Rene Zabel

What would you give to write your best work? Would you ask for supernatural help? Sell your
soul? SEAMUS, writer of fiction and poetry, hasn't published any work since his last - seven
years ago. Everything he has written has been rejected for numerous reasons. In an act of
desperation, he calls for someone/something to help him - to be his muse. SOPHIA, SEAMUS'
niece, a promising film director and producer takes her uncles work, adapts it into a film. Is her
success without assistance?
INSPIRATION
In Irish folklore, the Leannán Sidhe, also known as the Fairy
Mistress brings inspiration to creatives, writers, poets, artists,
in exchange, the Leannán Sidhe drains the creative of their life

What would you give to write your best work? Would you ask for supernatural help? Sell your soul? SEAMUS, writer of fiction and poetry, hasn't published any work since his last - seven years ago. Everything he has written has been rejected for numerous reasons. In an act of desperation, he calls for someone/something to help him - to be his muse. SOPHIA, SEAMUS' niece, a promising film director and producer takes her uncles work, adapts it into a film. Is her success without assistance?

The Final Bow follows the story of aging actress Francesca Ballard as she prepares for her final show. Francesca's retirement stirs jealousy in 40-year-old actress Rachel Myers, who had hoped to land the lead role instead. Tensions rise between the two women as Rachel struggles to come to terms with Francesca's decision. Meanwhile, Robert King, a lifelong friend of Francesca's and a potential romantic interest, becomes a central figure as he tries to mediate the conflicts between the two actresses. As the play unfolds, themes of rivalry, friendship, and love intertwine to create a poignant exploration of the complexities of aging, ambition, and relationships in the world of theater.

Monologue: approx 5 min.
A mother reminisces about her son on his birthday. Time is passing to fast….wait!

Emily is from a long line of witches. When her Grandmother Branwen passes, she inherits the old house. When exploring the house she find an old deck of tarot cards in the attic. She knows they aren't her Grandmother's, whose are they? This find leads Emily and her roommates Amira and Gabriella into a night of demons, ghosts and possession.

What scares you? Is it something seen or unseen?
Is it darkness of night? When the world is asleep...
The whispers in the darkness.

Evil Therapy is the story of a shattered fairytale kingdom, where Princess Vivienne, torn from her homeland by an evil queen, seeks revenge against those she blames for her mother's entrapment in an enchanted mirror, leading her on a dark journey through betrayal, magic, and the quest for justice using evil therapy.

Queen Serena, in her quest for power casts a spell on Princess Alia, the Witch, and Nurse from the Kingdom. Pandora's daughter, Vivienne, as an infant is taken by Queen Serena out of the kingdom, who has cursed Queen Pandora into a mirror. Queen Serena raises Vivienne to believe the others from the Kingdom had harmed her mother. Vivienne then becomes a psychiatrist as a front in order to exact revenge on those she believed caused Pandora to be locked into the mirror.

The Sinister sisters and Queen Serena are the guilty parties in sending the others from the Kingdom and trapping Queen Pandora in the mirror. Their spell counter-acted with Queen Pandora's which caused the psychological and mental damage to them all. Nurse is afraid of everything and stutters. The Witch is afflicted with Dissociative Identity Disorder, with three alters, who can speak to each other; one is a six year old girl. Princess Alia suffers from amnesia.

Mother Solstice is a 90-minute female driven, original musical without intermission, with elements from the Germanic and Scandinavian reindeer Goddess folklore melded with the secular story of Santa. Both reside in the North Pole with Elves, sleighs with reindeer and gifts for nice children. Krampus and his minions deal with all the naughty ones. There is a cast of 7 Principal characters and a flexible ensemble. Mother Solstice is Elf meets Jingle Jangle with music that combines jazz with standard and modern holiday motifs. Mother Solstice explores themes of power, betrayal, and in the end love and forgiveness, which is What Christmas Really means.

On a dark cold, December night, Lord Dudley is visited by a mysterious young woman, who claims to know his Father and Grandfather, yet he has never met her. Who is she? How did she travel in the winter with nothing but a thin cloak?

It's Christmas time, however Stephanie is not in the Christmas spirit; her best friend and brother has passed from cancer. She wants nothing to do with Christmas. Krampus comes to take her to the underworld, however her Mother steps in her place. Time passes by, Stephanie now has a daughter of her own, Haylee. Haylee has been bullied in school for loving Christmas and believing in Santa. Krampus day comes, Haylee, at first doesn't want to make cookies for Santa, but then realizes that she doesn't have to be like Billy the Bully...and Krampus leaves. Always remember to keep the fire lit and be good for goodness sake.

EMILY, GABRIELLA, and AMIRA have moved into an old Victorian house. While unpacking EMILY finds a deck of old Tarot cards. When she thinks she is only learning and reading her future path, she is possessed by an ancient entity, back from the dead. Can they rid EMILY of this entity before it is too late and EMILY is lost forever?

CARRIE CHAPMAN CATT, MARY "MOLLIE" GARRETT HAY, and MARY PECK were prominent Suffrage and women's rights leaders during the late 1800s until Carrie's death in 1947. Carrie and Mollie were in a relationship which lasted until Mollie's death in 1928. However, Mary and Carrie had a flirtation then a relationship from the day they met. This is the love triangle inspired and based on real letters, set to a tango between the three women over the years, which ends at Mollie's death. This triple tango utilizes underscoring as the three women dance.

What happens when a playwright creates a character and doesn't write them into a script?
In "The Green Room," a diverse quartet of characters find themselves trapped in the liminal space of a Green Room. With time to kill before their destinies are inked into existence, a lesbian suffragist from 1912, a caffeine-fueled female executive from the 1980s, a free-spirited hippy chick from the 1960s, and a non-binary Gen Z’er from the 21st century engage in introspective and humorous dialogue. They debate their designed arcs, questioning stereotypes and the evolution of societal roles. United by anticipation and uncertainty, they confront their identities and challenge the playwright's intentions.

A Rare Case:
Playwright – Rene Zabel

Colleen going through the change of life, she knows she is going through something no one else has. She believes she is dying. Nothing seems to help subside the symptoms. In rare cases women have psychotic breaks during menopause. Her symptoms, which proved comical and benign at first are now dark and deadly. Will she be able to combat the demons in her mind?

In 1973, Mother and Father, with their three children have fallen on hard times; they return to Father's childhood home; a dugout on a farm in the panhandle of Oklahoma. Grandma and Grandpa are verbally and physically abusive. Father and Mother find that Grandpa has done something awful to RayAnne, which causes Rayanne to run away in the night.

This modern re-imagining of the legend of Deirdre of the Sorrows, which depicts a story of love, a curse, forgiveness, and a warrior Queen.
Deirdre is inspired by a first century Irish legend - Deirdre of the Sorrows, told with contemporary Irish music, ala, Once meets River Dance. There are strong female characters who sword fight, with opposing themes of love, revenge, loyalty and betrayal.

Growing up in an abusive home in rural Oklahoma, a young woman searches for love, faith and her own voice. Her journey spans forty years, four countries and four husbands. She loses everything; her voice, her marriage, even her children. Yet, in her strength, her love for music makes the silence sing.