Claudia Haas

Claudia Haas

Claudia focuses on theatre for young audiences and inter-generational audiences. She is a recent winner of American Alliance for Theatre Education’s ‘Distinguished Play Award” for “My Brother’s Gift.” She was an O’Neill Conference semifinalist for her 9/11 play Making Some Noise. Her plays have been widely produced in all fifty states as well as on six continents. Her youth plays have been developed through...
Claudia focuses on theatre for young audiences and inter-generational audiences. She is a recent winner of American Alliance for Theatre Education’s ‘Distinguished Play Award” for “My Brother’s Gift.” She was an O’Neill Conference semifinalist for her 9/11 play Making Some Noise. Her plays have been widely produced in all fifty states as well as on six continents. Her youth plays have been developed through NYU’s New Plays for Young Audiences - Steinhardt, The Growing Stage Children's Theatre (NJ), The Bonderman Symposium (now called “Write Now”), Purple Crayon Players (Northwestern University), the Playwrights-in-our-Schools grant and the Old Miner’s Children’s Playwriting Contest (Utah Valley University). Her adult plays have been work shopped with The William Inge Short Play Festival, Workhouse Theatre, Little Lifeboats and Theatre Pro Rata. Honors include winner of the Aurand Harris Memorial Playwriting Award, Anna Zornio Playwriting Competition, AATE’s Unpublished Play Reading Project, University of Central Missouri’s Children’s Playwriting Competition, East Valley Children’s Theatre Playwriting Competition, Jackie White Memorial Playwriting Contest and others. Fifty of her plays are published. She is a member of the Dramatist Guild of America, the Playwright’s Center of Minneapolis, Honor Roll Playwrights, and the American Alliance for Theatre Education. Claudia is currently finishing her States Anthology: short plays that take place on every state of the union designed for teens and young 20-somethings for use in the classroom.

Plays

  • Dreams from Hogback Bridge
    SYNOPSIS: Nestled in a covered bridge in Madison County is a Dream Journal. It’s well used and some of those dreams can take you on a magical mystery tour. The play is inspired by those postings.
  • Dreams from Hogback Bridge - teen version
    SYNOPSIS: Nestled in a covered bridge in Madison County is a Dream Journal. It’s well used and some of those dreams can take you on a magical mystery tour. The play is inspired by those postings.
  • And Frank Sinatra Singing in a Fig Tree
    Luigi is using the twelve days of Christmas to woo Luisa. Things do not go according to plan. It's pure Italian food silliness - partly from having an Italian food blog for a decade and partly because I have 100+ Italian cookbooks and have memorized all the recipes. Read it when you're hungry.
  • Hiking
    A duet about hiking, self-harm and friendship. Winner of the Playwrights for Change Competition administered by the American Alliance for Theatre Education in the adult writer category.
  • Unlocked
    Kristi is desperately trying to saw off the "love lock" she and Stanley put on the Covered Bridge in Madison County when they were in love. Now, Stanley says he doesn't want her in his life but she still loves him. The problem is she may have tried to poison him. A vignette from THE DREAMERS OF MADISON COUNTY.
  • Remembering Margot
    The play is an imagining of Margot Frank’s brief life taken into consideration newly published photos showing her love of sports, the outdoors, and her enjoyment of her friends. Yes, there was a very good intellect at play but there was also the carefree times, the typical teenage growing pains, and the hopes and dreams of what she would be when she grew up. Until a choice presented itself and Margot had to dig...
    The play is an imagining of Margot Frank’s brief life taken into consideration newly published photos showing her love of sports, the outdoors, and her enjoyment of her friends. Yes, there was a very good intellect at play but there was also the carefree times, the typical teenage growing pains, and the hopes and dreams of what she would be when she grew up. Until a choice presented itself and Margot had to dig deep into her beliefs.

