Jean Koppen

Jean Koppen

Jean Koppen is a playwright living in Northern Virginia. Jean's plays have been produced in the D.C. metro area at Keegan Theatre, Active Cultures Theater (2012 "Sportaculture" playwriting competition winner), D.C.'s Capital Fringe Festival, Port City Playhouse, Atlas Intersections Festival, and across the country and Canada at Strangeloop Theatre (Chicago), The Alumnae Theater's New...
Jean Koppen is a playwright living in Northern Virginia. Jean's plays have been produced in the D.C. metro area at Keegan Theatre, Active Cultures Theater (2012 "Sportaculture" playwriting competition winner), D.C.'s Capital Fringe Festival, Port City Playhouse, Atlas Intersections Festival, and across the country and Canada at Strangeloop Theatre (Chicago), The Alumnae Theater's New Ideas Festival (Toronto), and Kumu Kahua Theater (Hawaii). Jean's work has been read at the Kennedy Center Page to Stage Festival (2013, 2015, 2017) and Pipeline Playwrights reading series (2017, 2018, 2019). Jean is an alumnae of the Kennedy Center Playwrights Intensive, a founding member of Pipeline Playwrights and a Dramatist Guild member.

Plays

  • Unfocused by Jean Koppen
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    8
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    Genre: comedy, farce + 2 more
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    Keyword: focus group, Voting + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, farce, political, satire
    Keyword: focus group, Voting, Roman Empire, Farce, democracy, Russians, comedy, citizens, America, Americans
    Walter is terrified of peanuts. Jen's not wearing underwear. Frank thinks Judge Judy is a goddess. Bernice is obsessed with condiments. Carol has six children but zero self esteem. What do they all have in common? They don't vote, and Tasha's client wants to know why. This modern day farce challenges Americans to examine how their civic behavior has created a country destined for destruction.

