Rachel Aberman

Rachel Aberman

Rachel Aberman is a playwright, lyricist, and librettist based in Queens, NY. She received her BA in theatre from Muhlenberg College in 2017 and is currently a lyricist in the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Writer's Workshop. Her plays and musicals have been developed at Muhlenberg College and The Dramatist Guild Foundation. They explore humanity and its coping mechanisms, everything from sexuality to...
Rachel Aberman is a playwright, lyricist, and librettist based in Queens, NY. She received her BA in theatre from Muhlenberg College in 2017 and is currently a lyricist in the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Writer's Workshop. Her plays and musicals have been developed at Muhlenberg College and The Dramatist Guild Foundation. They explore humanity and its coping mechanisms, everything from sexuality to religion and from family/friendship to love to death. She has also worked as a costume designer and wardrobe head at theaters including Cherry Lane Theatre, Dixon Place, Hudson Guild Theater, The Medicine Show Theater, and for film.

Plays

  • The First Home for Connectivism: A new religion in two acts
    60-90 mins

    An all-too familiar world, an old telephone booth, and a new religion -- in this new full-length play, a deeply flawed cast of characters struggle over god and who gets to talk to *him.*

    When Fred has a near fatal run-in with a an old telephone booth he discovers a new connection to god, which empowers him to give up his vices and reinvent himself. Soon a community...
    60-90 mins

    An all-too familiar world, an old telephone booth, and a new religion -- in this new full-length play, a deeply flawed cast of characters struggle over god and who gets to talk to *him.*

    When Fred has a near fatal run-in with a an old telephone booth he discovers a new connection to god, which empowers him to give up his vices and reinvent himself. Soon a community forms around his sacred telephone booth, attracting all sorts of colorful characters and giving each one of them new-found purpose. But when a lawyer from the wealthy part of town hears about the booth and decides that this new religion could become a huge money-maker, these characters must either eat or be eaten in the struggle to keep god and purpose in their lives.
  • Pussies Have Nine Lives
    60-90 mins

    A large-scale, magical realist investigation of gender, feminism and sexuality.

    "Pussies Have Nine Lives," is a wild, surrealist comedy exploring ideas of virginity and queer female identity. Ally has recently gone through a breakup, and as a result has thrown her friend group into chaos. With their help, as well as the help of her cracked tooth and the ghost...
    60-90 mins

    A large-scale, magical realist investigation of gender, feminism and sexuality.

    "Pussies Have Nine Lives," is a wild, surrealist comedy exploring ideas of virginity and queer female identity. Ally has recently gone through a breakup, and as a result has thrown her friend group into chaos. With their help, as well as the help of her cracked tooth and the ghost of Kitty Genovese, she attempts to put back together her lost sense of self. I would especially suggest this show if you enjoy sassy stage directions.

    **Rachel's note: This show was my final playwriting project in college, and is something I would love to revisit in the future, so feel free to leave constructive feedback. I've grown a lot as a writer since I "finished" this play, but I will always love it's youthful energy and the way it reflects who I was when I wrote it. I hope you enjoy!
  • Things That Make You Go Blind
    90 minutes

    Co-written with Lauren Waters, this play is a surrealist look at a series of relationships that exist across the spectrum of reality. Carol and Janie are plunged into chaos when Janie starts seeing her dead uncle, and even her other imaginary friends can't see him. Then Carol finds out she has a brain tumor. Elizabeth's dog, Rufus, is dissatisfied with his life until he...
    90 minutes

    Co-written with Lauren Waters, this play is a surrealist look at a series of relationships that exist across the spectrum of reality. Carol and Janie are plunged into chaos when Janie starts seeing her dead uncle, and even her other imaginary friends can't see him. Then Carol finds out she has a brain tumor. Elizabeth's dog, Rufus, is dissatisfied with his life until he convinces one of Janie's imaginary friends to take him on an adventure. Chaos ensues as relationships and the very fabric of reality are stretched and torn.
  • Creation: Our Mechanism of Memory
    30-60 mins

    The Scientist invites you to his presentation on the newest advancement in modern memory technology, a memory chip that can be transplanted into the brain.
    His model patient is Adam, yes THAT Adam, and his entire family is on display for this demonstration of The Scientist's research, but as the presentation goes on we realize that this experiment is far from over and The...
    30-60 mins

    The Scientist invites you to his presentation on the newest advancement in modern memory technology, a memory chip that can be transplanted into the brain.
    His model patient is Adam, yes THAT Adam, and his entire family is on display for this demonstration of The Scientist's research, but as the presentation goes on we realize that this experiment is far from over and The Scientist is far from in control.

