RECLUSE or, THE RISE AND FALL OF A MAKESHIFT PAL
(1f, 3m)
An artist who rarely ventures outside of his basement art studio becomes so devastatingly lonesome that he constructs a pal for himself out of old art supplies. Little does he know this makeshift pal will spark the outside world to invade his reclusive existence, with disastrous results.
Production History: Carnegie Mellon University New Works Series, Directed by Andrew Smith
ANXIETY DEMONSTRATIONS
(3f, 1m)
When a group of chronically anxious strangers convenes for a "Conquer Your Anxieties" workshop in hopes to finally get cured—they have no clue whose mystifying hands they've just placed their lives into.
POSTCARDS TO J. BIRD
(3f, 1m)
A woman spends her life locked in the past, struggling to reclaim the fulfillment she once felt with a childhood mentor, and compromising the present with her son. A work that explores the damaging effects of denying one's own truth, Postcards to J. Bird explores themes of abandonment, conformity, and identity.
Production History: CarnegieThe University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Theatre, Directed by Dennis McLernon
ONE ACT PLAYS
written by
STEPHEN WEBB
Photo: Louis Stein
PEPSI
(1m, 1f)
It’s JJ’s birthday and his first experience with crippling stress. Come visit the junkyard inside J.J.’s mind and meet Pepsi—a spunky gal on roller skates who just happens to be the physical manifestation of J.J.’s anxiety!!!
Production History: Playground Festival, Carnegie Mellon University, Directed by Dustin Cañez
PET FOOD
(4 characters, flexible casting)
When their beloved owner dies, three ordinary house pets are faced with a gut-wrenching decision. Will these helpless pets starve to death or will they choose life and eat their beloved owner?
Production History: Transcendent Ensemble Theatre Company, Chicago Fringe Festival, Directed by Lindsay Allen
MOVE LIKE ANTS
(3 characters, flexible casting)
After a cataclysm, three surviving figures discover that they must look to nature in order to survive.
Publication: PLAYS FOR THREE, Edited by Eric Lane & Nina Shengold
BY PROXY
(3f)
A mother struggles to save her children by obeying the sick voice inside her head.
THE SISTER TWINS
(2f, flexible casting)
When their meticulously consistent father shaves his moustache for the first time in their lives—the Sister twins' world is turned topsy-turvy. Why the sudden change? Is he finally catching onto their long-kept secret? Or has he known it all along?
Production History: Transcendent Ensemble Theatre Company, Chicago, Directed by Dustin Cañez
Review: The Chicago Reader
Additional Reviews: Transcendent Ensemble Theatre Co.
THE PRESERVATION LADIES
(2f)
In an effort to preserve their sickly children to be children forevermore, two not-so-ordinary housemaids rely on what they feel is the only possible solution: taxidermy!
GEMMA GETS TUTORED!
(4f, 3m)
When Gemma witnesses a supernatural occurrence in the cafeteria during a tutoring session, she almost pulls out her pigtails! Now Gemma is plagued with having to keep this a secret or else her favorite teacher gets the boot! Can Gemma pass the ultimate test?
PICTURE DAY
(1m, 1f)
Teenagers from very different walks of life connect on one of the most significant days of the school year: picture day.
Production History: Commissioned by New York University for HALL PASS to be performed at high schools across the United States, Directed by Blake McCarty
39 YEARS OF PEACH COBBLER
(1f)
When Shelley returns home from the market to find that her husband of 39 years has hung himself—she refuses to let that stop her from making a peach cobbler for their anniversary.
Production History: Renovation Productions in Ashland, Oregon, Directed by Tobie Windham; Reading at Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Directed by Mark Wade; The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Directed by Bliss Bailey
WALK AS ONE
(12+, Flexible Casting)
Production History: Commissioned by The Jefferson County Committee For Economic Opportunity in Birmingham, AL centered around issues faced by inner-city youth, Directed by Dustin Cañez
PEACE REDEMPTION
(12+, Flexible Casting)
Production History: Commissioned by The Jefferson County Committee For Economic Opportunity in Birmingham, AL centered around issues faced by inner-city youth, Directed by Dustin Cañez
ENTITIES OF A CHERRY BLOSSOM TREE
(7+, Flexible Casting)
Production History: Commissioned by Corner Theatre Academy in Corner, AL. For high school students, Directed by Dustin Cañez
THOSE OF EARTH-BORN PASSION
(3m, 3f)
A love story inspired by the poetry of Walt Whitman.
Production History: The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Directed by Dustin Cañez
SHORT PLAYS
written by
STEPHEN WEBB
DANCER
(1m, 1f)
When an aging ex-dancer takes her raging jealousy out on a modern-day prodigy, she has no clue he will end up changing her life forever and offering her the chance she never had.
UP HERE/DOWN THERE
(2m)
When everyman Jerry Frances Frickman gets trained to walk on the tallest stilts ever built, he doesn't quite know how to contain himself with this newfound power. Will he be able to stop himself from stomping on everybody who has ever made him feel small?
BEA ARTHUR LOVES YOU VERY MUCH SO YOU SHOULD LOVE YOURSELF TOO
(1m, 1f)
When Beatty travels to Bea Arthur's hometown desperately seeking some answers, little does he know he will encounter his idol herself.
Production History: Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Reading
DOWN THE DRAIN or, BATHROOM BERTHA TELLS IT LIKE IT IS
(2f)
When Becky and Benny hold a secret meeting in the girls' restroom in order to cheat on Mr. Higgins' anatomy test, little do they know Bathroom Bertha is lurking just behind a stall door—ready to lay down the law!
REMAINS OF AUGUST
(2f)
August has always polished away the blemishes in her life—until the only person she trusts holds a mirror up to her face and finally makes her crack.
Production History: The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Directed by Dustin Cañez
TWO MEN WEARING GOWNS
(2m)
Two men wearing gowns for very different reasons get trapped on the very same hospital tram.
Production History: Renovation Productions, Ashland, Oregon, Directed Shinelle Azoroh
ADULT BABIES
Five-Minute Play
(1m, 1f)
After giving it a valiant effort, Sandra and Carl decide this adult baby thing isn't really for them.
SASSY'S TRINKETS
(3m)
When Sassy stumbles upon two runaway teens at a bus stop, he teaches them how to put the sass back into a world that’s lost its pizzazz.
SWELL AT THE TIDWELLS'
(2m, 2f)
A picture perfect, 1950s-sitcom-style family is broken when their daughter shatters their not-so-perfect image.
Production History: Alabama Fringe Festival, Theatre UAB, Alabama Conference of Theatre, Directed by Dustin Cañez
CHOOSE ME!
(1m, 1f)
Two ferociously obsessed adults break into their favorite child actor's dressing room in order to catch a glimpse of their idol. When all they find is each other, they battle it out over who is the biggest fan.
OPERAS
written by
STEPHEN WEBB
FOR THE TIME BEING
Libretto Co-Written with Barbara Jwanouskos
A couple and their pessimistic witness travel to a remote locale in order to be wed. Along the way, they encounter an otherworldly being who teaches them how to love again.
Production History: Pittsburgh Opera, Composed by Daniel Arnaldos, Directed by Alex Tobey
MS. IRVINE
A firefighter escapes to a bar to drown her sorrows after failing to save an elderly woman who shimmied up a tree and then tragically plummeted to her death.
Production History: Opera Theater of Pittsburgh Summerfest Happy Hour, Composed by Robert Zahab, Directed by Dustin Cañez