Matthew Weaver

PHOTO CREDIT: Crystal Madsen Photography
http://www.crystalmadsen.com

Matthew Weaver is a Spokane, Wash., playwright and screenwriter. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild.
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His plays have been produced in Washington State, Canada, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Ohio, Texas, West Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Virginia, Indiana, Kentucky, Colorado, California, Florida, Ireland, Japan, Oregon, Maryland, Illinois, Missouri, Arizona, Oklahoma, Iowa, Connecticut and Utah.
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In September 2019, his full-length young adult screenplay BOBBY AND THE CHEERLEADERS was named a semi-finalist for Drama in Final Draft's Big Break screenwriting contest.

In June 2019, his one-act play "The Great Fish and Jonah" received the Adjudicator's Choice Award during the Spokane Civic Theatre's Playwrights Forum Festival.

In July 2018, a "Matthew Weaver" Special Showcase of 14 of his short plays was featured at Ignite! Community Theatre in Spokane Valley, Wash.

His comedy "Bed Ride" was a 2016 finalist in the Rover Dramawerks annual play contest in Plano, Texas. "Variations on a First Kiss" received Audience Favorite Comedy in the Exit 7 Players Theater's Short Play Contest.
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"Awnings" received the Robert Barnard Audience Award-Friday for a reading at the Arts Resources for the Tri-State (ARTS) New Works Festival in Huntington, WV, December 2016.
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"The Fluidity of Truth" is a semifinalist in the NYC Playwrights project Women in the Age of Trump.
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His screenplay "Trapped in a First Kiss" is a finalist in the first annual Twin Falls Sandwiches Film Festival in Twin Falls, Idaho, in October 2016.
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His short screenplay "Untoward" is a 2016 semifinalist in the DC Shorts Film Festival in Washington, D.C., and a quarterfinalist in the Richmond International Film Festival in Richmond, Va.
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He works by day as a reporter for an agricultural newspaper. Listen to a May 2017 interview with the Washington Grain Commission podcast, Wheat All About It: http://wagrains.org/podcast/episode-18-behind-the-curtain/
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His short screenplay "The Lift" received the only honorable mention in the Short. Sweet. Film Fest screenplay contest in March 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Plays

Aces Are Feverish by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 4
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Cast:
16–20
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Genre: adventure, comedy + 3 more
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Keyword: noir, detective + 1 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, mystery/thriller, parody/spoof, period
Keyword: noir, detective, maple bars
FULL-LENGTH: Directed by Joanne Moore Bracht; Masquers Theater in Soap Lake, Wash., Summer of 2016
Eagle Point High School production in Eagle Point, OR, in November 2018.

Ace Valentine is a classic noir detective like Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe. Only she has a cold. When a sexy club singer asks her to investigate the disappearance of his missing wife, Ace is forced to confront old flames...
FULL-LENGTH: Directed by Joanne Moore Bracht; Masquers Theater in Soap Lake, Wash., Summer of 2016
Eagle Point High School production in Eagle Point, OR, in November 2018.

Ace Valentine is a classic noir detective like Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe. Only she has a cold. When a sexy club singer asks her to investigate the disappearance of his missing wife, Ace is forced to confront old flames and longtime rivals. Before long, she's on the trail of a killer, consuming a large quantity of doughnuts - her medicine of choice - and dodging bullets. And ducking is hard when you have the sniffles.
Awkward Robot's Instruction Manual For Dating Other Awkward Robots by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
2–5
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Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 5 more
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Keyword: love, romance + 7 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, drama, experimental, fantasy, movement/physical, romantic comedy
Keyword: love, romance, dating, Robots, robots dating, instruction manual, kissing, humanity, volcanoes
FULL-LENGTH: A-19 is an Awkward Robot. The Toastburn Company lost the instruction manual for Awkward Robots. A-19 is good at awkwarding any way. A natural. Gifted. But A-19 wants to write an instruction manual so they know how to navigate dating. QTP-13 is a Scintillating Conversation Robot who is sometimes awkward, and wants to help A-19 with their instruction manual.
Bed Ride by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
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Cast:
12–18
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Genre: comedy, farce + 1 more
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Keyword: bed rest, bedroom comedy + 4 more
Genre: comedy, farce, romantic comedy
Keyword: bed rest, bedroom comedy, gangsters, birdwatchers, marriage, baby
FULL-LENGTH: 2016 finalist in the Rover Dramawerks play contest in Plano, Texas.
Directed by Beverly Hasper at Masquers Theater in Soap Lake, Wash., in the summer of 2013.

Bob and Agatha Outhaus are confined to their bed for medical reasons. Agatha is eight months and three weeks pregnant and just about to give birth, and Bob broke both of his legs. Bob is an outdoors newspaper columnist,...
FULL-LENGTH: 2016 finalist in the Rover Dramawerks play contest in Plano, Texas.
Directed by Beverly Hasper at Masquers Theater in Soap Lake, Wash., in the summer of 2013.

Bob and Agatha Outhaus are confined to their bed for medical reasons. Agatha is eight months and three weeks pregnant and just about to give birth, and Bob broke both of his legs. Bob is an outdoors newspaper columnist, but hasn't wanted to tell his bosses about his injuries, so he's still been writing his column like he's getting out and about.
Their nurse, Joan, has a thing for bad boys. Bob's ne'er-do-well brother, Simon, arrives to help out and brings his girlfriend, Twinkie, with him. But trouble tends to follow Simon around ... unless it's already on the Outhaus doorstep!
The Blushing Groom by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
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Cast:
2
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Genre: drama, experimental + 4 more
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Keyword: Sex, intimacy + 8 more
Genre: drama, experimental, faith-based, melodrama, movement/physical, political
Keyword: Sex, intimacy, two-hander, Relationships, virginity, marriage, religion, atheism, romance, deep conversation
FULL-LENGTH, TWO-HANDER: It's Marshall and Rowdy's eighth date. It has gone very, very well.
Cashmere Woods by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
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Cast:
6
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Genre: comedy, drama
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Keyword: Men, women + 6 more
Genre: comedy, drama
Keyword: Men, women, female performers, Poker, infidelity, marriage, gender, aging
FULL-LENGTH: A group of friends gathers for their semi-regular "Guy's Night Out" poker game. All of them are at various stages of life - Teddy and his wife just had a baby. Hank just started dating again. Clint is suspicious of his wife. John is embarking on a new business venture. Pierce is distracted by worry.

They're all starving, because it's The Stooge's night...
FULL-LENGTH: A group of friends gathers for their semi-regular "Guy's Night Out" poker game. All of them are at various stages of life - Teddy and his wife just had a baby. Hank just started dating again. Clint is suspicious of his wife. John is embarking on a new business venture. Pierce is distracted by worry.

They're all starving, because it's The Stooge's night to bring food. Only The Stooge apparently met a girl ...

All characters are male, but are to be played by female performers.
Gluttony & Lust Are Friends by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
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Cast:
25–50
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Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 4 more
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Keyword: lust, gluttony + 8 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, fantasy, farce, romantic comedy, satire
Keyword: lust, gluttony, seven deadly sins, virtues, Sex, food, apocalypse, sumo wrestler, erotic bakeries, all-you-can-eat
FULL-LENGTH: Read as part of the WILDSound Festival in Canada in August 2015.

At the annual gathering of the Seven Deadly Sins, Gluttony and Lust begin commiserating about the monotony of their routines. Apparently even having sex all the time and eating as much as you could ever want eventually gets really boring.

So Gluttony and Lust swap, and are so reinvigorated and energized...
FULL-LENGTH: Read as part of the WILDSound Festival in Canada in August 2015.

At the annual gathering of the Seven Deadly Sins, Gluttony and Lust begin commiserating about the monotony of their routines. Apparently even having sex all the time and eating as much as you could ever want eventually gets really boring.

So Gluttony and Lust swap, and are so reinvigorated and energized that they convince the other deadly sins to follow suit. Meanwhile, the world falls into chaos, with erotic bakeries taking the place of Starbucks on every street corner and a sumo wrestler being named the Sexiest Person Currently Breathing.

Eventually the Virtues get involved, as all the changes threaten to bring about the apocalypse.

Set entirely in a Chinese buffet restaurant.
Timmy's Big Kiss by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
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Cast:
15–50
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Genre: adventure, comedy + 7 more
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Keyword: young adult, teen audience + 1 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, drama, experimental, farce, movement/physical, romantic comedy, satire, young audiences
Keyword: young adult, teen audience, large casts for young adults
YA FULL-LENGTH COMEDY: Timmy Hilsop is on the run from every girl in his school and the tri-county area, all of whom want to kiss him to win a prize established by his rock star older brother, Van. But does Timmy even want to be kissed?

Selected for the 2018 Plays-In-Development program at The Sauk in Jonesville, Michigan in June 2018, directed by Trinity Bird.
And Sometimes Y by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
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Cast:
86
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Genre: adventure, comedy + 2 more
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Keyword: many roles, alphabetical order + 2 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, dark comedy, experimental
Keyword: many roles, alphabetical order, alphabet, quirky
FULL-LENGTH: An evening of very short plays, 1-3 minutes each, all in alphabetical order.

Each play only uses dialogue that begins with a corresponding letter. The "A" play only uses words that begin with the letter A, the "B" play only uses words that begin with the letter "B," and so on.

Includes "Quite" and "Want."
...
FULL-LENGTH: An evening of very short plays, 1-3 minutes each, all in alphabetical order.

Each play only uses dialogue that begins with a corresponding letter. The "A" play only uses words that begin with the letter A, the "B" play only uses words that begin with the letter "B," and so on.

Includes "Quite" and "Want."

A finalist for the Playwrights Series new play development program at Cutting Ball Theatre in San Francisco, CA, in the summer of 2018.
Used as a prompt in Emma Goldman-Sherman's Write Now workshop in the 29th Street Playwrights Collective in New York City.

Maximum of 86 individual parts. Obviously, doubling is allowed.
First Kisses by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
31
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Genre: comedy, drama + 3 more
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Keyword: kissing, first kiss + 4 more
Genre: comedy, drama, fantasy, pantomime, romantic comedy
Keyword: kissing, first kiss, aging, seduction, spin the bottle, seven minutes in heaven
FULL-LENGTH: An evening of short plays devoted to first kisses.

Includes "New Mistakes," "True Love's Kiss," "Asterisk Kisses" and "Variations on a First Kiss."

In "The Kissing Scene," Quinn discovers Dominick's secret.
In "Shrug," a boy and girl wonder what all the fuss is about.
In "The...
FULL-LENGTH: An evening of short plays devoted to first kisses.

Includes "New Mistakes," "True Love's Kiss," "Asterisk Kisses" and "Variations on a First Kiss."

In "The Kissing Scene," Quinn discovers Dominick's secret.
In "Shrug," a boy and girl wonder what all the fuss is about.
In "The Cereals Aisle," a man and woman share a passionate moment in the middle of a grocery store.
In "Spin the Bottle,"a group of senior citizens play a favorite childhood game.
In "Seven Minutes in Heaven," Jordan tries to give Charlie his first kiss.
Jesus at 10 (an evening of 10 short plays) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 4
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Cast:
19
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Genre: adaptation, biography + 10 more
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Keyword: Jesus Christ, monologues + 8 more
Genre: adaptation, biography, docudrama/historic, drama, experimental, faith-based, holiday, immersive, movement/physical, period, political, young audiences
Keyword: Jesus Christ, monologues, Bible, biblical times, faith, religion, tolerance, Beatitudes, christianity, Catholicism
FULL-LENGTH: Intended to be an evening of short plays, mostly monologues, depicting the life and times of Jesus Christ at various ages - three weeks, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, newly crucified at 33, today and infinity.

Includes the short plays "Jesus at 3 Weeks" and "Jesus at 10."
19 by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
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Cast:
21
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Genre: drama, experimental + 3 more
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Keyword: consent, love + 4 more
Genre: drama, experimental, immersive, movement/physical, political
Keyword: consent, love, loneliness, kissing, birthday, golden year
TEN-MINUTE-PLUS:On his nineteenth birthday on the 19th, a young man asks to kiss the girl of his dreams. She says no. A Reality Girl appears and offers him an interesting alternative.
A Sprig of Mistletoe Up in That One Little Corner of the Jail by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
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Cast:
7
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Genre: dark comedy, drama + 3 more
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Keyword: christmas, christmas eve + 3 more
Genre: dark comedy, drama, faith-based, holiday, tragedy
Keyword: christmas, christmas eve, bank robbers, crime, O.Henry
ONE-ACT: Young Alec, the sheriff's son, spends Christmas Eve with the notorious bank robbers Bonnie and Bonnie. Selected for the Long Form March 16-18, 2018 at Stage Left Theater in Spokane, Wash. Directed by Jennie Oliver and Andrea Tate.
A Zillion Kinds of Kisses by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 3
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Cast:
2
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Genre: comedy, drama + 7 more
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Keyword: kissing, romance + 8 more
Genre: comedy, drama, experimental, fantasy, farce, immersive, movement/physical, pantomime, romantic comedy
Keyword: kissing, romance, physical, movement, affection, public displays of affection, lovers, tragedy, humor, physicality
TEN-MINUTE PLUS: Two performers demonstrate many different kinds of kisses.
Asterisk Kisses by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
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Cast:
2
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Genre: comedy, drama + 1 more
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Keyword: kissing, first kiss
Genre: comedy, drama, romantic comedy
Keyword: kissing, first kiss
TEN-MINUTE-PLUS: Performed by Fearless Productions, Kicking and Screaming Festival in Rahway, N.J., February 2016

Logan asks Jessica to be his first kiss.
Be in the Moment by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
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Cast:
20
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Genre: experimental
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Keyword: Spokane, observational + 2 more
Genre: experimental
Keyword: Spokane, observational, theater verite, real life
A playwright observes the activities going on around them on a particular day in Spokane, Wash.

Theater verite.

Published by Cascadia Rising Review, June 2018.

A finalist for the Dionysian magazine, issue 002, February 2017.
The Bee's Knees by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
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Cast:
7
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Genre: drama, experimental + 5 more
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Keyword: bees, queen bee + 2 more
Genre: drama, experimental, fantasy, movement/physical, science fiction, tragedy, young audiences
Keyword: bees, queen bee, entomology, insects
ONE-ACT: A veteran bee scout desperately searches for food for the rest of the hive. Her knees cheer her on.

All-female cast.
Feminine Care by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
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Cast:
8
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Genre: comedy
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Keyword: men and women, feminine care + 4 more
Genre: comedy
Keyword: men and women, feminine care, feminism, gender, Relationships, grocery store aisle
10- to 15-MINUTE: Three guys find themselves in the feminine care aisle, having to pick out a product for the important ladies in their lives.

Key dialogue written by Emily Wagnitz.

Originally performed June 2012 by Ignite! Community Theatre in Spokane, Wash., directed by Will Gilman. Also performed on Spokane community radio the same year.
Friday Nights at the Food Court by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
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Cast:
6
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Genre: drama, young audiences
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Keyword: teenagers, young adult + 4 more
Genre: drama, young audiences
Keyword: teenagers, young adult, relationship abuse, teen drinking, teen drug use, Relationships
YA ONE-ACT: Selected for Gallery Players Black Box New Play Festival June 2017, in Brooklyn, NY.

Kent Rowan and brother Bobby are at the food court of their local mall, getting dinner after buying shoes for Bobby.

Cheryl Jarvis, the girl Kent likes, is at another table with friends Brandy and Madison. Her overbearing boyfriend, Keith, crashes the party to check in on his girlfriend...
YA ONE-ACT: Selected for Gallery Players Black Box New Play Festival June 2017, in Brooklyn, NY.

Kent Rowan and brother Bobby are at the food court of their local mall, getting dinner after buying shoes for Bobby.

Cheryl Jarvis, the girl Kent likes, is at another table with friends Brandy and Madison. Her overbearing boyfriend, Keith, crashes the party to check in on his girlfriend.

Love and hate, betrayal and woe all play out among the teen scene at a local mall on a Friday night.
The Great Fish & Jonah by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 7
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Cast:
2
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Genre: comedy, experimental + 9 more
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Keyword: biblical, Bible story + 3 more
Genre: comedy, experimental, faith-based, fantasy, farce, movement/physical, parody/spoof, period, satire, science fiction, young audiences
Keyword: biblical, Bible story, religion, church, swallowed by a whale
ONE-ACT: Jonah (yes, that Jonah, the one from the Bible) and the great fish are friends.

Performed as part of Burien Actors Theatre Playwrights Festival, Burien, WA, May 2019, directed by Rachel Rene. First-place winner, one-act category.

Performed as part of Spokane Civic Theatre Playwrights Forum Festival; Spokane, WA; June 2019, directed by Matthew Harget. Received Adjudicator's Award.
The Girl Wore Red Licorice by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
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Cast:
6–10
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Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
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Keyword: love of your life, red licorice + 2 more
Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
Keyword: love of your life, red licorice, psychic, hopeless romantic
ONE-ACT: Produced as part of Spokane Civic Theatre's Playwrights Forum Festival in summer of 2014, directed by Will Gilman.

