Deanna Strasse

Deanna Strasse

Deanna Strasse is a Milwaukee-based playwright who enjoys mixing the heartfelt with the hilarious. Her most notable works include "Dancing With Hamlet", "Summers in Prague", and "The Cafe' Mocha Murders".

Ms. Strasse has seen her plays workshopped and produced through companies such as Waukesha Civic Theatre (Waukesha, WI), Windfall Theatre (Milwaukee, WI),...
Deanna Strasse is a Milwaukee-based playwright who enjoys mixing the heartfelt with the hilarious. Her most notable works include "Dancing With Hamlet", "Summers in Prague", and "The Cafe' Mocha Murders".

Ms. Strasse has seen her plays workshopped and produced through companies such as Waukesha Civic Theatre (Waukesha, WI), Windfall Theatre (Milwaukee, WI), The Box Theatre Co (Oconomowoc, WI) Sidecar Theatre (Minneapolis, MN), Golden Chian Theatre (Oakhurst, CA), Chameleon Theatre Circle (Minneapolis, MN), Spark Creative Works (Long Island, NY), Lake Country Playhouse (Hartland, WI), St. Croix Festival Theatre (St. Croix Falls, WI), and more.

Ms. Strasse is a proud member of the Dramatist Guild.

Plays

  • Dancing With Hamlet by Deanna Strasse
    Cast: 
    6–10
    ·
    Genre: drama
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    Keyword: based on Shakespeare, female lead + 4 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: based on Shakespeare, female lead, death of a parent, Drama/Dark Comedy, Hamlet, Female Hamlet
    When Rosie, the matriarch of the Flack family, decides to remarry following her divorce, her three grown children are not exactly thrilled with the idea. What's more, they are mortified when their father dies suddenly in a car crash a week before the big day and Rosie decides to move forward with the wedding. The family's only daughter Elvira begins to see the whole as a tragedy...on a Shakespearean...
    When Rosie, the matriarch of the Flack family, decides to remarry following her divorce, her three grown children are not exactly thrilled with the idea. What's more, they are mortified when their father dies suddenly in a car crash a week before the big day and Rosie decides to move forward with the wedding. The family's only daughter Elvira begins to see the whole as a tragedy...on a Shakespearean level. It's time for a little antic disposition.
  • Summers in Prague by Deanna Strasse
    Recommendations: 1
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    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: drama
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    Keyword: Prague, male prostitution + 5 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: Prague, male prostitution, female sexual awakening, unlikely romance, unlikely friendship, female lead, Czech
    While visiting Prague, Mara decides to do something crazy and hire a male prostitute. Enter Valcav. Over the course of many years, Mara continues to visit Vaclav and an unorthodox friendship blossoms.
  • The Café Mocha Murders by Deanna Strasse
    Recommendations: 5
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    Cast: 
    9
    ·
    Genre: comedy, melodrama + 2 more
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    Keyword: murder mystery, murder mystery comedy + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, melodrama, mystery/thriller, parody/spoof
    Keyword: murder mystery, murder mystery comedy, coffee, barista, adversaries, coming together, John Denver, female leads, death, dying
    Despite the raging storm outside, it seems like a perfectly normal night for an employee meeting at the local coffee shop, The Bean Shack. That is... until the lights go out, and someone winds up dead! In this over-the-top whodunit, it’s all about latte art, caffeine content, and the imminent threat of death.
  • Leannán Sidhe by Deanna Strasse
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: drama
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    Keyword: parasocial relationships, infatuation + 5 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: parasocial relationships, infatuation, aspiring playwright, King Ludwig, Winchester rifle, celebrity obsession, English Artist
    Mya is an artist and has a somewhat obsessive personality. Her latest muse is English actor Vincent Thane and dreaming of him is so much better than the real world. In Mya’s apartment, she dreams up extensive conversations with Vincent, attempting to write while dreaming of endless summers and Bavarian kings. But Mya is about to get her wakeup call if Vincent has anything to say about it.
  • Exit Stage Riley (Youth Edition available) by Deanna Strasse
    Cast: 
    7–15
    ·
    Genre: comedy, farce + 1 more
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    Keyword: Farce, high school + 6 more
    Genre: comedy, farce, young audiences
    Keyword: Farce, high school, high school theatre, high school theater, deep friendship, female, award show, college theatre
    The Tammy Awards. Every drama student dreams of attending. But to win a Tammy Award, is the ultimate goal. The coveted GOAT Acting Award comes with a full scholarship and eternal glory. All eyes are on the elusive and charismatic Riley Thane to win for her one-woman show Thane's the Thing. The less-than-impressive Durschnitt High School Drama Club is also taking a trip to Madison in order to attend the...
    The Tammy Awards. Every drama student dreams of attending. But to win a Tammy Award, is the ultimate goal. The coveted GOAT Acting Award comes with a full scholarship and eternal glory. All eyes are on the elusive and charismatic Riley Thane to win for her one-woman show Thane's the Thing. The less-than-impressive Durschnitt High School Drama Club is also taking a trip to Madison in order to attend the awards and the club's treasurer, the devastatingly shy Janet has a big secret: she is secretly Riley Thane. To accept the GOAT Award would mean her college career is set, but it also risks exposing her true identity. Add to the mix an aspiring playwright, desperate to meet Riley, a couple of senior divas, two drama coaches battling it out for domination, and more! Can Janet and her cohorts keep her secret safe? Find out in this over-the-top farcical romp.
  • Mayhem at Camp Marigold (Youth Edition available) by Deanna Strasse
    Cast: 
    14
    ·
    Genre: comedy, farce + 2 more
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    Keyword: crochet, knitting + 3 more
    Genre: comedy, farce, mystery/thriller, young audiences
    Keyword: crochet, knitting, pottery, journey of self-discovery, murder mystery
    Kat was led to believe that she was heading to space camp (which is totally cool), but when a snafu in registration occurs, she's off to craft camp instead (which is totally lame). Between pottery classes, crochet lessons, and overly perky counselors, Kat is sure that this is going to be the worst week ever. But when a storm blows in and campers go missing, Kat and her cohorts are going to need every...
    Kat was led to believe that she was heading to space camp (which is totally cool), but when a snafu in registration occurs, she's off to craft camp instead (which is totally lame). Between pottery classes, crochet lessons, and overly perky counselors, Kat is sure that this is going to be the worst week ever. But when a storm blows in and campers go missing, Kat and her cohorts are going to need every crafty skill they've got to survive the night.
  • Molly's (Mostly) Accurate Mythology Anthology by Deanna Strasse
    Cast: 
    16–20
    ·
    Genre: comedy, fable/folktale + 2 more
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    Keyword: ancient greek mythology, Norse mythology + 5 more
    Genre: comedy, fable/folktale, parody/spoof, young audiences
    Keyword: ancient greek mythology, Norse mythology, Eros, Persephone, Loki, Thor, Zeus
    Molly, Kevin, Gregory, Peaches and the rest of the crew are back! When a teacher is at her wits ends, trying to figure out how to get her class interested in Greek mythology, she calls upon a local theatre group to help spice things up. When the professionals cant make it, Molly's madcap theatre troupe is more than happy to step in.
  • Roberta's Skin by Deanna Strasse
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy
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    Keyword: loving yourself, body positivity + 4 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: loving yourself, body positivity, nudist, beach, Body image, negative body image
    Roberta decides to join a nudist colony...but first she has to get over her own insecurities.