Hannah Land

Hannah Land is a playwright, poet, and critic from the Washington, DC area. As a disabled and queer writer, she loves bringing hidden stories about marginalized characters into the spotlight, especially in historical settings. Her plays have been performed as part of the The Baltimore Playwrights Festival, Avant Bard’s Scripts in Play Series, and the New Works Playhouse's online reading series. Her poetry chapbook The Body Myth was published by The Hunger Press, and she spent many years reviewing DC theatre and dance for broadwayworld.com.

Because she is passionate about nurturing her fellow writers, she co-leads 3D Playwrights, a supportive writing group for DC-based disabled dramatists, and provides feedback for The Space Arts Centre's new play development program in London.

When she...

Hannah Land is a playwright, poet, and critic from the Washington, DC area. As a disabled and queer writer, she loves bringing hidden stories about marginalized characters into the spotlight, especially in historical settings. Her plays have been performed as part of the The Baltimore Playwrights Festival, Avant Bard’s Scripts in Play Series, and the New Works Playhouse's online reading series. Her poetry chapbook The Body Myth was published by The Hunger Press, and she spent many years reviewing DC theatre and dance for broadwayworld.com.

Because she is passionate about nurturing her fellow writers, she co-leads 3D Playwrights, a supportive writing group for DC-based disabled dramatists, and provides feedback for The Space Arts Centre's new play development program in London.

When she's not writing or resting you can find her creating cosplays, playing TTRPGS, or talking about her favorite tv shows with friends. Learn more at www.inhannahland.com

Scripts

Grief is a Juggler

by Hannah Land

Synopsis

A few years ago, Nadine was living her dream of performing in Cirque du Soleil with her best friend and performance partner Michael. But then the pandemic happened, Nadine got sick, and Michael disappeared into the conservative Christian family he worked so hard to escape. Now Nadine is bedbound by Long Covid, and Michael is dead. When Nadine receives Michael’s journals in the mail, she embarks on an odyssey of...

A few years ago, Nadine was living her dream of performing in Cirque du Soleil with her best friend and performance partner Michael. But then the pandemic happened, Nadine got sick, and Michael disappeared into the conservative Christian family he worked so hard to escape. Now Nadine is bedbound by Long Covid, and Michael is dead. When Nadine receives Michael’s journals in the mail, she embarks on an odyssey of memory and mourning. With the help of her sister, Nadine tries to figure out what happened to Michael while she struggles to solve the mystery of her own body.

Grief is a Juggler incorporates dance and hand-to-hand acrobatics as part of its storytelling. With two actors assigned to play Nadine (one pre- and one post-disability), the play allows for an authentically disabled actress to be cast in a central role.

In a world where millions are now dealing with Long Covid, Nadine’s story is deeply relevant. However, audiences of all abilities will relate to Grief is a Juggler’s themes of partnership, self-acceptance, and hope.

Last Exile

by Hannah Land

Synopsis

Two teenagers figure out God, the accident that changed their lives, and their feelings for each other at an all-ages rock show in 2006.

Two teenagers figure out God, the accident that changed their lives, and their feelings for each other at an all-ages rock show in 2006.

A Lovely Light

by Hannah Land

Synopsis

Based on true events, A LOVELY LIGHT follows poet Edna St. Vincent Millay on a 1921 trip to Paris that was supposed to make her career. Instead of finding literary success, she spends her time abroad dealing with a disabling illness, heartbreak, writers’ block, and the consequences of her own mistakes.

In order to save her writing career and seize a second chance at love, Edna must do something previously...

Based on true events, A LOVELY LIGHT follows poet Edna St. Vincent Millay on a 1921 trip to Paris that was supposed to make her career. Instead of finding literary success, she spends her time abroad dealing with a disabling illness, heartbreak, writers’ block, and the consequences of her own mistakes.

In order to save her writing career and seize a second chance at love, Edna must do something previously unthinkable: admit her weaknesses and ask for help.

A LOVELY LIGHT introduces audiences to the queer, disabled poet whose writing still captures readers a century later.

Fakers

by Hannah Land

Synopsis

While Autumn is stuck at home with a chronic illness that doctors have been unable to diagnose, she becomes obsessed with the star of her new favorite TV show, Aurora Zimmer. Everything starts to spin out of control when Aurora shows up to a red carpet premiere in a wheelchair and Autumn becomes convinced that she's faking her disability.

This 10 minute play explores online culture and internalized ableism. It...

While Autumn is stuck at home with a chronic illness that doctors have been unable to diagnose, she becomes obsessed with the star of her new favorite TV show, Aurora Zimmer. Everything starts to spin out of control when Aurora shows up to a red carpet premiere in a wheelchair and Autumn becomes convinced that she's faking her disability.

This 10 minute play explores online culture and internalized ableism. It can easily be performed on a stage or via zoom, and only requires one female actress to perform the piece live. The two other characters, Aurora and Dr. Sandersen, appear only in pre-recorded video and audio clips.

The Princess and the Pea

by Hannah Land

Synopsis

A 10 minute musical adaptation of the classic fairy tale, featuring a disabled princess and an unexpected ending.
Book and lyrics by Hannah Land, Music by Greg Becker

A 10 minute musical adaptation of the classic fairy tale, featuring a disabled princess and an unexpected ending.
Book and lyrics by Hannah Land, Music by Greg Becker