A psychic comes up to Peter Hopewell and tells him when and where to meet the love of his life ... and what she'll be wearing.
Heart in a Box by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 6
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Cast:
15
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Genre: dark comedy, drama + 7 more
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Keyword: No Dialogue, large cast + 4 more
Genre: dark comedy, drama, experimental, fable/folktale, fantasy, movement/physical, pantomime, science fiction, tragedy
Keyword: No Dialogue, large cast, love, Relationships, dating, kissing
TEN-MINUTE/ONE-ACT: A man sits at a table, his beating heart in a shoebox.

Published by Cascadia Rising Review magazine, June 2019.
Kiss Me in the House of Mirrors by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
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Cast:
5
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Genre: adventure, dark comedy + 10 more
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Keyword: good roles for young performers, steamy + 7 more
Genre: adventure, dark comedy, drama, experimental, fantasy, holiday, horror, melodrama, mystery/thriller, science fiction, tragedy, young audiences
Keyword: good roles for young performers, steamy, kissing, carnival, Fantasy, Ray Bradbury, autumn, fall, halloween
ONE-ACT: Two young couples bravely venture into a house of mirrors, led by our host, Rae Bradbury.

They might not like what they find.
The Kissing Bandit by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
6–8
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Genre: adventure, comedy + 6 more
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Keyword: kissing, LGBTQ + 1 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, drama, experimental, movement/physical, mystery/thriller, parody/spoof, romantic comedy
Keyword: kissing, LGBTQ, female superheroes
ONE-ACT: Ace reporter Lulu Lamb is on the scene in search of more information about the notorious Kissing Bandit. She finds three women hoping the masked vigilante appears ...
Mr. Irresistible by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 3
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Cast:
6
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Genre: dark comedy, drama + 8 more
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Keyword: writing, writers writing + 7 more
Genre: dark comedy, drama, experimental, fable/folktale, horror, melodrama, movement/physical, political, satire, young audiences
Keyword: writing, writers writing, controversial topics, boys and girls, kissing, teachers and students, sexuality, good roles for women, good roles for young women
ONE-ACT: Charlie Donner wrote a controversial story for school, and now he's in trouble with his favorite teacher, Miss Anchovy.
On the 38th Kiss, I Explode by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
10
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Genre: dark comedy, experimental + 3 more
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Keyword: quirky, kissing + 1 more
Genre: dark comedy, experimental, movement/physical, romantic comedy, tragedy
Keyword: quirky, kissing, Relationships
ONE-ACT: Xavier and Petunia find romance at a party. But Petunia has a hereditary heart diagnosis ...
Spin The Bottle by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
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Cast:
6
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Genre: comedy, drama + 2 more
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Keyword: senior citizens, kissing + 5 more
Genre: comedy, drama, romantic comedy, tragedy
Keyword: senior citizens, kissing, Seniors, aging, spin the bottle, sex after 50, first kiss
10-MINUTE-PLUS: Six frisky seniors play a favorite childhood game. Part of the "First Kisses" evening of short plays.

One of 14 (!) short plays read as part of a "Matthew Weaver Special Showcase" July 20-22, 2018 at Ignite! Community Theatre in Spokane Valley, Wash.
Very First Kiss by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
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Cast:
10–20
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Genre: adventure, biography + 9 more
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Keyword: prehistoric times, hunters + 8 more
Genre: adventure, biography, docudrama/historic, experimental, fable/folktale, fantasy, immersive, movement/physical, period, political, science fiction
Keyword: prehistoric times, hunters, hunters and gatherers, woolly mammoths, early man, B.C., primal, kissing, men and women, No Dialogue
ONE-ACT: In prehistoric times, a Gatherer and a Hunter invent the kiss.

Written Aug. 31, 2019, as the final play written as part of a month-long personal challenge to myself to write a 10-page play (at least) every day in August 2019.
The Whale and the Tuba by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
9–20
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Genre: adventure, comedy + 7 more
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Keyword: high school, English class + 7 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, drama, experimental, fantasy, farce, parody/spoof, satire, young audiences
Keyword: high school, English class, high school English class, literature, books, readers, authors, symbolism, satire
ONE-ACT: Ms. Conrad's high school English class is reading that classic, epic novel THE WHALE AND THE TUBA. Ms. Conrad is the world's foremost expert on THE WHALE AND THE TUBA.

Then the author of THE WHALE AND THE TUBA walks into the classroom.

Originally written as a short story for my senior year Creative Writing class at Rogers High School in March 1999. I thought it...
ONE-ACT: Ms. Conrad's high school English class is reading that classic, epic novel THE WHALE AND THE TUBA. Ms. Conrad is the world's foremost expert on THE WHALE AND THE TUBA.

Then the author of THE WHALE AND THE TUBA walks into the classroom.

Originally written as a short story for my senior year Creative Writing class at Rogers High School in March 1999. I thought it would be an interesting exercise to try to turn it into a play.
When You Are a Little Bit Older by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 4
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Cast:
3
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Genre: comedy, drama + 3 more
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Keyword: fun roles for young men, kissing + 3 more
Genre: comedy, drama, movement/physical, romantic comedy, young audiences
Keyword: fun roles for young men, kissing, coming of age, growing up, first kiss
YA-ONE-ACT: Owen tags along on older brother Cooper's hot date at the movies with Ava. But then Owen runs out of popcorn ...

Produced May 2019 as part of Iowa State University One-Act Play Festival, directed by Levi Miller.

Produced April 2019 as part of Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center One-Act Play Festival in Midland, PA, directed by Korey Grecek and Sophia Rose...
YA-ONE-ACT: Owen tags along on older brother Cooper's hot date at the movies with Ava. But then Owen runs out of popcorn ...

Produced May 2019 as part of Iowa State University One-Act Play Festival, directed by Levi Miller.

Produced April 2019 as part of Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center One-Act Play Festival in Midland, PA, directed by Korey Grecek and Sophia Rose Englesberg*

*This is a special production because Korey and Sophia were in the world premiere of the play, and enjoyed it so much they asked to direct it.

Selected for the Pittsburgh New Works Festival in Carnegie, PA, produced by Thoreau NM - a Production Company, in September 2017.

Shortlisted for the International Talent Club Balkan Regional Playwrights Childrens Drama category in July 2017.
The 123s of PDAs, Easy as ABC by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
2
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Genre: drama, experimental + 5 more
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Keyword: romance, kissing + 3 more
Genre: drama, experimental, fantasy, immersive, melodrama, movement/physical, romantic comedy
Keyword: romance, kissing, public displays of affection, virginity, steamy
TEN-MINUTE-PLUS: Cindy teaches Uriah how to be affectionate in public.
4 Horses of the Apocalypse by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
5
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Genre: dark comedy, docudrama/historic + 8 more
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Keyword: horses, animals + 5 more
Genre: dark comedy, docudrama/historic, drama, experimental, fable/folktale, faith-based, fantasy, horror, immersive, movement/physical
Keyword: horses, animals, animals in the Bible, biblical, alpha and omega, apocalyptic, apocalypse
TEN-MINUTE: The four horses of the apocalypse wonder if today will be the day.

Selected for Mystic Vision Players's Kicking & Swearing Festival in Rahway, NJ, in January-February 2020.
A New Play by Matthew Weaver by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 5
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Cast:
3
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 11 more
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Keyword: future, information + 1 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, docudrama/historic, experimental, fable/folktale, fantasy, farce, horror, parody/spoof, political, romantic comedy, satire, tragedy
Keyword: future, information, literature
TEN-MINUTE: In the year 9936, a new play by Matthew Weaver has been discovered.

One of 14 (!) short plays read as part of a "Matthew Weaver Special Showcase" July 20-22, 2018 at Ignite! Community Theatre in Spokane Valley, Wash.

Featured in November 2018 on the NYC Playwrights podcast.
Another Play by Matthew Weaver by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 3
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Cast:
3
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Genre: comedy, experimental + 3 more
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Keyword: literature, mindbender
Genre: comedy, experimental, farce, immersive, satire
Keyword: literature, mindbender
TEN-MINUTE: Three actresses get on set to read their latest script.
Abby & Ksenia & the Monster by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
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Cast:
3
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Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 3 more
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Keyword: Sisters, girl power + 4 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, fantasy, horror, young audiences
Keyword: Sisters, girl power, monster, Childhood, coming of age, growing up
TEN-MINUTE: A Terrifying Monster is in Abby and Ksenia's room. The sisters need to try to ignore it.

Performed as part of Mildred's Umbrella Theater's Museum of Dysfunction play festival, July 2017, Houston, Texas.

Performed as part of Dramatic Acting track for Summer School for Performing Arts in Westford, MA, July 2017.

Performed as part of Harper...
TEN-MINUTE: A Terrifying Monster is in Abby and Ksenia's room. The sisters need to try to ignore it.

Performed as part of Mildred's Umbrella Theater's Museum of Dysfunction play festival, July 2017, Houston, Texas.

Performed as part of Dramatic Acting track for Summer School for Performing Arts in Westford, MA, July 2017.

Performed as part of Harper College's InZone Program, "Stars of the Stage," in Palatine, Ill., in June 2018.

Selected for Open Space Arts' 2018 Summer Playwrights Festival in Reisterstown, Maryland, in August 2018.

Selected for Abiding Harvest Shorts Play Festival in Broken Arrow, OK, October 2017.
Adult Situations by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
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Cast:
3
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Genre: comedy, drama
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Keyword: coming of age
Genre: comedy, drama
Keyword: coming of age
TEN-MINUTE: On the eve of their high school graduation, Farley and Glenn are playing video games. Glenn's big sister Naomi has other ideas ...
The Aftermath by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 3
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Cast:
2
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 4 more
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Keyword: godzilla, Thomas Pynchon + 2 more
Genre: drama, experimental, fantasy, horror, science fiction, tragedy
Keyword: godzilla, Thomas Pynchon, aftermath, survivor
TEN-MINUTE: Myrna and Noah survey the damage of a Godzilla-ish attack.

For this play, I combined two ideas. One was a prompt from 31 Plays in 31 Days: "Write a play where each character says no more than three words at a time."

Also, as according to Vulture, the reclusive author Thomas Pynchon (V., GRAVITY'S RAINBOW, THE CRYING OF LOT 49, MASON & DIXON)...
TEN-MINUTE: Myrna and Noah survey the damage of a Godzilla-ish attack.

For this play, I combined two ideas. One was a prompt from 31 Plays in 31 Days: "Write a play where each character says no more than three words at a time."

Also, as according to Vulture, the reclusive author Thomas Pynchon (V., GRAVITY'S RAINBOW, THE CRYING OF LOT 49, MASON & DIXON) reportedly was working on a novel, never published, "about an insurance adjuster flown in to Japan to assess the damage done by Godzilla."

(http://www.vulture.com/2013/08/thomas-pynchon-bleeding-edge.html)

Put the two ideas together and what do you have?

THE AFTERMATH.
Aphrodite's Welcome by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
·
Cast:
3
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 8 more
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Keyword: young love, young lovers + 8 more
Genre: drama, experimental, fable/folktale, fantasy, immersive, melodrama, movement/physical, pantomime, period, romantic comedy
Keyword: young love, young lovers, aphrodite, gods and mortals, erotic, sensual, nudity, kissing, Greek Gods, No Dialogue
TEN-MINUTE-ISH: Two young lovers can't quite make a connection on a river bank, until the goddess Aphrodite appears and offers assistance.

Written Aug. 9, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to myself to write 31 ten-page plays in 31 days in August 2019.

Play calls for nudity. Please perform to the safety and comfort of performers.
The Apple by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 3
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: experimental, fable/folktale + 4 more
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Keyword: witches, Little Red Riding Hood + 5 more
Genre: experimental, fable/folktale, fantasy, horror, movement/physical, tragedy
Keyword: witches, Little Red Riding Hood, lost in the foods, Dark Fairy Tale, good roles for women, good roles for young performers, coming of age
TEN-MINUTE: Young Matthew lost his way in the dark woods. The Woman appears, wearing a red cloak, offering knowledge of the way home.
Arguing With Toasters by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 5
·
Cast:
4
·
Genre: dark comedy, drama + 4 more
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Keyword: women's issues, women + 4 more
Genre: dark comedy, drama, experimental, fable/folktale, political, satire
Keyword: women's issues, women, toasters, kitchen appliances, Domestic, absurdism
TEN-MINUTEISH: Four women argue with toasters.

Selected for University of St. Thomas' Ampersand 2.0 Festival April 2017 in Houston, Texas.
The Ark by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 3
·
Cast:
3
·
Genre: comedy, docudrama/historic + 7 more
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Keyword: good roles for actors, biblical
Genre: comedy, docudrama/historic, fable/folktale, faith-based, fantasy, farce, movement/physical, parody/spoof, satire
Keyword: good roles for actors, biblical
TEN-MINUTE: Noah's three sons - Japheth, Shem and Ham - have to usher in the animals two by two on the boat their father recently built. A 10-minute comedy, selected for performance on the Onstage-Offstage podcast by George Sapio in October 2017. http://www.gsapio.com/podcasts/itunes/171001WEAVER.mp3

One of 14 (!) short plays read as part of a "Matthew Weaver Special Showcase" July...
TEN-MINUTE: Noah's three sons - Japheth, Shem and Ham - have to usher in the animals two by two on the boat their father recently built. A 10-minute comedy, selected for performance on the Onstage-Offstage podcast by George Sapio in October 2017. http://www.gsapio.com/podcasts/itunes/171001WEAVER.mp3

One of 14 (!) short plays read as part of a "Matthew Weaver Special Showcase" July 20-22, 2018 at Ignite! Community Theatre in Spokane Valley, Wash.
Awnings by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 4
·
Cast:
3–7
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Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
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Keyword: rainstorm, kissing + 3 more
Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
Keyword: rainstorm, kissing, thunder, lightning, steamy
TEN-MINUTE: Arthur and Viola find themselves under an awning in the middle of a storm.

A 10-minute play.

Winner, Robert Barnard Audience Award-Friday for reading at the Arts Resources for the Tri-State (ARTS) New Works Festival in Huntington, WV, December 2016.

Selected for Curious Arrow Theatre's Lucid Short Play Festival in September 2017 in Grand Rapids, MI....
TEN-MINUTE: Arthur and Viola find themselves under an awning in the middle of a storm.

A 10-minute play.

Winner, Robert Barnard Audience Award-Friday for reading at the Arts Resources for the Tri-State (ARTS) New Works Festival in Huntington, WV, December 2016.

Selected for Curious Arrow Theatre's Lucid Short Play Festival in September 2017 in Grand Rapids, MI.

One of 14 (!) short plays read as part of a "Matthew Weaver Special Showcase" July 20-22, 2018 at Ignite! Community Theatre in Spokane Valley, Wash.
Baby Grand by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 2 more
·
Keyword: twins, sibling rivalry + 4 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, farce, movement/physical
Keyword: twins, sibling rivalry, porn star's phone number, baby grand piano, piano movers, brothers fighting
TEN-MINUTE: Twin brothers Freddy and Teddy stand on a street corner. They have a porn star's phone number.

Written Aug. 24, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to myself to write a 10-page play each day in August 2019.

For this play, I used a prompt from my fellow playwright Scott Mullen (NINJAS, THE PEEK, 172 PUSH-UPS) - three elements drawn at random - a street corner, a...
TEN-MINUTE: Twin brothers Freddy and Teddy stand on a street corner. They have a porn star's phone number.

Written Aug. 24, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to myself to write a 10-page play each day in August 2019.

For this play, I used a prompt from my fellow playwright Scott Mullen (NINJAS, THE PEEK, 172 PUSH-UPS) - three elements drawn at random - a street corner, a porn star's phone number and sibling rivalry.

I think my imagination went to the most logical place possible.
Best Behavior by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 2 more
·
Keyword: two-hander, good roles for two women + 2 more
Genre: drama, experimental, fantasy, tragedy
Keyword: two-hander, good roles for two women, female friendships, friendship
TEN-MINUTE: Cadence is ... planting bulbs in flower pots, apparently? When an old friend from school, Diana, suddenly appears and tells her they should have hung out more often or gotten coffee together.

Written in an hour on Jan. 26, 2019, for the Nugget Fringe Festival in Grass Valley, CA.

The prompt we received was "There is a crack in everything. That's how the light...
TEN-MINUTE: Cadence is ... planting bulbs in flower pots, apparently? When an old friend from school, Diana, suddenly appears and tells her they should have hung out more often or gotten coffee together.

Written in an hour on Jan. 26, 2019, for the Nugget Fringe Festival in Grass Valley, CA.

The prompt we received was "There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in."

