Pandora Scooter

Pandora Scooter

PANDORA SCOOTER is an award-winning playwright and national touring performer. Her latest play, Two Peas in a Pod, was adapted into a screenplay and shot this winter (summer 2021 release). During the pandemic, Pandora wrote a solo show called Cognitive Dissonance: How to Speak to Woke White People, as well as a play response to 'night Mother called Mother's Day. Her play, Masks, was about to be...
PANDORA SCOOTER is an award-winning playwright and national touring performer. Her latest play, Two Peas in a Pod, was adapted into a screenplay and shot this winter (summer 2021 release). During the pandemic, Pandora wrote a solo show called Cognitive Dissonance: How to Speak to Woke White People, as well as a play response to 'night Mother called Mother's Day. Her play, Masks, was about to be produced before March 2020 and is back in pre-production Cedric Hill and To & Fro Productions. In July 2018, she was awarded a residency at Hypatia-in-the-Woods where she wrote and did a reading of SELFISH. In May 2015 she went on a two-month, 30 city tour around the United States during which she performed her show I AM ENOUGH for LGBTQ youth audiences of more than 400. Pandora writes plays, solo shows, musicals and spoken word. She teaches at NYU and co-founded a boutique acting studio called Working Actors Studio with her business partner, Cedric Hill. She is also the founder and director of the BIPOC/Queer playwright's group, ATG PlayLab, now going into it's 2nd year. She resides in NJ with her daughter.

An outspoken advocate for Misfits and Fits of all shapes, colors and sizes, Pandora strives to relay her message of inclusivity and compassion everywhere her words are heard.

Winner of the SpokenKnowledge DNC Contest for her anti-prejudice poem "Other." Cast in reality spoken word television show, RELE. In rotation on Women Of Substance radio. Endorsed by International Folk Poet Alix Olson and hailed as a Spoken Word Rock Star. Pandora Scooter has performed in NYC, Washington DC, Jackson, MS; Richmond, VA; Boston, San Francisco, Atlanta, Knoxville, Austin, TX; Houston, TX; San Bernadino, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Venice, San Luis Obispo, Torrence, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Santa Cruz, Sacramento, CA; Springfield, MO; New Orleans, LA; Birmingham, AL; Nashville, TN; Pittsburgh, PA; Salt Lake City, UT; as well as other cities and throughout the state of New Jersey. For five years, she hosted and curated an edgy, new wave show called HIP HOP: OUT, LOUD & PROUD, which brought together gay and lesbian hip hop artists to perform at New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

Writer of twelve one-woman shows, hailed by nytheatre.com as a "masterful entertainer" and by Out in Jersey as "a Force of Nature." Pandora Scooter entertains, inspires and makes people laugh 'til it hurts. Pandora is pro-people, in all their glorious individualizations. Her hilarious spoken-word rhymes and rants thrill and inspire audiences.

She's been compared to Dr. Seuss, Margaret Cho and Ani DiFranco.

Awards. Best Musical, wRETCH (Fresh Fruit Festival). Levin Scholar. John I Bettenbeder Outstanding Performance Award. Tongues of Fire, 1st Place. Commendation from Newark City Assembly. Outstanding Volunteer, Pride Center of New Jersey. First place, Spokenknowledge DNC Contest.

Influences include Paula Vogel, Tony Kushner, Aleshea Harris, Carol Burnett, Eddie Izzard, Margaret Cho, Dr. Seuss, Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner, Ellen Degeneres, Laurie Anderson, Arrested Development, Bertolt Brecht, Tracy Chapman, Caryl Churchill, Ani DiFranco, Maggie Estep!, ICE-T, Quincy Jones, Charlie Mingus, Alanis Morrissette, N.W.A., Suzan Lori Parks, Prince, Reno, and Tennessee Williams.

In her own words:

I believe the world needs as much connection between people as possible. I hope my work will connect with as many outsiders and misfits as possible - and to let them know it's ok to connect with each other. To let them know that it's ok to be everything they are and want to be - in all the complexities and confusions that make life what it is: one big, crazy, beautiful messy love storm. You are Enough. Power to the Peaceful and Love to All...

