Karen Ruetz

Karen Ruetz

Over twenty years ago, Karen auditioned for her first theatrical production, and she has been addicted to theatre ever since. Primarily a full-length playwright, her comedies have been described as "a little bit of naughty and a whole lotta funny", while her dramas focus on issues of relationships and self-discovery. Most of her plays have significant roles for women.

Her first...
Over twenty years ago, Karen auditioned for her first theatrical production, and she has been addicted to theatre ever since. Primarily a full-length playwright, her comedies have been described as "a little bit of naughty and a whole lotta funny", while her dramas focus on issues of relationships and self-discovery. Most of her plays have significant roles for women.

Her first production, For A Good Time, Mary, took place in 2019. During 2020, Karen had numerous short plays produced either on stage or on the Zoom platform. Her comedy, Mary, will be produced for the second time in 2023, her Appalachian drama, Trillium, was workshopped in 2022 and will be produced in NC in 2023, and her TYA Drama, Discovering June, was a finalist at The Growing Stage in NJ. Karen is a member of the Dramatists Guild, and participates in the several writing groups in the Atlanta area including Merely Writers.

Plays

  • For A Good Time, Mary by Karen Ruetz
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    6
    ·
    Genre: comedy
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    Keyword: Family Secrets, mostly roles for women/female playwright + 4 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: Family Secrets, mostly roles for women/female playwright, unemployment, phone sex, aging parents, parental/friendship/romantic love
    Described as a little bit naughty and a whole lot of funny, audiences will have a good time with Mary! When Ed gets laid off after 23 years, his wife Mary has no idea how they are going to make ends meet until he finds a new job. Mary has never worked outside the home, and she has Ed’s 84 year old mother to take care of. When her friend, Jenny, asks Mary to take over her side business while she’s on a cruise,...
    Described as a little bit naughty and a whole lot of funny, audiences will have a good time with Mary! When Ed gets laid off after 23 years, his wife Mary has no idea how they are going to make ends meet until he finds a new job. Mary has never worked outside the home, and she has Ed’s 84 year old mother to take care of. When her friend, Jenny, asks Mary to take over her side business while she’s on a cruise, Mary sees it as her opportunity to help meet the family’s expenses, but will she be able to keep it secret that she is now working as a Phone Sex Operator?
  • The Art of Deception by Karen Ruetz
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    5
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: mother and daughter relationship, deception + 4 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: mother and daughter relationship, deception, family lies, jealousy, art, Mostly female cast by female playwright
    Lila, a former art teacher, is discovering her artistic voice as her mind declines from Alzheimer's disease. When she decides to give her daughter her first completed painting, Jennifer makes the decision to give the painting to her best friend. This decision starts an avalanche of lies and deceit that could ultimately destroy her fragile relationship with her mother as well as with her friend.
  • Trillium by Karen Ruetz
    Cast: 
    6
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: magic, love + 5 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: magic, love, revenge, Appalachian Mountains, romantic jealousy, changing the past, Mostly female cast by female playwright
    Granny always warned Maeve not to interfere with love, but when Sarah, an old friend, comes to her for a love potion, Maeve reluctantly agrees to help her. Hoping to heal past wounds of a broken friendship, Maeve unknowingly opens Pandora’s box, releasing unfortunate events that will change her life. Set in the mountains of Appalachia, Trillium is a tale of magic, love, jealousy and revenge.
  • Ring My Bell, Ramona by Karen Ruetz
    Cast: 
    5
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama
    ·
    Keyword: guilt and redemption, blackmail + 5 more
    Genre: comedy, drama
    Keyword: guilt and redemption, blackmail, scandal, dealing with religion, reputation, dark secret, Mostly female cast by female playwright
    Pastor Brownfield has what appears to be a perfect life, a devoted wife and the respect of his community. However, the Pastor has a dark secret. When he gets an email that threatens to expose him for bitcoin, he wrestles with what to do. Does he take desperate measures to avoid exposure and go against his values or does he reveal his secret and destroy his perfect life?
  • Discovering June by Karen Ruetz
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    8–20
    ·
    Genre: drama, fantasy + 2 more
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    Keyword: Georgia, self-discovery + 3 more
    Genre: drama, fantasy, movement/physical, young audiences
    Keyword: Georgia, self-discovery, animal characters, Flexible Casting, American slavery
    Jenna’s mother, June, died when Jenna was very young, and Jenna secretly desires to be an artist like her mother was. Her father, who recently remarried, brings Jenna to stay on a remote island with her Grandmother, a woman she hasn’t seen in twelve years, so he and his new wife can go on their honeymoon. While on the island, Jenna begins to discover more about her mother as she copes with life in this remote...
    Jenna’s mother, June, died when Jenna was very young, and Jenna secretly desires to be an artist like her mother was. Her father, who recently remarried, brings Jenna to stay on a remote island with her Grandmother, a woman she hasn’t seen in twelve years, so he and his new wife can go on their honeymoon. While on the island, Jenna begins to discover more about her mother as she copes with life in this remote and wild place, and finds out things about herself as well. There is a second version with fewer characters available also. Contact Karen for more information.
  • A Good Move by Karen Ruetz
    Cast: 
    5
    ·
    Genre: comedy
    ·
    Keyword: family, misogyny + 1 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: family, misogyny, female revenge
    It’s time to move Grammy out of her home and into the home of her son and daughter-in-law, and no one is very happy about the idea, especially Grammy. But when her landlord, Arnold, tries to put his “good moves” on both Mary and her daughter Sam, it might just be enough to bring the whole family together to have their revenge.
  • Bobnu Zerok, A Short Halloween play by Karen Ruetz
    Recommendations: 1
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    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy, science fiction + 1 more
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    Keyword: aliens, halloween + 2 more
    Genre: comedy, science fiction, young audiences
    Keyword: aliens, halloween, kids, trick or treat
    Bobnu Zerok has landed on Earth and is looking to make contact with Earthlings. What happens when he encounters a brother and sister out Trick or Treating. Will they believe he's a real alien?
  • The Scariest Animal Society, a play featuring child actors by Karen Ruetz
    Cast: 
    5
    ·
    Genre: comedy, holiday + 1 more
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    Keyword: children's theatre, halloween
    Genre: comedy, holiday, young audiences
    Keyword: children's theatre, halloween
    The world's scariest animals have gathered for their annual meeting to choose the Scariest Animal to represent them for Halloween.
  • Broken Hearts by Karen Ruetz
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: infidelity, Two women + 4 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: infidelity, Two women, women characters, Hospital, conflict, A Family issue
    Hillary is waiting in a hospital waiting room for news of her husband who is having bypass surgery, when a frazzled young woman joins her. As they become acquainted, they find they have more in common than they thought.
  • Common Ground by Karen Ruetz
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: transgender teen, reconciliation + 3 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: transgender teen, reconciliation, cancer, gender bias, family conflict
    Beth and Michael are facing a dilemma trying to find a place for their father to stay while he is undergoing cancer treatment. He is not an easy person to get along with, and Beth’s son, a transgender teen, dreads having his grandfather living in his home for the summer. Could something as simple as a book, help a teenager and his grandfather find common ground?
  • Zoom Dump by Karen Ruetz
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama
    ·
    Keyword: a young couple, breakup + 1 more
    Genre: comedy, drama
    Keyword: a young couple, breakup, awkward encounters
    A play written for Zoom. Cheryl and Jake have been seriously dating and are talking via Zoom. Jake has bad news for Cheryl. Is he going to dump her on a zoom call?
  • It's Just Coffee by Karen Ruetz
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
    ·
    Keyword: divorce, reconciliation + 2 more
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
    Keyword: divorce, reconciliation, family, awkward encounters
    Ally and Carl have been divorced for two years when they have a chance encounter in a coffee shop. Will Carl's confession rekindle their relationship?

