Philip Kaplan

Jen returns home to comfort her devastated parents after her brother, Cody, deliberately explodes a van in Louisville, killing himself and five other people Jen encounters Cody’s ghost, or is it only a delusion? What happened to Cody? Who’s to blame and does it matter? How does a family move forward from tragedy?

Kelly Nolan is implicated in Hospitalgate, a political scandal, and is currently hiding from the press at her Aunt Maura’s house. As a way to get her side of the story out, they enlist Brad, a slow-witted reporter, who they feel they will be able to manipulate. However, Brad proves to be a surprisingly good researcher and uncovers damaging secrets about Maura. Who is innocent and guilty, and how can we tell?

Marta has sacrificed her life to care for her ailing father, Herman. Enter Ken, an awkward comic book historian, searching for proof that Herman wrote Dr. Hydra and the Eye, a short-lived, but influential comic book. Ken has written a Dr. Hydra screenplay, but needs the rights in order to get it produced. Marta is willing to help but she knows nothing of this aspect of her father’s past, and Herman has advanced Alzheimer’s. However, there are boxes to explore and secrets to uncover.

Alan, a 73 year old widower, lives on his own in New York City and has been unable to get past his grief. His son, Craig, worried that Alan is foundering, goes behind Alan’s back to arrange for Lisa, a 21-year old college student from Colorado, to rent the spare bedroom. Alan reluctantly accepts Lisa as a roommate, and learns that she too has suffered an unbearable loss when her best friend died in a mass shooting. Together they help each other find their way and break out of their self-imposed comfort zone.

Holiday photos from Diane Arbus

Sienna is a star in the Virtual Pornography world, but who is Sienna in real life, and why is she so furious?

Lisa tries to take her mind off her Planned Parenthood appointment, and the protesters outside, while she and her best friend wait in the waiting room. (In honor of the Planned Parenthood clinic shooting, Colorado Springs, Colorado 11/27/2015. )

Nothing is going to stop Brenda from throwing a great dinner for the President of Ohio. It’s difficult because life is difficult in post climate change Cincinnati in the year 2070. If the dinner goes well her husband, Mr. Deming, will be made a Judge, and the family gets to move to the climate controlled Bunkerplex, home of the Titans of Industry. If not, the family will stay in their world of famine, flooding and disease. There are, however, a few problems. The cook just died, Brenda’s step-daughter is a drug addict who wants to die, Mr. Deming has a potentially fatal secret, the Girl Scouts want to assassinate the President and what can you make for dinner when you only have lima beans and cat food?

Through a series of accidents, Peter, a sixth grader, develops superpowers and becomes Bunnyboy. Now what? Peter and his friends Skip and Karen, discover, it’s complicated being a superhero – there’s no manual. And when Bunnyboy has to face an actual super villain, the Animal Master, is he up for the task? And will he get his homework in on time?

A brother and sister politely fight at their father's funeral.

Todd confronts his feelings of anger, loss and resentment as he realizes that, thanks to Alzheimer's, his mother no longer remembers him. However, she can't stop talking about Todd's younger brother, Scott. Todd's mother is fading in front of his eyes, and there's nothing he can do about it.

A Zoom meeting so bad you might not survive, as a team tries to get to know a new and disturbing member.

Jodi is trying to avoid some bad news

Gary has prepared for the worst, and he's gotten it.

Maya awards herself for her bad decisions.

"Love takes time ... and timing."

THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE is a bittersweet romantic comedy covering 40 years in six scenes. In college RON is smitten with WANDA who is his ideal girl, and he dreams of his upcoming date, which will not go well. But time and circumstances change the next time they meet seven years later. The play follows them through the years, as they struggle with success and failure, sickness and health, family issues and ultimately marriage. 

A game show to decide who is a good guy with a gun, not a bad guy with a gun.

From a hotel lobby Stuart virtually attends a Naming Party, a Funeral and a Bachelor Party. He's great on the Internet, but in person, not so much.

(w C.J. Ehrlich)

Terrorism is Easy. Marriage is Complicated!

When nebishy, newly-separated Max decides to put his toes in the dating waters behind his soon-to-be ex's back, he finds himself up to his neck in a terrorist plot involving cupcakes. Really evil cupcakes. His date with the sultry Natasha could be the best or worst night of his life, if he can stay ahead of her evil plot, and more important, keep his wife from finding out.

An audience-pleasing romp, with the feel of a contemporary comedy, THE CUPCAKE CONSPIRACY also delves into the topical issues of how stress and selfishness can tear apart a marriage (or create a terrorist).

“Clever, fun, funny” - Nancy Churnin, Dallas Morning News

“WOW. If you don’t like to laugh, if you are offended by sharp wit... or if you have a problem with hilarity in general, you should not see this play.” - Chris Cortinas theatre blog, Plano TX

“A clever, scrumptious diversion” - National Examiner.com
"It's hard to resist the genius of playwrighting duo C.J. Ehrlich and Phillip J. Kaplan's premise that one could devise a volatile, yet scrumptious cupcake, as twisted and mindblowing as slipping LSD into a Yoohoo (thank you, Pauline Kael). Cupcake Conspiracy is not absurdist, but takes great mirth from appreciating the absurd. The ridiculous... On one level you could say Cupcake Conspiracy is a study of how we are so imprisoned by personal worldview, we are blinded to what we desperately need to see. Another interpretation (not necessarily a contradiction) is : No matter how imbecilic our mistakes, some higher intelligence trumps human folly."

Read the review: www.examiner.com/review/rover-s-cupcake-conspiracy-a-clever-scrumptious…

"A farce with icing on top" - Sequim (WA) Gazette

Cast of 6: 4 principals (2W, 2M) plus two actors (2W/M) tripling in six supporting roles. One of the four leads must have great facility with dialects and be able to change character on a dime. Extras may be added in most scenes, if desired.

Running time: approx 90 min. Sets can be suggested or elaborate.

Other accolades: Finalist - Charles Getchell Award
Finalist - Mountain Playhouse International Comedy competition

Seth Gladding thinks his girlfriend Nikki Chipman’s finally invited him over to meet her parents. But when he arrives for what may turn into the worst evening of his life, Nikki admits that her mysterious family’s been under FBI surveillance ever since her father was shot while trying to hold the Lincoln Memorial hostage, and the case can’t be closed until the Chipmans trick the Feds into believing that her brother Vlad is a pussycat and not the anarchist he really is. It’s simple. All Seth must do to win Nikki’s undying love is to lie to the FBI, and be Vlad.

But now Seth has to hide the fact that he’s the cop who accidentally shot the kook at the Lincoln Memorial!

Can Seth keep his angry girlfriend happy? Will the real Vlad appear and ruin everything? After a year of watching Connie Chipman and her family, will FBI Agent Sullivan declare his love, or just throw Connie in jail? Will Connie snap out of her depression long enough to cook dinner? Is Connie’s friend Haven the man he says he is, and how many toes does he really have? Will Agent Sullivan learn what drives a person to political activism? And will anyone get to eat dinner in this zany political farce?

Sandi knows that something’s wrong. The front door lock has been changed. The calendar doesn’t make sense. Burglars are stealing her things. Her husband and daughter are conspiring against her. Why is everything different? Why is everything gone? Unbeknownst to Sandi, she has Alzheimer’s, and is gradually disappearing. Sandi is losing herself, but not without a struggle.