Plays

  • Masks by Pandora Scooter
    Recommendations: 1
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    Cast: 
    2
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    Genre: comedy, drama
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    Keyword: Tennessee Williams, Yukio Mishima + 4 more
    Genre: comedy, drama
    Keyword: Tennessee Williams, Yukio Mishima, fanfiction, fictional meetings, crossover, World War II
    Forty-eight hours after the bombing of Hiroshima, Yukio Mishima is strategizing to fly out of the US, but before he can make it past the racist hooligans swarming the airport, he crosses paths with a pre-Streetcar Tennessee Williams. The two drink, mourn the atrocities of war, and confide in each other about their writing, making an indelible mark on each other. Waking up the next day from a night of drinking...
    Forty-eight hours after the bombing of Hiroshima, Yukio Mishima is strategizing to fly out of the US, but before he can make it past the racist hooligans swarming the airport, he crosses paths with a pre-Streetcar Tennessee Williams. The two drink, mourn the atrocities of war, and confide in each other about their writing, making an indelible mark on each other. Waking up the next day from a night of drinking, Tennessee must tell Yukio that another bomb was dropped on Nagasaki and helps him get out of Baton Rouge. But will Yukio get home safely?
  • #UsToo by Pandora Scooter
    Cast: 
    8
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    Genre: drama, political
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    Keyword: metoo, sexual harassment + 3 more
    Genre: drama, political
    Keyword: metoo, sexual harassment, Hollywood, plays about actors, theatre about theatre
    Jack and Jillian Drew are having some friends over to their Hollywood home to celebrate their new neuvo-country style renovation. During the evening, these industry professionals learn that one of their colleagues has been accused of sexually assaulting numerous actresses. Much to Jack's chagrin, this news does not come as a surprise to any of his guests, including his wife, who defends their friends....
    Jack and Jillian Drew are having some friends over to their Hollywood home to celebrate their new neuvo-country style renovation. During the evening, these industry professionals learn that one of their colleagues has been accused of sexually assaulting numerous actresses. Much to Jack's chagrin, this news does not come as a surprise to any of his guests, including his wife, who defends their friends. When Jack attacks the dinner guests as spineless bystanders who have caused great pain to the victims, Jillian stands up to him and announces that she was sexually assaulted by the accused, but never told him. Jack and Jillian have a stand off. Which do you choose? Your principles or your love? Jack believes that silent bystanders are the root evil letting #metoo become #ustoo. And he won't be tainted at any cost.
  • The Gay Anthem by Pandora Scooter
    Cast: 
    3–5
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    Genre: comedy, musical + 1 more
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    Keyword: gay, Lesbian + 2 more
    Genre: comedy, musical, political
    Keyword: gay, Lesbian, rap, acceptance
    Rett and Chevy are an A-list composer/lyricist team who have signed up to write an anthem for Stonewall's 50th Anniversary, only thing is: they're stuck. Rett can't come up with the words because she's overwhelmed with the task of somehow representing the whole gay community, which has never embraced her, in a song and Chevy's heart is elsewhere. As they battle through to make the...
    Rett and Chevy are an A-list composer/lyricist team who have signed up to write an anthem for Stonewall's 50th Anniversary, only thing is: they're stuck. Rett can't come up with the words because she's overwhelmed with the task of somehow representing the whole gay community, which has never embraced her, in a song and Chevy's heart is elsewhere. As they battle through to make the deadline, they enlist the help of Universe, a queer rapper from LA who insists that he will not 'audition' his rap for anyone. By the skin of their teeth they make the deadline and audition the song for the Stonewall people against two other composers who also perform their songs. In the end, Rett gets the word that their anthem won the contest and that it's going to be performed by Sia, but they want to cut the rap. After working it out to keep Universe's rap in the song, Rett celebrates with Chevy that she's finally gotten the attention, acknowledgement and acceptance she's wanted from the gay community.
  • Annotation by Pandora Scooter
    Cast: 
    5
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    Genre: comedy, drama
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    Keyword: love, Lesbian + 5 more
    Genre: comedy, drama
    Keyword: love, Lesbian, writing process, absurdism, Surreal, Relationships, teenagers
    Hannah is desperately trying to write the first draft of her autobiographical play about her relationship to her daughter, Min, and her fiance, Katherine. Not even one scene into writing the play, Hannah's "internal editor" Ed shows up to let her know that her play sucks. At first she is able to overpower Ed and write a tough scene about Min's bulimia between herself (her character name is...
    Hannah is desperately trying to write the first draft of her autobiographical play about her relationship to her daughter, Min, and her fiance, Katherine. Not even one scene into writing the play, Hannah's "internal editor" Ed shows up to let her know that her play sucks. At first she is able to overpower Ed and write a tough scene about Min's bulimia between herself (her character name is Jo) and Min. Then she goes on to write other moving and provocative scenes about her family. But when it comes to writing a painful scene in which Jo tells Katherine she's terminally ill, Hannah buckles under the pressure and Ed takes over and tries to destroy the play entirely. Katherine fights Ed to bolster Hannah's strength to get her to write a happy ending. In the end, Hannah regains power over the writing and writes a semi-happy ending for Jo and Katherine and then leaves the draft for Ed to revise, but Ed is totally depleted and can't make any changes. The draft is written and Hannah has prevailed.

