Laura Neill

Laura Neill (she/they) is a Brooklyn-based playwright currently under commission with Ensemble Studio Theatre/Sloan Project (CWIID: a comedy!) and Keen Company (the doctor will see you shortly). Previous residencies include the O'Neill National Playwrights' Conference (Winter People), University of Tulsa WomenWorks (The End Will Hurt), and CompanyOne's PlayLab. Laura is developing Foot Wears House, a play inspired by fellow retail coworkers at REI and their union's drive for a contract. Laura's play I Love You Elizabeth Warren won the Clauder Competition Massachusetts prize. Productions include Isolated Incidents (Broadway Podcast Network and Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre), Public Property (Salvage Vanguard Theatre), Skin and Bones (Wilbury Theatre Group), Don't Give Up the Ship (Fresh...

Laura Neill (she/they) is a Brooklyn-based playwright currently under commission with Ensemble Studio Theatre/Sloan Project (CWIID: a comedy!) and Keen Company (the doctor will see you shortly). Previous residencies include the O'Neill National Playwrights' Conference (Winter People), University of Tulsa WomenWorks (The End Will Hurt), and CompanyOne's PlayLab. Laura is developing Foot Wears House, a play inspired by fellow retail coworkers at REI and their union's drive for a contract. Laura's play I Love You Elizabeth Warren won the Clauder Competition Massachusetts prize. Productions include Isolated Incidents (Broadway Podcast Network and Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre), Public Property (Salvage Vanguard Theatre), Skin and Bones (Wilbury Theatre Group), Don't Give Up the Ship (Fresh Ink Theatre), and DIVAS (OperaHub, commission). Published plays include Don't Give Up the Ship (Uproar Theatrics, upcoming), Game Night (Stage Partners), Funtown (YouthPLAYS), The Last Cookie (Stage Partners), One Kind of Fear (Flowersong Press, upcoming), The Last Red Lion (ScriptWorks’ Perfect Glitch), and Applause Books and Smith and Kraus anthologies. Laura coordinates the "playwright amoeba," a casual hangout space for playwright community; join @playwrightamoeba on Instagram. MFA: Boston University. Website: www.laura-neill.com

Scripts

Foot Wears House

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

Your neighborhood outdoor goods store is unionizing. The people who sold you your hiking boots are trying to figure out who’s down to strike—while helping sixteen customers at a time and hoping the store doesn’t flood again. Foot Wears House reveals the humor, camaraderie, and pure rage that exists at the intersection of no guaranteed hours and salaried managers who are Really Excited About Selling Memberships...

Your neighborhood outdoor goods store is unionizing. The people who sold you your hiking boots are trying to figure out who’s down to strike—while helping sixteen customers at a time and hoping the store doesn’t flood again. Foot Wears House reveals the humor, camaraderie, and pure rage that exists at the intersection of no guaranteed hours and salaried managers who are Really Excited About Selling Memberships! Plus, the warehouse bays and alarm seem to have a life of their own… is the warehouse ghost unionizing, too?

the doctor will see you shortly - one-act

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

[Pending publication with Concord Theatricals]

Fed up with long wait times and dismissive diagnoses, teenagers in a gynecologist's waiting room decide to build their own community toward healing. Powered by exuberant flash mobs that express rage, power, and helpful tips about what could be going on with your vagina, the doctor will see you shortly is a dramedy for anyone who's ever felt dread about going to the...

[Pending publication with Concord Theatricals]

Fed up with long wait times and dismissive diagnoses, teenagers in a gynecologist's waiting room decide to build their own community toward healing. Powered by exuberant flash mobs that express rage, power, and helpful tips about what could be going on with your vagina, the doctor will see you shortly is a dramedy for anyone who's ever felt dread about going to the gynecologist.

Winter People

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

[O'Neill National Playwrights' Conference] The Hamptons. The dead cold of March. A giant beach mansion burns down--and someone local will take the blame. Economic and racial tensions rise, a witch-hunt begins, and the lives of five local Long Island families start falling to pieces (if they were ever whole). Each actor plays an entire family In this love-hate letter to a complicated community.

[O'Neill National Playwrights' Conference] The Hamptons. The dead cold of March. A giant beach mansion burns down--and someone local will take the blame. Economic and racial tensions rise, a witch-hunt begins, and the lives of five local Long Island families start falling to pieces (if they were ever whole). Each actor plays an entire family In this love-hate letter to a complicated community.

I Love You Elizabeth Warren

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

Cate sort of actually believes that Elizabeth Warren brings her Ben and Jerry’s and makes everything okay. But when Cate meets Billy and they start to form a connection, the thing pretending to be Elizabeth Warren gets jealous... Can Cate and Billy overcome the patriarchy, white supremacy, and their own deep self-hatred to reach each other? This romantic comedy for our time is 100% millennial, 50% political, and...

