A Small History of Us by
FULL LENGTH: An abstract cycle of love, time, and survival -- unfolding in fluid and unpredictable movements of history, dreams, fear, hope, and meatloaf.
Previously titled MOTHER/FATHER.
Previously titled MOTHER/FATHER.
John Perovich
John Perovich
John Perovich is a playwright, dramaturg, educator, and theatre maker in Phoenix, AZ. His plays have been performed at Brelby Theatre Company, Arizona State University, B3 Theater, Laughing Pig Theatre, Space 55, Cumberland County Community College, Safe Mode Productions, Little Fish Theatre Collaborative, and New York University. Additionally, Perovich’s work has been selected and presented at the Valdez Last...
John Perovich is a playwright, dramaturg, educator, and theatre maker in Phoenix, AZ. His plays have been performed at Brelby Theatre Company, Arizona State University, B3 Theater, Laughing Pig Theatre, Space 55, Cumberland County Community College, Safe Mode Productions, Little Fish Theatre Collaborative, and New York University. Additionally, Perovich’s work has been selected and presented at the Valdez Last Frontier Theatre Conference, Festival of New American Theatre at The Phoenix Theatre Company, Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, and Mid-America Theatre Conference. Perovich’s latest play—BARDS & BEASTS—comes to Brelby Theatre Company in December 2020.
He is the founding Artistic Director of Now & Then Creative Company, who's mission focuses on the "now"—new play development and productions of new works, while also celebrating the "then"—classics for the stage. He is also the Director of New Play Development at Brelby Theatre Company in Glendale, AZ.
Perovich earned his B.A. in Communications: Radio/TV/Film from Rowan University, M.A. in Educational Theatre from New York University, and his M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing from Arizona State University. He is a member of Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas and is also a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, serving as the Guild's Ambassador for Arizona.
He is the founding Artistic Director of Now & Then Creative Company, who's mission focuses on the "now"—new play development and productions of new works, while also celebrating the "then"—classics for the stage. He is also the Director of New Play Development at Brelby Theatre Company in Glendale, AZ.
Perovich earned his B.A. in Communications: Radio/TV/Film from Rowan University, M.A. in Educational Theatre from New York University, and his M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing from Arizona State University. He is a member of Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas and is also a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, serving as the Guild's Ambassador for Arizona.
Plays
Another Healthy Relationship by John Perovich
Recommendations: 1··Cast:2Genre: comedy, drama + 1 more·Keyword: awkward relationships, communication/miscommunication + 8 moreGenre: comedy, drama, experimentalKeyword: awkward relationships, communication/miscommunication, poetry, abstract, all gender, a young couple, bittersweet love story, bittersweet, monologue, inclusion10 MINUTE: Avery and Parker made the decision to take their friendship to the next level. ANOTHER HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP is a meditation on miscommunication, light houses, and french fries.Another Holiday Invitation From the Family by John Perovich
·Cast:2Genre: comedy, holiday + 1 more·Keyword: christmas, A Family Comedy + 1 moreGenre: comedy, holiday, zoomKeyword: christmas, A Family Comedy, COVID10 MINUTE: When Bill attempts to talk with his brother about holiday plans during COVID, things take a peculiar turn in this short comedy for all ages.Be My Little Baby by John Perovich
Recommendations: 5··Cast:6Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 1 more·Keyword: cowboys, Astral Projection + 2 moreGenre: comedy, dark comedy, fantasyKeyword: cowboys, Astral Projection, pancakes, dark comedyFULL LENGTH: Johnny has endured years of homeschooling from his overprotective Mother while his sister Heather gets to go to school. Johnny finds relief with LaRue, an imaginary friend. When Heather's boyfriend Bobby threatens to harm her and her best friend, Johnny turns to LaRue for advice that is literally out of this world. BE MY LITTLE BABY is a dark comedy about acceptance, astral projection, and cowboys.Fine by John Perovich
Recommendations: 1··Cast:2Genre: comedy, drama·Keyword: roommates, assumptions + 7 moreGenre: comedy, dramaKeyword: roommates, assumptions, cultural and racial divides, stereotypes, Cereal, college, all female cast, argument, Roommate Hell10 MINUTE: Meg thinks her roommate Jaqala ate her cereal, but Jaqala denies it. FINE explores how stereotypes, assumptions, and fears get in the way of human connection.Higher Ground by John Perovich
