John Haman

John Haman is a multi-published and produced American playwright, a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Sewanee School of Letters, 2023). John graduated from Hendrix College in 1987 with a B.A. in Theater Arts, with distinction, and has an extensive background in acting, directing and playwriting. Has been published as a journalist, playwright, fiction author and academic (Tennessee WIliams). He is a mentor, teacher and communications professional.

John Haman is a multi-published and produced American playwright, a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Sewanee School of Letters, 2023). John graduated from Hendrix College in 1987 with a B.A. in Theater Arts, with distinction, and has an extensive background in acting, directing and playwriting. Has been published as a journalist, playwright, fiction author and academic (Tennessee WIliams). He is a mentor, teacher and communications professional.

Scripts

I AM FRANKENSTEIN

by John Haman

Synopsis

NOW PUBLISHED BY STAGE PARTNERS. (www.yourstagepartners.com) This thrillingly theatrical and flexibly staged adaptation unearths two creatures tortured and abandoned by their makers: Victor’s famous monster and the teenage writer Mary Shelley herself. A unique retelling of Shelley's classic with an unusual offering of key roles for female actors, I AM FRANKENSTEIN involves the author as a principal character...

NOW PUBLISHED BY STAGE PARTNERS. (www.yourstagepartners.com) This thrillingly theatrical and flexibly staged adaptation unearths two creatures tortured and abandoned by their makers: Victor’s famous monster and the teenage writer Mary Shelley herself. A unique retelling of Shelley's classic with an unusual offering of key roles for female actors, I AM FRANKENSTEIN involves the author as a principal character, heightens the role of Victor’s betrothed, Elizabeth, as the emotional heart of the play, and introduces the signature innovation of The Blackbirds, a haunting avian chorus of movers/vocalists/actors to manifest the darkest reaches of Shelley’s mind and serve as the conscience of the play. Victor, a promising university student obsessed with alchemy and the recent death of his mother, reanimates human life in the basement laboratory of a vacationing professor, only to abandon the poor creature, inspiring it to slowly exact revenge. This 90-minute adaptation also draws inspiration from "Paradise Lost,” a major influence on Shelley’s original novel. The play deeply mines the feelings of abandonment felt by teens and twenty-somethings. A minimum of 10 actors play 14 principal roles, including The Blackbirds chorus. Proven suitable for both low- and high-tech productions, from black-box in the round to multi-level sets in a theater with a fly system. A successful cast would benefit from two leading female actors, a group of three to six female ensemble/movers with vocal/acting ability, and three strong male actors.

Edgar: A Ghost Story (One-Act Version)

by John Haman

Synopsis

Now published by STAGE PARTNERS, see link below in the profile! Four women, two men, with as many as 15 other actors participating in gender-flexible ensemble acting. One-Act Drama for young actors. 37 minutes, 6 characters, A first-year high-school drama teacher arrives at school to find her auditorium haunted. Against this backdrop, a terminally ill girl falls for a boy from an unstable home, as she works...

Now published by STAGE PARTNERS, see link below in the profile! Four women, two men, with as many as 15 other actors participating in gender-flexible ensemble acting. One-Act Drama for young actors. 37 minutes, 6 characters, A first-year high-school drama teacher arrives at school to find her auditorium haunted. Against this backdrop, a terminally ill girl falls for a boy from an unstable home, as she works against time to stage a tender, autobiographical play. A love-letter to high school theater, “Edgar” explores the realms of the living, dead and dying with humor and grace. The play features virtually no set, and a flexible, interpretive movement scene that offers many opportunities for tech, special lighting effects and choreography. Produced twice in 2018-2019, by Lakeside High School in Hot Springs, Ark., and Biloxi High School in Biloxi, Miss. The Lakeside production one the Arkansas state one-act competition and represented Arkansas at the International Thespian Festival in 2019. A Minnesota production was held in early 2020. The script contains notes in the front about how to stage virtual or socially distanced production,

When I Grow Up (Monologue)

by John Haman

Synopsis

Taylor, (They/Their) a middle-school student exploring the boundaries of gender norms, lays out a personal vision for taking the movie industry by storm as a groundbreaking actor who will play both male and female roles. Taylor plots out a path of outrageous success, then grapples with the thought that even as a worldwide phenomenon, they will likely have a rough reception back home, thanks to the anticipated...

