Maury Zeff

Maury Zeff

Maury Zeff’s work has been performed around the US and in Europe, and published in American Fiction, Crab Orchard Review, Southern California Review, and elsewhere. His plays have appeared in the 2014 and 2017 Best of PlayGround festivals and won four People’s Choice awards. He has received playwriting commissions and fellowships from PlayGround, the SF Olympians, and the San Francisco Writers Grotto, where he...
Maury Zeff’s work has been performed around the US and in Europe, and published in American Fiction, Crab Orchard Review, Southern California Review, and elsewhere. His plays have appeared in the 2014 and 2017 Best of PlayGround festivals and won four People’s Choice awards. He has received playwriting commissions and fellowships from PlayGround, the SF Olympians, and the San Francisco Writers Grotto, where he works and teaches. He won the 2021 Clark-Gross Award for his novel "Off Mahatma Gandhi Road" and was nominated for a 2020 Pushcart Prize in fiction. Maury earned an MFA in writing from the University of San Francisco and is currently pursuing an MFA in playwriting from San Francisco State University.

Plays

  • Dadaist Teen Musical: The Play by Maury Zeff
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 3 more
    ·
    Keyword: comedy, allegory + 5 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, parody/spoof, political, satire
    Keyword: comedy, allegory, Politics, Trumpism, Dadaism, teenagers, colleges and high schools.
    FULL LENGTH: When overachieving high school student Annabel recruits bro-ish sociopath Tyler to play the lead in her Dadaist adaptation of “The Sound of Music,” she finds herself at the whims of his demagoguery. But when Mariah, the show’s Ramones-loving music director, who has had her own dark dealings with Tyler, stands up to him, the community is riven into two violently opposed factions. In this comedic...
    FULL LENGTH: When overachieving high school student Annabel recruits bro-ish sociopath Tyler to play the lead in her Dadaist adaptation of “The Sound of Music,” she finds herself at the whims of his demagoguery. But when Mariah, the show’s Ramones-loving music director, who has had her own dark dealings with Tyler, stands up to him, the community is riven into two violently opposed factions. In this comedic allegory about power, politics, and art, Annabel must choose between achieving her goals at all costs and doing what is right.
  • Not So Famous Seamus by Maury Zeff
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    6–7
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama + 2 more
    ·
    Keyword: pop music, 1980's + 4 more
    Genre: comedy, drama, parody/spoof, satire
    Keyword: pop music, 1980's, philanthropy, charity, Cold War, Iron Curtain
    FULL LENGTH: In 1983 Britain, aspiring singer Seamus McDowell, who makes up with heart what he lacks in talent, wants nothing more than a hit song. After his first single stumbles its way onto the charts (#46 with a slow-moving bullet!), Seamus is thrilled. But when a follow-up song flops, followed by further public humiliation, he is cast adrift. After becoming aware of an ambiguous humanitarian crisis behind...
    FULL LENGTH: In 1983 Britain, aspiring singer Seamus McDowell, who makes up with heart what he lacks in talent, wants nothing more than a hit song. After his first single stumbles its way onto the charts (#46 with a slow-moving bullet!), Seamus is thrilled. But when a follow-up song flops, followed by further public humiliation, he is cast adrift. After becoming aware of an ambiguous humanitarian crisis behind the Iron Curtain, he decides to organize fellow musicians to raise relief funds. In this comedy about pop music, family, and celebrity philanthropy, Seamus must figure out what he has to offer the world.
  • Merchant of Stratford by Maury Zeff
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    5–6
    ·
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: Shakespeare, art + 3 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, period
    Keyword: Shakespeare, art, memory, playwriting, crime
    FULL LENGTH: In 1600 plague-ridden Stratford, loan shark and petty criminal—and sometime playwright—William Shakespeare struggles to feed his family and finish his “greatest play ever.” Each Shakespeare family member mourns the death of son Hamnet in their own way—daughter Judith haunted by visions of her dead brother; wife Anne obsessed with protecting her family; actor brother Edmund perceiving reality as one...
