Our No Sleep November event combined (through a draft process) teams of playwrights, actors, designers, and production assistants who then had one night and one day to create a new, vibrant, all-original short play. Then we opened the doors to the public for a one-time-only theatrical experience!

This year's playwrights were Emma Carter, Erika Baker, David Wayne Reed, Mauricio Miranda, Ben Auxier, and Simonian.

Cast: Forrest Attaway, Ellyn Calvert, Amanda Davison, Missy Fennewald, Will Fritz, Brie Henderson, Shea Ketchum, Matt Lindblom, Alisa Lynn, Marianne McKenzie, Shawna Pena-Downing, Christopher Steinauer, Bradley Thomas, and Kyra Weinberger.

Designers: Nicole Jaja, David Kiehl

Stage Management Team: Alex Murphy, Lacey Pacheco, Emma Dodge, Carolyn Kern, Lauren Pope, Emily Sukolics, and Dashawn Young

The Lupus Chronic(SLE) by Ryan Hruza
December 5, 2016

Lupus is a disease that affects an estimated 300 million people worldwide. The symptoms are often sporadic, aggressive and mimic other diseases, making it difficult to diagnose. In this newly revised version of The Lupus Chronic(SLE): A Pop/Hip-Hopera, we meet Dianne. She has been struggling with her health recently, she has difficulty closing her hand, chest pains, mood swings and keeping up the lifestyle she is accustomed to. Adding to the physical stress, Dianne's husband, Mark, is in between jobs while they try and pay for the medical bills that accompany trying to diagnose a the cause of her physical problems.
 

Bullet in the Mud by Ron Simonian
December 20th, 2016

A gift from the grave gives Roy a chance to save he and his wife Tandy's single wide home. However, Roy still might be evicted from his empty marriage. Money might not buy happiness, but it does buy Tandy's love, and Roy is totally broke. BULLET IN THE MUD by Ron Simonian is a journey into the heart of betrayal, brotherhood and Star Wars action figures. The race is on for Roy to meet his financial deadline, before a former Operation Desert Storm veteran moves Roy's deadline to tonight.
 

The Ballad of Lefty & Crabbe
by Brian Huther, Ben Auxier, & Seth Macchi
January 2, 2017

Lefty & Crabbe are two of the biggest names in Vaudeville, but when moving pictures take over the entertainment game - they've gotta adapt or die. THE BALLAD OF LEFTY & CRABBE is a musical comedy that played to sold out crowds and was awarded Best of Fringe in 2015. This preview reading was a part of the Writer's Den Series and featured an early draft of the full production which premiered later in the season.

Featuring Michael Hudgens, Seth Macchi, Molly Denninghoff, Mike Ott, Ellen Kirk, Kris Stoker, Elise Poehling, and Joshua Gleeson. 

When Someone Isn't Home by Brian Huther
January 3, 2017

Useless funnyman Alan Schroeder’s life becomes a whole different sort of thing when Mia, a nine year-old daughter he didn’t know he had, suddenly becomes his problem. This short screenplay in it’s initial stages asks us how we process anger, fear, and resentment, and how we find mooring when there’s only other boats around.

Occupants by Mauricio Miranda
January 9, 2017

Gabi is 17, lives in Hamilton Heights, and wants to be a Kickboxing trainer. She has had to resort to small-time cons with her best pal Marquez, in order to survive, and pay bills. But the week Marquez proposes to step up their game with a larger fraud operation, she finds herself downtown in Zuccotti Park, getting involved with a movement called Occupy Wall Street. This is a play about how to journey from Trauma to Reconciliation; how to keep ourselves afloat during a time of crisis.

Featuring Rachel Brennan Leyh, Vanessa Davis, Freddy Acevedo, Emilie Karas, Curtis Smith, and Darren Canady

Trigger Happy by Ron Simonian
January 10, 2017

Told through two professors who plead their cases to each other in hopes of saving their careers and their friendship, Trigger Happy represents a slice of the millennial revolution and it's enforcement of a new set of offensively non-offensive guidelines. 

Featuring Mark Robbins & Forrest Attaway

This play was later fully produced in our season.

The Bed Play by Emma Carter
January 23, 2017

Two boys, two girls, one bed: a play told through some of our most intimate moments. In a word of swiping right and STDs, Darren and Julia are just trying to figure out how to this thing called dating is supposed to work.

Featuring R.H. Wilhoit, Alisa Lynn, Sam Cordes, and Kyra Weinberger

Death in 3 to 5 Business Days by Ron Simonian
January 24, 2017

Tom's designs on a new man cave are put on hold to allow his dying mother to use it for hospice. Only she is not dying as quickly as predicted. This Armenian family struggles with guilt, depression and the power of grudges in this very dark comedy. Sometimes only death can save a family. 

Featuring Mark Robbins, Kathleen Warfel, Cathy Barnett, Natalie Liccardello, Shawnna Journagan, Bob Linebarger, and Rebecca Munoz

Bastard by Tyson Schroeder
February 20, 2017

Bastard - a new play by Tyson Schroeder is part biography, part fiction, existential exploration, and a surrealist mind f*ck. Bastard is not to be missed.

This play was later fully produced as part of our 8th season.

Featuring Scott Cordes, Sam Cordes, Shawnna Journagan, and Daria LeGrand. Directed by Rusty Sneary. 

The Tragedy of Macbeth adapted by Kyle Hatley
April 8, 2017

Kyle Hatley, Natalie Liccardello and Sean Hogge are developing an three-artist, 85-minute adaptation of William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth. This innovative, concentrated, music-infused production will be running in full at The Living Room in August; but you can catch a special preview reading this weekend!

This play was later fully produced in our 7th season.

With Kyle Hatley, Natalie Liccardello, & Sean Hogge

DNR by Victor Wishna
August 14, 2017

Amanda, a hospital volunteer with a guardian-angel complex, meets her newest assignment, Bud, a terminally ill patient with very little patience. She’s a single mom with a benevolent soul; he’s a bitter Navy vet with one last mission to complete—and he insists it’s a solo. With warmth, wit, and bite, DNR explores the complexities of human connection and asks, what does it mean to be alone? What does it mean to be alive?

Featuring Jen Mays, Scott Cordes, and Ellen Kirk.