Gloria Oladipo

Gloria Oladipo is a playwright and critic based in New York City, but proudly from Chicago, IL. She writes Black comedies about Black families who are generationally unhappy, who do not know how to love each other, but do the very best they can.

Her work has been developed by the Public Theater, the Dramatists Guild Foundation (DGF), Boston Court Pasadena, Seven Devils New Play Lab, and other incubators. Recipient of DGF Thom Thomas award and the American Theatre Critics Association's Edward Medina Prize for Excellence in Cultural Criticism. An excerpt of her play was published in the Cincinatti Review's Issue 21.2 in Fall 2024.

Gloria's criticism and art writing has been published in the New York Times, Washington Post, the Guardian, American Theatre Magazine, and other publications...

Gloria Oladipo is a playwright and critic based in New York City, but proudly from Chicago, IL. She writes Black comedies about Black families who are generationally unhappy, who do not know how to love each other, but do the very best they can.

Her work has been developed by the Public Theater, the Dramatists Guild Foundation (DGF), Boston Court Pasadena, Seven Devils New Play Lab, and other incubators. Recipient of DGF Thom Thomas award and the American Theatre Critics Association's Edward Medina Prize for Excellence in Cultural Criticism. An excerpt of her play was published in the Cincinatti Review's Issue 21.2 in Fall 2024.

Gloria's criticism and art writing has been published in the New York Times, Washington Post, the Guardian, American Theatre Magazine, and other publications. She is a former race and equity reporter for the Guardian US.

MFA (expected 2028): David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University in Playwriting.

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Scripts

The Care and Keeping of Schizophrenia (and Other Demons)

by Gloria Oladipo

1
Cast Size
6
Genre
comedy,
dark comedy,
drama,
experimental

Charity has just turned 25 and plans to move to California with her 41-year-girlfriend, despite her family being in shambles after her brother’s mental health emergency. But Charity is visited by an obnoxious, bossy, Sleep Demon who demands Charity "deal with her shit". An absurdist, humorist romp, The Care and Keeping of Schizophrenia (and Other Demons), asks: can Charity take control of the pressures bearing...

Charity has just turned 25 and plans to move to California with her 41-year-girlfriend, despite her family being in shambles after her brother’s mental health emergency. But Charity is visited by an obnoxious, bossy, Sleep Demon who demands Charity "deal with her shit". An absurdist, humorist romp, The Care and Keeping of Schizophrenia (and Other Demons), asks: can Charity take control of the pressures bearing down on her or will she succumb to the waves?

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Potential Energy

by Gloria Oladipo

Cast Size
2
Genre
comedy,
dark comedy,
drama,
tragedy

Nokia, a 35 year-old Black woman, returns to live with her mother, Grace, after a recent psych ward stay. Grace isn't enthused to have the prodigal daughter return. Nokia, with few options herself, isn't too eager to stay. Potential Energy asks how adults get stuck and if we ever come into our full potential.

Nokia, a 35 year-old Black woman, returns to live with her mother, Grace, after a recent psych ward stay. Grace isn't enthused to have the prodigal daughter return. Nokia, with few options herself, isn't too eager to stay. Potential Energy asks how adults get stuck and if we ever come into our full potential.

The Forever War

by Gloria Oladipo

Cast Size
2
Genre
drama

Mike and Harper, two veterans returning from Afghanistan, sit on a park bench as they await the birth of Mike's newborn baby. As the pair worry about how to provide for their families following several years oversees, Mike makes a startling confession about his plans to forge anew after his multiple tours oversees.

Mike and Harper, two veterans returning from Afghanistan, sit on a park bench as they await the birth of Mike's newborn baby. As the pair worry about how to provide for their families following several years oversees, Mike makes a startling confession about his plans to forge anew after his multiple tours oversees.