  • Remembering Margot - One Act Version
    The play is an imagining of Margot Frank’s brief life taken into consideration newly published photos showing her love of sports, the outdoors, and her enjoyment of her friends. Yes, there was a very good intellect at play but there was also the carefree times, the typical teenage growing pains, and the hopes and dreams of what she would be when she grew up.
  • Not in Our Town
    **This play is offered royalty-free for the 2023 Holiday Season. Message me for details.**
    A brick is thrown through a bedroom window of a five-year old boy. Someone was offended by a decal of a menorah in the window. The boy's parents are told to take down the decal and keep their menorah out of the window to stay safe. This does not sit well with the family or as it turns out with the townspeople...
    **This play is offered royalty-free for the 2023 Holiday Season. Message me for details.**
    A brick is thrown through a bedroom window of a five-year old boy. Someone was offended by a decal of a menorah in the window. The boy's parents are told to take down the decal and keep their menorah out of the window to stay safe. This does not sit well with the family or as it turns out with the townspeople of Billings, Montana. A true story of what happens when a town comes together to fight hate. The story of the transformation of the Skinhead is also true. The play offers the early days of the "Not in Our Town" movement which continues today. Play has been worked to comply with the rules of the High School One Act Play Contest: minimal set; 35 minutes; flexible cast of 7
  • The United Plays of America
    An anthology of 51 short plays for high school classes and beginning drama students in college. Plays subject matter varies: blue crabs on a blind date, loss, historical view of the Little Bighorn National Monument, oysters, and Monet's Water Lilies (and anything else that could only be set in that state). To date, the plays have been used in 15 festivals and 25 classrooms world-wide. Don't have time...
    An anthology of 51 short plays for high school classes and beginning drama students in college. Plays subject matter varies: blue crabs on a blind date, loss, historical view of the Little Bighorn National Monument, oysters, and Monet's Water Lilies (and anything else that could only be set in that state). To date, the plays have been used in 15 festivals and 25 classrooms world-wide. Don't have time to read 51 plays? Go to the Table of Contents and pick your favorite states.
  • Founding Daughters
    An episodic sneak peek into some of the heroic deeds of young women (teens and early twenties) that would be long forgotten if not for oral history. It's a breezy romp through the American Revolution from the eyes of four heroines. The play will be here briefly as it is slated to be published by Your Stage Partners soon.
  • Soundscapes
    Iris has synesthesia. She has no idea. She thought everyone saw colors and shapes when they listened to music. As she enters the tween years, she learns that it is not true and that others find her weird or wildly imaginative. As Iris tries to downplay this trait, she finds herself at war with herself over what is natural to her. Developed by NYU New Plays for Young Audiences. Published by Your Stage Partners....
    Iris has synesthesia. She has no idea. She thought everyone saw colors and shapes when they listened to music. As she enters the tween years, she learns that it is not true and that others find her weird or wildly imaginative. As Iris tries to downplay this trait, she finds herself at war with herself over what is natural to her. Developed by NYU New Plays for Young Audiences. Published by Your Stage Partners. Written with Sarah Grace Kraning. Play available to be read for free at publisher's website (link provided).
  • Bound by Stardust
    Fourteen year-old Miranda dwells in the past. Any past – as long as the world is prior to her father’s death 2 years ago. Reeling from her mother’s remarriage, Miranda spends a week with her great aunt and acquaints herself with an ancestor from her father’s past – the Russian Polar explorer Otto Schmidt.

    In the confines of Elsie’s apartment, Miranda travels back and forth to the North Pole...
    Fourteen year-old Miranda dwells in the past. Any past – as long as the world is prior to her father’s death 2 years ago. Reeling from her mother’s remarriage, Miranda spends a week with her great aunt and acquaints herself with an ancestor from her father’s past – the Russian Polar explorer Otto Schmidt.

    In the confines of Elsie’s apartment, Miranda travels back and forth to the North Pole gleaning information about the nature of the universe, loss and ever-lasting presence. As Miranda visits Otto in the past, Elsie is struggling to maintain the equilibrium she is barely holding to since her sister’s death. Trying to keep her crushing anxiety at bay, Elsie tries to give Miranda remembrance and closure.

