John Mabey

John Mabey

John Mabey (They/He) is a writer and storyteller whose plays have been published and produced on stage in 7 countries and throughout the United States. John lived internationally for a decade in London and Amsterdam before residing in Atlanta and continues to work with theatre companies around the globe both virtually and in-person. Their work as a playwright is connected to their career in Psychology and...
John Mabey (They/He) is a writer and storyteller whose plays have been published and produced on stage in 7 countries and throughout the United States. John lived internationally for a decade in London and Amsterdam before residing in Atlanta and continues to work with theatre companies around the globe both virtually and in-person. Their work as a playwright is connected to their career in Psychology and certification as a Mental Health Counselor, infusing everything they’ve learned about behavior, emotion and relationships into their plays. John is also a published author on the topics of sexual identity and spirituality in academic books (Routledge: SEXUAL ORIENTATION DISCRIMINATION, ADVANCES IN FEMINIST ECONOMICS) and journals (The Professional Counselor: COUNSELING OLDER ADULTS IN LGBT COMMUNITIES). They also enjoy teaching and performing improvised comedy and true storytelling around the world.


AWARDS & RECOGNITION:

* 2023 New Play Competition Winner – Main Street Players
* 2023 Best Gender Minority Monologues – Smith & Kraus Publishers
* 2023 First Prize for Playwriting – Blue Institute
* 2023, 2022, 2021 Best 10-Minute Plays – Smith & Kraus Publishers
* 2023, 2022, 2021 Best Women’s Monologues – Smith & Kraus Publishers
* 2023, 2022 Best Men’s Monologues – Smith & Kraus Publishers
* 2022 Essential Theatre Playwriting Award Winner – Essential Theatre
* 2022 Getchell New Play Award Winner – Southeastern Theater Conference
* 2021 Panowski Playwriting Award Winner – Northern Michigan University
* 2021 Audience Favorite – JL Smith New Play Festival
* 2020 Artist To Watch – Theatre Viscera
* 2020 Best Comedic Play – The Hive Collaborative
* 2020 Best Short Play – Las Vegas Little Theatre
* 2020 New Works Top 3 Winner – Las Vegas Little Theatre
* 2019 Best of Festival – Know Theatre

Plays

  • A Complicated Hope by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 18
    ·
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: Hope, interracial relationships + 8 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: Hope, interracial relationships, grief, finding family, coping with loss, non-linear, funeral, internalized homophobia, LGBTQ, religion
    FULL LENGTH PLAY: Marie and daughter Rose Marie are left adrift after their husband/father, Michael, passes away, leaving behind boyfriend Arnie to discover a family of his own.

    Mirroring the erratic path of grief, A Complicated Hope flashes between the moments in time that changed them all. Their journeys explore the challenges of both finding a family of choice and letting yourself be found....
    FULL LENGTH PLAY: Marie and daughter Rose Marie are left adrift after their husband/father, Michael, passes away, leaving behind boyfriend Arnie to discover a family of his own.

    Mirroring the erratic path of grief, A Complicated Hope flashes between the moments in time that changed them all. Their journeys explore the challenges of both finding a family of choice and letting yourself be found.

    HONORS
    * PANOWSKI PLAYWRITING AWARD - 2021
    * CHARLES M. GETCHELL NEW PLAY AWARD - 2022
    * ESSENTIAL THEATRE PLAYWRITING AWARD – 2022
    * SMITH & KRAUS BEST WOMEN'S MONOLOGUES - 2023
  • Impossible Theories Of Us by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 4
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama + 4 more
    ·
    Keyword: joy, trans woman + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, drama, experimental, fantasy, romantic comedy, science fiction
    Keyword: joy, trans woman, scientist, transgender character, LGBTQIA+, sci-fi, artificial intelligence, hologram, memories, futuristic
    FULL LENGTH PLAY: Two people unite against a crisis and divide on how to break through. But sometimes fantasy is the perfect reality for impossible futures.

    Gina, a transgender woman, and Keith, a cisgender man, navigate the joys and complexities of life over the course of their relationship. But as emerging technologies offer the chance to connect with those who’ve passed away, both must decide...
    FULL LENGTH PLAY: Two people unite against a crisis and divide on how to break through. But sometimes fantasy is the perfect reality for impossible futures.

