David Alan Brown

David Alan Brown

David Alan Brown holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. His Play Beginning Again was chosen as Best New Play by the Alleyway Theater of Buffalo, NY and the world premier was staged there in February, 2018. The same play, under the title Lily’s Blue, was included in the Landing Theatre’s 2015 New American Voices series and was a semi-finalist in Kitchen Dog...
David Alan Brown holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. His Play Beginning Again was chosen as Best New Play by the Alleyway Theater of Buffalo, NY and the world premier was staged there in February, 2018. The same play, under the title Lily’s Blue, was included in the Landing Theatre’s 2015 New American Voices series and was a semi-finalist in Kitchen Dog Theater’s 2014 New Works Festival. In 2009 The Manhattan Theatre Source chose It Is What It Is, a full-length drama for its Playground Development Series. Another work, Confidence, was a finalist in the Bloomington Playwrights Project One Act competition. His comedy shorts have been performed by The Actor’s Project of New York and Frogs With Fangs Comedy Troupe. He is the author of two nonfiction books (The Self-Help Paradox and Answer The Call), and has also written a YA novel, short stories and freelance journalism through American Media Distributors. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife, two children, and a bunch of cats.

Plays

  • The War of Art by David Alan Brown
    Cast: 
    12–15
    ·
    Genre: docudrama/historic, drama + 1 more
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    Keyword: based on historical events and characters, art + 5 more
    Genre: docudrama/historic, drama, period
    Keyword: based on historical events and characters, art, Italian Renaissance, Italy, gay historical characters, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo
    In 1504, when being an artist was merely a trade, two men were making a name for themselves: the genius Leonardo da Vinci and the prodigy Michelangleo. Seizing an opportunity to make his city of Florence rich and famous, Machiavelli maneuvers these two rivals into “the greatest art competition in history.” These men of parallel talent and divergent personalities create art and conflict in a unique moment in time.
  • Beginning Again by David Alan Brown
    Recommendations: 1
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    Cast: 
    4
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    Genre: drama
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    Keyword: grief, Mourning + 2 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: grief, Mourning, philosophy, death
    Beginning Again combines one man’s journey of grief with the theories and words of critical philosopher Roland Barthes. Over an eighteen-month period, our lead engages in three seemingly random conversations. We learn his wife has died but the play avoids cliché speeches about sitting at her bedside, anger at God or reconciliation with family. Instead these conversations and events reveal the desperate, random...
    Beginning Again combines one man’s journey of grief with the theories and words of critical philosopher Roland Barthes. Over an eighteen-month period, our lead engages in three seemingly random conversations. We learn his wife has died but the play avoids cliché speeches about sitting at her bedside, anger at God or reconciliation with family. Instead these conversations and events reveal the desperate, random journey of men grieving. Its logline is simply, “A story of life after death.”

    Act One takes place on a train bound for Washington. Roland, an average middle-aged man is avoiding contact with Anita, who will not be deterred from conversation. They end up discussing the power of words and their meanings.

    The dramatic peak of the act is an unprovoked outburst of anger from Roland, which allows the insightful Anita to recognize his grief. They discuss the complications of emotion and social expectation. Anita surprises him with her direct commentary on his intellect and situation.

    Act Two is set at the end of a country road. Roland comes across Gene, fishing in a nearby stream. Roland has a scent memory trigger of extreme grief and Gene crosses to comfort him. Gene is educated and wise, though Roland is skeptical. Gene encourages him to embrace the power of grief, while Roland merely wants it to be over.

    Throughout the conversation, nature is utilized to help illustrate the ebb and flow of life. The two characters are at opposite places in their lives yet seek the same peace. Symbolism and references to Barthes’ most famous essays are intertwined in the drama. Ultimately, Gene implores Roland to seize the opportunity to cast aside social expectation and allow for magnificent self-discovery while healing.

    Act Three occurs six months later, at an art museum. A young man, Dante, surveys the famous paintings (many by Cézanne). Roland enters, tries to get his attention, eventually sits and engages him. It is clear they are father and son. Their conversation is more directly about their lives and loss.