    But Miranda will have none of it. She turns to the stars and devises a physics theory that she thinks will bring her face-to-face with her father one more time. But it's problematic - in order for it to work you need to travel faster than the speed of light. During her debates with Otto about the origins of the universe, Miranda carves a way to bring her back into the world.
  • Sunday Sauce
    Giancarlo has died. Anna and Emilia run to Tess’s side to help her through this difficult time. But Tess is amazingly calm. Is the make-up of a family blood? Bones? Pasta and opera? If you’re Italian – it probably is.

    The play was written to address the waste of “fine wine” actresses (over 40) that are too often absent on the stage these days.
  • Making Some Noise
    Juliana, Emma and Nell see Nazis and terrorists around every corner. This is noted as the three sisters gather yet again for the anniversary of their mother’s tragic death on 9/11. What is the make-up of a life? Is it reduced to belongings and haphazard memories? They have basically been sitting Shiva every September 11th terror attacks. Juliana’s grieving tradition has taken a toll on her marriage. Emma who...
    Juliana, Emma and Nell see Nazis and terrorists around every corner. This is noted as the three sisters gather yet again for the anniversary of their mother’s tragic death on 9/11. What is the make-up of a life? Is it reduced to belongings and haphazard memories? They have basically been sitting Shiva every September 11th terror attacks. Juliana’s grieving tradition has taken a toll on her marriage. Emma who is always quick to please anyone is ready for a change. Things are turned upside down when Nell returns home and no longer wishes to continue the grieving tradition. The full length version was an Eugene O'Neill Semi-Finalist. 20 minutes.
  • Letters from Lisette
    There is a story that Kafka found a young girl weeping in a park. He tried to console her, but she was bereft. She had lost her doll and would never get over it. Kafka announces that he has a letter that he found and he wonders if it could be from her doll. It was! And so began a three-week correspondence where Kafka wrote daily letters for the girl from her traveling doll. Her doll was not lost. She was merely...
    There is a story that Kafka found a young girl weeping in a park. He tried to console her, but she was bereft. She had lost her doll and would never get over it. Kafka announces that he has a letter that he found and he wonders if it could be from her doll. It was! And so began a three-week correspondence where Kafka wrote daily letters for the girl from her traveling doll. Her doll was not lost. She was merely traveling to see the world. The story might have gone something like this…
  • Almost Mary
    Newly edited version to expand the cast to twelve or more. Mary Anning is considered the first female paleontologist. She lived in Lyme Regis which is still a hotbed of fossils. She learned to find fossils at her father’s knee. After her father died, she continued to find fossils and sell them to help her family earn a meager living. This play chronicles her first big discovery at the age of twelve: an...
    Newly edited version to expand the cast to twelve or more. Mary Anning is considered the first female paleontologist. She lived in Lyme Regis which is still a hotbed of fossils. She learned to find fossils at her father’s knee. After her father died, she continued to find fossils and sell them to help her family earn a meager living. This play chronicles her first big discovery at the age of twelve: an ichthyosaur (fish lizard). Mary had little schooling but was a learner. She read incessantly, carefully chronicled and drew all of her findings. Her thirst for knowledge began at an early age (and was attributed to being hit struck by lightening although that is more lore than fact).