Taylor, (They/Their) a middle-school student exploring the boundaries of gender norms, lays out a personal vision for taking the movie industry by storm as a groundbreaking actor who will play both male and female roles. Taylor plots out a path of outrageous success, then grapples with the thought that even as a worldwide phenomenon, they will likely have a rough reception back home, thanks to the anticipated controversy over changing their name in 10th grade during the transition to a new gender identity. The role of Taylor can be played by an adult of any gender identity, or by an age-appropriate child of any gender-identity. This play was first performed in a slightly longer version in a recorded, edited and streamed format, but it is just as suitable for live performance. The play originally was included in the flexible virtual play "The Breakout Room and Other Tales," by John and Sarah Haman, but this version has been further edited and tightened. It is appropriate for high-school or adult audiences, and there is no sexual content. The video link attached to this play is of a slightly longer version of the monologue, and the performer chose to shoot the scene about 20 times on laptop camera using Flipgrid, with the actor wearing different costumes to adopt some of the different personalities Taylor conveys in the piece. Pieces of the variously costumed shots were then edited together for effect. However, this piece would work very well -- perhaps even better -- on a simple empty stage with a live audience. Another exciting variation might be to perform it with multiple actors, who play the part of Taylor collectively, alternating lines, as if they were in a chorus.

The Breakout Room and Other Tales (Co-Authored with Sarah Haman)

by John Haman

Synopsis

A production of this play is headed to the Chapter Select showcase at the 2021 International Thespian Festival after winning its state one-act competition. A funny and poignant, fourth-wall-busting vignette play for educational theater and both virtual and in-person performance, offering flexibility in both casting and scene selection. Productions of the play have been held or are in rehearsals in California...

A production of this play is headed to the Chapter Select showcase at the 2021 International Thespian Festival after winning its state one-act competition. A funny and poignant, fourth-wall-busting vignette play for educational theater and both virtual and in-person performance, offering flexibility in both casting and scene selection. Productions of the play have been held or are in rehearsals in California, Arkansas, Virginia and Massachusetts. Thought-provoking stories depict Americans navigating the treacherous but still humorous landscape of daily life, in some cases relating to Covid, Characters struggle to "break out" of their limitations in search of love, happiness and security. Vignettes in this "dramedy" include:
--"The Breakout Room," Three high-school kids in a Zoom room figure out how to break out of their stereotypes, then turn the tables on their teacher.
--"Zooming with Boomers": Two grandparents try to speak to their grandchild in a series of three online meetings, with hilarious results.
--"Doorbell Camera" and "Boogerman": Cameron, an odd, paranoid, superstitious homeowner with an overused doorbell camera hides a mysterious package belonging to a neighbor, setting off a neighbor war that plays upon Cameron's most powerful phobias and delusions.
--"Duologue" and "Duologue Meeting:" Two girls -- one struggling, one privileged --  find their troubled worlds collide when they both warrant a trip to the principal's office.
-- "When I Grow Up": A wild-eyed middle-school theater kid dreams of taking the acting world by storm by defying the standard limitations of gender.
--"Trio with Dog": Three women of various ages search for their souls, meeting in a park to discuss the mysterious person they have in common.
--"Hey Dad": In a powerful story of redemptive love, a college freshman in a major time of need is compelled to call her estranged Dad for help. 
--And "Bad Radio Play," a concept for a student-written "bad" comedy scene that allows schools to showcase their homegrown talent within a professionally-written and tested script.
The play exists in three different formats: one-act, two- and three-, with performance length ranging from 37 to 72 minutes based on the scenes chosen. Built around the theme of "breaking out," the play vibes between silliness and serious drama, realism and abstraction, ending with the emotional reunion of an estranged father and daughter. While earning plenty of laughs, the play can also address, in various scene combinations, estrangement ("Hey Dad"), class ("Duologue" and "Duologue Meeting"), gender identity ("When I Grow Up"), self-identity ("Breakout Room") and the desire of a young person to know how her life will turn out ("Trio with Dog"). One of the highlights of the play is the optional student-written scene concept "Bad Radio Play" for which guidelines are provided in the script. Light, easy humor ("Zooming with Boomers") is woven around the more poignant scenes to create a balanced night of theater. Written to be performed by kids as young as 13, and seen by all ages.
Two scenes from a video production of the play are included in the "Supporting Video" links.