    FULL LENGTH: In 1600 plague-ridden Stratford, loan shark and petty criminal—and sometime playwright—William Shakespeare struggles to feed his family and finish his “greatest play ever.” Each Shakespeare family member mourns the death of son Hamnet in their own way—daughter Judith haunted by visions of her dead brother; wife Anne obsessed with protecting her family; actor brother Edmund perceiving reality as one endless stage play; and William lost in sheer denial. Against this shattered family backdrop, William must “procure” a wagon of grain, finish his play, and keep at bay Puritan authorities who would imprison him and keep theatres closed for good.
  • The Frozen Sea by Maury Zeff
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: artificial intelligence, ai + 4 more
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy, science fiction
    Keyword: artificial intelligence, ai, future, art, technology, love triangle
    FULL LENGTH: It is 2030 and wunderkind computer programmer Dashiell has set for himself the seemingly impossible task to produce technology with human instincts. When he meets ascendant painter Annelise, he hits upon the idea to create software that can render artistic masterpieces. At first horrified, Annelise realizes that Dashiell’s invention applied to her paintings will give her the success she has always...
    FULL LENGTH: It is 2030 and wunderkind computer programmer Dashiell has set for himself the seemingly impossible task to produce technology with human instincts. When he meets ascendant painter Annelise, he hits upon the idea to create software that can render artistic masterpieces. At first horrified, Annelise realizes that Dashiell’s invention applied to her paintings will give her the success she has always sought. In this comical yet dystopian three-hander, the characters wrestle with questions about how far to allow technology to creep into human endeavor and whether you can still call something art if human beings cede its creation to machines.
  • Eternal Hellfire and Damnation: A Love Story by Maury Zeff
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    5
    ·
    Genre: adaptation, comedy + 2 more
    ·
    Keyword: Roman mythology, Hades + 1 more
    Genre: adaptation, comedy, fable/folktale, parody/spoof
    Keyword: Roman mythology, Hades, rhyming narrator
    ONE ACT: Even the devil gets lonely sometimes. In this retelling of the Roman myth of Dis, the god of the underworld kidnaps Proserpina to be his bride...Or does he? The young maiden may have just let herself be spirited to Hades to get away from her overbearing mother, Ceres. But when Mom arrives to negotiate with Dis for her daughter's "freedom," Proserpina and Sisyphus, who suddenly has a lot...
    ONE ACT: Even the devil gets lonely sometimes. In this retelling of the Roman myth of Dis, the god of the underworld kidnaps Proserpina to be his bride...Or does he? The young maiden may have just let herself be spirited to Hades to get away from her overbearing mother, Ceres. But when Mom arrives to negotiate with Dis for her daughter's "freedom," Proserpina and Sisyphus, who suddenly has a lot of free time on his hands, make plans of their own.
  • North by North Pole by Maury Zeff
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    6
    ·
    Genre: adaptation, adventure + 6 more
    ·
    Keyword: Hitchcock, christmas
    Genre: adaptation, adventure, comedy, fable/folktale, farce, holiday, mystery/thriller, parody/spoof
    Keyword: Hitchcock, christmas
    TEN MINUTE: This play answers once and for all the timeless question, "What if an archetypal Hitchcock character got a job working as an elf in Santa's workshop and then became embroiled in an international conspiracy to control a 'doomsday toy'?"
  • Lord Goose by Maury Zeff
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: adaptation, comedy + 3 more
    ·
    Keyword: Nursery Rhymes, star wars + 1 more
    Genre: adaptation, comedy, fable/folktale, farce, parody/spoof
    Keyword: Nursery Rhymes, star wars, a short comedy
    TEN MINUTE: When Humpty finally falls off that wall, Little Bo Peep's sheep going missing yet again, and that evil Mary keeps bringing her lamb anywhere she darned well likes, the citizens of the nursery rhyme universe begin to wonder if those rumors about a cruel, despotic goose ruling their world might actually be true.
  • Succession: The Medieval Edition by Maury Zeff
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: adaptation, comedy + 4 more
    Genre: adaptation, comedy, fable/folktale, holiday, musical, period
    TEN MINUTE: When Duke Vratislaus decides it's time to hand over the reins of his empire to a family member, his sons and wife jockey for power. Egomaniacal Wenceslas writes a song about himself to demonstrate his greatness. Cruel Boleslaus plans to show his worthiness for the throne by crushing the peasants like grapes. But it's Drahomira, the duchess, who has the biggest secret of all. This sort-of...