    Gina, a transgender woman, and Keith, a cisgender man, navigate the joys and complexities of life over the course of their relationship. But as emerging technologies offer the chance to connect with those who’ve passed away, both must decide what being alive truly means.
  • Little Black Dress by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 10
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: gender identity, intimacy + 8 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: gender identity, intimacy, clothing, Gender Expression, gender expectations, Transgender, transitioning, lgbtqia, genderqueer, dress
    10-MINUTES: A small bag carries extraordinary secrets as one couple struggles to recognize each other and themselves.
  • Misfits & Mustangs by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    10
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama
    ·
    Keyword: lgbtqia, queer + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, drama
    Keyword: lgbtqia, queer, sexual identity, coming out, estranged friendships, dating, queer friendships, colleges and high schools, high school, college
    FULL LENGTH PLAY:
    One high school mascot, two very different schemes.
    ---
    The statue of a mighty horse stands tall over Mustang High School, but the years have taken their toll on statue, students, and teachers. On the eve of this crumbling mascot being removed, opposing forces clash between preserving or destroying the last mustang. And there's one final night to discover what’s...
    FULL LENGTH PLAY:
    One high school mascot, two very different schemes.
    ---
    The statue of a mighty horse stands tall over Mustang High School, but the years have taken their toll on statue, students, and teachers. On the eve of this crumbling mascot being removed, opposing forces clash between preserving or destroying the last mustang. And there's one final night to discover what’s truly possible when misfits become mighty.
  • Desert Oceans by John Mabey
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: LGBTQIA+, genderqueer + 8 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: LGBTQIA+, genderqueer, catholic and queer, coping with suicide, Nun, colleges and high schools, desert, American Southwest, contemplating suicide, hope and healing
    FULL LENGTH PLAY: Secrets and faith collide after a tragic loss, intertwining those left behind in a fight for survival.
  • The Missing by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: drama, mystery/thriller + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: unexpected connection, intergenerational + 8 more
    Genre: drama, mystery/thriller, tragedy
    Keyword: unexpected connection, intergenerational, great roles for women, diner, missing child, missing, secrets, confession, scam, scammer
    10-MINUTES: Two women in a diner struggle to see each other and themselves. But what's shared by both has the power to illuminate what's truly missing.
  • Buried Treasures by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 4
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: small town, buried past + 8 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: small town, buried past, hidden treasure, small town America, siblings, bonds between sisters, digging a hole, Adolescence, estranged siblings, estranged family
    10-MINUTES: There's a small patch of land in Fontana Lake, North Carolina, with the remnants of Proctor - a former town that remains submerged but sometimes reveals itself to those who seek.

    Here, two siblings are swept away by the currents of their relationship. But the promise of buried treasures is either a buoy or an anchor.

    HONORS:
    * FIRST PRIZE, PLAYWRITING - Blue Institute, 2023
  • The Epiphany of Two Wise Women by John Mabey
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy, holiday + 2 more
    ·
    Keyword: winter holidays, LGBTQIA+ + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, holiday, romantic comedy, satire
    Keyword: winter holidays, LGBTQIA+, lgbtqia, epiphany, queer comedy, Three Wise Men, alternative Christmas, lesbians, queer characters, dysfunctional holidays
    45-MINUTE PLAY: Scholars agree The Three Wise Men weren't men, or even three in number, but these Magi are definitely wise.
  • Rainbow Games by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 2
    ·
    Cast: 
    6
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama + 2 more
    ·
    Keyword: lgbtqia, bisexuality + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, drama, romantic comedy, young audiences
    Keyword: lgbtqia, bisexuality, queer, sexual identity, coming out, estranged friendships, dating, queer friendships, high school, high school graduation
    35-MINUTE PLAY: It’s hard to label anything, especially when you’re in love. And everything starts looking queer as one chosen family decides what it truly means to choose each other.

    As some battle the pitfalls of coming-out again under a different label, others realize there isn’t an LGBTQIA letter that completely fits at all. But sometimes what matters most is discovering what’s between the...
    35-MINUTE PLAY: It’s hard to label anything, especially when you’re in love. And everything starts looking queer as one chosen family decides what it truly means to choose each other.