Cate sort of actually believes that Elizabeth Warren brings her Ben and Jerry’s and makes everything okay. But when Cate meets Billy and they start to form a connection, the thing pretending to be Elizabeth Warren gets jealous... Can Cate and Billy overcome the patriarchy, white supremacy, and their own deep self-hatred to reach each other? This romantic comedy for our time is 100% millennial, 50% political, and just a little bit demonic.

Love Yourself in 80 Minutes

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

When Tara runs into her absolute hero, Sky of the Love Yourself channel!!!, on top of a mountain, she's thrilled at the chance to snap a selfie. But why is Sky smashing her phone to pieces and yelling at Tara to go the f*ck away? This dark-ish comedy about the monetization of the self-help industry is full of twists, bad self-help advice, and... tax fraud??

When Tara runs into her absolute hero, Sky of the Love Yourself channel!!!, on top of a mountain, she's thrilled at the chance to snap a selfie. But why is Sky smashing her phone to pieces and yelling at Tara to go the f*ck away? This dark-ish comedy about the monetization of the self-help industry is full of twists, bad self-help advice, and... tax fraud??

Almost Tragic: Shakespeare's Not-Dead Heroines

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

What if the women of Shakespeare’s tragedies didn’t die? What if Juliet realized she didn’t want to kill herself for a guy she met days ago… and Gertrude put a stop to everyone getting poisoned at the end of Hamlet? Imagine what would happen to Iago’s daughter and Desdemona’s cousin, after Othello… or the witches from Macbeth, after their prophecy has been fulfilled.

Wouldn’t all these women be ready for...

What if the women of Shakespeare’s tragedies didn’t die? What if Juliet realized she didn’t want to kill herself for a guy she met days ago… and Gertrude put a stop to everyone getting poisoned at the end of Hamlet? Imagine what would happen to Iago’s daughter and Desdemona’s cousin, after Othello… or the witches from Macbeth, after their prophecy has been fulfilled.

Wouldn’t all these women be ready for grander adventures? Ultra-modern language. Classic Elizabethan setting. Exceptional roles for women. Four short plays bundled together into one hilarious, thought-provoking collection, complete with swordfights. An optional final scene ties the stories together for a full-length evening, or perform 1-3 of the 4 one-acts individually.

Lilith : Maria

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

A daughter and a mother try to say each other's names with something other than hurt and anger. It takes more than reality for this to happen: Lilith becomes her mother Maria and Maria becomes her mother Eve and Eve becomes her mother the Witch. Maria remembers her love of the desert. Lilith meets her dead grandmother. And Lilith and Maria say each other's names.

A daughter and a mother try to say each other's names with something other than hurt and anger. It takes more than reality for this to happen: Lilith becomes her mother Maria and Maria becomes her mother Eve and Eve becomes her mother the Witch. Maria remembers her love of the desert. Lilith meets her dead grandmother. And Lilith and Maria say each other's names.

Just Cause

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

Security guards Harry and Sammy are supposed to watch over the subway tunnel their bosses are turning into luxury condos. But they start to wonder... is that interchangeable white guy boss really in the Caymans, or did he maybe die in an explosion of blood and shadows? A gory and incisively depressing comedy that takes a hard look at Boston’s economy and the monsters that lurk in our shadows. [In development...

Security guards Harry and Sammy are supposed to watch over the subway tunnel their bosses are turning into luxury condos. But they start to wonder... is that interchangeable white guy boss really in the Caymans, or did he maybe die in an explosion of blood and shadows? A gory and incisively depressing comedy that takes a hard look at Boston’s economy and the monsters that lurk in our shadows. [In development with director Dawn M. Simmons]

The End Will Hurt

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

Maura's dying and obsessed with Facebook, but that's not the only problem—her daughter Cindy is under the Food Network's control, and her granddaughter Darcy is getting way too good at first-person-shooter video games. As each woman avoids facing her grief, digital worlds meld with the real world to create a dangerous new landscape in which anything is possible.

Maura's dying and obsessed with Facebook, but that's not the only problem—her daughter Cindy is under the Food Network's control, and her granddaughter Darcy is getting way too good at first-person-shooter video games. As each woman avoids facing her grief, digital worlds meld with the real world to create a dangerous new landscape in which anything is possible.

the smallest thing

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

In this semi-comedic romp through infinite space and time, the character Laura tracks the histories and futures of the atoms in her body. She's a survivor of trauma, but this show isn't about that. It's about seeking to understand her physical self and its connection to the universe, and how being a dead raccoon could be... cool?

