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Marj O'Neill-Butler

Recommended by Marj O'Neill-Butler

  • Ashes, Crumbs, and Stardust by Alisha Espinosa
    4 Dec. 2019
    “ Time shifts and texting between two young people make this play interesting to read and imagine staged. What makes a woman hang on to a relationship when her partner is clearly with someone else? What makes a man involve himself in an affair when his current relationship is going nowhere? Colleges might consider producing this piece as it speaks to a younger generation. ”
  • Slaying Holofernes by Emily McClain
    1 Dec. 2019
    “ History repeats itself unfortunately. This play uses two completely different time periods to expose the treatment that women have had and still have in the workplace. The characters are richly drawn and clearly indicate that we still have a long way to go before sexes are equal in every respect. The juxtaposition of the two women's lives is cleverly drawn and interesting. ”
  • Back to Normal by Tom Moran
    27 Nov. 2019
    “ This is a clever and funny riff on achievement or lack of it. Dear me, is this where we are headed? The dumbing down of everything that smells of grace, brains, and righteousness. I hope this play shines the light on the stupidity of some people and their "ideas". ”
  • The Way You Say My Name by Louis DeVaughn Nelson
    23 Nov. 2019
    “ A romantic farewell; a yearning to stay; will they see each other again? This piece is a dance between the two lovers. The connection between them is palatable. Very French and very romantic. ”
  • Fable by Doug DeVita
    10 Nov. 2019
    “ This play about the making of the musical Gypsy is imaginative and full of historical tidbits about the lives of "Baby" June, Gypsy Rose Lee, Ethel Merman and others. It is cleverly written with flashbacks and and scenes of what might have taken place to get the show up and running. It was particularly interesting to me because a young girl in my dancing school played the original part of Rose and the backend of the cow. The piece easily moves between decades, all the while keeping the story flowing. Very clever piece. ”
  • Everything But Dead by Richard Lyons Conlon
    6 Oct. 2019
    “ This is a hard play to watch. I heard it read at the Midwest Dramatists Convention. Silence kills almost as badly as violence. Karissa has lived with a secret all her married life. Now she has a chance to end the relationship, but is being pressured by his relatives to give it more time. Her friend Gina is encouraging her to do what she has to do to free herself from this man. Several twists and turns in this 10 minute play keep the listener raptly involved. An excellent drama in short form. ”
  • WE THREE 10-minute drama by Arianna Rose
    22 Jul. 2019
    “ This piece about high school best friends celebrating their reunion and finally telling secrets is breathtaking. The characters are well drawn and real. The secret is devastating and difficult. In the end, friendship is the thing that binds these three, Heartbreaking, hard and beautiful. ”
  • THE KITCHEN by Rachael Carnes
    14 Jun. 2019
    “ All mothers have experienced bits of this true, telling monologue. The feeling of failure. The feeling of love.
    Their annoying children. ”
  • Miss American Pie by Gwendolyn Rice
    13 Jun. 2019
    “ This monologue, about making a pie, is really an interesting lesson about the people who have created this country . There are political overtones without lecturing, a beautiful story about friendship, and the sad aspects of immigration. A fascinating piece of theatre. ”
  • Ruffles and Me in Space (10-minute) by Paco José Madden
    28 May. 2019
    “ I thought as I picked this piece to read, I would know what it was about. But the story of this shooting is told with such empathy, such honesty, that I was unprepared for the ending. The vision of the town made my heart ache. When will it stop? ”

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