    As some battle the pitfalls of coming-out again under a different label, others realize there isn’t an LGBTQIA letter that completely fits at all. But sometimes what matters most is discovering what’s between the letters and celebrating each other along the way.
  • The B Is For Bullsh!t by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 14
    ·
    Cast: 
    7
    ·
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 2 more
    ·
    Keyword: lgbtqia, aging + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, drama, romantic comedy
    Keyword: lgbtqia, aging, bisexuality, queer, sexual identity, coming out, career change, estranged friendships, LGBTQ, queer friendships
    FULL LENGTH PLAY: It’s hard to label anything, especially when you’re in love. And everything starts looking queer as one chosen family decides what it truly means to choose each other.

    As some battle the pitfalls of coming-out again under a different label, others realize there isn’t an LGBTQIA letter that completely fits at all. But sometimes what matters most is discovering what’s between the...
    FULL LENGTH PLAY: It’s hard to label anything, especially when you’re in love. And everything starts looking queer as one chosen family decides what it truly means to choose each other.

    As some battle the pitfalls of coming-out again under a different label, others realize there isn’t an LGBTQIA letter that completely fits at all. But sometimes what matters most is discovering what’s between the letters and celebrating each other along the way.

    There is also a standalone, one-act play, 'C Is For Cupid - Courting in the Time of Corona,' set after the events of this play.

    HONORS:
    BEST WOMEN'S MONOLOGUES - Smith & Kraus, 2021

    Full script available through NEXT STAGE PRESS:
    https://www.nextstagepress.com/the-b-is-for-bullsht/
  • C Is For Cupid by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 8
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama + 2 more
    ·
    Keyword: Lesbian, queer + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, drama, romantic comedy, zoom
    Keyword: Lesbian, queer, aging, marriage equality, zoom, virtual play, social distancing play, coronavirus, Bechdel Test, lgbtqia
    30-MINUTE PLAY: Courting still happens in the time of Covid. And love is still just as beautifully complicated.

    HONORS:
    * BEST WOMEN'S MONOLOGUES - Smith & Kraus, 2022
    * 2023 Some Scripts Literary Magazine 'Monologues by LGBTQIA+ Scriptwriters for LGBTQIA+ Actors'
  • A New Newer Normal by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 5
    ·
    Cast: 
    6
    ·
    Genre: comedy, farce + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: the new normal, moving home + 4 more
    Genre: comedy, farce, romantic comedy
    Keyword: the new normal, moving home, cruise ship, coming out, dating and relationships, family dynamics
    FULL LENGTH PLAY (in development): What's normal in 2022? And what comes after the 'new normal?' These characters are desperately trying to find out. But with big secrets, hidden identity, and chaos on the high seas, life after 2020 has never been so abnormally fun.

    Fully vaxed and now ready to face the world, Ruth is having a garage sale to raise money for a cruise with her...
    FULL LENGTH PLAY (in development): What's normal in 2022? And what comes after the 'new normal?' These characters are desperately trying to find out. But with big secrets, hidden identity, and chaos on the high seas, life after 2020 has never been so abnormally fun.

    Fully vaxed and now ready to face the world, Ruth is having a garage sale to raise money for a cruise with her husband, Denny. But Denny has come to enjoy life sheltering at home and away from people, barring a playfully acrimonious relationship with live-in mother-in-law, Beverly. As their two grown children unexpectedly come home with a jailhouse boyfriend, the entire family must decide what matters most as they grow - together or apart.

    TIME: This play joyfully explores that period of cautious reemergence during late 2021 / early 2022

    ACT I: Family Room
    ACT II: Cruise Ship Lounge
  • The Emperor's New(er) Clothes by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 4
    ·
    Cast: 
    6–100
    ·
    Genre: adaptation, comedy + 6 more
    ·
    Keyword: alternate fairy tale, contemporary fairy tale + 6 more
    Genre: adaptation, comedy, drama, experimental, fable/folktale, fantasy, immersive, zoom
    Keyword: alternate fairy tale, contemporary fairy tale, gender nonbinary, Non-Binary, The Emperor's New Clothes, fairy tale, modern fairytale, High School Comedy
    40-MINUTE PLAY: The Emperor has no clothes, at least nothing that connects with their identity. A modern twist on a classic tale about responsibility to self and others, acceptance, and love in its many forms.

