Plays

 
 

A Separation

In the 1970s, Stan, fresh from the est training (an intensive seminar designed to create personal accountability), separates from his wife. Left to care for his 12-year-old son, he embarks on a series of ill-fated attempts to change his life: an affair, a band reunion, and confronting his abusive past. Haunted by childhood trauma and the impending remarriage of his abusive father, Stan grapples with his identity and the futility of escape, finding humor in the absurdity of his predicament as he ultimately confronts the reality of his situation.

Gentleperson:

Aren Haun's play A SEPARATION is a completely original, tender, desperate, farcical family drama--a newly minted form that dives directly into the heart of one family's pain at a time in American history seldom dramatized today. I believe in this play and hope that you will see its many strengths and possibilities as I.

Warmly,

Craig Lucas

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Kill the Editor

Ben, a young film editor, lands his dream job: editing a Cannes-bound documentary for a famous director, Cameron. Faced with a 5-hour mess and a 5-day deadline, Ben must navigate the egos of Cameron and his scorned ex, the previous editor, Libby. As Ben grapples with the film about Cameron's complex, abusive father, he learns to balance artistic integrity with the demands of his demanding bosses – and ultimately, to trust his own instincts.

Produced at Desert Ensemble Theatre, review

Produced at Exit Theatre

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Parallax

Two con artists, Vincent and Joe, plan their next scheme at the racetrack. Vincent encounters Erin, a woman seeking his help to reclaim her stolen racehorse. As their plan unfolds, a web of deceit emerges, leaving everyone questioning who is truly the mark. This fast-paced play, set amidst the glamour and grime of Santa Anita, offers a unique glimpse into the underbelly of the horse racing world.

Staged Reading at Last Frontier Theatre Conference

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Grunge

Robbie Murphy, a famous musician in his 50s, returns to Seattle after 29 years following the death of his former bandmate and best friend, Mark Holmes. He reunites with the surviving members of his old band to organize a tribute concert, but faces challenges from bandmates who question his motives, a resentful ex-wife, and the temptations of his past addictions, including heroin, while trying to help Mark's troubled daughter. Despite these obstacles, Robbie remains determined to honor his friend.

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Love-All

During a weekly mixed doubles match, a group of friends play their hearts out, both on and off the court. Their games and states of minds are thrown off, however, when one of them experiences a brush with death. Between smashing forehands and volleys, infatuations and attractions are revealed, risks are taken and hearts are broken. This Shakespearean-like comedy reflects the parallels between life and tennis as these mere players fight to the death for love.

Reading at The Script Readers UK

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Paperback Writer

After completing her magnum opus – an angsty, bitter novel about life’s inherent unfairness – Emma writes a second book for her own amusement, a send-up of the “chick-lit” genre entitled Chelsea Perkins, which is surprisingly accepted. Emma then meets Rob, a charming, intelligent young publisher, and soon her new fairy-tale life begins to resemble the same fantasy world she only previously imagined.

Reading at Abacus Arts Studio, London (as Chelsea Perkins)

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The Mating Instinct

Carl, an English teacher who writes YA novels, publishes "The Mating Instinct," a controversial novel about a teacher-student affair. His wife suspects the novel is based on a real affair with a student, Mackenzie. The book ignites a scandal at the school, with accusations flying and Carl's reputation and career on the line. As the controversy escalates, Mackenzie, the alleged inspiration, unexpectedly declares her love for him, further complicating the situation.

Produced at 5th Wall Productions

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A Magnificent Lie

Stan, paralyzed by prostate cancer, faces a bleak prognosis. His wife, Abby, initially resents his illness but ultimately stays by his side. Miraculously, Stan begins to recover, his cancer seemingly vanishing. His dreams – a bestselling book, a winning horse racing system, reconciliation with his children – all start to come true. However, a skeptical doctor questions the inexplicable recovery, hinting at a surreal, perhaps even supernatural, turn of events.