  • No More, Santa by Karen Ruetz
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy
    ·
    Keyword: holiday, christmas + 4 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: holiday, christmas, adult situations, female empowerment Viagra, Santa, Mrs. Claus
    Mrs. Claus is not happy when she discovers Santa has been taking male sexual enhancement drugs. She goes to his urologists's office to confront his doctor, but will Mrs. Claus be able to maintain her composure or will she hit the roof?
  • The Séance by Karen Ruetz
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: comedy
    ·
    Keyword: Scary, seance + 2 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: Scary, seance, halloween, spooky
    Two siblings hire a sketchy medium, Madame Zelda, to conduct a séance for their Uncle Elbert.
  • Ice, Ice, Santa by Karen Ruetz
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy
    ·
    Keyword: christmas, Santa + 4 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: christmas, Santa, elves, Homeland Security, federal government, ice
    It’s getting close to Christmas, and Santa has his hands full. When an employee of Homeland Security (ICE) comes to verify documentation of Santa's elves, Santa and Mrs. Claus have to think fast or the elves will be deported.
  • Left on the Shelf by Karen Ruetz
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy, zoom
    ·
    Keyword: christmas, a short Zoom play + 1 more
    Genre: comedy, zoom
    Keyword: christmas, a short Zoom play, superhero
    It's Christmas Eve and three dolls are left on the shelf in the store. Their hope is running out that someone will come buy them in time. Will the Superhero doll come through in time to save the day?
  • No More Santa (Zoom) by Karen Ruetz
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, zoom
    ·
    Keyword: a short Zoom play, christmas + 1 more
    Genre: comedy, zoom
    Keyword: a short Zoom play, christmas, adult comedy
    Mrs. Claus has a Zoom call with Santa's urologist. Apparently Santa has been taking male enhancement drugs and Mrs. Claus has had enough! Can Mrs. Claus overcome her mild demeanor and convince the doctor to listen to her complaints?
  • Zoommates, A Ten Minute Zoom Comedy by Karen Ruetz
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy
    ·
    Keyword: counseling, Therapy + 1 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: counseling, Therapy, roommates
    Carl is not happy with Frank, his roommate, and sets up a counseling session with Susan, a counselor with Roommates. Can Susan help Frank and Carl's relationship?
  • Heart Attack by Karen Ruetz
    Recommendations: 3
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy
    ·
    Keyword: infidelity, friendship + 3 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy
    Keyword: infidelity, friendship, women's relationships, marriage, dating
    Two women meet for the first time in a cardiac surgical waiting room. What will happen when they discover they are both waiting for the same man?
  • Miracle Coconut Delight Cake, A monologue by Karen Ruetz
    Cast: 
    1
    ·
    Genre: comedy
    ·
    Keyword: family
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: family
    Courtney is horrified that her sister wants her to bake the famous family cake for her Great Uncle Elbert. In a hilarious monologue she eventually talks herself into buying one.