Two Tribes: A One-Act Play with Puppets

by John Haman

Synopsis

38-minute one-act. Two tribes dwell beside each other in the woods, divided by a stream and a contentious history. Their rival villagers are forbidden to speak with each other, but the cultures share one key trait: a love of puppetry. Through this storytelling art, the tribes relate differing legends of the Mantoo, a giant race who once ruled the land, before they were driven away by the smaller, smarter tribes...

38-minute one-act. Two tribes dwell beside each other in the woods, divided by a stream and a contentious history. Their rival villagers are forbidden to speak with each other, but the cultures share one key trait: a love of puppetry. Through this storytelling art, the tribes relate differing legends of the Mantoo, a giant race who once ruled the land, before they were driven away by the smaller, smarter tribes. But today, the Mantoo giants return, bent on destruction and revenge. So two teens from opposing tribes -- kids who carried on a forbidden childhood friendship - must unite the villages for mutual protection, and destroy the hated giants, once and for all. The play is written with high schools in mind, and is perfect for festival productions. A vibrant cast of 25-29 is needed: 3 f, 3 m, and 19-23 e.

Blood Moon

by John Haman

Synopsis

An aeronaut’s wife leads a double life as the Cold-War U.S. military races to build the first base on the moon, while a controversial religious movement inspires women to subvert patriarchy. June/Marie creates her own reality as she weaves between other extraordinary women: a hardscrabble female detective; an imaginative visionary daughter; an undercover Soviet agent; and a brilliant U.S. Army captain with...

An aeronaut’s wife leads a double life as the Cold-War U.S. military races to build the first base on the moon, while a controversial religious movement inspires women to subvert patriarchy. June/Marie creates her own reality as she weaves between other extraordinary women: a hardscrabble female detective; an imaginative visionary daughter; an undercover Soviet agent; and a brilliant U.S. Army captain with unexplained physical prowess. This 90-minute alternate-reality mystery drama made the second round of consideration for the Kernodle New Play Award. 13 roles.

The Monster

by John Haman

Synopsis

Seven characters, four male and three female. 38-40 minute adaptation of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," written for competitive one-act festivals. On the heels of his mother's death, Victor Frankenstein, the son of a scientist, becomes obsessed with occult methods and manages to bring a dead man back to life, only to be haunted by the results. The play, which also pays tribute to Milton's Paradise Lost...

Seven characters, four male and three female. 38-40 minute adaptation of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," written for competitive one-act festivals. On the heels of his mother's death, Victor Frankenstein, the son of a scientist, becomes obsessed with occult methods and manages to bring a dead man back to life, only to be haunted by the results. The play, which also pays tribute to Milton's Paradise Lost, examines the boundaries between man and God, and explores the question of what we owe to the lives we create. This work was adapted from the playwright's full-length play, I AM FRANKENSTEIN, but it contains unique material and a new character. It is simpler, requires minimal tech and can be performed with a flexible cast. Performed at a one-act festival in 2019 by Gentry High School in Gentry, Ark., and given a 2020 public reading at a university in Mississippi. Scheduled for production in the 2021 Mississippi Theatre Association Dramafest competition. The play explores themes that have proven to be very meaningful to LGBTQ+ kids, though there is nothing explicit in the play on that topic.

chrysalis: a one-act play

by John Haman

Synopsis

Michael, a Midwestern teenager relocated to the South after their birth mother's death, resists transitioning from a conventional identity to something unwelcome and frightening. Michael's relationship with the remaining parent is stressed to the limit as both try to survive the loss and find space for it in their troubled new normal. Written for student festivals, this mythic play includes a visually evocative...

