Connie Bennett

Connie Bennett is a Eugene, Oregon based playwright, member of the Dramatists Guild, the Playwrights' Center, and International Centre for Women Playwrights. Connie participated in the first two years of the William Inge Festival PlayLab. She has written annually for 365 Women A Year: a playwriting project. She contributed to the collective script, Playwrights Say Never Again to School Shootings. In 2018, a staged reading of Connie’s full length version of Amanda Transcending was performed as part of the National Endowment for the Arts NEA Big Read: a community celebration of Joy Harjo’s “How We Became Human” at the Eugene Public Library and the Oregon Contemporary Theatre; this script will be workshopped this summer by Theatre33. Connie’s Gray Reflections was a finalist in the Actors...

Connie Bennett is a Eugene, Oregon based playwright, member of the Dramatists Guild, the Playwrights' Center, and International Centre for Women Playwrights. Connie participated in the first two years of the William Inge Festival PlayLab. She has written annually for 365 Women A Year: a playwriting project. She contributed to the collective script, Playwrights Say Never Again to School Shootings. In 2018, a staged reading of Connie’s full length version of Amanda Transcending was performed as part of the National Endowment for the Arts NEA Big Read: a community celebration of Joy Harjo’s “How We Became Human” at the Eugene Public Library and the Oregon Contemporary Theatre; this script will be workshopped this summer by Theatre33. Connie’s Gray Reflections was a finalist in the Actors Theatre of Louisville 2010 National Ten-Minute Play Contest and her full-length play, Hungry Hearts (based on the novel by Francine Prose), was a finalist at the National Yiddish Theatre – Folksbiene in New York. Also at Oregon Contemporary Theatre, she’s co-produced the annual “Northwest Ten! Festival” since 2009 and, since 2015, the SWAN Day Readings of new works by Oregon women.

Scripts

AMANDA TRANSCENDING

by Connie Bennett

Synopsis

When Joanne moves to a tiny town on the Oregon coast she gradually realizes that her new home may not be as idyllic as it seems. After discovering the forgotten story of Amanda, a blind Native American woman incarcerated in a Civil War era reservation, Joanne works with local Tribal leaders to bring awareness and healing to the community – and learns something about herself in the process. Based on a true...

When Joanne moves to a tiny town on the Oregon coast she gradually realizes that her new home may not be as idyllic as it seems. After discovering the forgotten story of Amanda, a blind Native American woman incarcerated in a Civil War era reservation, Joanne works with local Tribal leaders to bring awareness and healing to the community – and learns something about herself in the process. Based on a true story.

THURSTON HIGH SCHOOL REUNION, CLASS OF 1998

by Connie Bennett

Synopsis

The invitation to the twentieth reunion revives bitter memories for a survivor of the Thurston High School shooting. Some scars are invisible.

The invitation to the twentieth reunion revives bitter memories for a survivor of the Thurston High School shooting. Some scars are invisible.

ROUGE / NOIR

by Connie Bennett

Synopsis

Two university students explore issues of informed consent and date rape through the lens of the folktale Little Red Riding Hood - with a little help from a modern digital media reporter, the feminist icon Gloria Steinem, and the 17th century writer Charles Perrault.

Two university students explore issues of informed consent and date rape through the lens of the folktale Little Red Riding Hood - with a little help from a modern digital media reporter, the feminist icon Gloria Steinem, and the 17th century writer Charles Perrault.

GRAY REFLECTIONS

by Connie Bennett

Synopsis

In the final session of her career as a high school counselor, Anna helps Oscar explore his ambiguity of gender and sexual orientation. Oscar turns the session on its head, forcing Anna to face her own fears and ambiguities, and to decide whether she wants to be in control of her own life.

In the final session of her career as a high school counselor, Anna helps Oscar explore his ambiguity of gender and sexual orientation. Oscar turns the session on its head, forcing Anna to face her own fears and ambiguities, and to decide whether she wants to be in control of her own life.

IN HER FOOTPRINTS

by Connie Bennett

Synopsis

British/Kenyan Mary Leakey defends her family's legacy against Donald Johanson, an American scientist young enough to be her son, as they argue over an Ethiopian skeleton known as Lucy. At stake: who will control the narrative in interpreting our human past and determine the future of paleoanthropology,

British/Kenyan Mary Leakey defends her family's legacy against Donald Johanson, an American scientist young enough to be her son, as they argue over an Ethiopian skeleton known as Lucy. At stake: who will control the narrative in interpreting our human past and determine the future of paleoanthropology,

ASSIGNED BLESSING

by Connie Bennett

Synopsis

Working on an assignment originally designed by Lee Blessing, playwriting students Shawna and Pete compete to create conflicting life stories of the same stranger, with hilarious results.

Working on an assignment originally designed by Lee Blessing, playwriting students Shawna and Pete compete to create conflicting life stories of the same stranger, with hilarious results.

IF THE SHOE PINCHES

by Connie Bennett

Synopsis

Wyler, having made many poor choices in his past - including use of force - shows up at his daughter Shell's place after walking off the prison road crew. Shell consults with Wyler's cousin Cheeto in order to handle the situation - with caution and compassion.

Wyler, having made many poor choices in his past - including use of force - shows up at his daughter Shell's place after walking off the prison road crew. Shell consults with Wyler's cousin Cheeto in order to handle the situation - with caution and compassion.