In this semi-comedic romp through infinite space and time, the character Laura tracks the histories and futures of the atoms in her body. She's a survivor of trauma, but this show isn't about that. It's about seeking to understand her physical self and its connection to the universe, and how being a dead raccoon could be... cool?

Skin and Bones

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

Katharine is a volunteer theatre usher, and Marly is a bouncer for the fight across the hall. But they are both hiding secrets that demand to be told, and when their small talk doesn't line up, they find a strange honesty rising between them.

Katharine is a volunteer theatre usher, and Marly is a bouncer for the fight across the hall. But they are both hiding secrets that demand to be told, and when their small talk doesn't line up, they find a strange honesty rising between them.

DIVAS

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

When nine contemporary singers bond over how they're treated as women and artists, they summon nine great opera divas from across three centuries who are locked together in the afterlife, fighting for their freedom and the soul of opera. Packed with true stories, DIVAS is a poignant showcase of larger-than-life women whose voices reverberate across the centuries.

When nine contemporary singers bond over how they're treated as women and artists, they summon nine great opera divas from across three centuries who are locked together in the afterlife, fighting for their freedom and the soul of opera. Packed with true stories, DIVAS is a poignant showcase of larger-than-life women whose voices reverberate across the centuries.

Public Property

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

Public Property: that's what a park technically is. But everyone who spends time at the park has their own individual story of that place, a belief that this land belongs to them. Ghosts of soldiers, rushed dog parents, new friends, mourning family, even the trees themselves, all of these beings collide. When part of the park is closed down, what happens to all the overlapping stories that have been interrupted?

Public Property: that's what a park technically is. But everyone who spends time at the park has their own individual story of that place, a belief that this land belongs to them. Ghosts of soldiers, rushed dog parents, new friends, mourning family, even the trees themselves, all of these beings collide. When part of the park is closed down, what happens to all the overlapping stories that have been interrupted?

Don't Give Up the Ship

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

When Diana, a middle-aged mother of two, wakes up as Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, hero of the War of 1812, she suddenly commands much more of her life than she used to. Imagining that her daughters are warring lieutenants, her ex-husband is her four-year-old son, and her nurse Lizzie is her darling wife, Diana establishes an identity that is much closer to her true self than anyone expected.

When Diana, a middle-aged mother of two, wakes up as Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, hero of the War of 1812, she suddenly commands much more of her life than she used to. Imagining that her daughters are warring lieutenants, her ex-husband is her four-year-old son, and her nurse Lizzie is her darling wife, Diana establishes an identity that is much closer to her true self than anyone expected.

Lost and Found

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

When five “losers” band together to seek their missing possessions, they instead find each other--and a lost and found bin with tentacles. This heartfelt comedy shows grieving people finding a way forward through a combination of community and a little bit of magic.

When five “losers” band together to seek their missing possessions, they instead find each other--and a lost and found bin with tentacles. This heartfelt comedy shows grieving people finding a way forward through a combination of community and a little bit of magic.

Juliet Wakes Up - one-act

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

Juliet wakes up and discovers Romeo has poisoned himself. She's about to kill herself in despair, except... instead she panics and stabs his dead body. Her cousin Rosaline (Romeo's ex) and Willow (the apothecary's apprentice) are covering up their own contributions to Romeo's death. So when the somehow-still-not-dead Romeo stumbles in, Juliet has to make a decision: will she try to save her husband? Or will she...

Juliet wakes up and discovers Romeo has poisoned himself. She's about to kill herself in despair, except... instead she panics and stabs his dead body. Her cousin Rosaline (Romeo's ex) and Willow (the apothecary's apprentice) are covering up their own contributions to Romeo's death. So when the somehow-still-not-dead Romeo stumbles in, Juliet has to make a decision: will she try to save her husband? Or will she make sure he's really dead so they can all start new lives on the run?

Game Night (Humans Only, Please) - one-act

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

Published with Stage Partners:
https://yourstagepartners.com/game-night-humans-only-please

It's game night at the end of the world. The library is one of the only places still above the water line, and the nerds are living it up while they can. But when the soccer team shows up because their field went underwater, they begin a more dangerous game. A high-stakes dark comedy about mutant lizards, climate change...

Published with Stage Partners:
https://yourstagepartners.com/game-night-humans-only-please

It's game night at the end of the world. The library is one of the only places still above the water line, and the nerds are living it up while they can. But when the soccer team shows up because their field went underwater, they begin a more dangerous game. A high-stakes dark comedy about mutant lizards, climate change, and being the generation born to watch the water level rise.