    HONORS
    * Monologue selected for: Smith & Kraus WE/US: Monologues for Gender Minority Characters Anthology
  • Saboteur by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 2
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: Academia, academic ethics + 8 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: Academia, academic ethics, academic research, plagiarism, faculty, college students, graduate students, authorship, sabotage, saboteur
    10-MINUTE PLAY: The distinction between sabotaged and saboteur becomes especially tangled by those studying the mechanism.
  • Reflections Of A Daydream by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 3
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: dark comedy, drama
    ·
    Keyword: mother and son, estrangement + 8 more
    Genre: dark comedy, drama
    Keyword: mother and son, estrangement, family estrangement, visual art, estranged family reunion, family reunion, trailer park, trailer living, rural life, rural America
    15-MINUTE PLAY: Two people find their way back to each other, but risk getting more lost in the process.
  • A Tragedy Of Owls by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 19
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic + 4 more
    ·
    Keyword: WW II, Nazi occupation + 8 more
    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic, drama, period, political, tragedy
    Keyword: WW II, Nazi occupation, Amsterdam, gay historical characters, LGBTQIA+, based on historical events and characters, World War II Amsterdam, Dutch history, attorney, wrongful imprisonment
    10-MINUTE PLAY: After a successful anti-Nazi attack, two co-conspirators meet in prison - one free and one facing death. Both have an urgent but opposing plea for the other.
    {A historical drama based on actual people and events from history}

    HONORS
    * SMITH & KRAUS BEST 10-MINUTE PLAYS - 2023
  • Native Language by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 4
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: New York, siblings + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, drama
    Keyword: New York, siblings, moving away, family memory, memory, childhood memories, goodbye, coming home, belonging, need to belong
    10-MINUTE PLAY: New York is special, they're just trying to figure out why. One sibling is looking for a way to reclaim history while the other is looking for a way to say goodbye. Both try to persuade the other about the true meaning of home.
  • True Skies by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 10
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: marriage, health + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, drama
    Keyword: marriage, health, closure, moving on, coping with death and grief, death and dying, grief, sacred objects, tough love, accepting death
    10-MINUTE PLAY: A married couple unites against their worst crisis and divides on how to break through. But sometimes fantasy is the perfect reality for change.
  • Enemy Lines by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 9
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: drama, tragedy
    ·
    Keyword: funeral, affair + 8 more
    Genre: drama, tragedy
    Keyword: funeral, affair, last will & testament, sexual orientation, Memorial, coming out, lgbtqia, Hidden secrets, unlikely friendship, memorial service
    10-MINUTE PLAY: Two people on opposite sides question the real enemy.

    *This is a standalone play from the full-length 'A Complicated Hope.'

    HONORS:
    BEST WOMEN'S MONOLOGUES - Smith & Kraus, 2022
  • Crusades by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 3
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: dark comedy, drama
    ·
    Keyword: religion, faith + 8 more
    Genre: dark comedy, drama
    Keyword: religion, faith, belief, mother and daughter, Driving, grief, coping with grief, family of choice, rosary, agnosticism
    10-MINUTE PLAY: Marie and daughter Rose Marie are left adrift after their husband/father passes away. As Rose Marie channels her grief into religion, an unholy divide erupts between them both.

    On this day, they're driving to attend a campus visit but instead prove that the journey is so much greater than the destination.

    *This is a standalone play from the full-length 'A Complicated Hope.'
  • Loved by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 5
    ·
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: drama, horror + 2 more
    ·
    Keyword: Hidden secrets, accidental death + 5 more
    Genre: drama, horror, mystery/thriller, tragedy
    Keyword: Hidden secrets, accidental death, dares, suspense, coming out, contains monologues, after death
    10-MINUTE PLAY: Three monologues reveal secrets about the same night.
  • Of Night Shadows by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 6
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: horror, mystery/thriller + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: shadows, thriller + 8 more
    Genre: horror, mystery/thriller, tragedy
    Keyword: shadows, thriller, horror, accident, guilt, regret, crime noir, haunting, a marriage in crisis, mysterious stranger
    10-MINUTE PLAY: Horror is often the manifestation of guilt and regret, nothing more. But what comes to us at night in the shadows might be far worse.

