TRW Presents: Short Plays

Vol. 1

Dummy Dialogue

by David Ives

COMEDY 2 MEN

Max and Norman are ventriloquists’ dummies who’ve been on the road for years. Now they’re backstage before a show venting their frustrations to each other— like the stupid jokes they have to mouth every night. Then Norman starts to have some very large ideas. Maybe a Dummy Revolution is at hand.

DUMMY DIALOGUE

by David Ives

GLENBURN 12 WP

by Vickie Ramirez

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

WILLIAM ABERNATHY

by Lloyd Suh

A SENTIMENT

by Elaine Romero

STEM

by Arlene Hutton

THE SYSTEM

by Lynne Halliday

THE TALK

by France-Luce Benson

TASTING

by Eric Reyes Loo

TWELVE

by Vincent Terrell Durham

A WALRUS IN THE BODY OF A CROCODILE

by MJ Kaufman

David Ives is perhaps best known for his evening of one-act plays, ALL IN THE TIMING and for his drama VENUS IN FUR, which was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play. His plays include NEW JERUSALEM: THE INTERROGATION OF BARUCH DE SPINOZA; THE SCHOOL FOR LIES (adapted from Molière’s THE MISANTHROPE); THE LIAR (adapted from Corneille); TIME FLIES; and IS HE DEAD? (adapted from Mark Twain). He has also translated Feydeau’s A FLEA IN HER EAR and Yasmina Reza’s A SPANISH PLAY.

Glenburn 12 Wp

by Vickie Ramirez

DRAMA

1 WOMAN, 1 MAN

Roberta, an Indigenous woman, and Troy, a Black man, wander into a deserted pub near Grand Central Station. While the bartender’s away, the liquor flows, as do some rough truths. But where is the bartender?

Vickie Ramirez (Tuscarora) is an alumna of the Public Theatre’s Emerging Writer’s Group, and a founding member of Chukalokoli Native Theatre Ensemble and Amerinda Theatre. Her work has been seen at Labyrinth Theatre Company, Thunderbird Theatre, Eagle Project, New Native Theatre, The Flea, Roundabout Theatre’s Different Voices Program and 52nd Street Project. Recent productions: GLENBURN

12 WP for Summer Shorts at 59E59 Theatre and STANDOFF

AT HWY #37 for Native Voices at the Autry.

Happy Birthday William Abernathy

by Lloyd Suh

DRAMA

2 MEN

On his 100th birthday, William Abernathy has a confession to make. His Korean American great-grandson Albert is the only one available to receive it.

Lloyd Suh is the author of AMERICAN HWANGAP, THE CHINESE LADY, CHARLES

FRANCIS CHAN JR.’S EXOTIC ORIENTAL MURDER MYSTERY, and others. His plays have been produced with Ma-Yi, Magic Theatre, EST, NAATCO, Denver Center, Milwaukee Rep, Children’s Theatre Co, and others around the country and internationally. He has received support from the NEA, Arena Stage, Mellon Foundation, Dramatists Guild, and residencies including NYS&F and Ojai. He received the 2016 Helen Merrill Award and the 2019 Herb Alpert Award in the Arts.

A Sentiment

by Elaine Romero

DRAMA

1 WOMAN, 1 MAN

Lucretia Mott arrives home late one night in 1848 to find her husband John waiting by the fire. An astonishingly frank conversation ensues as the 55-year-old wife and mother boldly and lovingly explains her co-creation of the Declaration of Sentiments, and her work to create a new future of possibilities for her daughters, their daughters, and all women.

Elaine Romero finds grist for her plays in an uncharted life. She saw Disneyland with the King of Zululand when he stayed with her family during his honeymoon. She learned Transcendental Meditation from a guru who imparted mantras from an altar fashioned from the family toilet. As a grad student in Paris, Elaine found herself with Mother Teresa, handing out ham sandwiches.