It was kind of a melancholy prompt on kind of a melancholy day, so I just started typing and this is what came out.
Bigelow Gulch by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
3
·
Genre: drama
·
Keyword: friendship, class reunion
Genre: drama
Keyword: friendship, class reunion
TEN-MINUTE: Longtime best friends Quentin and Xavier run into Rachel, the girl they both loved once upon a time.
Bigfoot Does Ballet by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 3
·
Cast:
5
·
Genre: comedy, farce + 2 more
·
Keyword: good roles for young girls, ballet dancing + 5 more
Genre: comedy, farce, movement/physical, young audiences
Keyword: good roles for young girls, ballet dancing, movement, physical, Bigfoot, ballet, good roles for girls
TEN-MINUTE: Three young ballet dancers are surprised when their classmate shows up with a new friend.

Written Aug. 22, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to myself to write a 10-page play every day in August 2019.

Selected for the Bigfoot by Moonlight Play Festival at Spartan Theatre at Spokane Falls Community College in Spokane, WA, in October 2019.
Bigfoot on the Ferry by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
4
·
Genre: adventure, comedy + 5 more
·
Keyword: Bigfoot, Staten Island Ferry + 4 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, dark comedy, drama, experimental, fantasy, farce
Keyword: Bigfoot, Staten Island Ferry, New York City, sightseeing, Law and Order, Law and Order SVU
TEN-MINUTE-ISH: Sasha and Aurora spot Bigfoot on the Staten Island Ferry.

Written Aug. 30, 2019, as part of a month-long personal challenge to write 31 plays in 31 days in August 2019.
Blackbirds Singing in the Dead of Night by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
3
·
Genre: adventure, comedy + 4 more
·
Keyword: Sisters, Con Artists + 7 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, dark comedy, drama, experimental, movement/physical
Keyword: Sisters, Con Artists, on the run, Sheriff, criminals, law, crime, deputy, blackbirds
TEN-MINUTE: Con artist sisters Blackbird and Raven run through the woods late at night, having successfully absconded with cash from Blackbird's unwitting would-be-husband. They have a train to catch, if Sheriff Bickleton doesn't stop them.

This play was written in an hour for the Nugget Fringe Festival in Grass Valley, CA on Jan. 20, 2019.

We were given the prompt "...
TEN-MINUTE: Con artist sisters Blackbird and Raven run through the woods late at night, having successfully absconded with cash from Blackbird's unwitting would-be-husband. They have a train to catch, if Sheriff Bickleton doesn't stop them.

This play was written in an hour for the Nugget Fringe Festival in Grass Valley, CA on Jan. 20, 2019.

We were given the prompt "Blackbirds singing in the dead of night." Now, I WAS tempted to write about a trio of penguins (perhaps the SAME penguins from CONTINENTS APART?) singing in the middle of the night, but I didn't want to repeat, I'd already written about animals and I knew Scott Mullen had written a play for the prompt about eagles, so I figured I had better write about some people. I came up with two con artist sisters running through the woods, having successfully stolen bags' worth of money from the older sister's unsuspecting would-be husband. They're dashing to catch a train ... and then the sheriff shows up and wonders where they're off to in such a hurry, the night before the elder sister's wedding. I used the prompt for the title: BLACKBIRDS SINGING IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT.
Bookdrop by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: comedy, movement/physical + 1 more
·
Keyword: romance, good roles for women + 5 more
Genre: comedy, movement/physical, romantic comedy
Keyword: romance, good roles for women, good roles for men, mature love, literature, library, librarians
TEN-MINUTE: Librarian Ulma finds Ricky in kind of an awkward situation - his hand caught in the bookdrop.

Originally written for the Heartland Theatre Company's annual 10-minute play festival, which was themed "The Library."
The Boy on the Beach by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 8
·
Cast:
4
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 4 more
·
Keyword: mythology, sirens + 5 more
Genre: drama, experimental, fable/folktale, fantasy, immersive, movement/physical
Keyword: mythology, sirens, possible vampire, innocence, coming of age, dreams, taboo
TEN-MINUTE: Three mysterious women happen upon a boy on a beach.

Produced as part of Pyro Playfest by the Paris Junior College Department of Drama in Paris, TX, in April 2019.

Selected for a reading for the West Side Show Room's Rockford New Play Festival in Rockford, Illinois, August 2018.

Listed in Smith & Kraus Best Ten-Minute Plays 2019; second place Circle of Excellence winner.
The Bride and the Boy by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
2
·
Genre: adventure, experimental + 5 more
·
Keyword: romance, mystery + 5 more
Genre: adventure, experimental, fable/folktale, fantasy, immersive, movement/physical, science fiction
Keyword: romance, mystery, time travel, the future, fate, good roles for women, good roles for young men
TEN-MINUTE: A young boy gets a message from the future.
Calpurnia Delivers Caesar's Papers to Mark Antony by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: biography, docudrama/historic + 4 more
·
Keyword: 365 Women A Year Playwriting Project, women + 3 more
Genre: biography, docudrama/historic, drama, period, political, tragedy
Keyword: 365 Women A Year Playwriting Project, women, History, Caesar, widow
TEN-MINUTE: Calpurnia, final wife to Julius Caesar, delivers his papers to Mark Antony following Caesar's assassination.
Written for the 365 Women a Year project.
The Carpenter's Boy by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 3 more
·
Keyword: biblical, Jesus + 1 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, docudrama/historic, faith-based, farce
Keyword: biblical, Jesus, religion
TEN-MINUTE: Enoch and Judith discuss troublesome neighbors in Nazareth, circa 32 A.D.

Selected for Nylon Fusion Theatre's Can You HEAR Me? Festival in NYC in June 2018.
Coffee with Irna & Gloria by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: biography, docudrama/historic + 2 more
·
Keyword: ten-minute play, soap operas + 4 more
Genre: biography, docudrama/historic, drama, experimental
Keyword: ten-minute play, soap operas, biography, two actors 10-minute play, two-hander, 365 Women A Year Playwriting Project
TEN-MINUTE: Irna Phillips is the mother of the daytime soap opera, having created PAINTED DREAMS, WOMAN IN WHITE, THE GUIDING LIGHT, AS THE WORLD TURNS and ANOTHER WORLD.

Gloria Monty revolutionized the soap in the late 1970s by creating the adventures of Luke and Laura on GENERAL HOSPITAL.

This play, written as part of the 365 Women a Year playwrighting project, imagines a...
TEN-MINUTE: Irna Phillips is the mother of the daytime soap opera, having created PAINTED DREAMS, WOMAN IN WHITE, THE GUIDING LIGHT, AS THE WORLD TURNS and ANOTHER WORLD.

Gloria Monty revolutionized the soap in the late 1970s by creating the adventures of Luke and Laura on GENERAL HOSPITAL.

This play, written as part of the 365 Women a Year playwrighting project, imagines a conversation between the two women - renowned for their creativity and ferocity - as they reflect on soap operas today.
Come Here and Kiss Me by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: drama, movement/physical + 2 more
·
Keyword: Relationships, romance + 5 more
Genre: drama, movement/physical, romantic comedy, tragedy
Keyword: Relationships, romance, loneliness, kissing, sadness, friendship, deep friendship
TEN-MINUTE: Steffi is helping Michael cross a milestone.

Written Aug. 27, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to myself to write a 10-page play every day in the month of August 2019.
Continents Apart by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
·
Cast:
3
·
Genre: dark comedy, drama + 6 more
·
Keyword: penguins, polar bears + 6 more
Genre: dark comedy, drama, experimental, fable/folktale, faith-based, fantasy, mystery/thriller, science fiction
Keyword: penguins, polar bears, Antarctica, the North Pole, explorers, dreams, visions, animals
TEN-MINUTE: Penguin Rangiora informs her friends Gerritsz and Mercator Cooper of a dream she had the night before.

This play was written in an hour for the Nugget Fringe Festival in Grass Valley, CA on Jan. 19, 2019.

The prompt we were given was "Last night I dreamed of bears."

Now, with an hour, you don't have a lot of time to waste figuring out what...
TEN-MINUTE: Penguin Rangiora informs her friends Gerritsz and Mercator Cooper of a dream she had the night before.

This play was written in an hour for the Nugget Fringe Festival in Grass Valley, CA on Jan. 19, 2019.

The prompt we were given was "Last night I dreamed of bears."

Now, with an hour, you don't have a lot of time to waste figuring out what you're going to write about. So I asked myself, "WHO dreamed of bears?" Then I asked "Who is the least likely to dream of bears?" And I thought of penguins, since polar bears are only at the North Pole and penguins are only at the South Pole. So I came up with CONTINENTS APART, in which Rangiora the penguin admits to her friends Gerritsz and Mercator Cooper (the penguins are all named after South Pole explorers) that she dreamt of a giant beast the night before, and they all wonder what the dream could mean (special challenge to myself: The penguins have no reason to know they're called polar bears, so they never actually use the word "bear").
The Count by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 4
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 5 more
·
Keyword: Toxic Masculinity, girl power + 2 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, holiday, horror, movement/physical, political, young audiences
Keyword: Toxic Masculinity, girl power, vampire, halloween
TEN-MINUTE: Count Orsino finds the lovely Elizabeth reading on a park bench and enthralls her.

Selected for Little Fish Theatre's fundraiser in San Pedro, CA, in October 2018.

Inspired by this T-shirt: https://www.vacancyprojects.com/product/winona
The Death and Dying of Kateri Tekakwitha by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
5–12
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 2 more
·
Keyword: faith, Catholicism + 4 more
Genre: drama, experimental, faith-based, period
Keyword: faith, Catholicism, saints, Native American, good roles for young men, 365 Women A Year Playwriting Project
TEN-MINUTE: Kateri Tekakwitha, who would go on to become the first Native American Catholic saint, receives visitors as she enters her final moments.

Written for the 365 Women A Year Playwriting Project in 2018.
Dung Beetle Family Reunion by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
3
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 7 more
·
Keyword: dung beetle, insects + 8 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, drama, experimental, fable/folktale, fantasy, holiday, political, satire
Keyword: dung beetle, insects, intolerance, religion, family, bigotry, bias and bigotry, Politics, sexual preference, diversity
TEN-MINUTE: Roller, Tunneler and Dweller have an important discussion during the quinquennial dung beetle family reunion.
egg salad and cola by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: comedy, drama
·
Keyword: marriage, love + 6 more
Genre: comedy, drama
Keyword: marriage, love, secrets, men and women, husbands and wives, food, lunch, cooking
TEN-MINUTE: Newlyweds Elliott and Nan are enjoying the last evening of their honeymoon when Elliott, a chef, decides to make Nan's lunch for the next day back at work. What Nan reveals astonishes him.

One of 14 (!) short plays read as part of a "Matthew Weaver Special Showcase" July 20-22, 2018 at Ignite! Community Theatre in Spokane Valley, Wash.
The Embrace by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
3
·
Genre: drama
·
Keyword: women, female friendship + 1 more
Genre: drama
Keyword: women, female friendship, remembering loved one
TEN-MINUTE: Written in an hour Jan. 21, 2018, for the Nugget Fringe Festival Three-Hour Plays in Grass Valley, CA.

Judith is quietly crying on a park bench when Claudette and her boyfriend pass through.

The prompt we were given was the quote by Rumi, "The hurt we embrace becomes joy. Call it to your arms where it can change."
Evening Prayers by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
3
·
Genre: comedy, drama + 2 more
·
Keyword: good roles for women, good roles for young women + 4 more
Genre: comedy, drama, experimental, young audiences
Keyword: good roles for women, good roles for young women, mothers and daughters, parents and children, all female cast, girl power
TEN-MINUTE: Mom Matilda and daughters Zuzu and Lydia brush their teeth before bedtime.

Written Aug. 16, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to write a 10-page play each day in the month of August 2019.
First Kiss No. 39 by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
3
·
Genre: adventure, comedy + 5 more
·
Keyword: art, art show + 7 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, experimental, fantasy, movement/physical, romantic comedy, young audiences
Keyword: art, art show, kissing, Painting, romance, sword fighting, sword play, Star-crossed lovers, No Dialogue
TEN-MINUTE: Boy meets girl. Girl is in a painting.
Flies at the Nativity by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 5
·
Cast:
3
·
Genre: adventure, comedy + 9 more
·
Keyword: Christmas plays, christmas + 5 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, dark comedy, faith-based, fantasy, farce, holiday, movement/physical, period, satire, young audiences
Keyword: Christmas plays, christmas, insects, humor, comedic nativity play, nativity, biblical
TEN-MINUTE: Yes, you read the title right. Three common houseflies are present at the site of the birth of the Baby Jesus.

One of 14 (!) short plays read as part of a "Matthew Weaver Special Showcase" July 20-22, 2018 at Ignite! Community Theatre in Spokane Valley, Wash.

Reading by City Theatre in Coral Gables, FL; July 2018.
The Fluidity of Truth by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
3
·
Genre: dark comedy, drama + 4 more
·
Keyword: women, harassment + 5 more
Genre: dark comedy, drama, horror, political, satire, tragedy
Keyword: women, harassment, Donald Trump, Women in the Age of Trump, police, women's issues, social issues
TEN-MINUTE: Gina accuses Donnie of being inappropriate.

Semifinalist in NYC Playwrights' Women in the Age of Trump project.
GEG-SEA-ANC-ADQ by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
2
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 2 more
·
Keyword: two hander, siblings + 4 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, drama, movement/physical
Keyword: two hander, siblings, Airport, LGBTQ, dysfunctional family, family
TEN-MINUTE: Claire and Snake are flying to Alaska. Snake hates flying.
Ghost Chicken by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
3
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 14 more
·
Keyword: halloween, ghosts + 8 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, experimental, fantasy, farce, holiday, horror, melodrama, movement/physical, mystery/thriller, parody/spoof, political, romantic comedy, satire, science fiction, tragedy
Keyword: halloween, ghosts, couple making out in a car, romance, comedy, horror comedy, undead spirits, farmer, farm, headless chicken
TEN-MINUTE: Dawn Notts and Cecil Clucks have arrived at a very secluded makeout point. What's that sound outside the car? Could it be ... clucking?

Written Aug. 15, 2019, as part of a personal challenge to myself to write 31 ten-minute plays in 31 days in August 2019.

I've also been following @TheRealAuGHOST on Twitter, and enjoying artists' answers to different...
TEN-MINUTE: Dawn Notts and Cecil Clucks have arrived at a very secluded makeout point. What's that sound outside the car? Could it be ... clucking?

Written Aug. 15, 2019, as part of a personal challenge to myself to write 31 ten-minute plays in 31 days in August 2019.

I've also been following @TheRealAuGHOST on Twitter, and enjoying artists' answers to different prompts each day for the month, ghostly spins on words such as LOCK, CAT, STONE, HOLY and SINK. Aug. 10 was CHICKEN. This is several days late, but I woke up this morning inspired: What if the monster outside the car was ... a ghost chicken?!
Help! I'm Trapped in a Monologue Written by Matthew Weaver! by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 8
·
Cast:
2–20
·
Genre: adventure, comedy + 12 more
·
Keyword: infectious diseases
Genre: adventure, comedy, dark comedy, experimental, fantasy, farce, horror, immersive, melodrama, movement/physical, mystery/thriller, satire, tragedy, young audiences
Keyword: infectious diseases
MONOLOGUE: A performer is trapped in a monologue written by Matthew Weaver, playwright of such works as A NEW PLAY BY MATTHEW WEAVER and ANOTHER PLAY BY MATTHEW WEAVER.
High School Nachos by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: comedy, political + 2 more
·
Keyword: time travel, time + 1 more
Genre: comedy, political, science fiction, young audiences
Keyword: time travel, time, aging
TEN-MINUTE: Written in an hour and performed for the Nugget Fringe Festival in Grass Valley, California, Jan. 27, 2018. The prompt was: "Yes time travel is possible. Will explain later." - Jose Conseco

V. travels back in time for a favorite meal.
The Hug by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
8–11
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 4 more
·
Keyword: Hug, world record + 3 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, drama, experimental, farce, movement/physical
Keyword: Hug, world record, Relationships, group hug, group dynamics
TEN-MINUTE-ISH: Emily meets ex-lover Lawrence, only to find he is participating in a world record hug.
I, Marshmallow by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
9
·
Genre: adventure, comedy + 8 more
·
Keyword: marshmallows, scouts + 3 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, dark comedy, experimental, farce, horror, melodrama, satire, tragedy, young audiences
Keyword: marshmallows, scouts, Campfire, fire, inanimate objects
TEN-MINUTE: Everyone loves a camp fire. Except for maybe the marshmallows.

Performed as part of Arts Resources for the Tri-State (ARTS) New Works Festival in Huntington, WV, in December 2016.

Produced by the Holton-Arms School in Bethesda, Maryland, in May 2018.

Performed as part of Harper College's Inzone Program, "Stars of the Stage," in Palatine, Ill., in June 2018.
If You Ever Want to See Your Lizard Again ... by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
2
·
Genre: adventure, comedy + 2 more
·
Keyword: good roles for women, heist + 3 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, dark comedy, movement/physical
Keyword: good roles for women, heist, animals, Sisters, good comedy for women
TEN-MINUTE: Liz and Ardy have stolen a lizard from the zoo, but things aren't entirely going to plan.

