Zoom for the Holidays
Wondering what Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas look like during a pandemic? Three one act plays will show you how monsters, turkey and angry elves will ZOOM FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
In THE SPINE-CHILLING ASSOCIATION OF REPUGNANT EVIL (2 female, 5 flexible), a group of "terrifying" monsters must meet via Zoom to figure out how to scare humanity during an already frightening pandemic. However, Devil is having a devil of a time getting people to take their responsibilities seriously: Werewolf is a sheep in wolf’s clothing, Witch has bad blood with Vampire, and the other members may be ghosting the important meeting. The teleconference reveals that monsters and humans share many of the same compulsions, insecurities and foibles.
Despite the obstacles presented by Covid-19, seven high school seniors use Zoom to continue an annual Thanksgiving tradition in THE RITUAL (7 flexible). The ceremony, which they established as 7th graders, is supposed to be a way for the friends to reconnect each year—no matter what happens. Although they find a way to hold their friendship ritual during a pandemic, the teens wonder if their tradition can continue in a world plagued by tragedy, loss and change.
Just as many nations, states, and schools have formed committees to outline post-quarantine re-openings, Santa must formulate a plan via Zoom in THE NORTH POLE REOPENING COMMITTEE (1 male, 1 female, 7 flexible). However, in order to reopen the North Pole, Santa, a technology-challenged traditionalist, must now consider the concerns of the Commissioner of Public Health, the Elf workers' union, and a Public Relations company. Will all of these opinions help save Christmas or completely destroy it?
* To order: Under “BUY NOW” select Digital Download and then select 1 Printmaster Copy. This allows you to distribute copies to your cast and crew. One performance is included. Additional performances are $30.
Productions
Behind The Scenes
With Playwright Stephanie Buckley
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS PLAY?
Covid-19 has changed the way we do everything—work, school and holidays. I wanted to present how three holidays, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, may look on a Zoom screen.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART OR LINE IN THE PLAY? WHY?
My favorite line is in THE NORTH POLE REOPENING COMMITTEE: “The magic of Christmas is not perfect: a deliciously under-baked holiday cookie, a sloppy hand-made ornament made by a preschooler, children ignoring expensive new toys and playing inside their empty boxes. It’s Christmas’s imperfections that make it perfect.” While 2020 has presented unique challenges, my family and I are leaning into the imperfections as we celebrate the holidays!
WHERE DID THE CHARACTERS COME FROM? ARE THEY BASED ON PEOPLE YOU KNOW?
While this sounds terrible, DEVIL in THE SPINE-CHILLING ASSOCIATION OF REPUGNANT EVIL is my husband. He loves agendas! (I am thankful that his supreme sense of organization allows me to messy and wacky.) The characters in THE RITUAL are my students who are entering adulthood in an uncertain world. (I marvel at their ability to look excitedly into the future!). Santa in THE NORTH POLE REOPENING COMMITTEE is my father—we disagree about a lot of things but ultimately he has a wonderful heart. (And my mother has an even more wonderful heart for helping “Santa” find his glasses for over 50 years!)
WHAT DID YOU TRY TO ACHIEVE WITH THIS PLAY?
I show three very different worlds: THE SPINE-CHILLING ASSOCIATION OF REPUGNANT EVIL’s characters are fantastical, THE RITUAL’s characters are realistic, and THE NORTH POLE REOPENING COMMITTEE combines fantastical and realistic characters. However, all three plays highlight the fact that people need to love and respect each other during difficult times.