Brenton Kniess

Brenton Kniess

BRENTON KNIESS is a playwright, award winning director, actor, and acting coach based in Wisconsin. Brenton graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, receiving a BA in Drama and Media Studies. Brenton's play Luck of the Draw was produced by the Bluebird Theatre Company in NYC through their Bluebird Broadcast.

If interested in performing any of Brenton's...
BRENTON KNIESS is a playwright, award winning director, actor, and acting coach based in Wisconsin. Brenton graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, receiving a BA in Drama and Media Studies. Brenton's play Luck of the Draw was produced by the Bluebird Theatre Company in NYC through their Bluebird Broadcast.

If interested in performing any of Brenton's work, please reach out through the NPX contact form.

Plays

  • Therese by Brenton Kniess
    Recommendations: 9
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    Cast: 
    4
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    Genre: drama, mystery/thriller
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    Keyword: murder mystery, drama + 4 more
    Genre: drama, mystery/thriller
    Keyword: murder mystery, drama, domestic abuse, Beethoven, full length family drama, full length
    FULL LENGTH: World-renowned concert pianist Robert Davins’ life is falling apart. In an attempt to put his life back on course, he invites his daughter, wife, and assistant to a dinner party. As an argument disrupts the evening, his guests mysteriously pass out, only to wake up to find Robert’s dead body collapsed on his piano and a bloody letter opener sitting in the middle of the room.

    Revision coming soon!
  • The Peculiar Puppets of Philip Platt by Brenton Kniess
    Recommendations: 23
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    Cast: 
    4
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    Genre: comedy, drama
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    Keyword: death and grief, adult depression + 4 more
    Genre: comedy, drama
    Keyword: death and grief, adult depression, puppetry, suicide, ten minute play, birthday
    TEN MINUTES: A puppeteer grieving from a loss receives an unexpected visit from old friends.
  • Melt by Brenton Kniess
    Recommendations: 16
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    Cast: 
    2
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    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 4 more
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    Keyword: Comedic horror, halloween + 3 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, fantasy, horror, romantic comedy, science fiction
    Keyword: Comedic horror, halloween, ice cream truck, ten minute play, body horror
    TEN MINUTES: Stacey and her boyfriend, David own an ice cream truck that has been within Stacey's family for 60 years. David is looking towards the future of their relationship while Stacey just wants to keep her family business going. Will this relationship freeze up in this cold dark comedy?
  • Melt: A New Scoop by Brenton Kniess
    Recommendations: 4
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    Cast: 
    3
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    Genre: dark comedy, horror
    Genre: dark comedy, horror
    ONE ACT: In this alternate version of the short play, Melt, Stacey and David's relationship is on thin ice when David insists on selling the ice cream truck that has been within Stacey's family for 60 years. While Stacey wants David to abandon the sale, the situation gets complicated when the buyer shows up ready to take the truck.

  • Clockwork by Brenton Kniess
    Recommendations: 15
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    Cast: 
    4
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    Genre: drama, science fiction
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    Keyword: time travel, fear of the future + 3 more
    Genre: drama, science fiction
    Keyword: time travel, fear of the future, death and grief, Adult content, ten minute drama
    TEN MINUTES: Nick, a quantum physicist is celebrating his 25th birthday with his brother, Jonah, Jonah's fiance, Tasha, and Nick's ex-girlfriend, Ava. After Jonah and Nick get into an argument regarding Nick's time management, Nick makes a shocking revelation.
  • Pillow Talk by Brenton Kniess
    Recommendations: 15
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    Cast: 
    3
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    Genre: dark comedy, farce + 1 more
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    Keyword: attempted murder, one act + 2 more
    Genre: dark comedy, farce, romantic comedy
    Keyword: attempted murder, one act, adult comedy, dating
    ONE-ACT: After what seemed to be a failed date, Olive contemplates what she needs to do to get into a long-term relationship. Ella, Olive's roommate wants to help her, but Ella believes that for Olive to get into a relationship she'll need to stop collecting pillows, which Ella knows to be a dangerous addiction. Will Olive give up this fluffy fascination for love?
  • The Five Stages: 5 Short Plays About Life, Death, and Love by Brenton Kniess
    Recommendations: 5
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    Cast: 
    6–16
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    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 3 more
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    Keyword: collection of five 10-minute plays
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, drama, horror, science fiction
    Keyword: collection of five 10-minute plays
    COLLECTION: Playwright Brenton Kniess takes audiences on five different journeys where characters face the trials and tribulations of life, death, and love. Ranging from comedy to drama, science fiction to horror, audiences can expect a night of emotions when they experience The Five Stages.

