ALL IS CALM (holiday comedy-drama)
2M
Doug is spending Christmas by himself, at least until his BFF Garrett shows up to check on him. A friendly visit conjures feelings that might actually not be better left unsaid.
BEAUTIFUL NOISES (drama)
2M/2F
A recently deceased gay man encounters his long-lost sister in the afterlife. But instead of offering guidance, she needs his help reaching out to the mother she left behind. However, the animosity between their mother and the man's lover may prevent any communication between the living and the dead.
This play in included in the anthology Demon Bitch Goddess.
THE BEDROOM SUMMIT (coming-of-age drama)
2M/1F (off-stage voice)
Boyd has been on the run from bully Justin all day, so when he finds Justin waiting for him in his bedroom... But Justin's not there to hurt Boyd. He has something quite different in mind.
BOARDWALK CONCESSIONS (comedy)
2A
When someone is pouring their heart out to you, how long is it polite to wait before you can bite into your corn dog?
CANOPIES AND CANAPES (black comedy)
2A - adults
A Chef and a Waiter, parters in business and life, have just taken cover when the wedding they’re working is set upon by gunfire.
(The play is meant to be performed by two people of the same sex/gender or with at least one non-binary person. (Basically, not traditional heterosexual, though that’s fine. It just makes more sense otherwise.)
A CAREFULLY PLANNED SPONTANEITY (comedy)
2M - older
The night before the final day of shooting, two male actors of a certain age rehearse their impending love scene, which has been choreographed within an inch of its life. Can they make it work?
CRATER (drama)
2M
Josh was the one that got away and now he's finally waking up in Archie's arms in a hotel room in Vegas. The night before was great but the morning after is a little more complicated.
DONE AND DONE (drama)
2M
Mike runs into his estranged friend Bertz in a hospital in New York City, a few years after Bertz up and left without a word. A tenuous reunion reveals the unfortunate circumstances of Bertz’s sudden departure and the tragic reason behind his return.
DRAIN (political horror)
1M/3A (male is East Asian-American)
Mark Schlesinger is a Korean American detained by ICE finding out exactly how many rights he has in 45's second term.
FLOATS (drama)
1F/1M (both East Asian-American)
At an ice cream social, Ken approaches the mother of his child, both of whom he abandoned years ago, hoping for another chance.
GHLAMPING (supernatural comedy)
3M
Arthur has let his BFF (with benefits) Hudson take him gay glamping (that's "glamour camping"). When Hudson goes forth to try and find someone-or-two to bring back for a make-out party in their tent, Evinrude shows up ready with a crazy backstory and an amorous disposition.
GLINT (supernatural drama)
1F/2M
A guy and a demon and a gal and a kiss.
HAND ON HEART (comedy-drama)
1F/1M/1N
Davey has a question he really wants to ask Marcella. She, however is busy trying to save the life of a suicide bomber whose device merely shorted out and knocked him unconscious. Still, she wants Davey to keep talking to her while she performs CPR on a man with explosives strapped to him. The morning is not off to a good start.
#BASTILLE (comedy, satire)
2A
Flynn has been fighting the power with words, words, words, while Rory has decided to take action! However, it turns out there's a right way and a wrong way to use social media in the name of revolution.
HEART OF A WOMAN IN A PRESSURE COOKER: a journey in eight notions
by Ephrym Justyce (avant-garde send-up)
1M/3F/1A
Sherize just wants to be loved. Or does she? What is her Mama mixing in that bowl? Is Jade her brother or her sister? And who is that naked Man?
HIBERNATION (small town winterset drama)
2M-bearded/1F
Small town minister Max has just heard from his estranged wife for the first time since she left him a year ago. His best friend Gunnar, the local baker, and schoolteacher Ingrid try to buck him up, but in very different ways... [Inspired by Ingmar Bergman's 1963 film Winter Light, but funnier.]
I KNEW IT! (comedy)
2F
Francesca, wife of a music superstar, discovers a fellow rock-and-roll wife sneaking out of her husband's bedroom. She thinks she knows what's going on. She doesn't.
I’LL FIND MY SOUL AS I GO HOME (comedy-drama)
3M
A young man confesses his love to his minister... again.
IMPERFECT STORMS (supernatural gay breakup disaster)
2M
Belgium, July 2021, during the historic floods. Kelian has just saved Louis from drowning. Before that, it was already a pretty bad day.
THE LAST GREAT ACT OF MANKIND (science fiction)
2M
Another Scott Sickles play about love and the apocalypse.
