Old Pueblo Playwrights Scope of Work lately

The family that comprises Old Pueblo Playwrights has changed over the forty or more years of its existence. Here is a recent sampling, showcasing the remarkable heterogeneity of more recent members’ contributions of more than 100 original works since January 2024

1/29/2024- Room 50 - W. Cordeiro and L. Lenhart, workshopping a guest presentation of "Pop Goes the Ferret" Libretto, 90 min, despite being declared extinct (twice!), the black-footed ferret (BFF) is making a comeback just outside of Seligman, Arizona. Full production of the show at the Coconino Center for the Arts in Flagstaff, Arizona, as part of the ARTx Festival in May 2025, won a Viola Award for Excellence in Storytelling for the show in 2025.

4/4/2024 – St. Francis in the Foothills - D. Vassallo, “Gathering the flock”, 81 min, along-time minister calls his followers to arm themselves to kill liberals and democrats in the coming civil war, but his daughter tries to stop him.

4/5/2024– St. Francis in the Foothills - G. Kayner, The Unpronounceable Name of God”, 73 min. a husband-and-wife custodial couple find a play in the trash and with the wife's urging decide to engage with the play to devastating results.

4/6/2024 – St. Francis in the Foothills - V. Flynn, “The Crush of Sally Tarish”, 10 min, Sally loves her husband so much she just can't keep anything from him. G. Kayner, 20 min, “Two Persons Singular”, a husband and wife confront one another regarding the apparent suicide of their son. S. Flynn, “Plan B”, 10 min, Don has a Plan. He also has a Plan B. And his wife Rita does too. L. Gutman, “Danish Pastry”, late 1960's to mid-1980's, a young man and his loved ones cope with life in America from the Vietnam War to the era of Ronald Reagan.

4/7/2024 – St. Francis in the Foothills – M. Hector, “Anything That Doesn’t Kill You” , 90 minutes, Issues of high school; adolescence is not for sissies.

4/12/2024 - St. Francis in the Foothills - Liisa Rose, “Exit Bag”, 105 min, A family drama that explores the challenges faced by the sandwich generation, multi-generational household dynamics, and the ripple effects of assisted suicide.

4/13/2024 - St. Francis in the Foothills – D. Sewell, “The Benevolency Provides” by D. Sewell, 105 min, in a world where faith is law and truth is scripted, survival is the ultimate rebellion. S. Berg, “There But for the Grace”.

4/14/2024 - St. Francis in the Foothills – D. Zinke, “Ripples”, 100 min, a hate crime death is right on time to rally the gay community.

4/22/2024 – Room 50 – M. Hector, “Homecoming”, 12 min, considering a move for Dad back East. M. Hector, “City Bus”, 30 min, millennials and boomers struggle to coexist.

5/21/2024- Scoundrel and Scamp – OPP special Event/Regular meeting - M. Hector, “Magic People”, 120 min, a running club becomes political.

7/8/2024 – Room 50, G. Kayner, “ Bang. Being Dead”, 115 min, a father and son attempt to drive their wife/step-mother crazy to gain control of the mortuary in her family's name.

7/15/2024 – Room 50- L. Powell, 10 min, “Pass the salt”, Pass the salt”, Two “mature” sisters revert to their younger selves over a saltshaker.15 min.

7/29/2024 – Room 50 – Special Reading. K. A. Rosa, Nehanda Nyamita Nyakasikana, the Star Woman!”

8/26/2024 – Scoundrel and Scamp 24/7 Play Festival – D. Zinke, “Plenty of Time”, 10 min, Saved by the chant.

10/7/2024 – Room 50 - R. Pullins, “Snap”, 10 min, in which fellow workers initiate a young worker into a myth of female sexuality.

10/14/2024 – Room 50 - L. Rose, “Burn Scar”, 105 min, A long-forgotten house fire- and its associated guilt and forgiveness- is seen through the lens of Eliza's recent Alzheimer's diagnosis.

10/21/2024  - Room 50 - D. Youngerman, “Home And Away”,  30 min, upon the death of her husband, a woman questions her place in a changing America and the possibility of returning to her homeland.

10/28/2024 – Room 50 – S. Berg - “Drowning Worms”

11/4/2024 – Room 50 – D. Sewell, “Ten Sixty-Six”, 165 min, in the afterlife of 1066, England’s last Saxon king and the women who shaped him relive the choices that changed history.”

11/9/2024 – Room 50 – J. Heyl, “Is There A Doctor on Board?”, 10 min.

11/16/2024 – Room 50 – R. Pullins, "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight", 70 min, The Green Knight interrupts a yuletide celebration at King Arthur’s court where he challenges Sir Gawain to exchange blows with his ax, a modern dramatization of a late medieval epic.

12/23/2024 – Room 50 – D. Rochon, “Walk On The Beach“, 5 min, Gary was having a pleasant stroll along the beach with his cat Max… at least until Max started talking.

2025

1/20/2025 – Room 50 – S. Berg, 10 min, “My Girl”, 10 min, a love lost. S. Flynn, “See You Tuesday”, 10 min, A sudden turn of events makes two bickering friends stop and think.

2/2/2025 – Ron Pullins, The Object, 10 min, in which an object in a man's life overwhelms him.

