Light Switch by
FULL-LENGTH: Spanning twenty years, "Light Switch" follows the story of Henry, an autistic gay man with a passion for 19th century British literature, and his quest for love and acceptance.
Dave Osmundsen
Dave Osmundsen
Dave Osmundsen is a queer and autistic playwright and dramaturg whose work has been seen and developed at the Kennedy Center, KCACTF Region 8, B Street Theatre, the William Inge Theatre Festival, the Midwest Dramatists Conference, Phoenix Theatre Company, and others. He was named one of two recipients of the inaugural Future of Playwriting Prize from the Blank Theatre and Ucross. His play LIGHT SWITCH was a...
Dave Osmundsen is a queer and autistic playwright and dramaturg whose work has been seen and developed at the Kennedy Center, KCACTF Region 8, B Street Theatre, the William Inge Theatre Festival, the Midwest Dramatists Conference, Phoenix Theatre Company, and others. He was named one of two recipients of the inaugural Future of Playwriting Prize from the Blank Theatre and Ucross. His play LIGHT SWITCH was a 2021 BAPF Finalist, a 2020 NPF semi-finalist, a Carlo Annoni Playwriting Prize finalist, and was longlisted for the Theatre503 International Playwriting Award. His one-act, A FIREWORK UNEXPLODED, was published in the inaugural issue of The Dionysian and was a semi-finalist for the NYC Audio Theatre Writing Contest. His TYA play THE DUMMY CLASS was a Finalist for the Purple Crayon Players' PLAYground of Fresh New Works. His play STUPID, FAT, UGLY was a semi-finalist for the 2017 National Playwrights Conference. He holds an MFA in Dramatic Writing from Arizona State University.
Plays
The Gift of BS by Dave Osmundsen
Recommendations: 12··Cast:4Genre: comedy, drama·Keyword: autism, music teacher + 6 moreGenre: comedy, dramaKeyword: autism, music teacher, student, actor life, actuallyautistic, Autistic, Neurodivergent, neurodivergent characterFULL-LENGTH: William Johansson, age 46, is not exactly living his best life. On top of his wife leaving him, his father dying, and being fired from his job, he also realizes that he is Autistic. When he reunites with a former student who is also autistic, he embarks on an emotional journey of self-acceptance.Is This All This Is by Dave Osmundsen
Recommendations: 4··Cast:4Genre: comedy, drama·Keyword: features LGBTQ character, femme non-binary + 5 moreGenre: comedy, dramaKeyword: features LGBTQ character, femme non-binary, Non-Binary, non-binary character, autism, actuallyautistic, ArizonaFour characters -- autistic non-binary lesbian Jamie, their transient aunt Theresa, Jamie's conservative mother Barb, and Theresa's autistic boyfriend Tyson -- contemplate where they are in life, and if where they are is the best their lives are ever going to be.The Wonderful Out There by Dave Osmundsen
Recommendations: 6··Cast:5Genre: drama, mystery/thriller + 1 more·Keyword: autism, neurodiversity + 4 moreGenre: drama, mystery/thriller, tragedyKeyword: autism, neurodiversity, Neurodivergent, children, trauma, abuseAs four kids living in a group home for neurodivergent children embark on their own journeys of personal discovery, they begin to uncover secrets of their own existence and are forced to confront the harrowing truth about their reality.More of a Heart by Dave Osmundsen
Recommendations: 9··Cast:5Genre: drama·Keyword: autism, Parenting + 8 moreGenre: dramaKeyword: autism, Parenting, neurodiversity, mother-son, mother-son relationship, actuallyautistic, Effects of trauma, childhood trauma, illness, ALSWhen Mary-Ellen’s son Zachary was diagnosed with Autism, she became his fiercest advocate. But now, Zachary is grown up and having his own thoughts and feelings about her advocacy. When an unexpected crisis hits their lives, mother and son must say the things that need to be said before time runs out.The Dummy Class by Dave Osmundsen