    TEN MINUTE: When Duke Vratislaus decides it's time to hand over the reins of his empire to a family member, his sons and wife jockey for power. Egomaniacal Wenceslas writes a song about himself to demonstrate his greatness. Cruel Boleslaus plans to show his worthiness for the throne by crushing the peasants like grapes. But it's Drahomira, the duchess, who has the biggest secret of all. This sort-of musical was inspired by the Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas."
  • Hold Your Bloody Ground by Maury Zeff
    Cast: 
    7–8
    ·
    Genre: comedy, parody/spoof + 1 more
    Genre: comedy, parody/spoof, political
    TEN MINUTE: When a dignified barrister comes to her daughter’s school to speak on Career Day, thanks to the permanence of Wikipedia, the students discover her slightly less dignified first career. As she recounts her time in the music industry, she teaches the girls a lesson about standing their ground at work.
  • Hummin' in the Hummer by Maury Zeff
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: comedy, satire
    Genre: comedy, satire
    SHORT PLAY: When Will Ravencroft, the host of the popular web series "Hummin' in the Hummer" (in which he and celebrity guests drive around New York City's five boroughs in a Humvee humming showtunes) hosts Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, for the first time Will begins to question the environmental impact of his show. Then, when they pick up Woodsy Owl, the US forest service's...
    SHORT PLAY: When Will Ravencroft, the host of the popular web series "Hummin' in the Hummer" (in which he and celebrity guests drive around New York City's five boroughs in a Humvee humming showtunes) hosts Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, for the first time Will begins to question the environmental impact of his show. Then, when they pick up Woodsy Owl, the US forest service's venerable mascot, gets in the car, they are all forced to break some tough new about the environment to him.
  • Icelandia by Maury Zeff
    Cast: 
    3–4
    ·
    Genre: comedy, fable/folktale + 3 more
    Genre: comedy, fable/folktale, fantasy, holiday, political
    TEN MINUTE: When an Icelandic immigration lawyer skis into a troll's lair in the middle of a blizzard, she finds her progressive values put to the test by the troll's insistence that they want to buy real estate in Reykjavik and intermarry with human beings.
  • Tybalt and Nutella by Maury Zeff
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: adaptation, comedy + 3 more
    ·
    Keyword: Shakespeare prequel
    Genre: adaptation, comedy, farce, parody/spoof, period
    Keyword: Shakespeare prequel
    TEN MINUTE: When hothead Tybalt Capulet falls for impetuous Nutella Montague, the boundaries of class are tested. As Nutella dreams up evermore elaborate schemes to unite them, Tybalt just tries to keep up. This prequel to Romeo & Juliet explains the “ancient grudge” between the two families. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t end well.
  • Girl Scout Confidential by Maury Zeff
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: noir, Girl Scouts + 1 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, mystery/thriller
    Keyword: noir, Girl Scouts, Burning Man
    TEN MINUTE: When money for their trip to the Girl Scout Jamboree goes missing from their troop’s bake sale, it falls to evil mastermind Fiona and her mean girl sidekick McKenzie to ferret out what happened. In this tale of desperate love, merit badges, and hallucinogenic Bundt cakes, the two girls try to minimize the body count in their quest to recover the funds.
  • The Universe on Ice by Maury Zeff
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    5
    ·
    Genre: comedy, docudrama/historic + 4 more
    ·
    Keyword: environment, global warming + 1 more
    Genre: comedy, docudrama/historic, fable/folktale, fantasy, political, science fiction
    Keyword: environment, global warming, animals
    TEN MINUTE: When famed explorers Ernest Shackleton and Robert Peary encounter each other in a polar dreamscape, they must contend with a hungry, disoriented polar bear and an argumentative penguin who demand to know why it's getting so damn warm.
  • The Only Boat in the World by Maury Zeff
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: comedy, horror + 2 more
    ·
    Keyword: post-apocalyptic, boat
    Genre: comedy, horror, musical, science fiction
    Keyword: post-apocalyptic, boat
    TEN MINUTE MUSICAL: When Upper West Side siblings Devorah and Aaron are cast adrift in a post-apocalyptic water world, they take their mother's dying wish to find "any mates they can" to replenish the species a little too literally.