    Roland urges his son to look at the artwork with a more personal viewpoint and the experience becomes intimate, visceral, and highly emotional for the young man. Both men seek resolution to their grief and the play ends with an understanding that life will never be the same, only an ongoing, often difficult, process of growth.
  • It Is What It Is by David Alan Brown
    Cast: 
    6
    ·
    Genre: drama
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    Keyword: stay-at-home-dad, gay + 6 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: stay-at-home-dad, gay, LGBTQ, texting, middle age, infidelity, marriage, Relationships
    Tom has a failing marriage and fanciful writing career and is struggling to understand his relationship with Lucas, a younger, gay man. The two are obviously sincere friends, and when circumstances allow them to consider the full breadth of their feelings they find themselves intrigued and confused. It Is What It Is offers compelling new perspectives on topical issues – communication, sexuality, friendship,...
    Tom has a failing marriage and fanciful writing career and is struggling to understand his relationship with Lucas, a younger, gay man. The two are obviously sincere friends, and when circumstances allow them to consider the full breadth of their feelings they find themselves intrigued and confused. It Is What It Is offers compelling new perspectives on topical issues – communication, sexuality, friendship, domestic life – from the perspective of a unique, sensitive character in our culture; the middle-aged, stay-at-home Dad.

    At open, Tom and his wife, Vivian, are throwing a party on Christmas. Their relationship is strained, and Tom becomes much more animated when his younger friend Lucas arrives.

    A party guest, Ellen, shows her trepidation around a very brittle Vivian. She tells Tom of her attraction to Lucas, only to be disappointed to discover he’s not available. Tom’s friend Mark flirts with Lucas and goads Tom about his apparent interest in the young man.

    Tensions at the party come to a head when Vivian insults Lucas with a gay slur and Lucas lashes out. Tom and Mark must defuse the situation.

    Tom decides it’s best to take Lucas back to the train station. Returning to retrieve his cell phone, Lucas surprises Vivian and Mark in a compromising position.

    After intermission, Tom arrives at Lucas’ apartment after an argument with Vivian. She is filing for divorce, convinced her husband is gay.

    The next morning, Lucas’ friend Nan tells Tom about an important writing fellowship Lucas is interviewing for that day. Tom leaves, angry Lucas did not tell him this himself.

    Lucas reveals his motivations to Nan, including why he hasn’t told Tom about his wife’s infidelities. Lucas says he has never cared for someone so deeply without engaging in a sexual relationship. They agree Tom is likely not gay.

    That night, Tom and Lucas try to come to terms with their feelings for each other. The process is complicated by Tom’s reactions to his divorce and separation from his son. Lucas’ information about Vivian’s motives can lead to a successful outcome for Tom. He must decide how revealing the news will impact his desire for a relationship with him.



  • Confidence by David Alan Brown
    Cast: 
    6–16
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    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: teenagers, LGBTQ + 5 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: teenagers, LGBTQ, social media, bullying, consent, sexuality, high school
    This taut script depicts the true story of a high school senior who seduced multiple classmates using Facebook, explicit photographs and his own manipulation skills. He was eventually arrested and convicted of multiple felonies. The story grows more compelling when we learn all the students involved were boys, including many “A List” members of the student body. Adults in the community were horrified and...
    This taut script depicts the true story of a high school senior who seduced multiple classmates using Facebook, explicit photographs and his own manipulation skills. He was eventually arrested and convicted of multiple felonies. The story grows more compelling when we learn all the students involved were boys, including many “A List” members of the student body. Adults in the community were horrified and labeled the boy a predator, but perhaps there is more to the relationships than grown-ups want to believe.

    In Confidence, dialogue overlaps from two simultaneous scenes; the “perpetrator” being interviewed in jail and a composite “victim” talking with his therapist. In the center is a faux Greek Chorus of students providing commentary on the events. All intertwine effectively to create a compelling, fast paced and intriguing story.

    At open, Tommy Lynn, 18, is being interviewed by a detective. Blake Carpenter, also a teenager, is being interviewed by a therapist. A chorus of their high school peers assembles center stage, prepared to provide commentary on the events.

    Tommy has been brought to the police station under suspicion of calling in a bomb threat to his high school. It is established that Blake is a student leader, called upon by the Administration to help diffuse the anxiety. The students clearly think it is a joke and ridicule the adults’ over reaction.

    While Tommy is in custody, investigation reveals he posed as a female student on Facebook and successfully solicited explicit pictures of many male classmates. Blake is one of these and sees it as unremarkable.

    The chorus reenacts a slumber party during which Tommy propositioned an openly gay student at the school via the Internet, not realizing there were other witnesses in the room. They play a joke on him, enticing him to go to an unsuspecting neighbor’s house expecting sex.

    Tommy and Blake reveal how sexual contact resulted from their initial chats online. The Doctor and the Therapist both explain why they are certain Tommy raped Blake. The boys are shocked and defensive at the accusation.

    The chorus members mock actual headlines as their school gains national notoriety for the crimes. They provide commentary on sex, relationships and balancing these feelings as teenagers.

    Blake and Tommy have a face-to-face interaction, revealing how far apart they are in understanding their relationship. Each returns to their own scene and a brief conclusion shows what lies ahead for the two boys.