Hollis Beck

Hollis Beck

Hollis Beck crafts stories about queer identity, found-family structures and people who try very hard. Graduate of New York University Tisch, Playwrights Horizons Theater School. Past participant of Crashbox Theater Company's "Read. Play. Write!" initiative ("Tinker Rising"). Past participant of Undiscovered Countries' "Blast Off!" development program for new work ("Lonely Skies").

Plays

  • I Love You, Vivian James
    Two childhood friends graduate from college in the summer of 2014. Both women find themselves embroiled in a series of events that will collectively become known on Twitter and beyond as #GamerGate. Ashe, anxious and idealistic, takes up the mantle of Social Justice Warrior as she pursues her career as a journalist while Lexi, disaffected and aimless, kicks off her budding artistic career by moonlighting as a...
    Two childhood friends graduate from college in the summer of 2014. Both women find themselves embroiled in a series of events that will collectively become known on Twitter and beyond as #GamerGate. Ashe, anxious and idealistic, takes up the mantle of Social Justice Warrior as she pursues her career as a journalist while Lexi, disaffected and aimless, kicks off her budding artistic career by moonlighting as a fanartist who exclusively draws art centered around 4-Chan creation, Vivian James. As Ashe and Lexi become more and more entrenched in either side of the conflict, they attempt to find each others' humanity and destroy each other by turns, all the while unaware that many of the trolls they engage with online have moved beyond dialogue and are playing for keeps. A story of growing up, the struggle of defining one's ideals, and how we got here.
  • Tinker Rising
    By night, Victoria terrorizes the streets of Tacoma, Washington as "The Tinker", an up-and-coming supervillain who has yet to find her footing in the crime world. Her career ambitions are complicated when she comes to a startling realization: she's very gay, and very lonely. Between her dating woes, taking care of her teenaged ward, and the arrival of a powerful new superhero, Victoria struggles...
    By night, Victoria terrorizes the streets of Tacoma, Washington as "The Tinker", an up-and-coming supervillain who has yet to find her footing in the crime world. Her career ambitions are complicated when she comes to a startling realization: she's very gay, and very lonely. Between her dating woes, taking care of her teenaged ward, and the arrival of a powerful new superhero, Victoria struggles to find the work-life balance she's always dreamed of. A story of searching for connection, developing principles, and adapting to drastic changes in circumstance.
  • Mechanicals
    Four travelers make their way across a desolate landscape to perform an ancient ritual.
  • Oversight
    As a condition for release from the hospital (after being treated for self-inflicted wounds), Grey has agreed to undergo an experimental trial wherein the people closest to him are allowed 24/7 access to his thoughts and feelings. Grey feels optimistic until realizing he has no choice in the appointment of these "Overseers", and their help, while appreciated, comes at the cost of the privacy and...
    As a condition for release from the hospital (after being treated for self-inflicted wounds), Grey has agreed to undergo an experimental trial wherein the people closest to him are allowed 24/7 access to his thoughts and feelings. Grey feels optimistic until realizing he has no choice in the appointment of these "Overseers", and their help, while appreciated, comes at the cost of the privacy and distance that may have allowed their relationships to thrive in the first place. A story about depression, the cost of safety, and forgiveness.
  • Disappearing Act
    Perfectly normal couple, George and Jennifer, are hopelessly in love and plan to get married, but they are keeping the same secret from each other: their parents are professional stage magicians, and decidedly NOT normal. Although they are rivals for the spotlight, when each set of parents find out that their children are marrying without their notice or consent, they temporarily team up in order to split the...
    Perfectly normal couple, George and Jennifer, are hopelessly in love and plan to get married, but they are keeping the same secret from each other: their parents are professional stage magicians, and decidedly NOT normal. Although they are rivals for the spotlight, when each set of parents find out that their children are marrying without their notice or consent, they temporarily team up in order to split the couple apart using magic and manipulation in equal measure. A story of emotional abuse, the perils and complications of love and marriage, and living up to everything you ever dreamed of.
  • The Dissolution of Braedy, CA
    Fen has spent her whole life wanting to leave Braedy, California, the ghost town she was born in and where she now works as a costumed entertainer for tourists. When a mysterious plague threatens the lives of the few remaining inhabitants of the town, she and her best friend Luke must decide Braedy's fate, as well as determine their own destinies for the first time in their lives. A story about childhood,...
    Fen has spent her whole life wanting to leave Braedy, California, the ghost town she was born in and where she now works as a costumed entertainer for tourists. When a mysterious plague threatens the lives of the few remaining inhabitants of the town, she and her best friend Luke must decide Braedy's fate, as well as determine their own destinies for the first time in their lives. A story about childhood, the destructive powers of nostalgia, and the burdens involved in caring for others.
  • Trust the Beat! Play On Towards Tomorrow!
    Tired of the competitive musicians' scene in Brooklyn, Alex and Kathy (music partners as well as lovers) make the move to Boston, where they discover a suitable performance space in a ramshackle college bar called "The Stain". However, they quickly discover that just because the scenery's changed doesn't mean the business has. Along with Karen, Alex's old college roommate and...
    Tired of the competitive musicians' scene in Brooklyn, Alex and Kathy (music partners as well as lovers) make the move to Boston, where they discover a suitable performance space in a ramshackle college bar called "The Stain". However, they quickly discover that just because the scenery's changed doesn't mean the business has. Along with Karen, Alex's old college roommate and biggest fan, and Yama, a bassist-for-hire with his finger on the pulse of the underground music scene, the musicians navigate new territory in their professional and personal lives. A story of futile love, passionate struggle, and inevitable endings.
  • The Selkye
    Adrianne Rhodes is convinced that she is not a teenaged-girl at all, but in fact a watery nymph who was abandoned at birth by her true parents. She struggles through fits of mania while being aided and harmed by May, her mother and therapist, and Dirk, her companion who happens to be an arsonist. A story of mental illness, the fragility of reality and the destructive powers of true love.
  • The Parrot
    Chloe and Josh have been dating for a few weeks, and Josh thinks it's going pretty well. Chloe, however, often seems as though she's on another planet during their dates. When Josh decides to pop the question one night, things take a turn for the weird as the "couple" works through their issues. A story of one-sided love, secrets, and skeletons that should probably stay in the closet. Ten-...
    Chloe and Josh have been dating for a few weeks, and Josh thinks it's going pretty well. Chloe, however, often seems as though she's on another planet during their dates. When Josh decides to pop the question one night, things take a turn for the weird as the "couple" works through their issues. A story of one-sided love, secrets, and skeletons that should probably stay in the closet. Ten-minute play, 3 characters (2M, 1F).