Written April 26, 2019, as part of the LeftOvers 24-hour festival at Stage Left Theatre in Spokane, WA. Directed by Kim Roberts and starred Michelle Bakken and Rebecca Bolster. The prop I had to incorporate into the play was a toy lizard.

I had 12 hours to write the play and...
TEN-MINUTE: Liz and Ardy have stolen a lizard from the zoo, but things aren't entirely going to plan.

Written April 26, 2019, as part of the LeftOvers 24-hour festival at Stage Left Theatre in Spokane, WA. Directed by Kim Roberts and starred Michelle Bakken and Rebecca Bolster. The prop I had to incorporate into the play was a toy lizard.

I had 12 hours to write the play and they had 12 hours to prepare it for production. They did a fantastic job!
Illicit by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
·
Cast:
3
·
Genre: dark comedy, drama + 2 more
·
Keyword: coming of age, teenagers + 3 more
Genre: dark comedy, drama, movement/physical, young audiences
Keyword: coming of age, teenagers, adultery, young adult, steamy
TEN-MINUTE: Sammy, the brother of the groom, catches the bride in a compromising position.
The Intimates by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 6
·
Cast:
5
·
Genre: comedy, drama + 3 more
·
Keyword: romance, Underwear + 3 more
Genre: comedy, drama, experimental, movement/physical, pantomime
Keyword: romance, Underwear, pantomime, love story, clothing optional
TEN-MINUTE: A tale of two windows.

Written Aug. 26, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to myself to write a 10-page play every day in the month of August 2019.
Jessica Alba in a Boat in an Ocean of Cream of Wheat by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
2
·
Genre: adventure, comedy + 10 more
·
Keyword: dream, dream play + 7 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, dark comedy, drama, experimental, fable/folktale, fantasy, farce, immersive, movement/physical, parody/spoof, romantic comedy
Keyword: dream, dream play, Dream logic, absurdist, Jessica Alba, Cream of Wheat, boat, ocean, two roles for women
TEN-MINUTE: Spider dreams she is on a boat with Jessica Alba, star of the Batman movie trilogy directed by
Christopher Nolan, in the middle of an ocean made of Cream of Wheat.

Written Aug. 29, 2019, as part of a month-long personal challenge to myself to write a 10-page play each day in August 2019.

Wrote this one after a conversation with a friend who mentioned she had...
TEN-MINUTE: Spider dreams she is on a boat with Jessica Alba, star of the Batman movie trilogy directed by
Christopher Nolan, in the middle of an ocean made of Cream of Wheat.

Written Aug. 29, 2019, as part of a month-long personal challenge to myself to write a 10-page play each day in August 2019.

Wrote this one after a conversation with a friend who mentioned she had dreamed of Cream of Wheat, one of my favorite breakfasts. I tried for as much dream logic as possible.
Jesus in the Kitchen by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 3
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: biography, drama + 5 more
·
Keyword: loneliness, being alone + 4 more
Genre: biography, drama, experimental, fable/folktale, faith-based, melodrama, movement/physical
Keyword: loneliness, being alone, faith, religion, Jesus, men's health
TEN-MINUTE: Milton is up too late, eating cheese.

Written Aug. 8, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to write a 10-page play each day in August 2019.
The Kissing Scene by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
2
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 2 more
·
Keyword: innocence, kissing
Genre: drama, experimental, romantic comedy, young audiences
Keyword: innocence, kissing
TEN-MINUTE: Young actor Dominick is anxious about his kissing scene the next day with co-star Quinn.

Part of the "First Kisses" evening of plays.

One of 14 (!) short plays read as part of a "Matthew Weaver Special Showcase" July 20-22, 2018 at Ignite! Community Theatre in Spokane Valley, Wash.
Living Our Best Kristen Bell Life by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 3
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: biography, docudrama/historic + 5 more
·
Keyword: 365 Women A Year Playwriting Project, Kristen Bell + 5 more
Genre: biography, docudrama/historic, drama, experimental, movement/physical, period, political
Keyword: 365 Women A Year Playwriting Project, Kristen Bell, Mental Health, Veronica Mars, The Good Place, Sisters, good roles for women
TEN-MINUTE: Two sisters, Rose and Leigh, discuss whether they're living their best Kristen Bell (star of VERONICA MARS, FROZEN and THE GOOD PLACE, among others) lives.

A 365 Women a Year project
Look by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 1 more
·
Keyword: romance, Relationships + 5 more
Genre: drama, experimental, movement/physical
Keyword: romance, Relationships, consensual relationships, virginity, first time, body acceptance, nudity
TEN-MINUTE: Neal and Jackie look at each other.

Play calls for nudity. Please play to the safety and comfort of your performers.
Matthew Weaver Meets the Goddess Aphrodite by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
5
·
Genre: adventure, biography + 10 more
·
Keyword: love, romance + 6 more
Genre: adventure, biography, comedy, drama, experimental, fable/folktale, faith-based, fantasy, immersive, movement/physical, romantic comedy, tragedy
Keyword: love, romance, loneliness, goddess, aphrodite, Sex, lust, broken heart
TEN-MINUTE OR SO: The Goddess Aphrodite speaks to a bumbling playwright.
Mind Your Ps and Qs by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
3
·
Genre: drama, tragedy
·
Keyword: Temptation, marriage + 3 more
Genre: drama, tragedy
Keyword: Temptation, marriage, infidelity, first love, kissing
TEN-MINUTE: Workers at a typesetting company experience a moment of temptation.

Author's note: This was written after reading "Letter Perfect," a history of the origins of the alphabet, by David Sacks, and learning the origins of the expression "Mind your Ps and Qs," referring to keeping the letters straight when using movable type.

Selected for Mystic...
TEN-MINUTE: Workers at a typesetting company experience a moment of temptation.

Author's note: This was written after reading "Letter Perfect," a history of the origins of the alphabet, by David Sacks, and learning the origins of the expression "Mind your Ps and Qs," referring to keeping the letters straight when using movable type.

Selected for Mystic Vision Players's Kicking & Swearing Festival in Linden, NJ, in January-February 2020
Neighborhood Watch by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
2
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 5 more
·
Keyword: fairy tale, bears + 2 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, fable/folktale, fantasy, melodrama, parody/spoof, young audiences
Keyword: fairy tale, bears, animals, forest creatures
TEN-MINUTE: Bears Umberto and Gustav see Goldilocks breaking into their neighbors' home.

Selected for the East/West Playfest in Westford, Connecticut and Mitford, Connecticut in July 2019.
Nibble by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
4
·
Genre: dark comedy, experimental + 5 more
·
Keyword: steamy, kissing + 5 more
Genre: dark comedy, experimental, fantasy, horror, melodrama, movement/physical, tragedy
Keyword: steamy, kissing, sexy, erotic, horror, erotic horror, virginity
TEN-MINUTE: It's Cody's 18th birthday. Desiree, Oona and Iola offer him a present.
Operation Keep the Kitten Alive by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
3
·
Genre: comedy, movement/physical + 1 more
·
Keyword: teenagers, babysitter + 6 more
Genre: comedy, movement/physical, young audiences
Keyword: teenagers, babysitter, kitten, surgery, young adult, those nachos we found, pet care, thumb wrestling
TEN-MINUTE: Lifelong friends Seabone and Ogden are high schoolers recovering from recent appendectomies. Bad things happen when they're bored. Zelda Zwieback is tasked with keeping them occupied and from popping their stitches.

Written and performed as part of Stage Left Theater's 24-hour play festival, Left Overs, in Spokane, Wash. As part of the festival, writers were required to use...
TEN-MINUTE: Lifelong friends Seabone and Ogden are high schoolers recovering from recent appendectomies. Bad things happen when they're bored. Zelda Zwieback is tasked with keeping them occupied and from popping their stitches.

Written and performed as part of Stage Left Theater's 24-hour play festival, Left Overs, in Spokane, Wash. As part of the festival, writers were required to use a particular prop; in this instance, a ceramic kitten.

Directed by Jessica Rempel. Starred Ezra Way as Seabone, Jacob Carruthers as Ogden and Joni Elizabeth as Zelda. Edited to add: I have to say, total credit for Zelda's history as a thumb wrestler came from Joni. When I asked the performers their comfort zones, and if they had any special abilities, Joni - independent of anything - proceeded to tell me how she had been a champion thumb wrestler in school, so good her thumb had its own name: Hank. It was a gift.
Paper Chains by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
4
·
Genre: drama, romantic comedy + 1 more
·
Keyword: young adult, high school + 1 more
Genre: drama, romantic comedy, young audiences
Keyword: young adult, high school, high school romance
Izzy asks Morris to the dance. For four high school/YA performers.
Pepper Pirates for Life! by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
4
·
Genre: comedy, fantasy + 2 more
·
Keyword: girl power
Genre: comedy, fantasy, movement/physical, young audiences
Keyword: girl power
YA- TEN-MINUTE: Madison, Emma and Aria are eating spicy hot things in rapidly increasing degrees of hotness.

Then Aria pulls out the ghost peppers.

Selected for Playwrights' Playground Festival, Stage Left Theatre, Spokane, WA, October 2018.
Post-Apocalyptic Brunch by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
5
·
Genre: adventure, dark comedy + 7 more
Genre: adventure, dark comedy, drama, experimental, fantasy, political, satire, science fiction, tragedy
TEN-MINUTE: Four survivors of the great war gather for a final act before dawn.

Originally written in response to a prompt for the New Wave Theatre Collective.
Putting Up With Mistletoe by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
2
·
Genre: comedy, docudrama/historic + 6 more
·
Keyword: holiday, christmas + 4 more
Genre: comedy, docudrama/historic, drama, faith-based, holiday, movement/physical, romantic comedy, young audiences
Keyword: holiday, christmas, good roles for YA performers, teenagers, mistletoe, kissing
YA Holiday TEN-MINUTE: Teens Ivy and Hoagie have been tasked with hanging up holiday decorations for the notorious neighborhood Christmas party.

Written Aug. 20, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to myself to write a 10-page play each day for the month of August 2019.

Performed as part of Curiosity Theatre's No Room at the Airbnb: Modern Holiday Tales" in Grand...
YA Holiday TEN-MINUTE: Teens Ivy and Hoagie have been tasked with hanging up holiday decorations for the notorious neighborhood Christmas party.

Written Aug. 20, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to myself to write a 10-page play each day for the month of August 2019.

Performed as part of Curiosity Theatre's No Room at the Airbnb: Modern Holiday Tales" in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in December 2019.

Performed as part of Dover Little Theatre's Winter Holiday One-Act Festival in Dover, N.J. in December 2019.
The Quail by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
6
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 2 more
·
Keyword: marriage, love + 6 more
Genre: drama, experimental, movement/physical, romantic comedy
Keyword: marriage, love, adultery, family, aging, time, birds, nature
TEN-MINUTE: Before they move to Rhode Island, Jillian and Nolan spend one last weekend at Quail Rock. Selected for Northwest Ten Festival in Eugene, Oregon, in March 2018.
The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over the Lazy Dog by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: adventure, comedy + 6 more
·
Keyword: pangram, letters of the alphabet + 3 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, dark comedy, experimental, fable/folktale, fantasy, farce, young audiences
Keyword: pangram, letters of the alphabet, animals, dogs, fox
TEN-MINUTE: A quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog ... but why?
The Raft by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
3
·
Genre: comedy, experimental + 4 more
·
Keyword: dreams, dreaming + 2 more
Genre: comedy, experimental, fantasy, immersive, movement/physical, romantic comedy
Keyword: dreams, dreaming, alligator, sleep
TEN-MINUTE: Killroy can't sleep. Dakota's got this.
Round Yon Virgin by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
4
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 1 more
·
Keyword: christmas, naughty comedy + 1 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, holiday
Keyword: christmas, naughty comedy, coming of age
TEN-MINUTE: Elise has an unusual request for Santa Claus on behalf of her older brother, Grayson.
Salad Bar by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
20
·
Genre: comedy, experimental + 2 more
·
Keyword: large cast, young performers + 2 more
Genre: comedy, experimental, science fiction, young audiences
Keyword: large cast, young performers, children theater, dinosaurs
TEN-MINUTE, LARGE YOUTH CAST: Various plant-eating dinosaurs in the Cretaceous Period compete for food.

Written in reply to a request for a 10-minute play for 20 student performers with roles of equal sizes.

The title comes from playwright Scott Mullen. I loved his suggestion.
Sarsaparilla by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
3
·
Genre: comedy, drama + 3 more
·
Keyword: acting, kissing + 2 more
Genre: comedy, drama, experimental, movement/physical, romantic comedy
Keyword: acting, kissing, consent, taboo
TEN-MINUTE OR SO: Zephyr and Zoey are actors performing a steamy love scene.
Sebastian and Chloe by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 7
·
Cast:
6
·
Genre: comedy, drama + 2 more
·
Keyword: absurdism, aging
Genre: comedy, drama, experimental, fantasy
Keyword: absurdism, aging
TEN-MINUTE: After their 50th wedding anniversary, Sebastian and Chloe find out the truth about how they met.
Selected for the Spokane Civic Theatre Playwrights Forum Festival in June 2018.
Second Kisses by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
·
Keyword: kissing, sexy + 5 more
Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
Keyword: kissing, sexy, steamy, short and sweet, beta male, 18th birthday, men and women
TEN-MINUTE: It's Ian's eighteenth birthday. He and Portia can't seem to stop kissing about it.
Selfies & Ladybugs by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: comedy, experimental
·
Keyword: good roles for two women, social media + 4 more
Genre: comedy, experimental
Keyword: good roles for two women, social media, selfies, insects, ladybugs, entomologist
TEN-MINUTE: Ramona and Dolores are both trying to get the perfect selfie together.

Written in an hour for the Nugget Fringe Festival in Grass Valley, CA; January 26, 2019.

The prompt we received was "Authenticity."

I had NO idea what I was going to write about, but the prompt e-mail included the word "Selkies," referring to the Celtic mythology...
TEN-MINUTE: Ramona and Dolores are both trying to get the perfect selfie together.

Written in an hour for the Nugget Fringe Festival in Grass Valley, CA; January 26, 2019.

The prompt we received was "Authenticity."

I had NO idea what I was going to write about, but the prompt e-mail included the word "Selkies," referring to the Celtic mythology about seals coming ashore, shedding their pelts and dancing on the sand.

My brain READ "Selkie," but started thinking about "selfies," I think. I was also thinking about the concept that people are living their "best lives" on social media, which tapped into the authenticity prompt.

And my brother (my hero) Steven is an entomologist, so that's where THAT came from.
Seven Minutes in Heaven by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
5
·
Genre: comedy, drama + 3 more
·
Keyword: kissing, friendship + 1 more
Genre: comedy, drama, movement/physical, romantic comedy, young audiences
Keyword: kissing, friendship, first kiss
TEN-MINUTE: Jordan McMint wants to be Charlie Donner's first kiss during a game at a party. Charlie's saving his first kiss for Caitlin. Unstoppable force meets immovable object in a closet. Part of the "First Kisses" evening of short plays.

Selected for the Red Eye 10s International Play Festival, produced on the same day in Virginia, Indiana, Kentucky, Colorado, three sites...
TEN-MINUTE: Jordan McMint wants to be Charlie Donner's first kiss during a game at a party. Charlie's saving his first kiss for Caitlin. Unstoppable force meets immovable object in a closet. Part of the "First Kisses" evening of short plays.