    HONORS:
    BEST MEN'S MONOLOGUES - Smith & Kraus, 2022
  • Interview With The Playwright by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 8
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: dark comedy, fantasy + 3 more
    ·
    Keyword: holiday, halloween + 8 more
    Genre: dark comedy, fantasy, holiday, horror, mystery/thriller
    Keyword: holiday, halloween, eternal life, vampire, comic-horror, unlikely romance, interview, loneliness, supernatural, zoom
    10-MINUTE PLAY: Gifts come in all shapes and sizes, but some are eternal.
  • ‘Udderly’ Delightful by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
    ·
    Keyword: marriage, cows + 6 more
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
    Keyword: marriage, cows, Global Travel, arguing couple, ambitions, reconciliation, Any Gender, any genders
    10-MINUTE PLAY: A couple moves into a new house. But what they unpack is much more than items.
  • The Fab 4 by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 3
    ·
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: adventure, comedy + 2 more
    ·
    Keyword: insects, anthropomorphism + 8 more
    Genre: adventure, comedy, experimental, fantasy
    Keyword: insects, anthropomorphism, escape, warriors, spiders, Beetle, fly, superheroes, ecology, working together
    10-MINUTE PLAY: Three warriors need to escape a prison! They're actually insects trapped inside a glass jar, but life's all a matter of perspective.
  • Three Seconds To Midnight by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 12
    ·
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy, fantasy + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: new years, holiday + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, fantasy, romantic comedy
    Keyword: new years, holiday, New Years resolutions, cupid, deadlines, new year's eve, confrontation, timeline, holiday spoof, meet cute
    10-MINUTE PLAY: We celebrate New Year’s Day by offering resolutions for a better self. But what happens to
    those unresolved-resolutions on the last day of the year, with only 3 seconds left?

    One brave woman demands an answer from Father Time, both getting much more than they ever
    expected.

    AWARDED BEST SHORT PLAY - Las Vegas Little Theatre, 2020
  • The Active Oval by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 8
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: outdoors, walking plays + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, drama, radio drama
    Keyword: outdoors, walking plays, chance meeting, gender flexible, walking play, audio play, Outdoor Play, coping with suicide, adult friendship, new friends
    10-MINUTE PLAY: Two strangers meet by accident in a park.
    One's running, one's standing, but both are tangled in a dance.

    This unproduced play is included in a global playwright series called 'The Walking Plays.'
  • Feast & Famine by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 2
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: docudrama/historic, drama + 2 more
    ·
    Keyword: historical women, features great roles for women + 7 more
    Genre: docudrama/historic, drama, fantasy, verse
    Keyword: historical women, features great roles for women, famine, family home, historical, poetry, verse, features great roles for older women, Biblical characters
    10-MINUTE PLAY: The start of a famine led to their relationship, threatened now by the end of a famine.
    At this pivotal moment of goodbye, two women are on the cusp of a huge journey without the other.
    Through prayer & poem, each makes a discovery about their true destination.
  • The Turbulent Twins by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 2
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: adventure, comedy + 3 more
    ·
    Keyword: superheroes, superpowers + 8 more
    Genre: adventure, comedy, drama, experimental, fantasy
    Keyword: superheroes, superpowers, Fantasy, comic book heroes, Adult Siblings, sibling rivalry, sibling relationships, discussions of suicide, stage combat, gender flexible
    10-MINUTE PLAY: Super siblings make the best allies and the worst enemies. But on this day they're battling more than each other.
  • The Sensational Sisters by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 8
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, experimental + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: Older adults, female superheroes + 7 more
    Genre: comedy, experimental, fantasy
    Keyword: Older adults, female superheroes, superpowers, Fantasy, occupation, career change, comic book heroes, older sibling rivalry, Adult Siblings
    10-MINUTE PLAY: Even superheroes need a break, especially when they're sisters. In this heartfelt comedy, Maria and Dominique battle over what's next after a hiatus from saving the world leaves one sister feeling fulfilled and the other frustrated.