    Mary’s brother Joseph found a large (4 feet) fossil head. Mary believes that the entire fossil could be found and the play is about her efforts – against all odds – to do so.
  • The United Plays of America - Alaska, Moose Lips
    The magic of moose lips... yep… part of the United Plays of America anthology.
  • The United Plays of America - Delaware
    Casey lives in a state where there are 200 chickens for every person. That worries her. A brief, silly play - because - chickens. Another of the 51 plays in the United Plays of America anthology.
  • The United Plays of America - Idaho - Craters of the Moon
    One could commit the perfect murder here. Only, of course, if one is a murderer. One of 51 plays in the United Plays of America anthology.
  • The United Plays of America - Iowa - Crashing Tulips
    Tulips and marriage, tulips and marriage go together like a horse and carriage... maybe. One of 51 plays in the United Plays of America anthology.
  • The United Plays of America - Kansas
    It's a twister. Time to take shelter. But Gayle has other ideas. She wants to go to Oz. One play out of 51 short plays from the United Plays of America anthology.
  • The United Plays of America - Kentucky - Burgoo
    What makes the Kentucky dish "Burgoo" authentic? Maybe it's the eye of Newt.
  • The United Plays of America - Maryland - Under the Boardwalk
    BARRY tries to hook up his best friend STUFFY with CALLIE. CALLIE tries to hook up her best friend CAKE with BARRY. Oh. And they are all crabs.
    With a huge thank-you to WHEN HARRY MET SALLY.
  • The United Plays of America - Nebraska
    Xan is a corn farmer. Dan is a corn farmer. But something strange is happening to Dan. Can he be turning into an ear of corn? Part of a collection of very short plays set in every state in the USA. Easy to do outside, via zoom and with social distancing.
  • The United Plays of America - Nevada - The Loneliest Road in America
    Beth and Letia are on Highway 50, dubbed "The Loneliest Road in America" on a mission to scatter their mother's ashes. And that's when the fun begins.
  • The United Plays of America - New York
    SYLVIA makes her regular visit to Monet’s Water Lilies at the Met. She puts herself in the garden. MILLER is painting a replica of Monet’s masterpiece. He only sees the garden from afar.
  • The United Plays of America - Texas - Invasion of the Tumbleweeds
    A town near Lubbock, Texas found themselves surrounded by huge tumbleweeds - some so big that they couldn't leave their homes. Was it an invasion?
  • The United Plays of America - Virginia - 1,000 Oysters
    They say if you eat 1,000 oysters, you'll find a pearl. Virginia's on a mission to see if that's true.
  • The United Plays of America - Wisconsin
    A poet and a duck meet on a bridge in Milwaukee. Appropriate for Zoom.
  • 7 Weeks, 3 Days
    Emma visits her friend after 7 weeks and 3 days apart. It's awkward. She's awkward. Everything is awkward. Easy to do via zoom or social distancing.
  • A Kiss is Just a Kiss
    EVA blurts out that she would like JAKE to kiss her and all goes topsy-turvy with recollections of childhood and a possible love found – and lost.
  • A Paper Forest
    Gary is sent to help Lucy plant a forest. But the forest is planted and Lucy needs art – fast-food art – to keep the deer from eating her fledgling-forest. This could be the last forest planted in Minnesota because the forest really wants to move into Canada. A tale of climate change and clinging to hope. Ten-minutes.
  • A Tale of Two Ornaments
    Two ornaments on a Christmas tree are terrorized by a kitten. A short holiday play for teen actors. Easy to do via zoom and with social distancing.
  • After the Garden
    On their 300th anniversary, Adam has a surprise for Eve.
  • Alice, Pursued by a Bear
    Alice has worked at keeping her anxiety at bay. But the more she hides it, the bigger BEAR gets. ALICE finally has to face BEAR.
  • Fossil Lady
    In spite of discovering some of the more extraordinary fossil finds of her time, Mary Anning finds herself dismissed by scholars and in such dire straits that she is selling all her worldly goods.
  • Frosty the Rogue Man
    A short play about a catcalling snowman and the woman who tames him.
  • It's Special
    A mother proudly shows her daughter all the "back-to-school" stuff she bought her. Very, very, very short play.
  • Just in Case Texts
    Ellie shares her texts with her best friend. Things are not always as they seem. A very, very short play.
  • Of Butterflies and Roses
    The memorial service for CLARA and LAUREL’s mother is done. The last guest has left and LAUREL and CLARA are now picking up the last pieces of comfort they can muster in their newly-orphaned world.
  • Quarantined with Human
    I had a silly attack and wrote a one-minute play about a cat. It's always all about the cat. Super easy to do with zoom or social distancing.
  • Smile, Baby
    Karma on the street. Another very, very short play.
  • Twenty Below
    A frigid walk around White Bear Lake, MN reveals a hidden mission.
  • We Interrupt This Broadcast
    Guns. Only in the USA.
  • Wish You Were Here
    It's Ashley's last evening in Paris. It's Jean-Louis's first evening back in Paris. Anything can happen when the street lights come on. It was published in an anthology Of "Bests" where I kept the rights. It has been updated. It takes place outside and easy to do with social distancing. It's also easy to do via zoom.