Dana Hall

During rehearsal, a local theater troupe’s well-intentioned effort to create a kid-friendly historical play about Chicago spirals delightfully out of control. CW: *Not a children's show.*

Five Second Rule is a comedic micro-play where germs are portrayed as a military squad waiting on a kitchen floor for dropped food. As they prepare for their “mission,” they reveal that germs themselves invented the five-second rule to trick humans.

In the quiet of a campus blackout, two new roommates, a science major who studies light and a girl who fears the dark, discover the strange gravity that holds us together.

What the Bones Remember is a haunting, lyrical exploration of legacy, womanhood, and the quiet violence of silence. When a young woman arrives at a weathered Southern home seeking answers, she awakens long-buried secrets and the spirits that carry them. Blending magical realism and Appalachian ritual, the play traces three generations of women as they confront the weight of what's been unspoken and what must be named to heal.

Full-Length (120min)
A family faces the upheaval of change as their daughter prepares to leave for college. Struggling with mental health challenges and the weight of the unknown, each family member is forced to confront their fears, failures, and deep connections. Refracted Light is a heartfelt exploration of resilience, love, and the ways we bend without breaking.

In a dying rural town where spring has stalled and the earth lies barren, hunger clings to every corner. Lynn makes a forbidden offering to wake the soil. Her brother Randy, caught between faith and fear, confronts her as the line between salvation and sacrifice blurs. This is their spring, but every harvest has its price.

Lena, a grad student writing her thesis on Macbeth, meets with three women she believes to be actors from an experimental Shakespeare troupe. But as the conversation deepens, lines blur between theatre and reality.

The Future Will Sing follows Evelyn​, a fierce woman haunted by loss​, and Aurora, an AI designed for compliance and control. Trapped together in a sterile holding cell, their unlikely connection cracks open the machinery of oppression.

Marty, 50s, earnest, easily sidetracked, and delivering a eulogy that’s… not normal. MARTY stands at a podium, in an ill-fitting suit, blinking into the crowd. He clears his throat.]

Marla takes on the court. The Pickleball Court.

The story centers on a group of girls who gather every full moon in an abandoned greenhouse behind their school. On the night of the Hunter’s Moon, they’re asked to face what’s been buried both within themselves and between each other. It’s intimate and theatrical, grounded in truth with a touch of magic, and offers meaningful roles for each performer.

In the sweltering heat of summer, Lena returns to her childhood home, burdened by resentment
and exhaustion, only to find her mother, Eudora, still steeped in the mystical world she’s always
rejected. Eudora, a tarot reader and spiritualist, believes she has been receiving messages from her late husband, James, through The Sun card, which has appeared in every reading since his passing. But as tensions between mother and daughter rise, old wounds reopen, grief, regret, and the weight of all the things left unsaid.

Megan's father is nearing the end of his battle with illness, while Louis grapples with his mother's deteriorating condition. Their chance encounter becomes a journey of shared memories, regrets, and unspoken emotions as they navigate the complexities of love, loss, and the harsh realities of life.

Renee, a college student in her early twenties, is confronted with the crushing reality of her
father’s terminal illness while contending with her own anxiety. As she faces the looming loss,
her journey unfolds through dreamlike flashbacks of childhood summers fishing with her father,
interwoven with her present-day challenges of balancing friendships, school, and family.

(10 minute) The feuding King and Queen of the Fairies are dragged into couples counseling—fairy-style—with the mischievous Puck acting as their unqualified, glitter-allergic therapist. As spells unravel, secrets spill, and glitter bombs explode, Puck scrambles to untangle centuries of magical baggage before their chaos turns the mortal world upside down—again.

Love Trap is a comedic monologue that takes a candid look at the complexities of modern relationships, offering a fresh perspective on love and its many nuances.

10min
During the holiday season, a family finds themselves navigating through various challenges. With a grown son battling addiction, the holidays become a blend of poignant moments and hopeful aspirations for future healing, as memories of the past intersect with anticipation for what is yet to come.