    AWARDED FAVORITE COMEDIC PLAY - The Hive Collaborative, 2020
  • Stages of Joy by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 6
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama
    ·
    Keyword: Adult Siblings, estranged siblings + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, drama
    Keyword: Adult Siblings, estranged siblings, grief, joy, LGBTQIA+, aging parents, selling a house, Family Secrets, secrets, reconciliation
    15-MINUTE PLAY: Two siblings are forced to confront the unfamiliar in the most familiar place, deciding what
    matters most.

    HONORS
    * SMITH & KRAUS BEST MEN'S MONOLOGUES - 2023
  • Castles In The Zoom (10-min version) by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 3
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, zoom
    ·
    Keyword: surprise, surprise party + 7 more
    Genre: comedy, zoom
    Keyword: surprise, surprise party, zoom, Video Chat, birthday party, castles, virtual play, awkward romance, gender flexible
    10-MINUTE PLAY: Two people meet for the first time on Zoom for a surprise birthday party. But this turns-out to be a very different kind of surprise.
  • Castles In The Zoom (1-act version) by John Mabey
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: surprise, surprise party + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy, zoom
    Keyword: surprise, surprise party, zoom, one-act zoom play, Video Chat, birthday party, castles, virtual play, awkward romance, gender flexible
    1-ACT PLAY: Two people meet for the first time on Zoom for a surprise birthday party. But this turns-out to be a very different kind of surprise.
  • The Marsha Chronicles by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 2
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: adventure, dark comedy + 5 more
    ·
    Keyword: astronaut, Mars + 8 more
    Genre: adventure, dark comedy, experimental, fantasy, horror, mystery/thriller, science fiction
    Keyword: astronaut, Mars, robot, human clones, spaceship, Milky Way, Robots, robot takeover, self-discovery, self-acceptance
    10-MINUTE PLAY: Sometimes learning to accept ourselves is an epic journey .
    Especially when traveling to Mars.
    With robots.
  • X-ACT by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 3
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: fantasy, mystery/thriller + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: spaceship, artificial intelligence + 8 more
    Genre: fantasy, mystery/thriller, science fiction
    Keyword: spaceship, artificial intelligence, artificial consciousness, human clones, galaxy, self-awareness, extinction, evolution, memories, sci-fi
    10-MINUTE PLAY: What is the boundary between human and artificial? Shaun and X wrestle with each other and the fate of humanity as they decide the answer.
  • Dark & Stormy by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 5
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 2 more
    ·
    Keyword: comedy noir, noir + 7 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, mystery/thriller, parody/spoof
    Keyword: comedy noir, noir, Social distancing, crime, Dark and Stormy, blackmail, parking lot, hitman, new relationship
    10-MINUTE PLAY: A life of crime doesn't pay. But when one hitwoman comes face-to-face with her mark, both realize that sometimes it does.

    And in this reimagining of a classic noir, not everything is as it seems.
  • the most brave girl in the whole wide world by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 13
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: lgbtqia, coping with suicide + 6 more
    Genre: comedy, drama, young audiences
    Keyword: lgbtqia, coping with suicide, discussions of suicide, Mental Health, religion, grief, Nuns, spirituality
    15-MINUTE PLAY: A grief-stricken college student with a secret pays a visit to his former Catholic high school teacher, Sister Agatha.

    HONORS:
    BEST 10-MINUTE PLAYS - Smith & Kraus, 2022
  • The Legend Of Snails by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 10
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
    ·
    Keyword: lgbtqia, Amsterdam + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
    Keyword: lgbtqia, Amsterdam, tour guide, awkward romance, local legends, The Netherlands, snails, bicycles, bisexuality, Lesbian
    10-MINUTE PLAY: In the city of Amsterdam, two women discover that love is a language many learn but few understand.

    Except for the snails, of course.
  • Second Act Second Helpings by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 8
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy
    ·
    Keyword: getting older, Aging couple + 6 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: getting older, Aging couple, vacation, adventure, elder romance, Post-pandemic, waterfall, gender flexible
    10-MINUTE PLAY: The last couple of years have been rough on us all. And some people will try anything
    to move on - even waterfalls.