  • Got a Light? by Jean Koppen
    Recommendations: 4
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    Cast: 
    2
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    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 1 more
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    Keyword: Joan of Arc, religion + 7 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, political
    Keyword: Joan of Arc, religion, French history, protest, class, gender, feminist, youth, comedy
    Joan of Arc tied at the stake argues for her life as a modern-day feminist, while her executioner attempts to get the fire lit.
  • The Best Worst That Can Happen by Jean Koppen
    Recommendations: 1
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    Cast: 
    4
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    Genre: comedy, drama
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    Keyword: Alzheimer's Disease, aging + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, drama
    Keyword: Alzheimer's Disease, aging, mother and daughter, memory, past, Movies, brothers, dementia, caregiving, family
    Joanna is worried about her mother's failing memory. Margie is concerned about her daughter's career and love life. In truth, both are terrified about how they will handle the worst that can happen - Margie contracting Alzheimer's Disease. When an unlikely new housemate enters their lives and his movie producer brother pays an unexpected visit, both Margie and Joanna discover the best that can happen in the worst situation.
  • Unprotected by Jean Koppen
    Recommendations: 2
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    Cast: 
    6
    ·
    Genre: drama
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    Keyword: sexual assault, sexual abuse + 8 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: sexual assault, sexual abuse, family, teenagers, marriage, metoo, feminist, siblings, dysfunction, women
    Sarah learns from her teenage daughter Grace that some boys called Grace a slut at school. Both are upset by the event, compounded by the fact that Grace’s cousin Zach was among the boys harassing Grace. Sarah shares the incident with her husband Ed, who wants to confront Zach’s parents (Sarah’s brother Doug and wife Regina) arriving for a birthday celebration. Sarah delays the confrontation, but eventually...
    Sarah learns from her teenage daughter Grace that some boys called Grace a slut at school. Both are upset by the event, compounded by the fact that Grace’s cousin Zach was among the boys harassing Grace. Sarah shares the incident with her husband Ed, who wants to confront Zach’s parents (Sarah’s brother Doug and wife Regina) arriving for a birthday celebration. Sarah delays the confrontation, but eventually they share what Grace has told them and the couples argue over what happened. The adults bring the kids together and find out the harassment was more serious and disturbing, bringing up painful memories and unresolved conflict between Doug and Sarah. In the aftermath, Sarah makes a strong choice for her and her daughter, hoping to gain the strength needed to survive a world in which she feels unprotected.
  • Capsmittment by Jean Koppen
    Recommendations: 1
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    Cast: 
    2
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    Genre: comedy
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    Keyword: hockey, bromance + 8 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: hockey, bromance, marriage, commitment, friendship, sports, sports fan, Washington Capitals, Stanley Cup, comedy
    Two hockey friends discuss whether they are ready for the commitment of season tickets. (note: a "clean" version without swearing is also available)
  • Scared Straight by Jean Koppen
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: comedy
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    Keyword: actor, acting + 7 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: actor, acting, theater, comedy, audition, business, flexible casting, parenting, theater life
    Lyla shows up excited for an audition, but instead finds three bitter, depressed and defeated actors discouraging her from her dream.
  • Slight Delay by Jean Koppen
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy
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    Keyword: airline, frustration + 8 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: airline, frustration, cancellation, passenger, meteorology, flying, Airport, flexible casting, travel, comedy
    Ever have a flight delayed or cancelled? Then you know the frustration Passenger feels when confronted with an Attendant who just doesn't seem to get it. Even the airline announcements seem part of the conspiracy!
  • The Aloha Life by Jean Koppen
    Recommendations: 2
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    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
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    Keyword: Hawaii, marriage + 7 more
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
    Keyword: Hawaii, marriage, crisis, Missile, love, tourists, romantic comedy, death, vacation
    A couple vacationing in Hawaii are surprised by an unexpected missile alert.
  • Black Hole by Jean Koppen
    Cast: 
    6
    ·
    Genre: drama
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    Keyword: hoarding, marriage + 7 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: hoarding, marriage, siblings, DNR, family, childbearing, objects, death of parents, female centered
    In the wake of her mother’s death, Jane attempts to de-clutter her childhood home, confronting her father Marty about his hoarding problem. Jane discusses with her husband Drew her family issues and her desires to reconcile with her estranged brother Jim and his family. With Drew’s reluctant agreement, Jane invites her family for Christmas dinner, but the event devolves into a fierce argument between Jane and...
    In the wake of her mother’s death, Jane attempts to de-clutter her childhood home, confronting her father Marty about his hoarding problem. Jane discusses with her husband Drew her family issues and her desires to reconcile with her estranged brother Jim and his family. With Drew’s reluctant agreement, Jane invites her family for Christmas dinner, but the event devolves into a fierce argument between Jane and her brother over Jane’s enforcement of her mother’s DNR, suddenly interrupted by Marty suffering a stroke. While awaiting Marty’s recovery Jane brings Jim to their childhood home and pushes him to reveal the cause of their relationship rift. Jim reveals a different interpretation of their childhood experience. Jane emotionally re-examines her past choices, creating tension in her marriage. Jane looks to Jim’s daughter, her niece Christina, to fulfill her growing need for a family connection. But after Marty’s death and a final, irreparable fight with Jim and his wife Patty, Jane and Drew’s differences over the decision to not have children sever Jane from her only remaining human connection, forcing her to find solace in the things her parents valued as she herself becomes a hoarder.
  • Final Assignment by Jean Koppen
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama + 1 more
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    Keyword: mother and daughter, regret + 5 more
    Genre: comedy, drama, science fiction
    Keyword: mother and daughter, regret, android, futuristic, loss, humanity, memory
    Patricia has been assigned an android programmed with memories of her daughter, Maggie. The only problem is that Patricia says she never had a daughter. The two women tackle the question of who created Maggie, for what purpose, and how will Maggie achieve her goal of becoming fully human.
  • Housekeeping by Jean Koppen
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama
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    Keyword: women, child pornography + 6 more
    Genre: comedy, drama
    Keyword: women, child pornography, maids, revenge, illegal, Working, cleaning, bribery
    While cleaning a wealthy client’s home, three house cleaners make a surprise discovery and disagree over what course of action to take.
    ​
  • Married Bliss by Jean Koppen
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: dark comedy
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    Keyword: marriage, infidelity + 4 more
    Genre: dark comedy
    Keyword: marriage, infidelity, love, commitment, dreams, cheating
    A couple discuss hypothetical infidelity.
  • The Delivery by Jean Koppen
    Cast: 
    2
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    Genre: drama, fable/folktale + 1 more
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    Keyword: New Mexico, motherhood + 2 more
    Genre: drama, fable/folktale, mystery/thriller
    Keyword: New Mexico, motherhood, mysticism, mythology
    A woman makes an ordinary delivery stop at an art gallery that turns out to be anything but. Not only is the item being delivered unusual, the gallery owner's connection to the item, and to the delivery woman, is magical.
  • The Lesson (a monologue) by Jean Koppen
    Recommendations: 1
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    Cast: 
    1
    ·
    Genre: drama
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    Keyword: British, high school + 3 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: British, high school, class, education, social media
    Ms. Houndsworth has a lesson her class is not suspecting. A lesson that is far more personal than they've had before.
  • Wearing White After Labor Day (and other acts of terrorism) by Jean Koppen
    Recommendations: 1
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    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy
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    Keyword: mother and daughter, marriage + 4 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: mother and daughter, marriage, Sex, dating, Mothers, family
    When Jenny’s mother Merrill arrives for their weekly lunch date, their usual bickering takes a turn neither suspects.