Selected for the Red Eye 10s International Play Festival, produced on the same day in Virginia, Indiana, Kentucky, Colorado, three sites in California, Florida, Ireland and Japan Sept. 30, 2017. Dates for Texas and Germany TBD!
Siren's Last Call by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
5
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 6 more
·
Keyword: bars, drinking + 6 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, drama, experimental, fable/folktale, fantasy, movement/physical, tragedy
Keyword: bars, drinking, Alcohol, Greek mythology, men and women, sirens, fate, destiny
TEN-MINUTE-ISH: Three women drink in a bar after a long, long, long day.
Sit Here For the Present: An Appreciation of Beverly Cleary by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
5
·
Genre: biography, experimental + 2 more
·
Keyword: 365 Women A Year Playwriting Project, Beverly Cleary + 7 more
Genre: biography, experimental, immersive, young audiences
Keyword: 365 Women A Year Playwriting Project, Beverly Cleary, reading, books, book talks, Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins, women, school
TEN-MINUTE: Five performers talk about their favorite books written by Beverly Cleary, author of the Ramona Quimby series. Written for the 365 Women a Year Project.
Sitting at Home on the Couch, Watching TV in Our Underwear by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
4
·
Genre: dark comedy, drama + 6 more
·
Keyword: alone, Depression + 4 more
Genre: dark comedy, drama, experimental, fantasy, horror, immersive, movement/physical, tragedy
Keyword: alone, Depression, self-loathing, loneliness, men and women, Relationships
TEN-MINUTEISH: Urchin, Rylie and Zilpha wait for Mike to get home from a long day at work.
Skeletons by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
·
Cast:
5
·
Genre: comedy, experimental + 8 more
·
Keyword: halloween, broad comedy
Genre: comedy, experimental, fantasy, farce, holiday, movement/physical, parody/spoof, satire, science fiction, young audiences
Keyword: halloween, broad comedy
TEN-MINUTE: Two skeletons have escaped for the day and found their way to an all-you-can eat pizza buffet.
Son of a Sunrise by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
5
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 3 more
·
Keyword: innocence, coming of age + 4 more
Genre: drama, experimental, fable/folktale, faith-based, period
Keyword: innocence, coming of age, kissing, strong roles for women, strong roles for young men, strong women
TEN-MINUTE: Four boys visit the village prostitute.
Spots by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: drama, fable/folktale + 6 more
·
Keyword: animals, giraffes + 5 more
Genre: drama, fable/folktale, faith-based, fantasy, horror, movement/physical, tragedy, young audiences
Keyword: animals, giraffes, grief, Bible, biblical, plight of refugees, refugees
TEN-MINUTE: Two giraffes are brought on board Noah's Ark, two by two.

This play was inspired by a Tweet by @earthdistance on Twitter, listing the Top Ten Bible characters: Number two was "Unnamed female giraffe (Ark)"

https://twitter.com/earthdistance/status/1019498153018580992
Straddle by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
3
·
Genre: drama, movement/physical
·
Keyword: innocence, good role for a young man + 6 more
Genre: drama, movement/physical
Keyword: innocence, good role for a young man, good role for a young woman, Sex, Alcohol, drinking, college party, slice of life
TEN-MINUTE: Pierce visits his older brother in college during a party.

Written Aug. 6, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to write a 10-page play each day in August 2019.
The Sweet Smell of a Lavender Field After It Rains by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
2
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 4 more
·
Keyword: senior citizens
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, farce, movement/physical, romantic comedy, young audiences
Keyword: senior citizens
TEN-MINUTE: George and Martha spend a quiet evening at home.

One of 14 (!) short plays read as part of a "Matthew Weaver Special Showcase" July 20-22, 2018 at Ignite! Community Theatre in Spokane Valley, Wash.
Toasted Marshmallow Mocha by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 3
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: drama, experimental
·
Keyword: reality, society + 4 more
Genre: drama, experimental
Keyword: reality, society, Relationships, friendship, making friends, coffee shop
Our Hero orders a toasted marshmallow mocha at a coffee shop.

Selected for production in the Hive Collective's The Ten Show in Provo, Utah in fall of 2019. Directed by Jacom Clarkson.
Three Boys on the Beach by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 3
·
Cast:
3
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 3 more
·
Keyword: young adult, good roles for teen performers + 8 more
Genre: drama, experimental, melodrama, movement/physical, young audiences
Keyword: young adult, good roles for teen performers, Adolescence, coming of age, LGBTQ, beach, swordfighting, good roles for older teens, pre-teens, steamy
TEN-PLUS-MINUTE: LGBTQ+ version of TWO BOYS ON THE BEACH, in which the character of Wrigley is a young woman.

Written upon a suggestion from a playwright whose words and work I greatly admire.
Tinsel by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
3
·
Genre: dark comedy, drama + 3 more
·
Keyword: good roles for older performers, good roles for seniors + 5 more
Genre: dark comedy, drama, experimental, holiday, romantic comedy
Keyword: good roles for older performers, good roles for seniors, christmas, holidays, serial killers, podcasts, family
TEN-MINUTE: Fred and Varna's kids have decided they're going to spend Christmas skiing in Vail.

Whoopee!
The Tragedie of Rockford and Almira and the Cat - a Comedie by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 4
·
Cast:
3
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 4 more
·
Keyword: animals, Shakespeare
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, experimental, farce, tragedy, young audiences
Keyword: animals, Shakespeare
TEN-MINUTE: Rockford and Almira, two mice, come upon a mousetrap.

A Shakespearean mouse play. Because ... well, why not?

Performed as part of Tree City Playhouse 2019 Festival of New Plays in Sylvania, OH, in May 2019.
The Treehouse by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
3
·
Genre: adventure, drama + 2 more
·
Keyword: good roles for young performers, good roles for young men + 7 more
Genre: adventure, drama, movement/physical, young audiences
Keyword: good roles for young performers, good roles for young men, good roles for young women, innocence, coming of age, Innocence lost, summer, tree houses, kissing
TEN-MINUTE-ISH: The Adventurers see what all they can see from their new old, abandoned treehouse.

Written Aug. 1, 2019, as part of a personal challenge to myself to write 31 ten-page (at least!) plays each day for 31 days in the month of August 2019.
True Love's Kiss by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
7
·
Genre: adventure, comedy + 6 more
·
Keyword: fairy tale, Prince + 5 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, fable/folktale, fantasy, parody/spoof, romantic comedy, satire, young audiences
Keyword: fairy tale, Prince, princess, witch, Kiss, true love's kiss, feminist
TEN-MINUTE: Performed by Liberty Lake Community Theatre as part of New Works Festival, March 2017, in Liberty Lake, Wash..
Performed by Mad Lab Theatre as part of Theatre Roulette festival, May 2016, in Columbus, Ohio.

One of 14 (!) short plays read as part of a "Matthew Weaver Special Showcase" July 20-22, 2018 at Ignite! Community Theatre in Spokane Valley, Wash.
...
TEN-MINUTE: Performed by Liberty Lake Community Theatre as part of New Works Festival, March 2017, in Liberty Lake, Wash..
Performed by Mad Lab Theatre as part of Theatre Roulette festival, May 2016, in Columbus, Ohio.

One of 14 (!) short plays read as part of a "Matthew Weaver Special Showcase" July 20-22, 2018 at Ignite! Community Theatre in Spokane Valley, Wash.

Wicked witch Prunetoria has cast a spell on Princess Honeysuckle. Only true love's kiss will wake her up. But there's a catch ...

It's up to Prince Darling, Prince Dashing and Prince Ruggedly Handsome to ride to Honeysuckle's rescue.

Meanwhile, on the horizon, another princess is making her way to the castle ...
Two Boys on the Beach by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 4
·
Cast:
3
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 3 more
·
Keyword: young adult, good roles for teen performers + 8 more
Genre: drama, experimental, immersive, movement/physical, young audiences
Keyword: young adult, good roles for teen performers, Adolescence, coming of age, boys and girls, beach, swordfighting, good roles for older teens, pre-teens, steamy
TEN-MINUTE-PLUS: Two boys play on the beach while their sitter watches them.

Written Aug. 18, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to myself to write a 10-page play (at least!) each day for the month of August 2019.

LGBTQ+ version: THREE BOYS ON THE BEACH
Two Old Men Arguing in the Park Whilst Feeding Pigeons by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
2
·
Genre: adventure, biography + 12 more
·
Keyword: absurdist, definitely absurdist + 3 more
Genre: adventure, biography, comedy, dark comedy, drama, experimental, fable/folktale, faith-based, fantasy, farce, movement/physical, romantic comedy, satire, young audiences
Keyword: absurdist, definitely absurdist, totally absurdist, good roles for older performers, two-actor
TEN-MINUTE: JJ and Arthur argue in the park whilst feeding pigeons.

SPOILER:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
**
*
*
**
*
*

*

Inspired by a January 2018 post on the Official Playwrights of Facebook page where playwright Rand Higbee observed that he had seen many...
TEN-MINUTE: JJ and Arthur argue in the park whilst feeding pigeons.

SPOILER:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
**
*
*
**
*
*

*

Inspired by a January 2018 post on the Official Playwrights of Facebook page where playwright Rand Higbee observed that he had seen many entries in a 10-minute play contest where the most common last or second to last line was "I'm pregnant."

SOME SMART-ALECK PLAYWRIGHT posted at the time that this gave him a killer ending for his play about two grumpy old men arguing in the park (another common theme in theater). All right, it was me. I was the smart aleck.
Under an Iguana Moon by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
2
·
Genre: comedy
·
Keyword: women, stuffed iguana + 3 more
Genre: comedy
Keyword: women, stuffed iguana, motherhood, cool aunt, children's cartoons
TEN-MINUTE: Written and performed in 24 hours as part of Stage Left Theater's Left Overs Festival in Spokane, Wash., in March 2015. Directed by Juan Mas, starring Aubrey Shimek Davis and Jordan Lannen.

Avery and Zoey both find Iggy, a stuffed iguana, for the important little girls in their lives, but there's only one. And neither woman is going to let him go.
The Unkissed by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
2
·
Genre: adventure, dark comedy + 5 more
·
Keyword: romance, love + 5 more
Genre: adventure, dark comedy, drama, experimental, movement/physical, romantic comedy, tragedy
Keyword: romance, love, inexperience, unrequited love, friendship, attraction, kissing
TEN-MINUTE: Laurie asks Zachary if several rumors about him are true.

Written Aug. 13, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to write 31 ten-minute plays in 31 days in August 2019.
Untitled Stageplay by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
10–15
·
Genre: biography, comedy + 13 more
·
Keyword: absurdist, parenthood + 5 more
Genre: biography, comedy, commedia dell'arte, dark comedy, drama, experimental, fantasy, farce, horror, immersive, movement/physical, parody/spoof, political, satire, tragedy
Keyword: absurdist, parenthood, biography, life, parents and children, work, unfulfilled life
TEN-MINUTE: A stageplay seeks meaning, and to bring meaning to an audience.

Written April 21, 2019 as part of a month-long challenge with playwright Scott Mullen (THE PEEK, NINJAS, 172 PUSH-UPS, SANDBOX, ABSORBENCY) to write a one-minute play each day in April 2019.

The prompt I gave myself was "Untitled Stageplay." Clearly, the concept ran away from me.
Utopia Found by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 3
·
Cast:
3
·
Genre: adventure, drama + 6 more
·
Keyword: good roles for veteran performers, faith + 4 more
Genre: adventure, drama, experimental, fable/folktale, faith-based, fantasy, political, young audiences
Keyword: good roles for veteran performers, faith, Bible, religious, religion, Christian
TEN-MINUTE: The angel Uriel welcomes two travelers home.

Selected for 2019 New Works Festival, Britches and Hose Theatre Company, Fairfax, VA. January 2019.
Variations on a First Kiss by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
4
·
Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
·
Keyword: kissing, david ives + 3 more
Genre: comedy, romantic comedy
Keyword: kissing, david ives, boyfriend, sexual harassment, bad kisser
TEN-MINUTE: Received Audience Favorite Comedy, Exit 7 Players Theater Short Play Contest in Ludlow, Mass., February 2016.
Performed as part of Mad Lab Theatre's Theatre Roulette Festival in Columbus, Ohio, May 2016.

One of 14 (!) short plays read as part of a "Matthew Weaver Special Showcase" July 20-22, 2018 at Ignite! Community Theatre in Spokane Valley, Wash.
...
TEN-MINUTE: Received Audience Favorite Comedy, Exit 7 Players Theater Short Play Contest in Ludlow, Mass., February 2016.
Performed as part of Mad Lab Theatre's Theatre Roulette Festival in Columbus, Ohio, May 2016.

One of 14 (!) short plays read as part of a "Matthew Weaver Special Showcase" July 20-22, 2018 at Ignite! Community Theatre in Spokane Valley, Wash.

Azalea finds out Christopher has never had his first kiss. He proceeds to imagine the many, many ways it could go wrong.
The Veil by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
3
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 3 more
·
Keyword: unrequited love, romance + 5 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, fantasy, movement/physical, romantic comedy
Keyword: unrequited love, romance, comedy, men and women, bride, bar, romantic comedy
TEN-MINUTE: Warren sits in a bar on Rhona's big day.
Velociraptors in the Garden by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
·
Cast:
5
·
Genre: adventure, comedy + 11 more
·
Keyword: velociraptor, British + 7 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, dark comedy, drama, experimental, farce, horror, melodrama, parody/spoof, period, satire, science fiction, tragedy
Keyword: velociraptor, British, sitting room, velociraptors, dinosaurs, family, illegitimate children, English manners, death
"Downton Abbey" meets "Jurassic Park."

A ten-minute comedy. Absolutely no redeeming value whatsoever.

Performed April 2018 as part of Cupcake Lady Productions' Another Taste of Rotten Theatre in Brooklyn, NY.
View From the Reef by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
4
·
Genre: comedy, drama + 2 more
·
Keyword: environment, Endangered Species + 6 more
Genre: comedy, drama, political, young audiences
Keyword: environment, Endangered Species, pollution, ocean, cauliflower coral, fish, shut-ins, best friends
TEN-MINUTE: Cauliflower corals Collie and Coral have never left the coral reef. Why would they? But a chance encounter with a deep sea diver has them questioning the future.

Originally written for the Saving Endangered Species international playwriting contest in 2015.

My challenge to myself was to write about an invertebrate, and ultimately to try to write the most moving play...
TEN-MINUTE: Cauliflower corals Collie and Coral have never left the coral reef. Why would they? But a chance encounter with a deep sea diver has them questioning the future.

Originally written for the Saving Endangered Species international playwriting contest in 2015.

My challenge to myself was to write about an invertebrate, and ultimately to try to write the most moving play about cauliflower coral possible.

One of 14 (!) short plays read as part of a "Matthew Weaver Special Showcase" July 20-22, 2018 at Ignite! Community Theatre in Spokane Valley, Wash.

Performed as part of Harper College's InZone Program, "Stars of the Stage," in Palatine, Ill., in June 2018.
Violet Mustard-Brimley, Will You Please Be My First Kiss Please? (If You Should So Choose) by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
4–10
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 9 more
·
Keyword: social media, vlogging + 5 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, drama, experimental, farce, immersive, movement/physical, political, romantic comedy, satire, young audiences
Keyword: social media, vlogging, good roles for older teens, good roles for women, enviromentally conscious, poison dart frogs, kissing
TEN-MINUTE PLAY: Vlogger Violet Mustard-Brimley is about to embark on the Blue Kiss No. 35 Challenge! Buy her merch-merch!

Selected for 2019 Rockford New Play Festival in September 2019, in Rockford, Illinois.
Wake Us For Flight 2373 by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
4
·
Genre: drama, immersive + 1 more
·
Keyword: airport play, romance + 7 more
Genre: drama, immersive, movement/physical
Keyword: airport play, romance, marriage, Relationships, young love, good roles for older women, aging, travel, air travel
TEN-MINUTE-ISH: An attractive young couple sleeps on the floor of an airport, with a sign saying "WAKE US FOR FLIGHT 2373."

Married couple Vicky and Lionel come upon them.
What Scares an Evil Clown? by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
3
·
Genre: adventure, comedy + 14 more
·
Keyword: halloween, clowns + 8 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, dark comedy, drama, experimental, fable/folktale, fantasy, farce, holiday, horror, melodrama, movement/physical, mystery/thriller, satire, science fiction, tragedy
Keyword: halloween, clowns, evil clowns, mimes, horror, IT, movie monsters, stephen king, books, reading
TEN-MINUTE: Two evil clowns bump into each other while luring small children to their deaths.

Written Aug. 4, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to write a 10-page play each day in the month of August 2019.
Whispers in the Woods by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
2
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 4 more
·
Keyword: mothers and daughters, good roles for women + 8 more
Genre: drama, experimental, fantasy, horror, movement/physical, tragedy
Keyword: mothers and daughters, good roles for women, husbands and wives, murder, camp, woods, forests, Bigfoot, legends, Myths
TEN-MINUTE: Sylvie and her daughter Henrietta are on the run. Sylvie brings her daughter back to the woods.

Written Aug. 23, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to myself to write a 10-page play each day in August 2019, for a festival using Bigfoot as a prompt.

Selected for Mystic Vision Players's Kicking & Swearing Festival in Rahway, NJ, in January-February 2020
Willy's Mom Gets in the Car by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: drama, movement/physical + 2 more
·
Keyword: two-hander, mothers and sons + 2 more
Genre: drama, movement/physical, tragedy, young audiences
Keyword: two-hander, mothers and sons, school violence, Gun safety
Willy sits in a car outside his school. His mom gets in the car.

Produced as part of the Town and Gown Theatre's Stillwater Short Play Festival in Stillwater, OK, in May 2019.
Windows, Windows, Trees by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
3
·
Genre: drama, faith-based
·
Keyword: medical, hopeful
Genre: drama, faith-based
Keyword: medical, hopeful
TEN-MINUTE: Sam and Elisa keep each other company during chemotherapy.

