Recommended by Brian Cern

  • Brian Cern: 153

    A touching piece about the reflections we all make on our lives.
    Aging is a painful, nasty thing. But, it is also beautiful. We, as humans, must never forget that. "153" reflects that message beautifully. Well done.

    A touching piece about the reflections we all make on our lives.
    Aging is a painful, nasty thing. But, it is also beautiful. We, as humans, must never forget that. "153" reflects that message beautifully. Well done.

  • Brian Cern: First Mountain

    A father/son story set against the backdrop of a road trip across the backroads of the Texas/New Mexico border.

    The tension lies beneath the surface… building, like ancient forces beneath a long-dormant volcano. Until, as it always is with fathers and sons, it explodes in a way that only hints at the actual beginning of the tale.

    I look forward to discovering more of Wigley’s work.

    A father/son story set against the backdrop of a road trip across the backroads of the Texas/New Mexico border.

    The tension lies beneath the surface… building, like ancient forces beneath a long-dormant volcano. Until, as it always is with fathers and sons, it explodes in a way that only hints at the actual beginning of the tale.

    I look forward to discovering more of Wigley’s work.

  • Brian Cern: It Was An Accident

    In a clever piece about two friends discussing how their friend passed, Lavelle deftly explores how quickly speculation can escalate into something much bigger.

    Fast-paced and witty, I would love to see this performed in a black box setting. The intimacy that such a situation brings would add a whole new level.

    Well done, and I look forward to reading more!

    Side Note: As a Brian from Minnesota, I felt I was part of this story!

    In a clever piece about two friends discussing how their friend passed, Lavelle deftly explores how quickly speculation can escalate into something much bigger.

    Fast-paced and witty, I would love to see this performed in a black box setting. The intimacy that such a situation brings would add a whole new level.

    Well done, and I look forward to reading more!

    Side Note: As a Brian from Minnesota, I felt I was part of this story!

  • Brian Cern: Don't Preach at My Funeral

    Another fine example of a family drama in ten-minute form that absolutely shows potential for expansion into a full length.
    A funeral serves as the backdrop for a discussion between a mother and child on how Mother continuously fails to see her children for who they are. Although the generation clash over gender-identity trope is getting a hair over-done, Gibbs brings some fresh air into it by injecting come comedy into it. Which may be exactly what it needs. Isn't it easier to illustrate your point by holding the audience's attention, rather than berating them with another sob tale?

    Another fine example of a family drama in ten-minute form that absolutely shows potential for expansion into a full length.
    A funeral serves as the backdrop for a discussion between a mother and child on how Mother continuously fails to see her children for who they are. Although the generation clash over gender-identity trope is getting a hair over-done, Gibbs brings some fresh air into it by injecting come comedy into it. Which may be exactly what it needs. Isn't it easier to illustrate your point by holding the audience's attention, rather than berating them with another sob tale?

  • Brian Cern: Another Henry

    I want more of this! The idea of historical characters in therapy, providing a modern light to their actions, is just rife with possibilities!! A fantastic journey into the mind of one of histories most famous individuals in an insightful, albeit comedic, manner.

    I want more of this! The idea of historical characters in therapy, providing a modern light to their actions, is just rife with possibilities!! A fantastic journey into the mind of one of histories most famous individuals in an insightful, albeit comedic, manner.

  • Brian Cern: Dear John

    WOW!

    This is one of the most gruesome, most original, darkest comedies that I've read in a long time! It leads you down a simple and predictable road, then flips all expectations on their head.
    THEATRES: Quit being so squeamish, and produce this play!!

    WOW!

    This is one of the most gruesome, most original, darkest comedies that I've read in a long time! It leads you down a simple and predictable road, then flips all expectations on their head.
    THEATRES: Quit being so squeamish, and produce this play!!

  • Brian Cern: Lost Lamb

    A heartfelt piece of a daughter coming to grips with the wrongs that her father has committed against her, "Lost Lamb" is presented in a competing monologue style, where the daughter takes the father's own words and contrasts them against his actions.
    Her story, sad though it is, is one of victory. That, despite all efforts, she has ended up alright. However, mixed with that triumph, there is a tinge of regret at what could have been. But, keep your face to the future, and call out the hypocrisy when you see it.
    A wonderful offering from Vogel. Highly recommend.

    A heartfelt piece of a daughter coming to grips with the wrongs that her father has committed against her, "Lost Lamb" is presented in a competing monologue style, where the daughter takes the father's own words and contrasts them against his actions.
    Her story, sad though it is, is one of victory. That, despite all efforts, she has ended up alright. However, mixed with that triumph, there is a tinge of regret at what could have been. But, keep your face to the future, and call out the hypocrisy when you see it.
    A wonderful offering from Vogel. Highly recommend.

  • Brian Cern: A Hundred Years

    The application of a fairytale to a modern sensibility is a difficult business. It requires knowing the original material well enough to shape it into a new (but recognizable) shape; as well as maintaining enough faithfulness to the source material that you don’t alienate people.
    Meurer manages to flip the Sleeping Beauty narrative enough to accomplish both of these asks admirably. A sweet take, with a well placed casting requirement, it was a joy to read. I look forward to reading more of Muerer’s catalog.

    The application of a fairytale to a modern sensibility is a difficult business. It requires knowing the original material well enough to shape it into a new (but recognizable) shape; as well as maintaining enough faithfulness to the source material that you don’t alienate people.
    Meurer manages to flip the Sleeping Beauty narrative enough to accomplish both of these asks admirably. A sweet take, with a well placed casting requirement, it was a joy to read. I look forward to reading more of Muerer’s catalog.

  • Brian Cern: When the Heart is Freed

    Gritty in dramatic, simultaneously like and different than it's inspiration, "When The Heart Is Freed" is a sequel to Cross' "The Cage Which Holds a Heart" that perfectly honors it's original without being dependent on it. A sequel, it requires zero knowledge of its source material, allowing to function excellently as a stand alone play.

    At face value, it's an atmospheric, tense, cop interrogation, in which the officer is questioning a possible suspect for a murder. Tensions run high, the stress is palpable.

    Digging deeper, it examines the effects of an unintended consequence. A brisk...

    Gritty in dramatic, simultaneously like and different than it's inspiration, "When The Heart Is Freed" is a sequel to Cross' "The Cage Which Holds a Heart" that perfectly honors it's original without being dependent on it. A sequel, it requires zero knowledge of its source material, allowing to function excellently as a stand alone play.

    At face value, it's an atmospheric, tense, cop interrogation, in which the officer is questioning a possible suspect for a murder. Tensions run high, the stress is palpable.

    Digging deeper, it examines the effects of an unintended consequence. A brisk procedural, that should be performed.

  • Brian Cern: THE CAGE WHICH HOLDS A HEART

    Ms Cross tells you more about character in a few words of scenic description than most writers do in an act and a half.

    Part surrealism, part steam-punk fantasy, "The Cage Which Holds A Heart" makes a reality out of a metaphor about keeping your feelings "inside." At once both tender and dark, it reaches an almost liberating tone as one of our protagonists finally breaks free of their past.

    A wonderful script, a fantastic read.

    Ms Cross tells you more about character in a few words of scenic description than most writers do in an act and a half.

    Part surrealism, part steam-punk fantasy, "The Cage Which Holds A Heart" makes a reality out of a metaphor about keeping your feelings "inside." At once both tender and dark, it reaches an almost liberating tone as one of our protagonists finally breaks free of their past.

    A wonderful script, a fantastic read.