Reiner Prochaska

Born in Germany, Reiner Prochaska, a playwright and an actor, has lived in the United States since 1990. He is a member of the Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) in Frederick, Maryland, where he performs, writes, teaches, and directs. His plays, "A Revolutionary Christmas," "The Canterbury Tales: Love and Marriage," "Antigone: Through the Ages," and "Snow Queen" have been produced at the MET to popular and critical acclaim. "The Canterbury Tales" and "Antigone" were published with New Theatre Publications (NTP) in the UK in 2012 and 2013, respectively. NTP's publisher, Ian Hornsby, died tragically in 2014 and by 2017, the publishing house ceased trading. In April of 2018 Broadway Play Publishing in New York acquired the rights to "Canterbury Tales" and in September Stage Scripts Ltd in the U...

Born in Germany, Reiner Prochaska, a playwright and an actor, has lived in the United States since 1990. He is a member of the Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) in Frederick, Maryland, where he performs, writes, teaches, and directs. His plays, "A Revolutionary Christmas," "The Canterbury Tales: Love and Marriage," "Antigone: Through the Ages," and "Snow Queen" have been produced at the MET to popular and critical acclaim. "The Canterbury Tales" and "Antigone" were published with New Theatre Publications (NTP) in the UK in 2012 and 2013, respectively. NTP's publisher, Ian Hornsby, died tragically in 2014 and by 2017, the publishing house ceased trading. In April of 2018 Broadway Play Publishing in New York acquired the rights to "Canterbury Tales" and in September Stage Scripts Ltd in the U.K. signed a publishing contract for "Antigone."
Reiner holds an M.S. degree in Professional Writing (Creative Track) from Towson University, where he teaches composition and screenwriting.

Scripts

Second Shepherds' Play

by Reiner Prochaska

Synopsis

On Christmas Eve, three shepherds—Coll, Gyb, and Daw (who is, technically, a shepherdess)—are herding their flock on their organic sheep farm commune when Mak, who has a reputation for stealing sheep, visits them.

Mak succeeds in filching a ram, which he swiftly delivers to his overbearing wife, Gill, who is furious with Mak for exposing both of them to the risk of legal consequences. To protect their secret...

On Christmas Eve, three shepherds—Coll, Gyb, and Daw (who is, technically, a shepherdess)—are herding their flock on their organic sheep farm commune when Mak, who has a reputation for stealing sheep, visits them.

Mak succeeds in filching a ram, which he swiftly delivers to his overbearing wife, Gill, who is furious with Mak for exposing both of them to the risk of legal consequences. To protect their secret—and potential Christmas dinner—Gill and Mak wrap the sheep in swaddling clothes and hide it in their cradle.

As the three shepherds solve the crime and retrieve their material possession, they learn an important spiritual lesson—right before they witness the miracle of Christmas first-hand.

A Revolutionary Christmas

by Reiner Prochaska

Synopsis

Set on December 24, 1778, on a small German farm in Western Maryland, A Revolutionary Christmas tells the story of a family coping with war and personal tragedy. Franz Kober and his widowed daughter-in-law, Glenda—as well as her two children, Johann and Fiona—are anxiously awaiting the return of Franz’s youngest son, Richard who has been fighting with the German Regiment of the Continental Army.
When he arrives...

Set on December 24, 1778, on a small German farm in Western Maryland, A Revolutionary Christmas tells the story of a family coping with war and personal tragedy. Franz Kober and his widowed daughter-in-law, Glenda—as well as her two children, Johann and Fiona—are anxiously awaiting the return of Franz’s youngest son, Richard who has been fighting with the German Regiment of the Continental Army.
When he arrives with an escaped “Hessian” soldier, the family is at odds about what to do with the prisoner-of-war.
Grateful for the chance to spend Christmas Eve with his reluctant hosts, Jäger Peter Morsberger becomes the catalyst to confront their disappointments—and their hopes—while he helps them rediscover the true spirit of Christmas.

Antigone: Through the Ages

by Reiner Prochaska

Synopsis

Honor. Love. Integrity. We follow the journey of "Antigone" from Germany in 1631 to a current-day Mediterranean kingdom where the new king has forbidden-on pain of death-the funeral of her brother. But, “Antigone” defies her uncle. Framed in the structure of a traditional Greek drama, Antigone: Through the Ages deconstructs the timeless themes of Sophocles’ original to reconstruct them in the context of...

Honor. Love. Integrity. We follow the journey of "Antigone" from Germany in 1631 to a current-day Mediterranean kingdom where the new king has forbidden-on pain of death-the funeral of her brother. But, “Antigone” defies her uncle. Framed in the structure of a traditional Greek drama, Antigone: Through the Ages deconstructs the timeless themes of Sophocles’ original to reconstruct them in the context of historical and contemporary events to illuminate the universality of its story.
NOTE: The play is being re-published by Stage Scripts Ltd. As soon as it is available, a link to Stage Scripts' website will be provided.

The Canterbury Tales: Love and Marriage

by Reiner Prochaska

Synopsis

Adapted from Geoffrey Chaucer`s Canterbury Tales, this comedy explores the bawdy humor of "The Miller`s Tale," "The Merchant`s Tale," and "The Nun`s Priest's Tale," as well as "The Wife of Bath`s Prologue." Prochaska infuses "The Franklin`s Tale" with a hefty dose of comedic moments as Dorigen, Arveragus, and Aurelius try to navigate their way through a rocky coastline and an awkward love triangle. Faithful to...

Adapted from Geoffrey Chaucer`s Canterbury Tales, this comedy explores the bawdy humor of "The Miller`s Tale," "The Merchant`s Tale," and "The Nun`s Priest's Tale," as well as "The Wife of Bath`s Prologue." Prochaska infuses "The Franklin`s Tale" with a hefty dose of comedic moments as Dorigen, Arveragus, and Aurelius try to navigate their way through a rocky coastline and an awkward love triangle. Faithful to the original—and written in clever rhymed verse—this text is accessible to a young and hip twenty-first century audience for whom it may be an introduction to Chaucer`s wise and gentle satire on love, marriage, and sex. Suggested for 4 men and 3 women, but, depending on a director`s vision, it could be cast entirely with men or women. And, yes. It would be funny.