needs.
  • Rock Me to Sleep
    Sunny, a young woman dying of cancer, is determined to ensure that husband continues to live after her death.
  • Just Sign
    Hazel is a widow and a bit of a crazy cat lady) who refuses to back her taxes, causing IRS agent Tom to try desperate measures to bring Hazel into compliance.*

    "A very clear set-up and a nice arc with two very much opposed people of different ages, genders, and stages in life coming to a sweet conclusion." - Peter Hall, Buffalo Rising
  • swim forever in the erne
    Mary is convinced her real mother is a Selkie who will come for her one day and take her back to
    the sea, until she learns that shedding your skin isn't as easy as it seems.
  • The Spot
    Billie is a time traveller but not all of her friends believe her. At least not until the day her neighbor's afternoon walk offers Billie a perfect opportunity to search for the doorway to another dimension.
  • Mika's Oaisis
    "The only real valuable thing is intuition"...or is it?
    As far as Mika is concerned, the world was hit by a huge comet and the end of the world has
    arrived. Her husband, Rob, isn't so sure. Until Ashlin arrives to help them decipher the theory from
    reality.
  • A Mistress Called Science
    If you want it done right, do it yourself.

    When the last male sperm donor dies before making his first (and final) contribution to science, the women who created him are forced to find another solution to ensure the future of their society.
  • STRUT
    It's time for the annual Women's Shelter fashion show fundraiser, but Adam has thrown things off track by convincing the board to have men model the women's clothing this year. Still upset by his trick, Chris is determined to make him pay. Little does she know that Adam has been taking runway lessons from top model, Andrej Pejic, and that, by the end of rehearsal, he'll be teaching her how to walk like a real woman.
  • The New Wife (originally published under Wendy-Marie Foerster)
    Sometimes marriage and motherhood last a lifetime. And sometimes until two weeks notice is given and the replacement is fully trained.
  • Everlasting Spring Break
    On an island in Indonesia three best friends celebrate their last spring break before graduating college. How could they know it would be their last?

    Faith, Harley and Marissa have been joined at the hip since freshman year of college. Now, just months away from graduating and heading in separate directions, they decide to spend one last spring break on an island in Indonesia to celebrate their...
    On an island in Indonesia three best friends celebrate their last spring break before graduating college. How could they know it would be their last?

    Faith, Harley and Marissa have been joined at the hip since freshman year of college. Now, just months away from graduating and heading in separate directions, they decide to spend one last spring break on an island in Indonesia to celebrate their bright futures. Unfortunately, mother nature decides to cut that future short.
  • Peenie Wallie Wishes
    An innocent afternoon of lemonade and female bonding ends with three old friends wrestling in the dirt over a little bug with a glowing butt.
  • Roadside Vigilante
    Martha has had enough. She is sick and tired of irresponsible drivers speeding through her neighborhood, ignoring the posted speed limit, and she's decided to do something about it. With her "borrowed" radar gun and her husband's 9MM Glock handgun, she hits the streets to teach the local punks a driving lesson and her husband a lesson about love.
  • Ben & Rita
    Rita's desperate need for attention has driven away everyone she's ever known. Ben never got close enough to anyone to scare them off in the first place. In fact, he hasn't left his apartment in ten years. But when Rita & Ben's worlds collide, they are faced with a choice. Continue to live in fear or take a chance on love.
  • Reach: the musical by Wendy-Marie Martin & Elisabeth Weidner
    It’s senior year and Alexis has one goal and one goal only… to get into Princeton. Her plan is simple. Achieve perfection, which she plans to do by joining every club, sport and socially aware activity available on campus while keeping a 4.5 GPA; scoring perfectly the SAT & ACT; and writing the ultimate college essay. As the stress begins to take its toll, her inner voices battle to see who will send her...
    It’s senior year and Alexis has one goal and one goal only… to get into Princeton. Her plan is simple. Achieve perfection, which she plans to do by joining every club, sport and socially aware activity available on campus while keeping a 4.5 GPA; scoring perfectly the SAT & ACT; and writing the ultimate college essay. As the stress begins to take its toll, her inner voices battle to see who will send her down the best path, while her two best friends plan an intervention to save her from herself.