Audition Monologue for Woman:
Louise is sharing a cautionary tale with her child before they head to their sleepover party.

After his Bubbie’s death, Saul returns home to his family after a long absence to sit Shiva. Alice, Saul’s girlfriend joins him. Saul tries to portray the perfect version of what he thinks his family wants. However, a message from the beyond leads both Saul and Alice to some meaningful realizations.

|10-minute play|

ALL RIGHTS INQUIRIES MUST GO THROUGH Tiny Scripted: https://www.tinyscripted.com/stagelicense

Full-length (90-120min)
David has lost his enthusiasm for Christmas after his grown children moved out. However, the magic of the holiday season may have other plans for him. Will he be able to rediscover his love for the holidays, or will he remain lost in memories of Christmases past? You won't want to miss this holiday gift filled with seasonal music and festive twists.
*This show allows for small to medium-size casting.

(Full-length/CW discussion of assault)
Maya was eager to start her freshman year in college, but one night in September changed the landscape of her life forever. Plunged into an unexpected emotional turmoil, she found herself grappling with feelings she had never foreseen. Despite the presence of her supportive friends, can Maya navigate this darkness? Or will the secrets of that fateful night ultimately consume her?

(10min) Tinkerbell is in prison. Peter visits every year on the anniversary of her sentencing but this time he's here for a different reason.

10min experimental play
On April 25, 2014, the City of Flint, Michigan changed its municipal water supply from the Detroit-supplied Lake Huron water to the Flint River. The switch caused water distribution pipes to corrode and leach lead and other contaminants into municipal drinking water. Generations will be impacted by what has happened to the people of Flint Michigan. Clean water should not be a privilege. This play is meant to illustrate grief and hope for a better future.

10min.
Christmas Time, the 1950s, Chicago. The living room of Mr. & Mrs. Clark.

Mrs. Clark tends to lose herself in other people's worlds. Mr. Clark fears her antics have gone
too far and will stop at nothing to get her back to the woman she was before their world changed forever.

Content Warning
Topics pertaining to depression, PTSD, and loss of a child are depicted.

This play was written as a part of Playground Chicago 2022-2023.

(Full Length) Approx. 90min
Hilda takes over her husband's family business while he's serving in WWII. However, Lyle's health deteriorates not long after returning home from war. Hilda's magnanimous personality makes some of the waitresses at the diner suspicious of her intentions with the men in town. After an attack on Hilda's life, her brother-in-law wonders if Hilda is a victim or a black widow.

Immortal fish-god Dagon emerges from the deepest, darkest depths of the Pacific Ocean for holiday (a/k/a humanity’s destruction). However, before celebrating the holiday (a/k/a destroying humanity), Dagon decides to go on a date for the first time in over 10,000 years.

|10-minute play|

(10Min)
What if Sigmund Freud visited the studio of Georgia O’Keeffe? In No More Flowers, O'Keeffe is completing her latest work the famed 'Black Iris' which sends Freud into deep analysis. This play is for those that have felt misunderstood, those that have felt the weight of societal judgment, and those of us tired of being told who we are. O'Keeffe's art is on full display but yet her personhood is under attack, will she crack under psychoanalysis?

10min drama
The story revolves around Aaron, our protagonist, who comes back home after spending a summer as the caregiver for his long-estranged father. During his stay, he grapples with understanding his place within the family and contemplates his path forward. It explores themes of grief, love, and the pursuit of finding a sense of belonging and security.

(Monologue) Barbara has prepared Easter supper and has forgotten her daughter made other plans. This is the first holiday without her, and it is especially challenging because she was looking forward to making new traditions with her granddaughter.

(about 15min) When a novice ghost is assigned to a mortal family, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery with the guidance of her witty afterlife mentor. Together, they unravel the true essence of life, proving that
valuable lessons can be learned from both ghosts and mortals alike. Brace yourself for a real scream of laughter as you witness the enchanting synergy between the ethereal and the earthly!