Recommendations: 8··Cast:7Genre: comedy, drama + 1 more·Keyword: children, special needs children + 4 moreGenre: comedy, drama, young audiencesKeyword: children, special needs children, autism, elementary school, dance, singingTed writes poems. Elizabeth tells jokes. Gina dances. Marcus conducts. With the Nockaquan Elementary School Talent Show coming up, these four neurodivergent children are determined to show everyone that they are more than just the dummy class.My (Diagnosed) Self by Dave Osmundsen
Recommendations: 6··Cast:2Genre: comedy, drama·Keyword: autism, autism spectrum disorder + 4 moreGenre: comedy, dramaKeyword: autism, autism spectrum disorder, actuallyautistic, Autistic, gay best friend, features LGBTQ characterTEN-MINUTE: Rachel, a newly self-diagnosed autistic woman, comes out to her gay best friend Timmy.(Un)Scripted by Dave Osmundsen
Recommendations: 4··Cast:3Genre: comedy, dramaGenre: comedy, dramaTEN-MINUTE: Miranda, an autistic girl dedicated to social improvement, endures a scripted coffee shop module to achieve "typicality."Making Friends Remotely by Dave Osmundsen
Recommendations: 5··Cast:3Genre: dark comedy, drama·Keyword: virtual, coronavirus + 5 moreGenre: dark comedy, dramaKeyword: virtual, coronavirus, Covid-19, friendship, Video Chat, skype, zoomAfter a virus has overtaken the nation, three strangers try to connect with each other virtually.Only You Can Reject Jelly Beans by Dave Osmundsen
Recommendations: 8··Cast:1Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 1 more·Keyword: Covid-19, coronavirus + 1 moreGenre: comedy, dark comedy, dramaKeyword: Covid-19, coronavirus, gay menOtis, a 20-something gay man, is quarantined with little to do besides eating jelly beans and reflecting on his existence.The Day I Turned Into A Bird by Dave Osmundsen
Recommendations: 7··Cast:3Genre: adaptation, comedy + 3 more·Keyword: parents, children + 5 moreGenre: adaptation, comedy, drama, fable/folktale, young audiencesKeyword: parents, children, animals, animal anthropomorphism, birds, death, oceanWhile at the park one day, Kim turns into a bird. Or does she? A play about change, loss, and becoming what we want to be in this world.
*** NOTE: The story is inspired by Aimee Bender's "The Rememberer." The playwright is in contact with the entertainment rights holders for Bender's work.The Last Shore Trip by Dave Osmundsen
Recommendations: 12··Cast:3Genre: drama·Keyword: addiction, close friendship + 1 moreGenre: dramaKeyword: addiction, close friendship, coming to terms with deathTEN-MINUTE: What if the best thing you can do for someone is to let them walk away? Seth and Peri grapple with this question as they reflect on the loss of their best friend Cara.Accident on 80 by Dave Osmundsen
Recommendations: 9··Cast:2Genre: dark comedy, satireGenre: dark comedy, satireTEN-MINUTE: Sasha and Mikayla are two best friends whose favorite pastime is driving in traffic to see the latest major car accident. The accident they are heading for right now promises to be the biggest, most epic, and major accident in their entire lives. But a series of darkly comic events force them to consider the possibility that they could be the next accident…A Firework Unexploded by Dave Osmundsen
Recommendations: 11··Cast:2Genre: comedy, dramaGenre: comedy, dramaTEN-MINUTE: Ned loves fireworks. Gina doesn’t. A seemingly meaningless difference that forces them to confront their insecurities, flaws, and what they mean to each other.Only Small Actors by Dave Osmundsen
Recommendations: 1··Cast:5Genre: comedy, drama·Keyword: theatre camp, asian + 4 moreGenre: comedy, dramaKeyword: theatre camp, asian, actuallyautistic, Autistic, Body image, features LGBTQ characters"Only Small Actors" follows a diverse group of young people over the course of one summer as they prepare for a production of "Cinderella." Years later, when they're all grown up, they strive to make change in a world that isn't always receptive to their perspectives and experiences.Something for Sondra by Dave Osmundsen
