Maggie Smith

The creative writing class of Mary Magdalene's Preparatory School for Girls have less than three hours to finish editing their school's literary magazine. Too bad they don't have any poems to edit. In a last-ditch effort to complete their task, the girls lock themselves in their classroom in order to have a long and hard conversation that even the smartest among us can't answer: What makes good poetry?

Set in 1890s America, The Courtship of Winifred Edwards (Or: The Handkerchief Play) tells the story of two families in the process of becoming one. When Winifred leaves her handkerchief at a dinner party, Anthony Tailor becomes convinced she did so as a means of gaining his attention. He enlists his cousin, Georgia, to help him return the handkerchief and scout out Winifred's feelings for him.
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But it's never that simple, is it?

While preparing for a normal year at their Catholic high school, a group of queer teenagers are suddenly faced with a new series of anti-LGBTQ+ rules created by their city's archdiocese, threatening to expel each one of them. Tired of their school's "hate the sin, love the sinner" mentality, the teenagers turn to malicious compliance as a means of protest, boycotting every academic material and lesson plan that they argue goes against Church teachings.

Content Warnings: This play contains themes of homophobia/transphobia, though no characters are ever dead-named or misgendered. While this play has comedic elements, there are some moments where serious topics are discussed. Any specific questions about these topics can be directed to maggiesmithwrites@gmail.com.

After their youngest sister's unexpected death, two young women, Gen and Toni, take the logical next step in attempting to canonize her as a saint. In diving into he details of her life, however, the two learn much more about her than they bargained for.

A one-act play taking place over the course of one night, Le Cirque de Fleurs tells the story of six performers, all contracted to work with Le Cirque de Fleurs' during its 1919 national tour. They soon find, however, that they are spending their entire career making an unlivable wage in an unsafe environment. Their response: Set the circus on fire.

Based on the Faustus myth, a young woman sells her soul to the Devil in order to spark creativity. Told through poetry, this play focuses on what to make of our limited time on earth, asking if it is better to be known well or well-known.

Based on true events, Laura, Phoebe, Nellie, Alice, Ida, and Edgar embark on an all-night journey to protect the city they love from vampires. Despite their young ages and constant need for adult supervision, the six Chicago children are determined to prove their neighbor's disappearance is related to the supernatural, though their excursion may prove to reveal something more sinister.

Inspired by the history of the Crossbones Graveyard, this play tells the story of Avis, Cecily, and Bridget, three young women stuck on earth since their burials, all of whom spend their afterlives clinging onto the hope of one day being remembered.

Content Warning: This play contains a brief discussion of suicide.