Michael, a Midwestern teenager relocated to the South after their birth mother's death, resists transitioning from a conventional identity to something unwelcome and frightening. Michael's relationship with the remaining parent is stressed to the limit as both try to survive the loss and find space for it in their troubled new normal. Written for student festivals, this mythic play includes a visually evocative chorus of movers. 33-minute magical-realism drama for 13-23 actors, including chorus: 3f, 3m, 7-17e.

Angus Magoosh and the Elmdale Uprising

by John Haman

Synopsis

Angus Magoosh cannae stahnd idly by as a mere wetness to injoostice. When the powers that bae at Elmdale High School fail to sairve their own students and taychers, he responds en the only wee a fine young Scotsman can: Rebellion!  Inspiring his American classmates and taychers to band in solidarity, Angus belds a movement fer Automonmous Tartanism,  accelerating to a rousing conclusion that would make ole...

Angus Magoosh cannae stahnd idly by as a mere wetness to injoostice. When the powers that bae at Elmdale High School fail to sairve their own students and taychers, he responds en the only wee a fine young Scotsman can: Rebellion!  Inspiring his American classmates and taychers to band in solidarity, Angus belds a movement fer Automonmous Tartanism,  accelerating to a rousing conclusion that would make ole William Wallace proud. Faytchuring Sco'ish accents, creative highland games, a rideculous slow-mo scene and a dancing "hairy coo," Magoosh could bae the sellyist, most random comedy yae rayd thess yayr. 

​6 female roles, 5 male and up to 25 "any/either." All roles can be played by any student, of any gender identity, including the lead male character of Angus. Maximum cast diversity is encouraged. Performed at one-act competition by Greenbrier High School in Greenbrier, Arkansas, in 2019, and as a school production at Lakeside High School, Hot Springs, Ark., in 2020. Available for festivals and in-school performances. 

The Violets

by John Haman

Synopsis

A young man, studying biology so he can leave his father's funeral business, has a summer fling with an “illegal” girl who is secretly working there, years after being smuggled out of a family separation camp for her protection. Now the government is on the hunt for camp escapees, claiming they’re spreading a strange and dangerous disease. Science-fiction Drama. 22 min. 8 roles, 7-8 actors. Suitable for high...

A young man, studying biology so he can leave his father's funeral business, has a summer fling with an “illegal” girl who is secretly working there, years after being smuggled out of a family separation camp for her protection. Now the government is on the hunt for camp escapees, claiming they’re spreading a strange and dangerous disease. Science-fiction Drama. 22 min. 8 roles, 7-8 actors. Suitable for high schools and student festivals. Produced by a student director at Williams Carey University in early 2020. Had workshop in Nov. 2018 with two classes at Biloxi High School, Biloxi, Miss., and has also been read in classes in the Little Rock, Ark., area.

Pie Town

by John Haman

Synopsis

A troubled newspaper editor, estranged from her husband and son, returns to her sleepy Delta birthplace to recapture her magical teen years, when she baked one-of-a-kind pies and built a reputation as the town maverick. But her nostalgia for the town is spoiled by an old nemesis– a charismatic man, running for mayor, who she longs to unmask. Drama. 75 minutes. 7 women, 5 men.

A troubled newspaper editor, estranged from her husband and son, returns to her sleepy Delta birthplace to recapture her magical teen years, when she baked one-of-a-kind pies and built a reputation as the town maverick. But her nostalgia for the town is spoiled by an old nemesis– a charismatic man, running for mayor, who she longs to unmask. Drama. 75 minutes. 7 women, 5 men.

City on the Hill

by John Haman

Synopsis

3 female, 1 male, up to 13 "either." Flexible casting by gender and race. 14 speaking roles (or fewer); 1-2 non-speaking. Optional school drum line. Simple set. In a dystopian future United States, a high-school hate crime sets off a revolution against bigoted, totalitarian rule. Produced at the Young Players, Benton, Ark., March 2019. “City” was work-shopped with two Arkansas high schools and with the Young...

