Rene Zabel

Rene Zabel (she/her) holds a BFA in Psychology from University of Arizona Global Campus and graduate studies in Music composition and design for Film and TV from Academy of Art University. She uses her degree frequently in writing her plays, such as Evil Therapy and A Rare Case. Here solo musical, When the Silence Sings, was a finalist in the Rave Theater Festival in 2020 and the 2019 Producer’s Perspective: Producer’s Pick.

Member of Dramatist Guild
Member of CreateTheater

Rene Zabel (she/her) holds a BFA in Psychology from University of Arizona Global Campus and graduate studies in Music composition and design for Film and TV from Academy of Art University. She uses her degree frequently in writing her plays, such as Evil Therapy and A Rare Case. Here solo musical, When the Silence Sings, was a finalist in the Rave Theater Festival in 2020 and the 2019 Producer’s Perspective: Producer’s Pick.

Member of Dramatist Guild
Member of CreateTheater

Scripts

Final Bow: A Play with Music

by Rene Zabel

Synopsis

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...

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.

Wait - A monologue

by Rene Zabel

Synopsis

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

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

Back From the Dead - Audio Play

by Rene Zabel

Synopsis

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...

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.

Mother Solstice: A New Holiday musical. Book and Lyrics: Rene Zabel, Music: Paul Scherer

by Rene Zabel

Synopsis

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 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.

Lenore: A play with music

by Rene Zabel

Synopsis

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?

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?

Krampus Day - An Audio play

by Rene Zabel

Synopsis

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...

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.

Back From the Dead

by Rene Zabel

Synopsis

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?

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?

Beware the Muse: One Act

by Rene Zabel

Synopsis

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...

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?

Sixty-nine Kisses - A Play with music

by Rene Zabel

Synopsis

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...

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.

The Green Room

by Rene Zabel

Synopsis

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...

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

by Rene Zabel

Synopsis

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?

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?

The Pipe Burns Slowly

by Rene Zabel

Synopsis

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.

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.

Deirdre: A New Musical Book and Lyrics: Rene Zabel, Music: Jenna Cox-Hadley

Book/lyrics by Rene Zabel

Synopsis

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.

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.

Evil Therapy

by Rene Zabel

Synopsis

Queen Pandora, in her quest for power casts a spell on Princess Aila, Prince Frederick, the Witch, and The Fairy Godmother from the Kingdom. Queen Serena, Pandora's arch nemesis, curses Pandora; traps her into a mirror, then takes Pandora's daughter, Aurora, Fairy Godmother, rescues Pandora's son, Adrian. Serena raises Aurora to believe that Alia, Frederick, the Witch and Fairy God Mother, are the reason her...

Queen Pandora, in her quest for power casts a spell on Princess Aila, Prince Frederick, the Witch, and The Fairy Godmother from the Kingdom. Queen Serena, Pandora's arch nemesis, curses Pandora; traps her into a mirror, then takes Pandora's daughter, Aurora, Fairy Godmother, rescues Pandora's son, Adrian. Serena raises Aurora to believe that Alia, Frederick, the Witch and Fairy God Mother, are the reason her mother is trapped. Fairy God Mother raises Adrian. Aurora, now a psychologist swears she will have revenge on those she believes have wronged her mother.

When The Silence Sings

by Rene Zabel

Synopsis

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.

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.