  • Come and Knock On Our Door by Maury Zeff
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: adaptation, comedy + 3 more
    ·
    Keyword: feminism, Gloria Steinem + 4 more
    Genre: adaptation, comedy, farce, parody/spoof, period
    Keyword: feminism, Gloria Steinem, 1970s, 70s, 1980s, 80s
    TEN MINUTE: The year is 1980 and the place is groovy Santa Monica! With swinging dude Jack and easy-going Janet getting a third roommate, the party is only going to get wilder. But when their new roomie turns out to be feminist icon Gloria Steinem, Janet begins to wonder how fun this party ever truly was to begin with.
  • The Green Book, 1954 Edition by Maury Zeff
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: docudrama/historic, drama + 2 more
    ·
    Keyword: black lives matter, Green Book + 1 more
    Genre: docudrama/historic, drama, musical, period
    Keyword: black lives matter, Green Book, pre-Civil Rights
    TEN MINUTE MUSICAL: A Black family relies on the notorious "Green Book" (aka "The Negro Motorist Green Book") to keep them safe as they motor through 1950s Minnesota. When a highway police officer orders them to turn back, they have to make a difficult, dangerous decision. This short musical includes an original song set to Mozart's "Ein Kleine Nachtmusik."
  • They Call Me Baines by Maury Zeff
    Cast: 
    5
    ·
    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic + 3 more
    ·
    Keyword: LBJ, 1960s + 4 more
    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic, musical, period, political
    Keyword: LBJ, 1960s, 60s, rap, hip-hop, hip hop
    TEN MINUTE HIP-HOP MUSICAL: It's April 5, 1968, the day after Dr. King was assassinated and, with the country divided, an escalating war in Vietnam, and protests on the right and the left, President Lyndon Baines Johnson has a few things to deal with.
  • Where to Begin by Maury Zeff
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: drama, movement/physical
    ·
    Keyword: art, family + 3 more
    Genre: drama, movement/physical
    Keyword: art, family, approval, sibling rivalry, pop music
    TEN MINUTE: When Seamus stumbles his way into modest pop stardom, he has to contend with his family's disapproval. The play also serves as a meditation on what it means to put art into a sometimes uncaring world.
  • Deceived by Daylight by Maury Zeff
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy, movement/physical + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: parallel dimensions
    Genre: comedy, movement/physical, science fiction
    Keyword: parallel dimensions
    TEN MINUTE: When Adam discovers a portal to a parallel dimension under the couch that is only open for one hour when the clocks are changed for Daylight Savings, he tries to convince his girlfriend Nicole that all of their problems will be solved if they just slip into this more hopeful world. Nicole, however, has already befriended some of the folks in that world.
  • I Wanna Be So Dated by Maury Zeff
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy + 2 more
    ·
    Keyword: Ramones, two-hander + 4 more
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy, young audiences, zoom
    Keyword: Ramones, two-hander, punk rock, music, teenage, teens
    SHORT PLAY: When clueless teen Tyler catches rocker Mariah's Ramones tribute band, he decides that she's the one for him. The only problem: Mariah hasn't gotten the memo. Can Tyler impress music purist Mariah sufficiently to make a connection? In this two-hander about about opposites attracting, punk rock idol worship, and what constitutes taste, the two of them strive to find a narrow strip of...
    SHORT PLAY: When clueless teen Tyler catches rocker Mariah's Ramones tribute band, he decides that she's the one for him. The only problem: Mariah hasn't gotten the memo. Can Tyler impress music purist Mariah sufficiently to make a connection? In this two-hander about about opposites attracting, punk rock idol worship, and what constitutes taste, the two of them strive to find a narrow strip of common ground on which to form a friendship.
  • Rose-colored Contact Lenses by Maury Zeff
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 2 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, fantasy, science fiction
    SHORT PLAY: When Crif drops a rose-colored contact lens--which allows him to see greater beauty--into a parallel dimension, Narb picks it up and sees the potential for a better world. But, in the same way progressive lenses offer near and far vision, rose-colored contact lenses allow the wearer to see both the wonder and the horror possible in their world. Soon enough, Crif's lost contact lens becomes a loss of innocence.