·Cast:7–9Genre: drama, horror + 3 more·Keyword: dark, horror + 7 moreGenre: drama, horror, mystery/thriller, science fiction, tragedyKeyword: dark, horror, drama, Scary, psychological, dark thriller, abusive Father, Gay and LGBTQ, surprise endingFULL LENGTH: A 14 year old boy named Wayne believes the world is ending as a hurricane quickly approaches his hometown. His Mom thinks he watches too much TV and his Dad is worried that he doesn’t have what it takes to be a "real man." Internal and external pressures accumulate, motivating Wayne to cleanse the badness of his world before it’s too late.I Give Up by John Perovich by John Perovich
·Cast:2Genre: comedy·Keyword: roommates, decisions + 7 moreGenre: comedyKeyword: roommates, decisions, communication/miscommunication, bros, bad romance, missed chances, millennials, college age, honesty10 MINUTE: When Pat decides to leave an important decision up to chance, his roommate pressures Pat to make the decision for himself. I GIVE UP examines the difficulties of communication, the challenges of honesty, and the troubles of the heart.Missing Grace by John Perovich
Recommendations: 2··Cast:3Genre: dark comedy, drama + 2 more·Keyword: family, broken marriage + 3 moreGenre: dark comedy, drama, mystery/thriller, tragedyKeyword: family, broken marriage, loss of a child, magical realism, SuburbsFULL LENGTH: Grace and Robert Davis have the perfect house, the perfect landscaping, and the perfect marriage, until something shatters it all. They know they're falling apart, and so does Allison—Grace’s concerned cousin. Relationships are tested in this family drama about honesty and going the distance for the ones you love.My Love | My Lumberjack by John Perovich
Recommendations: 1··Cast:8Genre: adventure, dark comedy + 7 more·Keyword: dark comedy, Fantasy + 4 moreGenre: adventure, dark comedy, drama, fable/folktale, fantasy, horror, melodrama, mystery/thriller, tragedyKeyword: dark comedy, Fantasy, fairy tale, surprise, twist, lynchianFULL LENGTH: In an eerie forest by the sea, far removed from the comfort of her village, Sandra escapes from loneliness into the arms of Peter, her simple, handsome lumberjack. One night, when Sandra is unable to sleep, she ventures into the woods and encounters something…otherworldly. Elsewhere, Captain Jabipidy Jones—a regretful, vicious pirate—is preparing to make landfall after complications onboard his...FULL LENGTH: In an eerie forest by the sea, far removed from the comfort of her village, Sandra escapes from loneliness into the arms of Peter, her simple, handsome lumberjack. One night, when Sandra is unable to sleep, she ventures into the woods and encounters something…otherworldly. Elsewhere, Captain Jabipidy Jones—a regretful, vicious pirate—is preparing to make landfall after complications onboard his ship, Poseidon’s Regret. Unable to break free of the questions from her ghastly confrontation, Sandra begins a dangerous journey where many truths collide…and nothing is what it seems. MY LOVE | MY LUMBERJACK is a fairy tale for adults about trust, naïvety, manipulation, darkness, and the hazards of love.On Display by John Perovich
Recommendations: 1··Cast:3Genre: dark comedy, drama + 1 more·Keyword: magical realism, Art and Artists + 5 moreGenre: dark comedy, drama, tragedyKeyword: magical realism, Art and Artists, Jackson Pollock, Caravaggio, Exploitation, creativity, dark romanceFULL LENGTH: How far would you go to get what you want? Jack, a shut-in artist in the Lower East Side, is faced with tough choices once his mother unexpectedly passes. The artist is further thrown off balance with the arrival of Mary, a grocer who makes home deliveries. Mary is determined to get Jack's work into a gallery with the help of a curator. Their innocent partnership develops into a dangerous...FULL LENGTH: How far would you go to get what you want? Jack, a shut-in artist in the Lower East Side, is faced with tough choices once his mother unexpectedly passes. The artist is further thrown off balance with the arrival of Mary, a grocer who makes home deliveries. Mary is determined to get Jack's work into a gallery with the help of a curator. Their innocent partnership develops into a dangerous dance of exploitation. Splatter paintings are a grisly metaphor in this play about art, abuse, and revealing the unseen.Pillowcase by John Perovich
·Cast:2Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 3 more·Keyword: mother and daughter, all female cast + 7 moreGenre: comedy, dark comedy, holiday, horror, mystery/thrillerKeyword: mother and daughter, all female cast, dark comedy, alternative Christmas, Alternative Holiday, dark holiday, female bonding, twisted Christmas, surprise ending10 MINUTE: After a salacious event rocks Josephine’s world, she seeks help from the only person she can trust—her Mother. PILLOWCASE is a dark comedy that questions that age-old notion, “Can Mommy really make it all better?”Poseidon's Regret by John Perovich