Recommendations: 6··Cast:3Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 1 more·Keyword: mother and daughter, ALS + 3 moreGenre: comedy, dark comedy, dramaKeyword: mother and daughter, ALS, illness, family, friendshipFULL-LENGTH: Janey Tubben, her underachieving best friend Brian, and her sassy mother Sondra are forced to navigate the rocky waters of friendship and loyalty when Sondra is diagnosed with a deadly disease right when Janey receives the opportunity of a lifetime.Pix of Your Partner's Privates by Dave Osmundsen
Recommendations: 14··Cast:2Genre: comedy, drama + 2 moreGenre: comedy, drama, romantic comedy, satireTEN-MINUTE: When Shelly is about to return to the other side of the country, her long-distance boyfriend John gives her something to remember him by...Make Way by Dave Osmundsen
Recommendations: 19··Cast:3Genre: dark comedy, drama + 2 more·Keyword: book burning, post-apocalyptic + 2 moreGenre: dark comedy, drama, political, science fictionKeyword: book burning, post-apocalyptic, books, futureTEN-MINUTE: When the government starts an initiative to begin humanity anew, people are paid to throw old books into a fire pit. When an idealistic young man comes across one of his favorite childhood books, he tries to save it from being burned, sparking a debate about the value of old books and ideas in a world that is trying to start over—and whether they’re worth keeping around.What Price? What Glory? by Dave Osmundsen
Recommendations: 3··Cast:5Genre: dark comedy, drama + 3 more·Keyword: sexual assault, LGBTQ + 3 moreGenre: dark comedy, drama, experimental, period, tragedyKeyword: sexual assault, LGBTQ, Hollywood, old hollywood, metooFULL-LENGTH: 1927. A young woman's adventures in silent-era Hollywood take a devastating turn.
2014. A young actor is set to make his Broadway debut in a musical about a silent-era film actress who went missing in 1927.
Side by side, we hear their stories.Ferret Ran Away by Dave Osmundsen
Recommendations: 3··Cast:4Genre: comedy, drama·Keyword: HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ + 1 moreGenre: comedy, dramaKeyword: HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ, pregnancyFULL-LENGTH: Don has broken up with his boyfriend after being diagnosed with HIV. Celia has become pregnant after a one-night encounter at a party. Will these siblings be able to cross personal and familial boundaries to reach one another in their times of need?Stupid, Fat, Ugly by Dave Osmundsen
Recommendations: 7··Cast:5Genre: dark comedy, drama + 1 more·Keyword: LGBTQ, homosexuality + 3 moreGenre: dark comedy, drama, mystery/thrillerKeyword: LGBTQ, homosexuality, abuse, forgiveness, acceptanceFULL-LENGTH: When Mandy's younger gay brother Eric mysteriously dies, she travels to New York City to find out what exactly happened. What she discovers about her brother's death (and herself) will change her life forever.The Yes Lives by Dave Osmundsen
Recommendations: 2··Cast:4Genre: comedy, drama + 1 more·Keyword: LGBTQ, friendship + 4 moreGenre: comedy, drama, romantic comedyKeyword: LGBTQ, friendship, best friends, gay best friend, gay straight relationships, danceFULL-LENGTH: Alexander: Gay, cynical, and has a problem saying "yes". John: Straight, optimistic, and has no problem saying "yes". Over fifteen years, these two unlikely friends sustain each other through the highs and lows of life, and learn the consequences of saying (or not saying) the Y word.The Ushers by Dave Osmundsen
Recommendations: 3··Cast:5Genre: comedy, drama·Keyword: Lesbian, lonelinessGenre: comedy, dramaKeyword: Lesbian, lonelinessFULL-LENGTH: The play follows a year in the lives of a small group of ushers at a Florida community theatre. Their desires, passions, and past hurts all come out as they vie for the Usher of the Year award.