    A play about the writing process and the complexities of love all wrapped into one.
  • FOY by Pandora Scooter
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: drama, mystery/thriller
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    Keyword: metoo, film + 4 more
    Genre: drama, mystery/thriller
    Keyword: metoo, film, industry, pedophilia, intrigue, mystery
    May Hankin runs her mother’s film studio in LA. She’s a strong-minded woman with a dark past and a secret daughter who was taken from her at birth. Today, May has fired a male executive because of his involvement with a “Mr. Foy” who has been around the studio since the founding of the studio in the 20s. Ostensibly because of the firing, May has a panic attack and decides to see Pat O’Connor, a therapist,...
    May Hankin runs her mother’s film studio in LA. She’s a strong-minded woman with a dark past and a secret daughter who was taken from her at birth. Today, May has fired a male executive because of his involvement with a “Mr. Foy” who has been around the studio since the founding of the studio in the 20s. Ostensibly because of the firing, May has a panic attack and decides to see Pat O’Connor, a therapist, who was recommended to her by her doctor. Pat does an initial intake with May and though she determines that May is too much like Pat’s long-lost sister, she decides to take her on. As May’s behavior gets more and more out of control, Pat complains to her therapist, Jack Kaplan, an actor-turned psychotherapist, who advises her to keep May on as a patient. Finally, May crosses too many boundaries for Pat, but when Pat tries to terminate their sessions, May blackmails Pat to continue with supposed knowledge of what happened to her sister and, surprisingly, to her mother who disappeared when Pat was born. Crazed with curiosity about her mother, Pat plies May for information until May finally tells her that her mother is married to a Jack Kaplan. Driven wild with rage and confusion, Pat goes to confront Jack with a gun but before she can get her to admit anything, May shows up and shoots Jack in the leg. May interrogates Jack about his involvement with FOY (fountain of youth, a child sex ring that May’s daughter and Pat’s mother were sold to) and when he lies about knowing if May’s daughter is alive, she shoots him dead. She then knocks Pat out as she’s trying to escape and plants the gun she used on Pat. She leaves vindicated, having avenged the violation of her daughter and successfully framed Pat for the murder.
  • The Ultimate Guide to Lesbian Sex: And You Can, Too! by Pandora Scooter
    Cast: 
    1
    ·
    Genre: comedy, parody/spoof
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    Keyword: Sex, Lesbian + 5 more
    Genre: comedy, parody/spoof
    Keyword: Sex, Lesbian, gay, Transgender, bisexuality, dating, LGBTQ
    What? You haven't had lesbian sex??? Then you've been missing out! Join Pandora Scooter on this whirlwind, hilarious tour of the lesbian sex scene and learn all about what you've been missing! Specifically targeted for straight and gay audiences!!!

    One person show. 75 minutes. Rated R.
  • Samuraization: How to Eat Your Sushi & Have it, Too! by Pandora Scooter
    Recommendations: 4
    ·
    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: comedy, experimental
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    Keyword: death, samurai + 3 more
    Genre: comedy, experimental
    Keyword: death, samurai, Japanese, hara kiri, suicide
    Join Pandora Scooter as she explores the Samurai ethics and applies it to modern day life - exposing in a hilarious way how important it is for us all to confront our mortality. "Trust me, this is the funniest serious play about death" - Producer, 2006
  • I Am Enough by Pandora Scooter
    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: biography, drama + 1 more
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    Keyword: suicide, LGBTQ + 7 more
    Genre: biography, drama, young audiences
    Keyword: suicide, LGBTQ, gay, Lesbian, bisexuality, Transgender, self-esteem, growing up, self-talk
    A trip through the psyche of one young woman - dealing with low self-esteem, self-hate and, finally, suicide. A paean to all those who struggle with suicidal ideation to remember that "You Are Enough" and to #stay.

    Best for ages 13 and up. One-person show. Could be played by either a male or female.
  • Fear Junkie: How I Learned to Sleep with the Lights Off by Pandora Scooter
    Cast: 
    1
    ·
    Genre: biography, comedy
    ·
    Keyword: anxiety, mental illness + 5 more
    Genre: biography, comedy
    Keyword: anxiety, mental illness, anxiety disorder, society, paxil, zoloft, fear
    In this Woody Allen-esque monologue/spoken word solo show, a woman discovers the root causes of her uncontrollable anxiety and plots to reverse the effects.

    45 minutes.
  • OUTwordlyFabulous by Pandora Scooter
    Cast: 
    1–10
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama + 2 more
    ·
    Keyword: bullying, anti-bullying + 3 more
    Genre: comedy, drama, tragedy, young audiences
    Keyword: bullying, anti-bullying, compassion, understanding, ensemble
    A snapshot of how to stop bullying in your school, in your college, in your community. Performed through a series of monologues and spoken word pieces, OUTwordlyFabulous puts everyone on notice. We all have to be more compassionate of everyone.

    Can be performed by one person or by an ensemble. 60 min and 100 min versions.
  • Fags & Jesus Freaks by Pandora Scooter
    Cast: 
    1
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama + 2 more
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    Keyword: intolerance, acceptance + 4 more
    Genre: comedy, drama, experimental, satire
    Keyword: intolerance, acceptance, church, christianity, love thy neighbor, LGBTQ
    Sure, Jesus Freaks are up in arms about homosexuals and all, but what about the homosexuals who are up in arms about the Jesus Freaks? Maybe we all need to take the rhetoric down a notch or two to see if we can come together to be one. human. race.

    One woman show. 90 minutes.