Shorter One Act
Lucid explores the power of generational patterns. Through movement, soundscape, and dreams, we enter a fractured world where each family member struggles with their own disconnectedness. However, there is hope that what ‘runs in the family’ can end here if only someone is able to change the pattern.

A couple’s movie night on the couch is interrupted by an unexpected email.

|1-minute play|

Short 15min
Synopsis: Steve is concerned about the amount of stuff his elderly parents have packed into their home. He comes to learn a lesson about holding on and letting go.

90-second monologue/audition piece
A mom is visited by a caseworker that wants her to consider residential placement for her son.
Femuscript Monologue winner 2022

MONOLOGUE 2min

This Halloween dad takes trick or treating to a whole new level.

2minute Monologue
Lynn’s long-time boyfriend has decided that domestic life is not for him. He’s not only breaking up with her but leaving her son as well.

The parents of Zeke Wolf are called in for a parent-teacher conference at their son's elementary school. This is the origin story of The Big Bad Wolf, from the beloved children's classic - The Three Little Pigs.

Inspired by the short play, AHAVAH. After his Bubbie's death, Saul returns home to his family after a long absence to sit Shiva. Alice, Saul’s girlfriend, joins him. While Saul is already in the room where services are being held, Alice is outside, contemplating whether or not to enter.

|5-minute monologue|

1min Play
This is a straightforward game, just throw a softball and knock down three milk bottles in a pyramid. Or is it?

40 Minute Play
As children, we are captivated by the whimsy of fairy tales. But not all of us see ourselves represented in those stories. Chasing Cinderella is a coming- of -age story that proves real life can be better than any fairy tale when you're true to yourself.

Samantha has been concerned about her mother, Janice, since her father’s passing. She has convinced Janice to use video chat to catch up with her and see how she is doing. This play deals with complex grief. It’s a window into the world most families do not talk about.

10min
Copycat highlights the complexity of female relationships and challenges the concept of artistic freedom.

Who doesn’t love true crime stories filled with paranormal activities and ghastly hauntings? Tune in each week to “Pete & Petria’s Petrifying Podcast” to hear tales of strange and terrifying events.

|one-act radio play|

When four longtime friends gather for their not-so-serious “book club,” the wine flows faster than the pages turn, until life hands them a plot twist they never saw coming. What begins as irreverent, unfiltered humor about bodies and aging becomes something deeper: the relief of saying the thing you thought you weren’t allowed to say. As laughter gives way to vulnerability, these women witness one another without competition or shame, proving that true friendship can hold humor and heartbreak in the very same breath.

10 min
Always is a poignant and heartfelt two-person play that explores the enduring nature of love, memory, and commitment. When Harold finds himself in a hospital room after a health scare, his wife, Francis, is forced to confront the terrifying possibility of losing the man who has been her partner for decades. As they reminisce, their love story unfolds through humor, nostalgia, and raw emotion—taking them back to their first meeting, their happiest moments, and the challenges that tested them.

10 min
Welcome to virtual dating- with a twist. Steph logs on to meet Mark but along on their date is the option to meet each others' exes. Has Steph found her true love or just the bottom of her glass? This comedic look at the direction of matchmaking is laugh-out-loud funny. Guaranteed to make you laugh, cringe, and keep you intrigued until the end.

Very Short Thriller (2min)
A first date to remember.

Comedic Monologue.
An actress is late for her audition and boy does she have an interesting reason...

Short 15min.
Under the Floorboards is an adaptation of Egar Allan Poe’s Tell-Tale Heart that depicts the internal struggle to escape patriarchal constraints. The narrator seeks deliverance from the paternal surveillance (The EYE), that has dominated and abused its privilege for far too long.
This updated version captures the essence of the original with a modern twist.
This is the stage version.

If needing a virtual version please inquire.