    In this comedy, one couple is determined to make a friend of post-pandemic life without
    making an enemy of each other.
  • To See And Be Seen by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 8
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: online chat, blindness + 7 more
    Genre: comedy, drama, zoom
    Keyword: online chat, blindness, social isolation, Transgender, lgbtqia, female friendship, fairy tale, zoom, visually impaired
    10-MINUTE PLAY: There are many ways to be seen as two strangers discover the power of connection.

    Salome, a cisgender woman, and Rhea, a transgender woman, meet via a smartphone app for the visually impaired. This chance meeting affects the lives of both women in ways neither anticipated.

    HONORS
    * 2023 Smith & Kraus WE/US: Monologues for Gender Minority Characters...
    10-MINUTE PLAY: There are many ways to be seen as two strangers discover the power of connection.

    Salome, a cisgender woman, and Rhea, a transgender woman, meet via a smartphone app for the visually impaired. This chance meeting affects the lives of both women in ways neither anticipated.

    HONORS
    * 2023 Smith & Kraus WE/US: Monologues for Gender Minority Characters Anthology
    * 2023 Some Scripts Literary Magazine 'Monologues by LGBTQIA+ Scriptwriters for LGBTQIA+ Actors'
  • OMG! The Deity Dish by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, experimental + 2 more
    ·
    Keyword: god, Satan + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, experimental, fantasy, zoom
    Keyword: god, Satan, Heaven and Hell, Youtube, easy zoom adaptable, awkward relationships, Vulnerability, the 1980s, parable, forgiveness
    10-MINUTE PLAY: It's always tough when someone storms-off after a fight, especially in Heaven.
    But can a popular YouTube channel save their relationship (and, you know, all of humankind)?
  • In My Tribe by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 5
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: interracial, racism + 8 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: interracial, racism, protest, black lives matter, whiteness, microaggressions, compassion, community, hospitals, doctors
    10-MINUTE PLAY: Two strangers find themselves opposite each other, twice in the same night and doubly exposed.
  • Playing With Dolls by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 14
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama
    ·
    Keyword: unlikely friendship, Dolls + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, drama
    Keyword: unlikely friendship, Dolls, gender roles, interracial, sexual orientation, stay at home parent, raising children, childcare, male friendship, adult friendship
    10-MINUTE PLAY: Two men exchange dolls in an alleyway, a simple trade that isn't so simple.
  • Bag Of Bees by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 4
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
    ·
    Keyword: dreams, all gender + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
    Keyword: dreams, all gender, nightmares, bees, couple crisis, metaphor, apology, bedroom, gender flexible, misunderstanding
    10-MINUTE PLAY: We all celebrate finding the person of our dreams. But in this comedy, one couple
    discovers what happens when there's a nightmare.
  • Birdseed by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 18
    ·
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama
    ·
    Keyword: Mental Health, mental health awareness + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, drama
    Keyword: Mental Health, mental health awareness, lgbtqia, coping with suicide, coping with grief, discussions of suicide, grief, family grief, wedding planning, Adult Siblings
    10-MINUTE PLAY: A family struggles with complicated grief and a complicated wedding. An unexpected surprise helps to unite both.

    AWARDED AUDIENCE FAVORITE - JL Smith New Play Festival, 2021
  • The End Is Just The Beginning by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 15
    ·
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: comedy, zoom
    ·
    Keyword: adult friendship, endings + 7 more
    Genre: comedy, zoom
    Keyword: adult friendship, endings, Video Chat, zoom, close couples, miscommunication, breakup, online chat, gender flexible
    8-10 MINUTE PLAY: What's the best way to end a friendship? Not like this.

    HONORS:
    BEST LAUGHTER ANTHOLOGY - Smith & Kraus, 2020
  • Remembered by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 11
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama + 2 more
    ·
    Keyword: intergenerational, unlikely friendship + 5 more
    Genre: comedy, drama, romantic comedy, tragedy
    Keyword: intergenerational, unlikely friendship, buying and selling, forgiveness and home, family home, attraction, chance meeting
    10-MINUTE PLAY: Walls are diaries and rooms have desires. In the buying and selling of a house, two people discover what's truly at stake and the power of finding love through loss.

