Innovate Compel Collaborate Entertain Have a great time doing it!
DERECHO a play in two acts
Synopsis
Mother’s Day weekend, 2009 in a remote campground, a climate event called a Derecho traps two families, one rural and one from the city, in uneasy proximity. As tensions simmer, the families’ teens, ARLY and JADA, form a bond despite their different upbringings. United by a their curiosity about violence, the two embark on a shared journey that shatters the line between fascination and danger.
Cast
Arly 17+ white male, Southern accent, home-schooled loner prefers nature to people
Clint 35+ Arly’s father, Veteran, episodes of PTSD, plays guitar
Becky 35+ Arly’s mother, fierce protector of her religion, family, and way of life
Clarissa 40+ white or Latina female, college educated, yoga, plays a recorder
Gerold 40+ black male, lawyer, uses humor to break tension.
Jada 16+ Gerold and Clarrisa’s daughter, bisexual, street-smart, likes to hang with the tough kids
Tom[Toni] 50+ park ranger, any gender, any race, ready to retire, bum hip.
Production Notes
DERECHO received a reading at Chicago Dramatists Theatre First Draft series. For a full production the set would consists of two tents, a campfire pit, a hammock, and forest background which can be projected. There is a windstorm effect generated by fans/lighting. A few songs are sung campfire style with or without guitar Some stage fighting and prop weapons are involved. DERECHO can accommodate a variety of venues, including non-traditional and outdoors.