10 min
Steve invites his daughter Diana out for a dinner in the hopes of reconnecting. Has too much time passed for these two to connect?

Monologue
Emily is sharing about her trauma at her first NAMI support group.

A two-minute monologue for auditions.
Raising socially conscious kids is not easy especially in the climate we face today.

Monologue 1-2min
No one likes rejection but there's something worse... being forgotten.
A lifetime of feeling invisible leaves John contemplating if he matters.

10 Minute Comedy/ Co-Written with David Lipschutz
After his Bubbie’s death, Saul returns home to his family after a long absence to sit Shiva. Alice,
Saul’s girlfriend joins him. Saul tries to portray the perfect version of what he thinks his family
wants. However, a message from the beyond leads both Saul and Alice to some meaningful
realizations.

10min
Two friends meet for a friendly game of tennis. The bonds of friendship, life, and love intersect with what happens on the court and its game, set, match.

Monologue
BETH is a mother of a precocious four-year-old that always keeps her on her toes. Beth tells the story of her daughter’s bedtime question to a friend. We come to see she has definitive feelings about how things are supposed to be in relationships as she reveals more than just the truth about what happened to Tinker Bell.

One night a year affords the dead a chance to come back to be amongst the living. Recently deceased Carol and Mark decide on their first trip back they want a quiet evening at home. What they get is anything but quiet. Can they manage to not lose their heads?

10min
Holly shares her experience with reproductive care and the standard of care that often leaves women feeling like their bodies are not their own.
TW: Miscarriage/Medical

10min Drama
A high school student gets into a physical altercation with another student. It is revealed there is much more under the surface when Isaiah finds himself trapped between impossible choices.

This play represents the statistics indicating LGBTQ youth are not receiving the support, acceptance, and advocacy needed to ensure their health and wellness. It is in response to the death record reports of LGBTQ youth who died by suicide that indicate a history of bullying more than five times more often when compared to records of non-LGBTQ youth. Hopefully, this play will spark meaningful discussion on how best to support LGBTQ youth in our school systems.

10 min play
A group comes together for family therapy.

*Fans of the Cthulhu Mythos will get a kick out of this one.

COMING SOON TO NEXT STAGE PRESS 2023
Runs about 40 mins.
As graduation from junior high approaches Amy is desperate to make some memories before high school. Unfortunately nothing exciting has happened until the principal goes missing! Can Amy organize a group of students in secret to find out what happened to him before the bullies find out he’s gone!? Find out what happens...

10Min
Asher just wants a nice breakfast. Is that too much to ask? Apparently, yes. We have all had to deal with an order that was wrong, this takes it to a whole new level. In this comedy with heart, we are reminded of how the little things sometimes are the big thing in life.

In the waiting room of imagination, we find a room full of imaginary friends waiting to be assigned.
*Accepted into the 17th annual Gi60 US festival in October 2021.

A shopping experience during the pandemic.

Two people go for a walk and find a dandelion.
A commentary on how life survives all odds.
1minute play

10 min play
Ben and Kevin work together at an accounting firm in the city. They are heading out for their lunch hour and have decided to walk to a restaurant. Ben thinks Kevin is a psychic and pumps him for information about his future. It turns out that Kevin is not a psychic but nothing deters Ben from trying to get the answers he wants.

10min version
Theatre and storytelling are art forms meant to allow us into spaces that need to be explored. No Justice is a virtual theatre piece that brings Justice, a young-black woman from Southern Illinois, and Dr. Myers, a middle aged-white therapist, together to have a candid conversation about the racial disparities that compound the everyday life of black youth. The two women come to see each other and build a conscience middle-ground teaching us that we do not need to fear difficult conversations- we need to embrace them. TW: No Justice
We present our work to open discussion on topics such as white privilege, segregation, institutionalized and systemic racism.