    This is a one-act play about memory, science, love, and the bible's first family.
  • Friends IRL
    10 min

    A chance meeting in a subway station reunites two old friends. Once they get talking, however, the emotions of one character bubble to the surface and we realize that this interaction might not be as friendly as it first appeared.
  • Alienated (monologue)
    Monologue

    Allison was abducted by aliens and she isn't taking it well. A monologue about one woman's struggle to process an experience and how it leads her to a group of people who she thinks might actually understand her.

    A year ago Allison had an alien experience and ever since she has felt isolated. Having nobody to discuss her experience with has given Allison no way...
    Monologue

    Allison was abducted by aliens and she isn't taking it well. A monologue about one woman's struggle to process an experience and how it leads her to a group of people who she thinks might actually understand her.

    A year ago Allison had an alien experience and ever since she has felt isolated. Having nobody to discuss her experience with has given Allison no way to process this traumatic event, but now through the power of the internet she has finally found a group who can relate. On a forum for people who have experience alien abduction, Allison finds comfort and the potential for discovery. In this monologue she tries to explain everything that she has been going through and this new breakthrough in her life.

  • Rooted (monologue)
    Monologue

    Willow was just given an ultimatum to get married and she REALLY doesn't want to get married. But when she asks the universe to help her get out of it, she gets a little more than she bargained for (she gets turned into a tree). This is a short monologue with a lot of emotion and range, I think it would be great for an audition.

  • How's Your Cousin [Monologue]
    Monologue

    Rudy's cousin is the worst. Seriously, at seven years old, he may be a prodigy at being terrible. Emma's about to find out what terrible thing he's doing now.

    Written in response to a @playwritingworkshop prompt.
  • Severed Hand [Monologue]
    In response to a @playwritingworkshop prompt.

    In this piece a left hand struggles to satisfy the brain's needs. The characterization of this hand's struggles are based upon a conversation with a past partner, who has muscular dystrophy.
  • Woops! I Slept with a Zombie [Monologue]
    Monologue

    Clara is stuck in the apocalypse, and it's not making dating easy. After accidentally sleeping with a zombie she questions her own judgment when it comes to men.

  • Morning Thoughts (monologue)
    Monologue

    Some thoughts from Leah to her partner the morning after a night of doubts about their relationship.

    Written in response to a @playwritingworkshop prompt.
  • Touch Therapy (monologue only)
    Monologue

    A monologue from a yet-to be completed short play, "Touch Therapy."

    Following the Covid-19 pandemic some people are having trouble getting back to normal. Spencer is one of those people, left completely terrified of touch and completely in need of it. That's where Rebecca comes in. She lost her job as a professional cuddler when the pandemic hit, but now...
    Monologue

    A monologue from a yet-to be completed short play, "Touch Therapy."

    Following the Covid-19 pandemic some people are having trouble getting back to normal. Spencer is one of those people, left completely terrified of touch and completely in need of it. That's where Rebecca comes in. She lost her job as a professional cuddler when the pandemic hit, but now has been recruited to help people like Spencer refind the joys of skin-to-skin contact.
  • Bunnies, Storks, and the Hawk that Brings the Babies [monologue]
    Monologue

    Lizzy's pet bunnies have had some babies and her parents are not going to be happy about it. In this monologue she gives her bunnies "the talk" and tells us all about where babies come from.

  • The Muse Quits [Monologue]
    Monologue

    Lucy has been working as a model for her photographer boyfriend. Now images of her have made him famous and it's impacting the way people see her. In this monologue, she confronts him about how she's been feeling about her role as "muse."
  • The Fly That Landed on your Valentine's Day Chocolate Heart [monologue]
    Monologue

    From the perspective of the fly that landed on your Valentine's Day chocolate heart.
  • Talking to my Imaginary Friend, The Ghost of Johnny Appleseed [Monologue]
    Monologue

    Twelve years ago a man did a school report about Johnny Appleseed and since then Johnny has not left him alone. You try eating an apple with a ghost staring at you expectantly, it isn't fun. Here's a monologue about the ghost of Johnny Appleseed being a menace.
  • Written While Listening to “Step Off,” by ESG [A Monologue]
    Monologue

    A monologue spoken by someone who seriously just doesn't want to hear about what they should be doing or how things used to be anymore.

    Written in response to a @playwritingworkshop prompt.
  • Astory
    10 min

    An abstract show of storytelling shrouded in poetry. A collection of symbols orbiting around three characters in a passionate love triangle. Some of these characters you may recognize through the haze, but certainly none of them recognize themselves.