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Done to Death

Chris, a struggling actor, returns home after his father, Stan, suffers a heart attack. Instead of resting, Stan directs a community theater production of Death of a Salesman, casting Chris as Biff. Chris, grappling with his own career doubts and his family's eccentric behavior, is forced to confront his father's increasingly erratic and unconventional choices, culminating in a hilariously disastrous production that mirrors the tragic themes of Miller's play.

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Eulogy for an Insignificant Man

Stan travels to New Mexico for his abusive father's funeral, only to inherit a dilapidated house. Discovering his father's cruelty extended beyond his family, Stan confides in his mother about his desperate financial situation. Ruth reveals her own estrangement from her ex-husband and a potential claim to his land. As Stan grapples with his own demons, he helps his mother fight for her rightful inheritance, forging an unexpected connection in the face of their shared trauma.

Commendation: BBC International Radio Play Competition 2023

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The Speed of Gravity

Sandra and Keanu, trapped on a speeding bus in a "Speed"-esque scenario, miraculously survive. Their subsequent romance, mirroring "The Lake House," crumbles as Sandra's drinking spirals. A "Miss America" pageant bomb scare turns into an intervention. Sandra, inspired by "Gravity," embarks on a space mission to return home to Keanu, questioning the line between cinematic escapism and the possibility of finding true meaning within the movies themselves.

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Three Rebels

Three struggling actors in Los Angeles – Scott, Jeff, and Megan – collaborate on a passion project: a film about the making of "Rebel Without a Cause." Driven by ambition and fueled by artistic egos, their collaboration descends into chaos as Jeff's tyrannical behavior jeopardizes the project, leading to creative clashes, romantic entanglements, and the potential collapse of their dreams.

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Froth

Erica, a barista yearning for excitement, sleeps with her co-worker Theo, despite tepid attraction. Then she meets Christian, sparking a genuine connection, but he's tied to another woman. Navigating these relationships, a demanding job, a co-worker's obsession, and a mother fixated on college, Erica finds herself trapped in a cycle of indecision and frustration, her attempts to accelerate her life leading to unexpected and often disappointing results.

Produced at Beckman Theatre, NYC

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Expecting

In 1972, Stan and Abby, expecting their first child, prepare for a visit from Stan's old college roommate, Frank. Frank arrives with a strikingly young companion, Taylor, whose presence creates an unsettling tension. As the evening unfolds, Frank's enigmatic behavior, coupled with unsettling games and veiled criticisms, throws Stan and Abby's comfortable domesticity into disarray, culminating in an unexpected and chaotic turn of events.

Produced at Players Theatre, NYC

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Too Good to Be True

On the eve of the Broadway premiere of a scandalous play about the alleged murder of Thomas Ince aboard William Randolph Hearst's yacht, the playwright, Max Boyd, encounters the supposed victim alive and well. Desperate to save the show, Max, the producer, and the director concoct a wild scheme: to recreate the fateful events on The Oneida, inviting Hearst himself to witness the reenactment, ensuring their play remains grounded in "truth" – however fabricated.

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One-Acts

 

The Essentialist

In 1962, Stan, eager to propose to his girlfriend, seeks advice from his friends, who are more preoccupied with a chess game than his impending life-altering decision. Frustrated, Stan disrupts their game, but his later proposal to Abby is met with uncertainty, as she questions whether his desire to marry stems from genuine love or a societal expectation.

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What Else is New

One-Act. Mark is a young art student, working in a burger place. One day an eccentric customer comes in, an older man named Bruno. Bruno tries to make a connection with Mark, but his aggressive manner keeps Mark at a distance. Though they are at entirely different places in their lives — they are both lonely guys who pay a price for their isolation.

Produced at the 8th Annual Labute New Theater Festival at St. Louis Actors Studio, review

 

Holiday

One-Act. Ted desperately plans a holiday, but a series of mishaps derail his plans: his daughter's accident, escalating arguments with his wife, and a disastrous evening with friends culminate in a major fight, leaving his dream vacation in ruins.

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