Recommendations: 1··Cast:6Genre: adventure, comedy + 2 more·Keyword: adventure, pirate + 7 moreGenre: adventure, comedy, fable/folktale, fantasyKeyword: adventure, pirate, high seas, family, Fantasy, stage combat, romance, absent father, comedyFULL LENGTH: Eli’s father left him and his mother when he was an infant. 35 years later, having already lost his mother, Eli learns of his father’s identity (a successful children’s author) when he inherits his cabin in Bar Harbor, Maine. Eli hopes to simply sell the property, but when he reluctantly begins reading his father’s stories of sailors, sea monsters, and the notorious Captain Jabipidy Jones, Eli...FULL LENGTH: Eli’s father left him and his mother when he was an infant. 35 years later, having already lost his mother, Eli learns of his father’s identity (a successful children’s author) when he inherits his cabin in Bar Harbor, Maine. Eli hopes to simply sell the property, but when he reluctantly begins reading his father’s stories of sailors, sea monsters, and the notorious Captain Jabipidy Jones, Eli takes to the seven seas for revenge against the man who abandoned him so many years ago.Powerhouse: The Tesla Musical by John Perovich
·Cast:10–14Genre: biography, docudrama/historic + 4 more·Keyword: musical, History + 3 moreGenre: biography, docudrama/historic, drama, musical, period, tragedyKeyword: musical, History, science, biography, famous peopleFULL LENGTH MUSICAL (sample provided - full version available upon request): Book by Brian Maticic & John Perovich; Music by CJ O'Hara - POWERHOUSE: THE TESLA MUSICAL takes audiences through the electric, crazed passion of Nikola Tesla. Engineer, inventor, and physicist, it was seemingly impossible to stop the brilliant vision of this man who registered over 300 patents. The musical explores key...FULL LENGTH MUSICAL (sample provided - full version available upon request): Book by Brian Maticic & John Perovich; Music by CJ O'Hara - POWERHOUSE: THE TESLA MUSICAL takes audiences through the electric, crazed passion of Nikola Tesla. Engineer, inventor, and physicist, it was seemingly impossible to stop the brilliant vision of this man who registered over 300 patents. The musical explores key triumphs and challenges throughout Tesla’s unorthodox life—with particular focus on the inventor’s most grandiose and controversial project. Witness a true “powerhouse” unleashed in this premiere musical event.Shallow Grave by John Perovich
·Cast:9Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 4 more·Keyword: family, death in the family + 7 moreGenre: comedy, dark comedy, drama, faith-based, mystery/thriller, romantic comedyKeyword: family, death in the family, ghosts, mystery, dark comedy, reconciliation, discussions of suicide, faith, Mental HealthFULL LENGTH: Maggie’s family gathers for the funeral of her husband. Her children begin to suspect the worst as they uncover details about their father’s death. Relationships are tested and upended and painful secrets are revealed in this comedy about love, loss and the importance of family.Simple by John Perovich
·Cast:2Genre: dark comedy, drama + 2 more·Keyword: tense situation, dark comedy + 4 moreGenre: dark comedy, drama, mystery/thriller, tragedyKeyword: tense situation, dark comedy, Existential Absurdism, mystery, surprise ending, faith crisisONE ACT: Allen is thrown into a seemingly inescapable room with a table and a hammer. The room’s interior decorator—Lisa—arrives, but refuses to help Allen leave the room until he manages to meet the right circumstances for the door to open.The Breakup Play by John Perovich
Recommendations: 1··Cast:2Genre: comedy·Keyword: breakups, 2 hander + 1 moreGenre: comedyKeyword: breakups, 2 hander, simple set10 MINUTE: Lora and Jimmy are at that wonderful time in their relationship when they think they know what they want. But do they? Do they though? THE BREAKUP PLAY is a funny, sad, desperate roller coaster of what to do when love is at a crossroads.The Broken Age by John Perovich
Recommendations: 3··Cast:4Genre: dark comedy, fantasy + 3 more·Keyword: Cosmic Horror, dark comedy + 2 moreGenre: dark comedy, fantasy, horror, mystery/thriller, science fictionKeyword: Cosmic Horror, dark comedy, roommates, Roommate HellONE ACT: Wayne’s relationship with Annie fails as he simultaneously has visions of God descending to Earth in a spaceship. Unsure and confused by his visions, Wayne finds no help from Annie or his roommate Bill. After Wayne approaches Dr. Stevens, an art history professor, he learns that his visions might be a prophecy of what’s to come. THE BROKEN AGE is a science fiction exploration into friendship,...ONE ACT: Wayne’s relationship with Annie fails as he simultaneously has visions of God descending to Earth in a spaceship. Unsure and confused by his visions, Wayne finds no help from Annie or his roommate Bill. After Wayne approaches Dr. Stevens, an art history professor, he learns that his visions might be a prophecy of what’s to come. THE BROKEN AGE is a science fiction exploration into friendship, loneliness, faith…and the apocalypse.The Date Play by John Perovich