Title prompt by Emily Hageman.
Witch, Heart, Paper by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
6–10
·
Genre: dark comedy, drama + 6 more
·
Keyword: No Dialogue, erotic + 6 more
Genre: dark comedy, drama, experimental, fantasy, horror, movement/physical, romantic comedy, satire
Keyword: No Dialogue, erotic, romance, Fantasy, red construction paper, sensuous, good roles for women, good roles for young men
TEN-MINUTE: Tristan just wants to make copies for his beloved Blue Lavender. Three witches have other ideas.

Originally written as a submission for The Impostors Theatre's Footholds program. The requirement was to incorporate a three-foot stack of red construction paper as a prop.
Write Your Name Upon My Heart by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: dark comedy, experimental + 5 more
·
Keyword: romance, missed connections + 5 more
Genre: dark comedy, experimental, fable/folktale, fantasy, holiday, movement/physical, romantic comedy
Keyword: romance, missed connections, love, unrequited love, good roles for women, good roles for men, heartache
TEN-MINUTE: Joshua asks Gretchen to sign his heart.

Written Aug. 2, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to myself to write a 10-page play (longhand!) each day in August 2019.

Selected for Sauk Shorts 2020, at the Sauk Theatre in Jonesville, Michigan.
X is for Xylophone by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
2
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 4 more
·
Keyword: letters of the alphabet, The letter X + 4 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, experimental, melodrama, movement/physical, parody/spoof
Keyword: letters of the alphabet, The letter X, XXX, quirky, experimental, experimental dark comedy
TEN-MINUTE: Wealthy Xanthia and Xander live in the "X" house on a popular children's TV show, Alphabet Train. They're used to not being used very often. X is the 23rd most used letter, after all.
But the Alphabet Train hasn't stopped by their mansion in six weeks, leaving Xanthia and Xander to suspect they've been ex-iled from the rest of the alphabet.
You Can't Kiss Me But I Can Kiss You by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 3
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: adventure, biography + 7 more
·
Keyword: kissing, romance + 6 more
Genre: adventure, biography, dark comedy, experimental, fantasy, horror, movement/physical, romantic comedy, tragedy
Keyword: kissing, romance, Tragic Romance, love, affection, steamy, seduction, sexual politics
TEN-MINUTE: Vanessa has rules for Cody.
'zel's Tower by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
2
·
Genre: adventure, drama + 9 more
·
Keyword: fairy tale, dark + 5 more
Genre: adventure, drama, experimental, fable/folktale, fantasy, horror, melodrama, movement/physical, mystery/thriller, period, tragedy
Keyword: fairy tale, dark, trauma, lust, love, witch, Brothers Grimm
TEN-MINUTE: Zel and an unnamed boy revisit a site of past trauma, sometime after happily ever after.
Zucchini by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: adventure, comedy + 8 more
·
Keyword: good roles for young women, zucchini + 6 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, dark comedy, experimental, fantasy, farce, horror, movement/physical, science fiction, young audiences
Keyword: good roles for young women, zucchini, high school, good roles for high school performers, science experiments, botany, science, plants
TEN-MINUTE, YA: It's 7 a.m. on a school day, and Logan and Barrett have zucchini harvesting duty in the high
school greenhouse.

Written Aug. 10, 2019, during a writing session alongside fellow playwright Tristen Canfield (THE WINDOW, PERSPECTIVE and SLICE OF LIFE - go read her stuff now!) as part of my personal challenge to myself to write 31 plays in 31 days during August 2019.
1,001 Flavors by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 3
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 6 more
·
Keyword: ice cream, ice cream truck + 4 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, drama, experimental, fable/folktale, fantasy, farce, movement/physical
Keyword: ice cream, ice cream truck, food, out of ice cream, flavors, exotic flavors
FIVE-MINUTES OR LESS: Character A is just sitting there, innocently, when Character B appears and offers to sell many exotic flavors of ice cream.

Written April 25, 2019, as part of a month-long challenge with playwright Scott Mullen (THE PEEK, NINJAS, 172 PUSH-UPS, SANDBOX, ABSORBENCY) to write a one-minute play each day in April 2019. The prompt we received was "Out of ice cream," by Kip Stolberg.
Atmosphere by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: adventure, dark comedy + 13 more
·
Keyword: space, friendship + 3 more
Genre: adventure, dark comedy, drama, experimental, faith-based, fantasy, horror, movement/physical, mystery/thriller, political, romantic comedy, satire, science fiction, tragedy, young audiences
Keyword: space, friendship, stars, earth, atmosphere
SHORT: Nothing much. Holly and Jennifer are just hanging out at the edge of the earth's atmosphere.

Written April 9, 2019, as part of a month-long challenge with playwright Scott Mullen (THE PEEK, NINJAS, 172 PUSH-UPS, SANDBOX, ABSORBENCY) to write a one-minute play each day in April 2019.
Blue Frogs by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
3
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 10 more
·
Keyword: blue poison dart frogs, frogs + 4 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, experimental, fable/folktale, fantasy, farce, immersive, movement/physical, romantic comedy, science fiction, tragedy, young audiences
Keyword: blue poison dart frogs, frogs, animals, environment, nature, mating
SHORT: Ah, spring! When a young frog's fancy turns to thoughts of ...
Cacophony by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
5–20
·
Genre: commedia dell'arte, docudrama/historic + 11 more
·
Keyword: society, life + 7 more
Genre: commedia dell'arte, docudrama/historic, drama, experimental, fable/folktale, fantasy, horror, immersive, melodrama, movement/physical, political, satire, tragedy
Keyword: society, life, Depression, sadness, current events, self-care, finding oneself, Relationships, friendships
SHORT: Many performers on stage search for answers. Very experimental.
Confidence Boost by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: comedy, drama + 2 more
·
Keyword: Relationships, friendship + 1 more
Genre: comedy, drama, movement/physical, romantic comedy
Keyword: Relationships, friendship, Valentine's Day
TEN-MINUTE OR LESS: Ivy helps neighbor Houle tie his tie before a big date.

One of 14 (!) short plays read as part of a "Matthew Weaver Special Showcase" July 20-22, 2018 at Ignite! Community Theatre in Spokane Valley, Wash.
Eoteltsim by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
3
·
Genre: dark comedy, drama + 3 more
·
Keyword: reverse, christmas + 2 more
Genre: dark comedy, drama, experimental, holiday, romantic comedy
Keyword: reverse, christmas, kissing, infidelity
ONE-MINUTE: Barney introduces his younger brother and his fiancee to each other at a Christmas party. But they've already met ...
Grandmother's Ring by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
·
Cast:
3
·
Genre: dark comedy, drama + 1 more
·
Keyword: Relationships, toxic male
Genre: dark comedy, drama, horror
Keyword: Relationships, toxic male
FIVE-MINUTE: Holly and Stanley are glad to have Stanley's grandmother's approval before their wedding day.

Selected for Kansas City Horror Play Festival in Kansas City, Missouri, in October 2018.
Kissing Benji by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
8–10
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 3 more
·
Keyword: innocence, coming of age + 3 more
Genre: drama, experimental, fable/folktale, fantasy, movement/physical
Keyword: innocence, coming of age, kissing, first kiss, boy
FIVE-MINUTE: A group of women sitting nearby ask Benji a question ...
Lemons & Licorice by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
2
·
Genre: adventure, comedy + 6 more
·
Keyword: love, romance + 7 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, drama, experimental, faith-based, holiday, movement/physical, romantic comedy
Keyword: love, romance, kissing, lemons, licorice, taste, more kissing, Sex, Relationships
FIVE-MINUTE: A couple ponders a new combination of flavors never before explored.
New Mistakes by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 4
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: adventure, comedy + 1 more
·
Keyword: online dating, kissing + 6 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, romantic comedy
Keyword: online dating, kissing, texting, balding, dating, comfort zone, first kiss, texting while driving
FIVE-MINUTE: Selected for Cone Man Running Productions' Five-Minute Mile Play Festival November 2016 in Houston, Texas.

One of 14 (!) short plays read as part of a "Matthew Weaver Special Showcase" July 20-22, 2018 at Ignite! Community Theatre in Spokane Valley, Wash.

Wally and Sam are two lonely hearts giving love a second chance. They're meeting in person for...
FIVE-MINUTE: Selected for Cone Man Running Productions' Five-Minute Mile Play Festival November 2016 in Houston, Texas.

One of 14 (!) short plays read as part of a "Matthew Weaver Special Showcase" July 20-22, 2018 at Ignite! Community Theatre in Spokane Valley, Wash.

Wally and Sam are two lonely hearts giving love a second chance. They're meeting in person for the first time. Via text, Wally sends Sam a suggestion ...

Part of the "First Kisses" evening of one-acts.
The Rarest Book in the Rare Book Room at Powell's Bookstore by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
3
·
Genre: adventure, drama + 6 more
·
Keyword: reading, Sisters + 4 more
Genre: adventure, drama, experimental, faith-based, immersive, melodrama, movement/physical, young audiences
Keyword: reading, Sisters, Portland OR, Powell's Bookstore, rare book room, rare books
FIVE-MINUTE: Sisters Zenley and Olive sneak into the rare book room at Powell's Bookstore in Portland, Oregon.

Written Oct. 23, 2019, after a trip to the rare book room at Powell's Bookstore in Portland, Oregon.
Reading Xinran by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: drama, experimental
·
Keyword: reading, literature + 6 more
Genre: drama, experimental
Keyword: reading, literature, History, library, Chinese literature, China, Tibet, books
FIVE-MINUTE: Brooke is reading Sky Burial, by Xue Xinran, at Mortimer's recommendation.

I, too, read Sky Burial and thoroughly enjoyed it. For this play, I wanted to write something that captured both my enthusiasm for the book and a general enthusiasm for books, reading and sharing books with a fellow book enthusiast.
Rugburn by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 3
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: dark comedy, experimental + 3 more
·
Keyword: halloween, evil clowns + 5 more
Genre: dark comedy, experimental, holiday, horror, tragedy
Keyword: halloween, evil clowns, childhood trauma, clowns, Terror, movie monsters, audience interactive
FIVE TO TEN-MINUTE-ISH: An evil clown asks young Cole for a simple favor: A genuine smile.

Selected for production as part of the Memoriam Theatre's Nightshade anthology of horror in DeKalb, Illinois, in July 2018.

Backstory: In college I got the chance to write a paper about evil clowns for a Monsters in Literature/Film class. (Thanks, The Joker and Stephen King!) Years...
FIVE TO TEN-MINUTE-ISH: An evil clown asks young Cole for a simple favor: A genuine smile.

Selected for production as part of the Memoriam Theatre's Nightshade anthology of horror in DeKalb, Illinois, in July 2018.

Backstory: In college I got the chance to write a paper about evil clowns for a Monsters in Literature/Film class. (Thanks, The Joker and Stephen King!) Years later, a competition put out requests for scripts that reflect and ponder on the nature of certain monsters. My monster of choice was immediate, and I got to put my research to good use.
The Woodpecker and the Witch by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
2
·
Genre: dark comedy, experimental + 9 more
·
Keyword: horror, kissing + 7 more
Genre: dark comedy, experimental, fable/folktale, fantasy, holiday, horror, immersive, melodrama, movement/physical, mystery/thriller, tragedy
Keyword: horror, kissing, romance, childhood monsters, witches, birds, woodpeckers, childhood memories, Passion
FIVE-MINUTE: During a passionate interlude, B bids A tell stories from their childhood.
Alistair Eats Alone by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 3
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: comedy, drama + 3 more
·
Keyword: Valentine's Day, dating + 3 more
Genre: comedy, drama, experimental, holiday, movement/physical
Keyword: Valentine's Day, dating, couples, single, Relationships
TEN-MINUTE MONOLOGUE: Alistair Caulfield dines in a restaurant full of couples, talking to himself. A monologue.

Performed in Self to Selfie; San Francisco, CA. February 2018.
The Back of the Mona Lisa by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: experimental
·
Keyword: Art and Artists, Mona Lisa + 2 more
Genre: experimental
Keyword: Art and Artists, Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci, History
MONOLOGUE: The back of the world's most famous painting tells her side of the story.
Bobby Quince Enters Adulthood by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 3
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 1 more
·
Keyword: coming of age, women + 4 more
Genre: drama, experimental, movement/physical
Keyword: coming of age, women, boys, boys and girls, young men, monologues for young women
MONOLOGUE: Bobby Quince has his first experience with adulthood. Performed by a young woman.
Bridget in the Pool (a monologue) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: dark comedy, drama + 2 more
·
Keyword: good roles for a young man, men and women + 5 more
Genre: dark comedy, drama, melodrama, movement/physical
Keyword: good roles for a young man, men and women, friends, romance, drinking, social drinking, pool safety
MONOLOGUE: Emmett's friend Bridget has been partying. He's brought her home safe and sound.

Then Bridget gets in the pool.

Emmett can't swim.

Written Feb. 13, 2019, as part of a monthlong challenge to write a monologue each day in February 2019, inspired by the monologues of Asher Wyndham.

Prompt came from Scott Mullen (NINJAS, THE PEEK...
MONOLOGUE: Emmett's friend Bridget has been partying. He's brought her home safe and sound.

Then Bridget gets in the pool.

Emmett can't swim.

Written Feb. 13, 2019, as part of a monthlong challenge to write a monologue each day in February 2019, inspired by the monologues of Asher Wyndham.

Prompt came from Scott Mullen (NINJAS, THE PEEK, 172 PUSH-UPS), who suggested "Guy trying to get the courage to jump in a swimming pool."
Confession of a Modern Soap Opera Bride by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 3
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: comedy, experimental + 1 more
·
Keyword: weddings, brides + 3 more
Genre: comedy, experimental, farce
Keyword: weddings, brides, wedding dress, actress, soap opera
MONOLOGUE: Zinnia, a soap opera actress, reflects on all the wedding dresses she's worn on the day of yet another TV wedding.

Performed as part of the Fast & Furious one-minute play festival at Stage Left Theatre in Spokane, WA in March 2019; directed by Kearney Jordan
Enter Bruce, Dragging His Mother-in-Law's Body by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 3
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 3 more
·
Keyword: monologue fun monologues for actors, fathers + 5 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, farce, horror, movement/physical
Keyword: monologue fun monologues for actors, fathers, husbands, Mother-in-Law, back pain, fun dads, dads
MONOLOGUE: Bruce enters the stage, dragging the dead body of his mother-in-law. A monologue, written for the NYC Playwright's Write a Monologue For Me program in September 2017.
Extra Anchovies (a monologue) by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
1
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 3 more
·
Keyword: pizza delivery, pizza + 5 more
Genre: drama, experimental, immersive, movement/physical, tragedy
Keyword: pizza delivery, pizza, jobs, money matters, insurance, medicine, medicine costs
MONOLOGUE: Bryce, a pizza delivery person, is back on West Hyacinth Lane, looking for a particular address.

Written Feb. 28, 2019, successfully concluding a month-long challenge to myself, inspired by the monologues of Asher Wyndham, to write a monologue each day in the month of February 2019.
Fart (a monologue) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 5 more
·
Keyword: farts, Farting + 4 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, docudrama/historic, experimental, fantasy, movement/physical, young audiences
Keyword: farts, Farting, bodily functions, humor, Bathroom Humor, fart jokes
MONOLOGUE: A fart takes to the stage.

Written Feb. 16, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to myself, inspired by the monologues of Asher Wyndham, to write a monologue a day during the month of February 2019.
The Gospel According to the Snake (a monologue) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: biography, comedy + 13 more
·
Keyword: Bible, Book of Genesis + 7 more
Genre: biography, comedy, dark comedy, docudrama/historic, experimental, fable/folktale, faith-based, fantasy, farce, holiday, immersive, movement/physical, satire, tragedy, young audiences
Keyword: Bible, Book of Genesis, adam and eve, garden of eden, snake, herpetology, religious, monologue, religion
MONOLOGUE: The events of the Book of Genesis from the serpent's perspective.

Performed Oct. 4, 2019, by the author, during Terrain 12, an art festival in Spokane, Wash., one of five readers representing the Drop In & Write Group at Spark Central in Kendall Yards in Spokane. The group meets at 5:30-7 p.m. on Tuesday evenings ... come in and drop in and write!

https://spark-...
MONOLOGUE: The events of the Book of Genesis from the serpent's perspective.

Performed Oct. 4, 2019, by the author, during Terrain 12, an art festival in Spokane, Wash., one of five readers representing the Drop In & Write Group at Spark Central in Kendall Yards in Spokane. The group meets at 5:30-7 p.m. on Tuesday evenings ... come in and drop in and write!

https://spark-central.org/events/drop-in-and-write-1-dkwky-zch77-md64g-w3rjj-p8gpc-m6zxy-5gm7k-yrkh6-w4kht-frrp6-d6ljy-acg2h-sr6g8-dymaa-p7gf8-ekfj2-f6cfj-7rym8-drmmt-85msb-grccz
The Grim Reaper Tries Speed Dating (a monologue) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: adventure, comedy + 9 more
·
Keyword: dating, Relationships + 6 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, dark comedy, experimental, faith-based, fantasy, farce, holiday, horror, parody/spoof, romantic comedy
Keyword: dating, Relationships, lonesome, lonely, death, The Grim Reaper, romance, speed dating
MONOLOGUE: The Grim Reaper tries speed-dating

Written Feb,. 23, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to myself, inspired by the monologues of Asher Wyndham, to write a monologue each day for the month of February 2019.
Guy Slips in the Shower (a monologue) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: dark comedy, drama + 5 more
·
Keyword: living alone, single guy + 3 more
Genre: dark comedy, drama, experimental, horror, immersive, movement/physical, tragedy
Keyword: living alone, single guy, Bachelor, injured, lonely
MONOLOGUE: A guy, perhaps named Guy, has fallen in the shower.

