Vivian J.O. Barnes

Vivian is a writer from Virginia. Her short plays have been produced at Ensemble Studio Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and Steppenwolf Theatre. She has developed plays at Geffen Playhouse, The Playwrights Center, Manhattan Theatre Club, Second Stage Theater, Clubbed Thumb, Montana Repertory Theatre, and Ojai Playwrights Conference. In the TV world, she’s been staffed on series at Amazon, Peacock, and Apple TV.

Vivian is a writer from Virginia. Her short plays have been produced at Ensemble Studio Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and Steppenwolf Theatre. She has developed plays at Geffen Playhouse, The Playwrights Center, Manhattan Theatre Club, Second Stage Theater, Clubbed Thumb, Montana Repertory Theatre, and Ojai Playwrights Conference. In the TV world, she’s been staffed on series at Amazon, Peacock, and Apple TV.

Scripts

Untitled Pain Play

by Vivian J.O. Barnes

Cast Size
5—6
Genre
comedy,
drama

Nia records herself. Carolyn makes baskets. Chris drives a truck. The Man does whatever you want him to do. Everyone is in pain.

This is a play-in-progress.

Nia records herself. Carolyn makes baskets. Chris drives a truck. The Man does whatever you want him to do. Everyone is in pain.

This is a play-in-progress.

Let It Use You

by Vivian J.O. Barnes

Cast Size
5
Genre
comedy,
dark comedy

It's summer 2006 in a tiny rural town and a group of teenage girls are stuck at vacation bible school. Haniah wants to catch the holy spirit, Cece wants a real summer, Ruth wants her tortuous thoughts to stop, and Denise is just happy to be here. They fight. They pray. They bond. They unleash.

It's summer 2006 in a tiny rural town and a group of teenage girls are stuck at vacation bible school. Haniah wants to catch the holy spirit, Cece wants a real summer, Ruth wants her tortuous thoughts to stop, and Denise is just happy to be here. They fight. They pray. They bond. They unleash.

The Sensational Sea Mink-ettes

by Vivian J.O. Barnes

Cast Size
10—50
Genre
drama

The Sea Mink-ettes are the best dance team around and Homecoming is their time to shine. As the big day creeps closer, petty infighting and the quest for excellence threaten to tear the group apart.

The Sea Mink-ettes are the best dance team around and Homecoming is their time to shine. As the big day creeps closer, petty infighting and the quest for excellence threaten to tear the group apart.

Farside: An Audio Play

by Vivian J.O. Barnes

Cast Size
3—4
Genre
mystery/thriller,
radio drama

Pam spends her days orbiting the Earth, cleaning up space trash in quiet solitude. Except when she’s fielding calls from her sister about their estranged mother. But Pam’s not focusing on that. She’s focusing on the moon. When she finally gets the chance for her long coveted moon orbit, she makes a discovery that upends her solitary existence and sends seismic ripples through every part of her life.

Pam spends her days orbiting the Earth, cleaning up space trash in quiet solitude. Except when she’s fielding calls from her sister about their estranged mother. But Pam’s not focusing on that. She’s focusing on the moon. When she finally gets the chance for her long coveted moon orbit, she makes a discovery that upends her solitary existence and sends seismic ripples through every part of her life.

HEAP

by Vivian J.O. Barnes

1
Cast Size
6—9
Genre
comedy,
drama

Do you believe in curses? On a quiet street, a foul smell fills the air. Animals start dropping dead. A child is hurt. Maybe its just an off day. Or maybe the world is ending. HEAP is a kaleidoscopic imagining of the book of Job seen through the eyes of his nameless wife and the denizens of their present-day, suburban cul-de-sac.

Do you believe in curses? On a quiet street, a foul smell fills the air. Animals start dropping dead. A child is hurt. Maybe its just an off day. Or maybe the world is ending. HEAP is a kaleidoscopic imagining of the book of Job seen through the eyes of his nameless wife and the denizens of their present-day, suburban cul-de-sac.

Duchess! Duchess! Duchess!

by Vivian J.O. Barnes

Cast Size
2
Genre
dark comedy

A Royal Wedding is looming. The Duchess and The Soon-to-be-Duchess are meeting for the first time. There are rules. There are proper ways of doing things. Remember, everyone is watching. Remember, you're the luckiest girl in the world.

A Royal Wedding is looming. The Duchess and The Soon-to-be-Duchess are meeting for the first time. There are rules. There are proper ways of doing things. Remember, everyone is watching. Remember, you're the luckiest girl in the world.

Jezebels

by Vivian J.O. Barnes

Cast Size
6
Genre
comedy,
drama

Emily is a model of purity — everyone thinks so: her parents, the faculty at her exclusive Christian boarding school, and her best friends on the cheerleading team. So why can’t she stop thinking about sex? When one thought leads to another and another…and thoughts start to become actions, suddenly all Emily knows — and all she is thought to be — is put on the line.

Emily is a model of purity — everyone thinks so: her parents, the faculty at her exclusive Christian boarding school, and her best friends on the cheerleading team. So why can’t she stop thinking about sex? When one thought leads to another and another…and thoughts start to become actions, suddenly all Emily knows — and all she is thought to be — is put on the line.