    Plays Included
    Slapjack Saturday
    Melt
    Clockwork
    Luck of the Draw
    The...
    COLLECTION: Playwright Brenton Kniess takes audiences on five different journeys where characters face the trials and tribulations of life, death, and love. Ranging from comedy to drama, science fiction to horror, audiences can expect a night of emotions when they experience The Five Stages.

    Plays Included
    Slapjack Saturday
    Melt
    Clockwork
    Luck of the Draw
    The Peculiar Puppets of Philip Platt
  • The Thatcher Theater Terror by Brenton Kniess
    Recommendations: 13
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    Cast: 
    4
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    Genre: comedy, parody/spoof
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    Keyword: halloween, movie theater + 1 more
    Genre: comedy, parody/spoof
    Keyword: halloween, movie theater, one act
    ONE-ACT: Three movie theater employees are stuck cleaning up the Thatcher Theater, a quaint small-town movie theater after a busy Halloween night. As they clean, one mistake leads to the trio unleashing a ghostly visitor.
  • The Peculiar Puppets of Penelope Platt by Brenton Kniess
    Recommendations: 6
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    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama
    Genre: comedy, drama
    TEN MINUTES: In the sequel to The Peculiar Puppets of Philip Platt, Penelope Platt receives an unexpected birthday gift from her recently deceased father.
  • Slapjack Saturday by Brenton Kniess
    Recommendations: 14
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    Cast: 
    2–3
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama
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    Keyword: coping with death and grief, adult friendship + 1 more
    Genre: comedy, drama
    Keyword: coping with death and grief, adult friendship, raccoon
    TEN MINUTES: Based VERY loosely on real events, a widowed woman brings a raccoon into a bar for her weekly game of slapjack.
  • Luck of the Draw by Brenton Kniess
    Recommendations: 15
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    Cast: 
    2
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    Genre: drama, political + 1 more
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    Keyword: Supreme Court, dystopian future + 1 more
    Genre: drama, political, romantic comedy
    Keyword: Supreme Court, dystopian future, arranged marriage
    TEN MINUTES: In the not-so-distant future, the U.S. government has made a law stating that the government will arrange all marriages. A young outspoken writer, Irelynn, meets with her assigned husband-to-be, Bennett, hours before their marriage becomes legal. While having their first conversation, they share stories of past love, societal changes, and how love connects everything in their lives.
  • The Bench by Brenton Kniess
    Recommendations: 16
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    Cast: 
    1
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: breakup
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: breakup
    MONOLOGUE: Within this monologue, a person reveals their connection with a past lover who is still a part of them.
  • Before You Submit by Brenton Kniess
    Recommendations: 13
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    Cast: 
    2
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    Genre: comedy, parody/spoof + 1 more
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    Keyword: Gatekeeping, aspiring playwright + 2 more
    Genre: comedy, parody/spoof, satire
    Keyword: Gatekeeping, aspiring playwright, comedy/parody, playwriting contests
    An eager playwright has finished their submission form for an upcoming playwriting competition. Now they’re ready to submit their play…or so they think.
  • Cat Eat Dog by Brenton Kniess
    Cast: 
    4
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    Genre: comedy, parody/spoof + 1 more
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    Keyword: acting class, college + 4 more
    Genre: comedy, parody/spoof, satire
    Keyword: acting class, college, satire, comedy, acting students, full length comedy
    FULL-LENGTH COMEDY: As they meet for their last rehearsal before their scene presentation, four performance majors in an acting cohort class divert their attention to each other, as they open the door to questions regarding what it means to be an actor, what types of roles are acceptable to perform, and what their future looks like with a BFA.

    COMING SUMMER 2024 TO NPX!

  • Meat Sweats by Brenton Kniess
    Cast: 
    8
    ·
    Genre: dark comedy, horror + 2 more
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    Keyword: dark comedy, body horror + 6 more
    Genre: dark comedy, horror, satire, science fiction
    Keyword: dark comedy, body horror, Summer Camp, summer, science fiction, comedy horror, alien invasion, 1980's
    Coming soon to NPX!

    It's July of 1986 in Marble Falls, Texas, as the camp counselors of Camp Tucknee, a weight loss camp, prepare for the incoming campers. As the counselors settle in, they realize that the camp has secrets of its own.