A meteor has ignited the atmosphere. As the fire gets closer to annihilating them and all life on earth, Lars wants to have end-of-the-world sex with Benno... who for various reasons isn't in the mood right now.
MILLENNIUM WALTZ (drama)
4A
Happy New Y2K!!! Remember the moment when the ball dropped on January 1, 2000, and... nothing happened? The world was expecting a disaster but instead of a global catastrophe, Kingsley and Hollis have another more intimate crisis to contend with.
MIRACLE AND HER MINION (comedy, coming-of-age)
1M/1F
Fourteen-year-old self-taught witch Miracle is preparing to cast a love spell. Her classmate and minion, Bud, is helping but harboring his own agenda. Will he foil Miracle's plan to capture the heart of the boy she loves?
A MORE BEAUTIFUL REFLECTION (horror)
1A/1M (or 2A)
Charlie has invited Quinn to their hotel room. Charlie has apologized for their past. He also has plans for their future. [CW: emotional abuse, physical abuse, surviving narcissism]
MORNING AFTER THE MELEE (neurodivergent demonology comedy fantasy)
2M
Last night, Sir Miguel (who has ASD) and Sir Cristobal (who has ADHD) finally defeated the despair dragon Astaroth (who represents RSD - look it up)! It didn't quite take.
MUSIC AND GOD (comedy)
At Marcie and Patty's wedding reception, best person Schroeder and officiant Linus finally find time to catch up: about the brides, about their bestie Chuck, and about each other.
[Written with permission as a companion/sequel to Hillary Bluestein-Lyons’s Marcie and Patty Are Getting Married. Disclaimer: Music and God has not been authorized or approved in any manner by the Charles M. Schulz Estate or United Features Syndicate, which have no responsibility for its content.]
THE OPEN WINDOW (ghost story)
2M/2F
A highly strung man has been sent to a countryside estate to calm his nerves. He is not prepared for the history of the house... or for the young girl who tells it!
Based on the short story by Sake (H.H. Munroe), in the public domain
THE OTHER HALF (avant-garde)
1M/4F/2A
A surgeon must separate twin girls conjoined at the chest, sharing one heart. As the surgeon decides which girl will live and which will die, s/he imagines the impact this decision will have on the family and the surviving twin in a flash-forward memory play.
OUTPOST (science fiction drama)
3A
At the edge of the Milky Way, Dale has just been brought out of statis to discover the outpost is abandoned and an mysterious organism has almost finished consuming the galaxy. Things are not looking up.
PERFECT PORCELAIN DOLL (drama)
2F (East Asian)
A Korean American woman waits for a call from the police. Her Helmeoni (grandmother) was killed in a shooting in Atlanta. She would very much like to cry.
Part of the #CodeRed Plays collection.
REMOTE CONTROL (thriller)
2F/2M
Melinda has come home hoping to enjoy a quiet evening by herself in front of the TV. Unfortunately, she can't find her remote. Even more unfortunately, she's not alone.
"THE RODINS ARE HERE!" (comedy)
2M/2F/1A; 10 minutes
Chicago, circa 1886. Wealthy businessman Potter Palmer and his wife Bertha have surprise guests for dinner, the sculptor Auguste Rodin and his life partner Rose Beuret. Dinner is late, they are famished, but when Rodin is inspired to create art, everything else must wait!
THE STORY-TELLER (comedy)
2M/3F including 1 boy and two girls (unless you cast adults)
A woman on a train has trouble controlling her unruly nieces and nephew until the man in the compartment offers to regale them with a story... that may not be entirely appropriate for children.
Based on the short story by Sake (H.H. Munroe), in the public domain.
TURTLES AND BULLDOGS (comedy-drama)
2M
Collin used to have a crush on Barney when they were in high school. Now, they've run into each other first the first time since... thirty years later... at the cemetery.
They have a lot of catching up to do.
Available in The Best American Short Plays of 2015-2016
VIRGINS (comedy)
2F
It's sweet Bonnie's wedding day and she's got last minute cold feet, so her sexy sister Savannah has been called in to find out why. Bonnie and Savannah reveal their secret anxieties about love, men, and the nature of experience.
WHEEL OF FORTUNE REVERSED (supernatural)
2A
Death has come for Michael but Michael has a bucket list that only the Grim Reaper can fulfill. [Click HERE to listen to the beautiful Gather by the Ghost Light podcast adaptation.]