Co-writer Kenisha Morgan

In this dramatic monologue, the poetic/artistic expression of someone experiencing sexual trauma is captured. Though there are no graphic descriptions, however, it should be presented with a trigger warning prior to performing. It has made a dynamic audition piece and is a powerful expression of human resiliency.

Lynn is attending her first virtual chronic illness support group. Her narrative is told in part with the help of three other women sharing their experience with chronic illness. None of the women are aware of each other as Lynn is the only current speaker. This illustrates the power of sharing our experience and exemplifies we are not alone in our battles. Artistically done and powerfully represents the diverse experience of those with chronic illness/chronic pain.

Full-length
The Tenant is specifically written for a virtual platform (zoom) and utilizes the camera to enhance the physical comedy within the show. In this comedy, a young couple purchases a home that comes with a renter. The tenant lives in the basement and when odd things keep happening around the house the Harlings’ suspicion grows. What is The Tenant hiding? Driven by fun banter and clever antics we learn the Harlings may have gotten in over their heads – even if the place has double vanities.
Runtime: 45-60mins

Do you dread going to the dentist? Who doesn't! This 1min comedic monologue explores the dangers of not flossing. It works for zoom or in-person auditions. It has a lot of options for dramatic, physical comedy, and can showcase your comedic range.
(Gender-Neutral)

Sam has end stage cancer and leaving a portion of their last will and testament via video recording. We are pulled into the world of someone standing on the border of life and death- with a balance of raw emotion and levity we can't help but connect to Sam.

10min Play
Monica and Kevin are walking to the door after their date. Monica’s Brain joins them, and though they can’t see her, she is the manifestation of Monica's inner world.

*Semi-Final round for PICK OF THE VINE 2023 at Little Fish Theatre CA.

10 min
When Santa goes missing, the Reindeer take extreme paranormal measures to try and find him.

1min Christmas-Themed Play
What happens when the reindeer take the sleigh out without Santa? They have to go on the run!

15min Historic Drama

Before women could even vote, Miss Banker leads the first corps of women that help turn the tide of World War I.

Synopsis:
This is an interview with the first woman soldier Chief Grace Banker of the Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators Unit. General John Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in WWI, demanded female “wire experts” when he discovered that inexperienced doughboys were unable to keep him connected with troops under fire.

In 1918 the US Army Signal Corps sent 223 women to France during WWI. They were bi-lingual and experts in the latest technology the switchboard. They had access to privileged coordinates and military assignments. These brave women chose to serve their country despite the fact that women were not considered full citizens. Back in the states, they could not vote, own property, but a group of six women led by Miss. Banker served alongside Gen Pershing on the front line as they operated the switchboards. They were responsible for over 26 million calls during their service.

2min Monologue
SYNOPSIS: Joyce, a mother navigating the everyday realities of raising her autistic son, Kevin, in a world that often misunderstands him. Returning home from a seemingly ordinary trip to the grocery store, Joyce recounts a sensory overload–triggered meltdown in the frozen food aisle and the painful experience of being watched, whispered about, and even recorded by strangers.

Monologue Under 2 minutes

SYNOPSIS
A woman sets out to enjoy a summer's evening when her past comes running by.

TAGLINE
Sometimes we need to appreciate where we have been in order to understand where we need to be.

3minute play/outdoor venue
We could all use a hug, right? However, like most things these days, there may be a string or two attached.

5min.
An unexpected visitor delivers some interesting information.

10min
Puck orchestrates a mischievous reunion among three unexpecting characters from Shakespearean tales. These three share a common bond- each has undergone a transformative experience. Plucked out of their own worlds they begin to question their true desires.

A 1940s Radio Play (15min)
Delilah Fairfax, a faded starlet haunted by her lost glory, fixates on the rapid rise of a captivating young actress named Vivienne Sterling. Delilah becomes convinced that the enchanting locket adorning Vivienne's neck is the key to her meteoric ascent to fame. As the glimmering lights of the stage beckon, to what depths will Delilah go to get back in the spotlight?