Wrote Feb. 6, 2019 as part of my challenge to myself to write a monologue a day for the month of February, 2019, inspired by the monologues of Asher Wyndam.
Haunted House (a monologue) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: dark comedy, drama + 6 more
·
Keyword: Haunted House, ghosts + 5 more
Genre: dark comedy, drama, experimental, faith-based, holiday, horror, movement/physical, tragedy
Keyword: Haunted House, ghosts, ghosts of the past, any performer, halloween, spooky, faith vs. science
MONOLOGUE: Any performer stands in a haunted house.

Written Feb. 17, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to myself, inspired by the monologues of Asher Wyndham, to write a monologue each day for the month of February 2019.

Performed as part of Gi60 in Brooklyn, NY, in June 2019.
Hyrax Kid by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: comedy, movement/physical + 1 more
·
Keyword: animals, Endangered Species + 2 more
Genre: comedy, movement/physical, young audiences
Keyword: animals, Endangered Species, youth, environment
YOUTH MONOLOGUE: An homage of sorts to Asher Wyndham and his ___ Kid series, with more than a dash of my own Walla Walla sweet onion play, ONION ODE.

A young performer gives a report on "official spokesanimal" the hyrax, a small mammal with a surprising relative or two.
Jesus at 3 Weeks (a monologue) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: docudrama/historic, drama + 6 more
·
Keyword: monologue, religion + 7 more
Genre: docudrama/historic, drama, experimental, faith-based, holiday, movement/physical, period, young audiences
Keyword: monologue, religion, Catholic, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Virgin Mary, Baby Jesus, motherhood, Mothers
MONOLOGUE: The Virgin Mary rocks her child, who will not stop crying.

Written Feb. 18, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to myself, inspired by the monologues of Asher Wyndham, to write a monologue each day in the month of February 2019.

Part of the "Jesus at 10" evening of short plays.
Jesus at 10 (a monologue for youth) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 4
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: biography, docudrama/historic + 8 more
·
Keyword: youth monologue, biblical + 6 more
Genre: biography, docudrama/historic, drama, experimental, faith-based, holiday, immersive, movement/physical, pageant, young audiences
Keyword: youth monologue, biblical, historical, faith, religion, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, nativity
YOUTH MONOLOGUE: We are greeted by a 10-year-old working in their father's shop.

Written Feb. 12, 2019, as part of my monthlong challenge to myself to write a monologue each day for the month of February 2019. Inspired by the monologues of Asher Wyndham.

Part of the "Jesus at 10" evening of short plays.
Les Pamplemousses (a monologue in 12 courses) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 7
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: comedy, drama + 4 more
·
Keyword: food, food and sex + 4 more
Genre: comedy, drama, experimental, immersive, movement/physical, romantic comedy
Keyword: food, food and sex, Relationships, men and women, good roles for a young man, money
MONOLOGUE/ONE-MAN SHOW: A young man lost his virginity last night. This morning, he takes the woman out to breakfast at one of the fanciest restaurants in the United States for a 12-course meal.

Written Feb. 4, 2019, as part of my challenge to myself, inspired by the monologues of Asher Wyndham, to write a monologue each day for the entire month.
Nacho Chip Kid (a monologue for youth) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: dark comedy, experimental + 3 more
Genre: dark comedy, experimental, immersive, movement/physical, young audiences
MONOLOGUE, KIND OF: Someone is a little too fond of Samuel Beckett.

Written Feb. 25, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to myself, inspired by the monologues of Asher Wyndham, to write a monologue each day for the month of February 2019.
Odelia Savannah Tucker, Dog Food Taster (a monologue) by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
1
·
Genre: adventure, comedy + 5 more
·
Keyword: animals, dog lovers + 3 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, docudrama/historic, drama, experimental, movement/physical, young audiences
Keyword: animals, dog lovers, pets, jobs, dream jobs
MONOLOGUE: Odelia Savannah Tucker is living her dream job. But she has a new vision. Will you help her?

Written Feb. 15, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to myself to write a monologue each day for the month of February 2019, inspired by the monologues of Asher Wyndham.

In more ways than one. For today, Asher and I swapped title prompts for our monologues. He gave me ODELIA...
MONOLOGUE: Odelia Savannah Tucker is living her dream job. But she has a new vision. Will you help her?

Written Feb. 15, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to myself to write a monologue each day for the month of February 2019, inspired by the monologues of Asher Wyndham.

In more ways than one. For today, Asher and I swapped title prompts for our monologues. He gave me ODELIA SAVANNAH TUCKER, DOG FOOD TASTER and I gave him ...
Onion Ode by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 8
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: docudrama/historic, experimental + 3 more
·
Keyword: Walla Walla sweet onion, agriculture + 3 more
Genre: docudrama/historic, experimental, farce, immersive, young audiences
Keyword: Walla Walla sweet onion, agriculture, monologues for young actors, vegetables, farm
YOUTH MONOLOGUE: A young performer, dressed as a Walla Walla sweet onion, delivers a report on the vegetable, produced in a specific region in Washington State.

Revised spring of 2018.

Selected for Northwest Ten Festival, Eugene, OR; March 2019.

GLOWING review from the Eugene Weekly newspaper, by Dan Buckwalter: https://www.eugeneweekly.com/2019/03/07/got-10-...
YOUTH MONOLOGUE: A young performer, dressed as a Walla Walla sweet onion, delivers a report on the vegetable, produced in a specific region in Washington State.

Revised spring of 2018.

Selected for Northwest Ten Festival, Eugene, OR; March 2019.

GLOWING review from the Eugene Weekly newspaper, by Dan Buckwalter: https://www.eugeneweekly.com/2019/03/07/got-10-minutes/

"The show stealer, Onion Ode, is a spirited tribute to the Walla Walla sweet onion, courtesy of playwright Matthew Weaver, director Kari Boldon Welch and the Walla Walla sweet onion herself (dressed for the part, too), actress Hannah Oristano.

Oristano steps onto the stage dressed as the sweet yellow onion complete with green stems on her head. She’s a middle schooler giving a book report on the Walla Walla sweet onion.

Breathlessly, Oristano launches into the history of the sweet onion and Walla Walla’s prideful place as the land of the sweet onion. She dives into food preparation for the sweet onion (sautéed in butter and plopped on top of hamburgers is my favorite) and mocks other vegetables (including, correctly, beets).

Her report is a witty, educational tip of the cap to Walla Walla, population 31,731, tucked away in southeast Washington.

Weaver, the playwright whose work this year makes a second consecutive appearance at OCT’s NW10, comes by his knowledge of the Walla Walla sweet onion honestly.

A native of Spokane, Weaver is a reporter for Capital Press, an agriculture newspaper serving the Pacific Northwest. I would bet he’s stepped inside the annual Sweet Onion Festival in Walla Walla more than once."
Reach Out (a monologue) by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
1
·
Genre: commedia dell'arte, drama + 3 more
·
Keyword: monologue, friendship + 4 more
Genre: commedia dell'arte, drama, experimental, immersive, movement/physical
Keyword: monologue, friendship, loneliness, loneliness and isolation, social media, friends and family
MONOLOGUE: Guy tries to connect with his friends.

Written Feb. 19, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to myself, inspired by the monologues of Asher Wyndham, to write a monologue each day for the month of February 2019.
Single and Ready to Jingle (a monologue) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: comedy, fantasy + 2 more
·
Keyword: holiday, christmas + 2 more
Genre: comedy, fantasy, holiday, romantic comedy
Keyword: holiday, christmas, online dating, Relationships
MONOLOGUE: It's hard to date. It's hard to date online. But it's especially hard when you're an elf at the North Pole working in Santa's workshop.

Written the morning of Feb. 8, 2019 as part of my challenge to myself, inspired by the monologues of Asher Wyndham, to write a monologue a day for the month of February 2019.
Smackeroo by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: comedy, experimental + 3 more
·
Keyword: Valentine's Day, kissing
Genre: comedy, experimental, holiday, immersive, romantic comedy
Keyword: Valentine's Day, kissing
A monologue, narrated by the first kiss shared by a couple. Selected for Monologue-A-Looza February 2018 in Hollywood, CA.
Taking His Virginity (a monologue) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 1 more
·
Keyword: Sex, sex-positive + 5 more
Genre: drama, experimental, immersive
Keyword: Sex, sex-positive, Relationships, society, women, virginity, kissing
MONOLOGUE: A young woman talks about being a young man's first time.

Written Feb. 3, 2019, as part of a personal challenge to myself - inspired by the monologues of Asher Wyndham - to write a monologue a day for the entire month of February 2019.
The Unrelenting Cruelty of Candy Corn by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 8 more
·
Keyword: halloween, candy corn
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, fable/folktale, farce, holiday, horror, political, satire, science fiction, tragedy
Keyword: halloween, candy corn
MONOLOGUE: A candy corn unveils diabolical plans for global domination. The scary thing is, it could actually work ...

Selected for Halloween Monologue-A-Looza at Samuel French Hollywood Bookstore in Hollywood, CA, in October 2018.
Welcome to the Matthew Weaver Playwriting Museum (a monologue) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: adventure, biography + 12 more
·
Keyword: writers, Artists + 3 more
Genre: adventure, biography, comedy, dark comedy, docudrama/historic, drama, experimental, fable/folktale, faith-based, farce, immersive, movement/physical, parody/spoof, period
Keyword: writers, Artists, museum, History, Matthew Weaver
MONOLOGUE: A friendly curator shows us around a museum devoted to the beloved, if oddly obscure, playwright behind such works as A NEW PLAY BY MATTHEW WEAVER, ANOTHER PLAY BY MATTHEW WEAVER and HELP! I'M TRAPPED IN A MONOLOGUE WRITTEN BY MATTHEW WEAVER.

Written Aug. 19, 2019, as part of my monthly challenge to write a 10-page play (on brightly neon-colored index cards!) each day for the...
MONOLOGUE: A friendly curator shows us around a museum devoted to the beloved, if oddly obscure, playwright behind such works as A NEW PLAY BY MATTHEW WEAVER, ANOTHER PLAY BY MATTHEW WEAVER and HELP! I'M TRAPPED IN A MONOLOGUE WRITTEN BY MATTHEW WEAVER.

Written Aug. 19, 2019, as part of my monthly challenge to write a 10-page play (on brightly neon-colored index cards!) each day for the month of August 2019.

*shrug*

Sometimes they come out weird.
The Woman and the Spoon (a monologue) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 6
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: dark comedy, drama + 2 more
·
Keyword: faith-based, religion + 4 more
Genre: dark comedy, drama, experimental, faith-based
Keyword: faith-based, religion, church, faith, Catholic, female monologue
MONOLOGUE: Woman comes into church, brandishing a big metal spoon.

Published by Cascadia Rising Review magazine, June 2019.

Written Feb. 2, 2019, as part of a personal writing challenge to myself - inspired by the monologues of Asher Wyndham - to write a monologue a day during the month of February 2019.

Sitting in church one time, our priest told us during his...
MONOLOGUE: Woman comes into church, brandishing a big metal spoon.

Published by Cascadia Rising Review magazine, June 2019.

Written Feb. 2, 2019, as part of a personal writing challenge to myself - inspired by the monologues of Asher Wyndham - to write a monologue a day during the month of February 2019.

Sitting in church one time, our priest told us during his homily about a woman he knew who would come into church and shake a large metal spoon up at Jesus on the cross. The priest joked about staying away from her because he was afraid she'd be struck by lightning, but I loved the story. I understood where she was coming from.
The Woman Behind/In Front of Me in the 15 Items or Less Line at Wal-Mart (a monologue) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 3
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: biography, drama + 2 more
·
Keyword: women, grocery store + 2 more
Genre: biography, drama, experimental, movement/physical
Keyword: women, grocery store, 15 items or less, Wal-Mart
MONOLOGUE: A woman asks if she can get in front of you in line. She just has the one item.

Written Feb. 1, 2019, as a personal challenge to myself - inspired by the monologues of Asher Wyndham - to write a monologue a day for the month of February 2019. This one is based on a true event.
Your Hand on My Cheek (a monologue) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 1 more
Genre: drama, experimental, immersive
MONOLOGUE: For any performer.

Written Feb. 11, 2019, as part of my personal challenge to myself to write a monologue per day, inspired by the monologues of Asher Wyndham.
5 Ws (a one-minute play) by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
2
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 3 more
·
Keyword: two-hander, kissing + 5 more
Genre: drama, experimental, romantic comedy, tragedy, young audiences
Keyword: two-hander, kissing, consent, Star-crossed, missed connections, awkward romance, romance
ONE-MINUTE-ISH: Walter and Wendy demonstrate the 5 Ws of kissing.

Written April 7, 2019, as part of a month-long challenge with playwright Scott Mullen (THE PEEK, 172 PUSH-UPS, SANDBOX, ABSORBENCY) to write a one-minute play each day in April 2019.
A Blank Stage by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 5
·
Cast:
4
·
Genre: adventure, experimental + 3 more
·
Keyword: family, children and parents + 1 more
Genre: adventure, experimental, faith-based, immersive, young audiences
Keyword: family, children and parents, LGBTQ
ONE-MINUTE: A blank stage.

Our characters have more important things to do.
Animal Kingdom (a one-minute play) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 7
·
Cast:
4–1000000000
·
Genre: adventure, drama + 8 more
·
Keyword: animals, animal kingdom + 4 more
Genre: adventure, drama, experimental, fable/folktale, faith-based, fantasy, immersive, movement/physical, tragedy, young audiences
Keyword: animals, animal kingdom, lions, unproducible, pets, death of a pet
ONE-MINUTE PLAY: All the animals of the world gather outside a house in a city.

Published October 2019 in Cascadia Rising Review magazine.

Unproducible.

"It is my goal to write at least one unproducible play every year." - Emma Goldman-Sherman (playwright of FUKT, WHORTICULTURE, TOILET PAPER and DATE NIGHT?)

Written as part of a monthlong...
ONE-MINUTE PLAY: All the animals of the world gather outside a house in a city.

Published October 2019 in Cascadia Rising Review magazine.

Unproducible.

"It is my goal to write at least one unproducible play every year." - Emma Goldman-Sherman (playwright of FUKT, WHORTICULTURE, TOILET PAPER and DATE NIGHT?)

Written as part of a monthlong challenge with playwright Scott Mullen (THE PEEK, 172 PUSH-UPS, SANDBOX, ABSORBENCY) to write a one-minute play each day in April 2019.

The prompt I gave Scott was that the play had to have at least one hundred individual characters.
BBQ (a one-minute play) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 4
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 3 more
·
Keyword: grief, Mourning + 7 more
Genre: drama, experimental, faith-based, movement/physical, young audiences
Keyword: grief, Mourning, two-hander, siblings, food, potato chips, brothers, death, family
ONE-MINUTE: Two brothers sit down to eat hamburgers.

Written April 3, 2019, as part of a month-long challenge with playwright Scott Mullen (THE PEEK, 172 PUSH-UPS, SANDBOX, ABSORBENCY) to write a one-minute play each day in April 2019.

Scott gave us the prompt that the play had to involve potato chips.
Beyond the Pail (a one-minute play) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: adventure, comedy + 11 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, dark comedy, drama, experimental, fable/folktale, fantasy, horror, melodrama, movement/physical, mystery/thriller, science fiction, young audiences
ONE-MINUTE: Two kidnapping victims plot to escape their captor.

Written April 23, 2019, as part of a month-long challenge with playwright Scott Mullen (THE PEEK, NINJAS, 172 PUSH-UPS, SANDBOX, ABSORBENCY) to write a one-minute play each day in April 2019.

Scott's prompt for me today was: A bucket.
Child A & Child B (a one-minute play for youth) by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
2
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 4 more
·
Keyword: children, good roles for young performers + 2 more
Genre: drama, experimental, fable/folktale, immersive, movement/physical, young audiences
Keyword: children, good roles for young performers, deep friendship, friendship
YOUTH ONE-MINUTE: Child A is sad. Child B has their back.