Recommendations: 1··Cast:3Genre: comedy·Keyword: first date, dating + 3 moreGenre: comedyKeyword: first date, dating, dating apps, awkward conversations, infomercial10 MINUTE: It's been about a month since Holly and Sam met. Tonight, they are on their first date. THE DATE PLAY examines communication, connection, and the cherries at the bottom of our drinks.The Legend of Cleopatra's Nose & Sam "Big Toe" Taylor by John Perovich
·Cast:12Genre: adventure, comedy + 4 more·Keyword: family, Western + 6 moreGenre: adventure, comedy, fable/folktale, melodrama, parody/spoof, romantic comedyKeyword: family, Western, comedy, sometimes silly, mellerdrammer, cartoons, heroes and villains, classic comedyFULL LENGTH: In the town of Bootstrap, Texas, lives Sam Taylor, a young man who dreams of more than sweeping floors at the famous Two Left Feet Saloon. Always getting picked on, Sam’s best friend Josephine often encourages him to stick up for himself. When the town receives a mysterious threat from Mustachio Von Staunkerschmidt, Sam’s life is swept up into a world of danger, adventure, and going the extra...FULL LENGTH: In the town of Bootstrap, Texas, lives Sam Taylor, a young man who dreams of more than sweeping floors at the famous Two Left Feet Saloon. Always getting picked on, Sam’s best friend Josephine often encourages him to stick up for himself. When the town receives a mysterious threat from Mustachio Von Staunkerschmidt, Sam’s life is swept up into a world of danger, adventure, and going the extra distance to do the right thing. This play guarantees fun and surprises for the whole family to enjoy.The Macbethest Christmas Pageant Spectaculathon...Ever! by John Perovich
Recommendations: 7··Cast:8Genre: adaptation, comedy + 6 more·Keyword: alternative Christmas, twisted Christmas + 8 moreGenre: adaptation, comedy, dark comedy, farce, holiday, horror, parody/spoof, satireKeyword: alternative Christmas, twisted Christmas, dark Christmas, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, bad Santa, dark comedy, hilarious, adaptation, based on ShakespeareFULL LENGTH: What are elves to do when Santa maintains dangerous working conditions? Bring your friends and leave the young ones at home (we're serious!) for a debaucherous dinner party hosted by Lady M. Something wicked this way comes—and it’s called the holiday spirit!The Ordinaries by John Perovich
·Cast:2Genre: comedy, drama + 1 more·Keyword: magical realism, a young couple + 6 moreGenre: comedy, drama, romantic comedyKeyword: magical realism, a young couple, imagination vs. reality, Married couple, ordinary people, backyard, stars, Almost Maine10 MINUTE: Sam and Kathy lead ordinary, boring lives. One night, Sam restlessly wanders in the backyard as a concerned Kathy watches from the house. When Kathy confronts Sam’s unusual behavior, something extraordinary happens.Spy Love You by John Perovich
Recommendations: 2··Cast:10Genre: adventure, comedy + 5 more·Keyword: spy, fast-paced + 8 moreGenre: adventure, comedy, farce, movement/physical, parody/spoof, satire, science fictionKeyword: spy, fast-paced, absurd, parody, surprise ending, twist, stage combat, family friendly, romantic comedy, something for everyoneFULL LENGTH: Charlie and Kate always had big dreams of being spies for the C.I.A., but they settled for working in mall security…at least that’s what their willing to share with each other—hey, it’s classified! What happens when our seemingly innocent couple hides their spy shenanigans? Hilarity ensues as they go under cover to prevent a criminal mastermind from destroying planet Earth! SPY LOVE YOU pays...FULL LENGTH: Charlie and Kate always had big dreams of being spies for the C.I.A., but they settled for working in mall security…at least that’s what their willing to share with each other—hey, it’s classified! What happens when our seemingly innocent couple hides their spy shenanigans? Hilarity ensues as they go under cover to prevent a criminal mastermind from destroying planet Earth! SPY LOVE YOU pays tribute to its genre while packing its laughs and surprises at break-neck speed for the whole family to enjoy!Unexpected by John Perovich
Recommendations: 1··Cast:8Genre: adaptation, adventure + 7 more·Keyword: Greek mythology, love + 6 moreGenre: adaptation, adventure, comedy, dark comedy, drama, fable/folktale, fantasy, romantic comedy, tragedyKeyword: Greek mythology, love, romance, unexpected twists, Fantasy, family, broken heart, absent fatherFULL LENGTH: In a village by the sea, an overprotective mother struggles to keep her three daughters from ever falling in love. The mother’s wishes are met with resistance when a mysterious merchant washes ashore. Love is in the air as each person struggles to listen to the love in their heart. UNEXPECTED is a dark comedy about curiosity, disobedience, honesty, and family—the one we have and the one we choose.