3 female, 1 male, up to 13 "either." Flexible casting by gender and race. 14 speaking roles (or fewer); 1-2 non-speaking. Optional school drum line. Simple set. In a dystopian future United States, a high-school hate crime sets off a revolution against bigoted, totalitarian rule. Produced at the Young Players, Benton, Ark., March 2019. “City” was work-shopped with two Arkansas high schools and with the Young Players. Features a powerful teenage heroine, a strong character of color and a provocative fight scene. The play is perfect for play festivals, and also in-school performances, where discussions can follow the play.

Edgar: A Ghost Story (Full-Length Version)

by John Haman

Synopsis

The one-act version is being published by Stage Partners, so they will have the rights to this version as well! Six women, four men, with gender flexibility, and as many as 15 extra actors in the production. Drama for young actors. 68 minutes, 10 characters. A drama teacher’s first job is always memorable. But for Lisa Foster, it becomes unforgettable when she learns that her tired old auditorium is haunted by a...

The one-act version is being published by Stage Partners, so they will have the rights to this version as well! Six women, four men, with gender flexibility, and as many as 15 extra actors in the production. Drama for young actors. 68 minutes, 10 characters. A drama teacher’s first job is always memorable. But for Lisa Foster, it becomes unforgettable when she learns that her tired old auditorium is haunted by a boy who fell from a ladder more than 30 years ago. Edgar Berry is not the only ghost in Sugarloaf High School. In fact, scores of ghosts walk the halls. Kids who don’t fit in. Kids who are “different,” sick or “damaged.” People look right through them and fail to acknowledge their existence. With ghost talk animating the school, a terminally ill girl at Sugarloaf High suddenly finds herself falling for a boy from an unstable home, while she works against time to stage her own tender life story at a student-play festival. A love-letter to high school theater, “Edgar” explores the realms of the living, dead and dying with humor and grace. The play has no set, using, instead, the actual high-school auditorium as a virtual character in the play. EDGAR includes a flexible, interpretive scene that offers many opportunities for tech, special lighting effects and choreography. Produced at two high schools in fall 2018: Lakeside High School in Hot Springs, Ark., and Biloxi High School production in Biloxi, Miss.

Shadetree Curiosities

by John Haman

Synopsis

A mysterious woman opens a “magick” shop in Arkansas and encounters a town full of quirky neighbors, including an amorous preacher, Scottish nut-shop owner, nerdy bookshop manager and aspiring novelist, insecure charm reader, thickly accented Russian landlady, under-clothed male artist, and a rugged mailman with outsized calves. Requires a traditional-comedy unit set with multiple entrances. Two unconventional...

A mysterious woman opens a “magick” shop in Arkansas and encounters a town full of quirky neighbors, including an amorous preacher, Scottish nut-shop owner, nerdy bookshop manager and aspiring novelist, insecure charm reader, thickly accented Russian landlady, under-clothed male artist, and a rugged mailman with outsized calves. Requires a traditional-comedy unit set with multiple entrances. Two unconventional scenes feature comic storytelling through dance. Full-length comedy. 74 minutes, 9 characters. Unit set.

Undraped

by John Haman

Synopsis

A famous landscape artist shocks his confidants by devoting years to a painting a secret collection of nude portraits with the same young female model. A fictional play inspired by the life of Andrew Wyeth, “Undraped” won the Hendrix College/Murphy Foundation playwriting contest, was fully staged at The Weekend Theater in Little Rock, and had an Equity staged reading at the Nebraska Repertory Theater. This is a...

A famous landscape artist shocks his confidants by devoting years to a painting a secret collection of nude portraits with the same young female model. A fictional play inspired by the life of Andrew Wyeth, “Undraped” won the Hendrix College/Murphy Foundation playwriting contest, was fully staged at The Weekend Theater in Little Rock, and had an Equity staged reading at the Nebraska Repertory Theater. This is a play for adult audiences. (Drama) 93 minutes. 5 characters. Unit set.