The Secretaries - one-act for kids

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

Anna is a superhero!!! That's what her acceptance letter to the YZ Institute says--but when she gets there, she's informed it was a mistake, and she's reassigned to be a secretary. The “real” superheroes-in-training are impressive, but their arrogance makes it hard for Anna to fit in. To make things worse, the trainer Mx Medusa suddenly goes missing. When Anna suspects that one of the so-called heroes may be to...

Anna is a superhero!!! That's what her acceptance letter to the YZ Institute says--but when she gets there, she's informed it was a mistake, and she's reassigned to be a secretary. The “real” superheroes-in-training are impressive, but their arrogance makes it hard for Anna to fit in. To make things worse, the trainer Mx Medusa suddenly goes missing. When Anna suspects that one of the so-called heroes may be to blame—and may be planning to use their powers for evil—she and her fellow "secretary" Bree must team up to save the world as we know it.

Funtown - one-act

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

Published with YouthPLAYS: https://www.youthplays.com/play/funtown-by-laura-neill-672

Five young outcasts live together in an abandoned fun park. But when their "abandoned" home is marked for demolition, their way of life is called into question. Jo wants to fight, Hair wants to hack into the developers' system, and Doc just wants everyone to calm down. When a wrecking ball knocks down everything the band had...

Published with YouthPLAYS: https://www.youthplays.com/play/funtown-by-laura-neill-672

Five young outcasts live together in an abandoned fun park. But when their "abandoned" home is marked for demolition, their way of life is called into question. Jo wants to fight, Hair wants to hack into the developers' system, and Doc just wants everyone to calm down. When a wrecking ball knocks down everything the band had known, will they come together, or scatter back to their loner lives?

The New Animal - one-act

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

Alpaca is just trying to get their graze on, Donkey is busy being a farmer's pet, and the Cows are battling it out for the title of Cow 1. When an unknown creature starts biting arteries and the farm is suddenly covered in blood, can the animals band together long enough to survive?

Alpaca is just trying to get their graze on, Donkey is busy being a farmer's pet, and the Cows are battling it out for the title of Cow 1. When an unknown creature starts biting arteries and the farm is suddenly covered in blood, can the animals band together long enough to survive?

The Nightmare Next Door - one-act

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

This is Episode 2 of Isolated Incidents, an audio drama series co-created with Pascale Florestal, Nick Kaidoo, Jaymes Sanchez, and Hayley Spivey, and produced by Broadway Podcast Network and Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre. Follow URL to listen: https://broadwaypodcastnetwork.com/podcast/isolated-incidents/#:~:text=…

This is Episode 2 of Isolated Incidents, an audio drama series co-created with Pascale Florestal, Nick Kaidoo, Jaymes Sanchez, and Hayley Spivey, and produced by Broadway Podcast Network and Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre. Follow URL to listen: https://broadwaypodcastnetwork.com/podcast/isolated-incidents/#:~:text=…

We the Sisters - ten-minute

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

Becky has an opinion on how her old sorority sister Congresswoman Lara Sweet should vote on the next healthcare repeal bill... and a few old college stories to wield as weapons. This no-holds-barred battle between a powerful politician and her once-sister escalates quickly to a point of no return.

Becky has an opinion on how her old sorority sister Congresswoman Lara Sweet should vote on the next healthcare repeal bill... and a few old college stories to wield as weapons. This no-holds-barred battle between a powerful politician and her once-sister escalates quickly to a point of no return.

One Kind of Fear - ten-minute

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

Alex, an experienced nurse, is dealing with a new kind of fear. Newbie nurse CJ offers a way through.

Alex, an experienced nurse, is dealing with a new kind of fear. Newbie nurse CJ offers a way through.

The Last Cookie - ten-minute

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

Bri and Lou have one oreo left. Who is going to eat it?

Bri and Lou have one oreo left. Who is going to eat it?

Rains It Pours

by Laura Neill

Synopsis

Sylvie is ready to go home, but her boss has decided to keep her after work because she doesn't pour water fast enough... and Sylvie's ancient witch ancestor, who is SUPPOSED to help Sylvie through her Moment of Great Crisis, has decided Sylvie is being a snowflake about this whole day-job thing. But when Jurassica pushes Sylvie a little too far, she gets a lot more than she bargained for.

Sylvie is ready to go home, but her boss has decided to keep her after work because she doesn't pour water fast enough... and Sylvie's ancient witch ancestor, who is SUPPOSED to help Sylvie through her Moment of Great Crisis, has decided Sylvie is being a snowflake about this whole day-job thing. But when Jurassica pushes Sylvie a little too far, she gets a lot more than she bargained for.