    HONORS:
    *BEST OF FESTIVAL - Know Theatre, 2019
    *BEST 10-MINUTE PLAYS - Smith & Kraus, 2021
  • Bump In The Night (5-min version) by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 4
    ·
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 3 more
    ·
    Keyword: failed marriages, thief + 7 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, parody/spoof, romantic comedy, satire
    Keyword: failed marriages, thief, burglary, second chances, second chance at love, robbery, zoom, Social distancing, social distancing play
    5-MINUTE PLAY: There's never a good time for a couple-fight, especially during a home invasion. And you're the invaders.
  • Bump In The Night (10-min version) by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 4
    ·
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 3 more
    ·
    Keyword: zoom, failed marriages + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, parody/spoof, romantic comedy, satire
    Keyword: zoom, failed marriages, theft, thief, burglary, second chances, second chance at love, robbery, Social distancing, social distancing play
    10-MINUTE PLAY: There's never a good time for a couple-fight, especially during a home invasion. And you're the invaders.
  • It's A Wonderful Satan by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 15
    ·
    Cast: 
    5–14
    ·
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 7 more
    ·
    Keyword: holiday, christmas + 7 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, experimental, fantasy, farce, holiday, horror, parody/spoof, satire
    Keyword: holiday, christmas, parody, satire, It's a Wonderful Life, unlikely friendship, demons, Satan, purpose in life
    10-MINUTE PLAY: In this dark parody of 'It’s a Wonderful Life,' Satan wonders if they’ve made the evil impact on humanity that they had hoped. In this moment of despair, Satan is visited by Clarence the demon, who’s looking to earn their horns. You’ll love what happens next in this silly twist on a classic holiday story!
  • The Soon-To-Be-Former Ms. Grinch by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 9
    ·
    Cast: 
    1
    ·
    Genre: comedy, fantasy + 3 more
    ·
    Keyword: Xmas, christmas + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, fantasy, farce, holiday, satire
    Keyword: Xmas, christmas, Grinch, holiday, Dr. Seuss, anti-christmas, break-up, singing, anniversary, monologue
    2-3 MINUTE MONOLOGUE: The Soon-To-Be-Former Ms. Grinch has a lot to say.
    She just doesn't realize it yet.
  • Zoom Zoom by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 5
    ·
    Cast: 
    1
    ·
    Genre: dark comedy, drama + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: zoom, being online + 2 more
    Genre: dark comedy, drama, zoom
    Keyword: zoom, being online, isolation, monologue
    1-MINUTE MONOLOGUE: Being authentic is hard in a virtual world.
  • A 3-act, centuries-long love affair (abridged) by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 18
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, farce + 3 more
    ·
    Keyword: one minute play, one minute + 7 more
    Genre: comedy, farce, parody/spoof, romantic comedy, satire
    Keyword: one minute play, one minute, one page, vampires, immortality, FALLING IN LOVE, marital discord, Any Gender, any genders
    1-MINUTE PLAY: A 300-page vampire love affair play in 1-page. As you do.
  • failing at a 1-page play festival by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 20
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, fantasy + 2 more
    ·
    Keyword: self-esteem, rejection + 6 more
    Genre: comedy, fantasy, parody/spoof, satire
    Keyword: self-esteem, rejection, acceptance, friendship, one minute, one minute play, Satan, self-doubt
    1-MINUTE PLAY: When you try your best, do you ever really fail? Satan thinks so.
  • Secret Ingredient by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 9
    ·
    Cast: 
    1
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama
    ·
    Keyword: baking, marriages in crisis + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, drama
    Keyword: baking, marriages in crisis, marriages, affair, extramarital affair, extramarital jealousy, confrontation, Any Gender, secrets, monologue
    1-2 MINUTE MONOLOGUE: Baked goods make excellent snacks and even better metaphors.
  • Earthling Lover by John Mabey
    Recommendations: 5
    ·
    Cast: 
    1
    ·
    Genre: comedy, fantasy + 3 more
    ·
    Keyword: sci-fi, aliens + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, fantasy, holiday, science fiction, zoom
    Keyword: sci-fi, aliens, costumes, future of humanity, costumes for Halloween, galaxy, Milky Way, costume party, gender flexible, monologue
    1-2 MINUTE MONOLOGUE: Time to choose a Halloween costume! Who's your favorite Earthling?