Written in the wee hours for April 27, 2019, part of a month-long challenge with playwright Scott Mullen (THE PEEK, NINJAS, 172 PUSH-UPS, SANDBOX, ABSORBENCY) to write a one-minute play each day in April 2019.
Confession (a one-minute play) by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
2
·
Genre: adventure, drama + 4 more
·
Keyword: romance, confession + 3 more
Genre: adventure, drama, experimental, melodrama, romantic comedy, young audiences
Keyword: romance, confession, two-hander, good roles for women, good roles for men
ONE-MINUTE PLAY.

Written April 16, 2019, as part of a month-long challenge with playwright Scott Mullen (THE PEEK, NINJAS, 172 PUSH-UPS, SANDBOX, ABSORBENCY) to write a one-minute play each day in April 2019.
Crayons (a one-minute play) by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
2
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 4 more
·
Keyword: crayons, couple + 1 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, drama, movement/physical, romantic comedy, tragedy
Keyword: crayons, couple, art
ONE-MINUTE: Frankie uses crayons to share the news of the day.

Written April 11, 2019, as part of a month-long challenge with playwright Scott Mullen (THE PEEK, 172 PUSH-UPS, SANDBOX, ABSORBENCY) to write a one-minute play each day in April 2019.
Debt (a one-minute play) by Matthew Weaver
Cast:
3
·
Genre: adventure, comedy + 11 more
·
Keyword: Debt, pecuniary + 5 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, dark comedy, drama, experimental, faith-based, fantasy, farce, holiday, horror, immersive, melodrama, movement/physical
Keyword: Debt, pecuniary, money matters, financial stress, financial struggles, Birthday Clown, clowns
ONE-MINUTE: Gretchen owes Liz money. Every day she can't pay, the debt gets a little higher.

Written April 18, 2019, as part of a month-long challenge with playwright Scott Mullen (THE PEEK, NINJAS, 172 PUSH-UPS, SANDBOX, ABSORBENCY) to write a one-minute play each day in April 2019.

Used a Tweet by Stephen Gregg (@playwrightnow) on Twitter as a prompt: "Easy way to raise...
ONE-MINUTE: Gretchen owes Liz money. Every day she can't pay, the debt gets a little higher.

Written April 18, 2019, as part of a month-long challenge with playwright Scott Mullen (THE PEEK, NINJAS, 172 PUSH-UPS, SANDBOX, ABSORBENCY) to write a one-minute play each day in April 2019.

Used a Tweet by Stephen Gregg (@playwrightnow) on Twitter as a prompt: "Easy way to raise the stakes of a scene. Take a private conflict and give it an audience."
Erotica for People Separated by Time and Space (a one-minute play) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 2 more
·
Keyword: erotica, poetry + 4 more
Genre: drama, experimental, immersive, tragedy
Keyword: erotica, poetry, two-hander, steamy, artistic, experimental
ONE-MINUTE.

Written April 14, 2019, as part of a month-long challenge with playwright Scott Mullen (THE PEEK, 172 PUSH-UPS, SANDBOX, ABSORBENCY) to write a one-minute play each day in April 2019.
Erotica for People Smashed Together in Cramped, Uncomfortable Spaces (a one-minute play) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: dark comedy, drama + 4 more
·
Keyword: two-hander, sensuous + 4 more
Genre: dark comedy, drama, experimental, fantasy, immersive, movement/physical
Keyword: two-hander, sensuous, steamy, cramped, uncomfortable, tight spaces
ONE-MINUTE: A young man and young woman read erotica from a cramped, uncomfortable place to one another.

Written April 28, 2019, as part of a month-long challenge with playwright Scott Mullen (THE PEEK, NINJAS, 172 PUSH-UPS, SANDBOX, ABSORBENCY) to write a one-minute play each day in April 2019.
Life & Death & PB&J by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 5
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: comedy, drama + 8 more
·
Keyword: Sandwich, lunch + 4 more
Genre: comedy, drama, experimental, fantasy, farce, horror, immersive, movement/physical, tragedy, young audiences
Keyword: Sandwich, lunch, food, bread, PB&J, two-hander
ONE-MINUTE: Someone makes a sandwich.

Written April 1, 2019 (I got too excited and didn't want to lose the momentum) as part of a month-long challenge with playwright Scott Mullen (THE PEEK, 172 PUSH-UPS, SANDBOX, ABSORBENCY) to write a one-minute play each day in April 2019.

The prompt I gave Scott was that a character needed to eat a sandwich.
Pickle Jar (a one-minute play) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 7 more
·
Keyword: two-hander, pickles + 4 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, drama, experimental, fantasy, horror, movement/physical, mystery/thriller, young audiences
Keyword: two-hander, pickles, pickle jar, good versus evil, Pandora's box, Myths
ONE-MINUTE: Two characters enter, holding a pickle jar.

Written April 19, 2019, as part of a month-long challenge with playwright Scott Mullen (THE PEEK, NINJAS, 172 PUSH-UPS, SANDBOX, ABSORBENCY) to write a one-minute play each day in April 2019.
Pin the Tail (a one-minute play) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: dark comedy, drama + 6 more
·
Keyword: pin the tail, two-hander + 5 more
Genre: dark comedy, drama, experimental, fantasy, holiday, movement/physical, mystery/thriller, romantic comedy
Keyword: pin the tail, two-hander, romance, kissing, party, blindfold, steamy
ONE-MINUTE: Gretchen blindfolds Bobby for a game of Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

Written April 4, 2019, as part of a month-long challenge with playwright Scott Mullen (THE PEEK, 172 PUSH-UPS, SANDBOX, ABSORBENCY) to write a one-minute play each day in April 2019.
Quite by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: adventure, comedy + 7 more
·
Keyword: Q, words that begin with Q + 3 more
Genre: adventure, comedy, drama, experimental, fantasy, farce, parody/spoof, period, romantic comedy
Keyword: Q, words that begin with Q, Queen, quake, queendom
One-minute play. Uses only words that begin with the letter "Q" for dialogue.

Performed in January 2016 during the Fast and Furious one-minute play festival at Stage Left Theater in Spokane, Wash.
The Skunk (a one-minute play) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 4
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 6 more
·
Keyword: guns in school, school shooting + 7 more
Genre: drama, experimental, horror, immersive, movement/physical, political, tragedy, young audiences
Keyword: guns in school, school shooting, gun violence, innocence, children and guns, teacher, strong woman, good role for a young woman, teachers
ONE-MINUTE MONOLOGUE: Violet is teaching her kindergarten class when a chime signals an active shooter on school grounds.

Written April 8, 2019, as part of a month-long challenge with playwright Scott Mullen (THE PEEK, 172 PUSH-UPS, SANDBOX, ABSORBENCY) to write a one-minute play each day in April 2019.

This is inspired by a second-hand story I heard about a local lockdown...
ONE-MINUTE MONOLOGUE: Violet is teaching her kindergarten class when a chime signals an active shooter on school grounds.

Written April 8, 2019, as part of a month-long challenge with playwright Scott Mullen (THE PEEK, 172 PUSH-UPS, SANDBOX, ABSORBENCY) to write a one-minute play each day in April 2019.

This is inspired by a second-hand story I heard about a local lockdown situation. The young children of a friend of an acquaintance excitedly told their daddy later that day that a skunk had been on the school grounds.

Performed as part of Gi60 in Brooklyn, NY, in June 2019.
Spokane Beauty (a one-minute play) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 3
·
Cast:
30
·
Genre: biography, docudrama/historic + 7 more
·
Keyword: Spokane, one day + 6 more
Genre: biography, docudrama/historic, drama, experimental, fable/folktale, faith-based, immersive, period, political
Keyword: Spokane, one day, day in the life, city living, love, death, romance, homeless teens
ONE-MINUTE-ISH: A farmer shows a woman an heirloom apple variety from the 1890s, called Spokane Beauty, which leads to a whirlwind look at life in a single day in Spokane, WA.

Written April 29, 2019, in Spokane, WA (naturally), as part of a month-long challenge with playwright Scott Mullen (THE PEEK, NINJAS, 172 PUSH-UPS, SANDBOX, ABSORBENCY) to write a one-minute play each day in April 2019.
Trevor Never Never Ever by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: experimental, movement/physical + 1 more
·
Keyword: kissing, steamy
Genre: experimental, movement/physical, romantic comedy
Keyword: kissing, steamy
SHORT: Trevor Never has never ever.
Want by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 4
·
Cast:
1
·
Genre: drama, experimental + 1 more
·
Keyword: monologue for women, the letter W + 4 more
Genre: drama, experimental, political
Keyword: monologue for women, the letter W, women's rights, women's issues, one-woman, One-minute
ONE-MINUTE: Wendy delivers a speech.

Uses only words that begin with W for dialogue.

Part of the AND SOMETIMES Y evening of very short plays in alphabetical order.

Reading, The Players Follies Play Reading Festival; Sarasota, FL; October 2018
The Wish by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 5 more
·
Keyword: birthday, Relationships + 1 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, drama, experimental, fantasy, holiday, romantic comedy
Keyword: birthday, Relationships, kissing
ONE-MINUTE: Colton makes a familiar birthday wish as Lydia looks on.

A one-minute play. Originally performed January 2017 as part of Stage Left Theater's Fast and Furious festival in Spokane. Wash.

Selected for Gi60 U.S. festival in June 2018 in New York.
The Word by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 2
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: drama, faith-based
·
Keyword: husbands and wives, health + 2 more
Genre: drama, faith-based
Keyword: husbands and wives, health, marriage, family medical problems
ONE-MINUTE: Fred and Ruth wait for word.

One-minute play, performed by Stage Left Theatre, Spokane, Wash., in February 2018.
Wry (a one-minute play) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 1
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 2 more
·
Keyword: two-hander, friends + 5 more
Genre: comedy, dark comedy, experimental, young audiences
Keyword: two-hander, friends, wry, wryly, sarcasm, humor, wordplay
ONE-MINUTE: Jordan observes Riley trying to be more wry.

Written April 6, 2019, as part of a month-long challenge with playwright Scott Mullen (THE PEEK, 172 PUSH-UPS, SANDBOX, ABSORBENCY) to write a one-minute play each day in April 2019.
X by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 3
·
Cast:
3
·
Genre: dark comedy, drama + 6 more
·
Keyword: The letter X, alphabet + 1 more
Genre: dark comedy, drama, experimental, farce, melodrama, movement/physical, mystery/thriller, young audiences
Keyword: The letter X, alphabet, shady characters
ONE-MINUTE: A very short play only using words that begin with the letter X for dialogue.

Xerxes comes upon the mysterious Mr. X in a park, looking to make a sale. But Xerxes has his own agenda ...

Part of the "And Sometimes Y" evening of very short plays in alphabetical order.
Yellow Cardinal (a one-minute play) by Matthew Weaver
Recommendations: 4
·
Cast:
2
·
Genre: adventure, dark comedy + 4 more
·
Keyword: birdwatchers, romance + 6 more
Genre: adventure, dark comedy, drama, movement/physical, romantic comedy, tragedy
Keyword: birdwatchers, romance, birds, birdwatching, cardinals, birders, couples, mismatched couples
ONE-MINUTE: Tad and Jackie are wandering a field, looking for the rare, one in a million yellow cardinal.

Written April 2, 2019, as part of a month-long challenge with playwright Scott Mullen (THE PEEK, 172 PUSH-UPS, SANDBOX, ABSORBENCY) to write a one-minute play each day in April 2019.

Website:

https://aszym.blogspot.com/2019/02/i-interview-playwrights-part-1029.html

Twitter:

@NakedWeaver

Artistic Statement

Recommended by Matthew Weaver

Tamora by Diana Burbano

17 Jan. 2020

“ YES. Burbano's play is a Titus Andronicus prequel, but in writing this she asks us what to do with men. Especially those men today that would harm and abuse and prey upon women. Tamora steels herself with an answer that sets the stage for a classic, but outlines the tasks society has in front of it.
All of Burbano's ferocity, intelligence and gift for channeling her grief are here. May her words find their way to people who will do them justice.
If you're not reading/producing a Diana Burbano play, are you even truly doing theater? ”
All is Calm by Scott Sickles

1 Jan. 2020

“ Welcome baby Nebuchadnezzar!
Boy, does a Sickles play pack a wallop! He gets it, he really does. About unrequited love, about the failure to connect; about loneliness, during the holidays or during ordinary time.
ALL IS CALM finds strength in the melancholy and captures these emotions so they are written down for future generations to read and acknowledge with knowing nods. (That said, all right, Universe, we get it! Enough already!)
Selfishly, I'd love more Sickles plays written just as the year changes. But, Universe, it'd be an even better tradition if his loving fella told him, "Wait until tomorrow." ”
Pa'Lante & Beyond by Nelson Diaz-Marcano

30 Dec. 2019

“ What can we do as playwrights?
What can we do to change the world?
This is something I think about ...
Diaz-Marcano, though, knows. He does it every day.
We can raise our voices. We can use our words. To speak. To elevate others. To call out power when power does not want to called out. To inject unease into the daily lives of the comfortable. To change minds.
We can speak.
We can change the world. With our words.
Nelson knows this. He knows.
Thank you, as always, Nelson, for your beautiful words.
Read and produce this play, please. ”

View all 265 recommendations

Matthew Weaver

Matthew Weaver

Plays

Aces Are Feverish by Matthew Weaver

Awkward Robot's Instruction Manual For Dating Other Awkward Robots by Matthew Weaver

Bed Ride by Matthew Weaver

The Blushing Groom by Matthew Weaver

Cashmere Woods by Matthew Weaver

Gluttony & Lust Are Friends by Matthew Weaver

Timmy's Big Kiss by Matthew Weaver

And Sometimes Y by Matthew Weaver

First Kisses by Matthew Weaver

Jesus at 10 (an evening of 10 short plays) by Matthew Weaver

19 by Matthew Weaver

A Sprig of Mistletoe Up in That One Little Corner of the Jail by Matthew Weaver

A Zillion Kinds of Kisses by Matthew Weaver

Asterisk Kisses by Matthew Weaver

Be in the Moment by Matthew Weaver

The Bee's Knees by Matthew Weaver

Feminine Care by Matthew Weaver

Friday Nights at the Food Court by Matthew Weaver

The Great Fish & Jonah by Matthew Weaver

The Girl Wore Red Licorice by Matthew Weaver

Heart in a Box by Matthew Weaver

Kiss Me in the House of Mirrors by Matthew Weaver

The Kissing Bandit by Matthew Weaver

Mr. Irresistible by Matthew Weaver

On the 38th Kiss, I Explode by Matthew Weaver

Spin The Bottle by Matthew Weaver

Very First Kiss by Matthew Weaver

The Whale and the Tuba by Matthew Weaver

When You Are a Little Bit Older by Matthew Weaver

The 123s of PDAs, Easy as ABC by Matthew Weaver

4 Horses of the Apocalypse by Matthew Weaver

A New Play by Matthew Weaver by Matthew Weaver

Another Play by Matthew Weaver by Matthew Weaver

Abby & Ksenia & the Monster by Matthew Weaver

Adult Situations by Matthew Weaver

The Aftermath by Matthew Weaver

Aphrodite's Welcome by Matthew Weaver

The Apple by Matthew Weaver

Arguing With Toasters by Matthew Weaver

The Ark by Matthew Weaver

Awnings by Matthew Weaver

Baby Grand by Matthew Weaver

Best Behavior by Matthew Weaver

Bigelow Gulch by Matthew Weaver

Bigfoot Does Ballet by Matthew Weaver

Bigfoot on the Ferry by Matthew Weaver

Blackbirds Singing in the Dead of Night by Matthew Weaver

Bookdrop by Matthew Weaver

The Boy on the Beach by Matthew Weaver

The Bride and the Boy by Matthew Weaver

Calpurnia Delivers Caesar's Papers to Mark Antony by Matthew Weaver

The Carpenter's Boy by Matthew Weaver

Coffee with Irna & Gloria by Matthew Weaver

Come Here and Kiss Me by Matthew Weaver

Continents Apart by Matthew Weaver

The Count by Matthew Weaver

The Death and Dying of Kateri Tekakwitha by Matthew Weaver

Dung Beetle Family Reunion by Matthew Weaver

egg salad and cola by Matthew Weaver

The Embrace by Matthew Weaver

Evening Prayers by Matthew Weaver

First Kiss No. 39 by Matthew Weaver

Flies at the Nativity by Matthew Weaver

The Fluidity of Truth by Matthew Weaver

GEG-SEA-ANC-ADQ by Matthew Weaver

Ghost Chicken by Matthew Weaver

Help! I'm Trapped in a Monologue Written by Matthew Weaver! by Matthew Weaver

High School Nachos by Matthew Weaver

The Hug by Matthew Weaver

I, Marshmallow by Matthew Weaver

If You Ever Want to See Your Lizard Again ... by Matthew Weaver

Illicit by Matthew Weaver

The Intimates by Matthew Weaver

Jessica Alba in a Boat in an Ocean of Cream of Wheat by Matthew Weaver

Jesus in the Kitchen by Matthew Weaver

The Kissing Scene by Matthew Weaver

Living Our Best Kristen Bell Life by Matthew Weaver