2/6/2025 – The Cabaret – 36th OPP Play Festival, 17 plays – M. Singervalt, “Murphy’s son”, 70 min, Father and son meet in a final attempt to rekindle their relationship, before they go their separate ways forever."

2/7/2025 – The Cabaret – 36th OPP Play Festival – J. Webster, “Cassandra”, 95 min, a married couple is threatened and cyberstalked by his old high school girlfriend.

2/8/2025 – The Cabaret – 36 th OPP Play Festival – S. Shurhoff, “Six Mile Inn”, 32 min, local inn keepers commit murder and mayhem while the pirate Blackboard holds Charleston captive to his blockade in 1718. D. Rochon, “Finding Mary Tyler Moore”, 27 min, accompanied by a young co-worker, a man contemplates life, loss, and nostalgia at the foot of a famous statue. G. Kaynar, “Last Man Standing”, 30 min, a WWII vet faces his demons when his daughter confronts him at a yearly meeting of his platoon where he is the last man standing. M. Hector, “You Never Know”, 108 min, alcohol addiction and hurt are a dangerous mixture.

2/9/2025 – The Cabaret – 36 th OPP Play Festival – L. Rose, “Southern Hospitality”, 12 min, “Well, bless her heart.” The new California transplant is finding South Carolina a little more neighborly than she anticipated. L. Rose “Savage”, 12 min, a #MeToo moment comes full circle. S. Surhoff, “Grace”, 13 min, reminiscing about family history, Grace reveals some of the darker side of family relations. L. Powell, “Crossroads”, 11 min, On a dark and stormy night a couple comes face-to-face with their dangerous

future. L. Rose, “Ash is to Ashes”, 11 min, three sweet little old ladies start up a new, sinister, business. L. Rose, MIL-ILE, 9 min, a long-anticipated vacation is about to be crashed by your mother-in-law. What could go wrong?  L. Rose, “Fifty-six”, 8 min, will grandma’s worst nightmare come to fruition? It’s really up to her! S. Flynn, “Telling Mrs. Fairchild”, 7 min, Mrs. Fairchild is losing it – or is she? V. Flynn, “Pat’s Story”, 10 min, Pat hopes that her life story will get her into the Sip and Rip Club. L. Rose, “To Making It Home”, 8 min, two veterans reminisce after returning home. L. Rose, “Appendices”,

10 min, Grandma and Grandpa claim a medical emergency when “caught in the act” by their grandson.

2/24/2026 – Room 50 - A. Cory, “Moonstruck”, 13 min, with the moon moments away from crashing into the Earth, a couple look set to resolve their marriage issues. Then the neighbor shows up.

3/3/2025 – Room 50 – D. Zinke, “His Father’s Son”, 120 min, a 25-year secret reveals the son he didn't know he had.

3/24/2025 – Room 50 – M. Hector, “Boxed In”, 14 min, about comfort with ageing and sexuality. M. Hector, “Same Difference”, 15 min, a play about skilled nursing facilities and respect for the dying – and the living.

3/31/2025 – Room 50 -M. Hector, “Passing through”, 10 min, establishing identity in a racist setting, again. M. Hector, “Identity Politics”, 10 min, a story about fake facts and power. G. Kayner, “Take a Number”, 18 min, a harried taxpayer confronts two

employees at an IRS office in this hilarious play. 

4/7/2025 – Room 50 – M. Hector, “Cecilia’s Plight”, 90 min, Reminiscing a full life, and lost loves.

4/17/2025 – Room 50 – M Hector, “Lone Star”, 90 min, the dangers of a trans show biz life.

4/28/2025 – Room 50 – A. Cory, “The Brisk Bell”, 20 min,  When the bell from a sunken ship is retrieved from a sinkhole, two seasiders are terrorized by ghostly apparitions.  

5/5/2025 – Room 50 – S. Surhoff, “The Fountain of Youth”, 10 min, Curious tourists discover the true fountain of youth. M. Hector, “Undervalued Vintage”, 20 min, some things retain their worth.

5/12/2025 – Room 50 – D. Youngerman, “Does your first love think of you as often as you think of them?’, 10 min, the title tells it all!

5/19/2025 – K. Chess, “Battery acid”, 12 min, He saved her little girl from junkyard dogs. She felt obligated to invite him over for lemonade. Now she doubts her safety. K. Chess, “Elevator Music”, 22 min, you know how on an elevator you don't talk to anybody? Just look at the numbers?  Stick with that plan.

6/2/2025 – Room 50 –A. Cory, “Goring’s Vermeer”, 60 min, When Goring receives a much sought after Vermeer on his 51st birthday, there's only one partygoer who notices

something is amiss.   

6/9/2025 – Room 50 -S. Otstot, “anything for a Buck”, 10 min, in this parody the hero tries to survive any way he can in 1940s Chicago, even resorting to telling himself that he can double cross the mob boss; is he successful? S. Otstot, “Mother, Can you Hear Me?”, 20 min, after receiving news that his mother is brain dead, the son recalls past conversation; the question is answered at the end of the play.

6/30/2025 – Room 50 - J. Heyl, “The Reading”, 10 min, facilitator tries to manage feedback from a group of eccentric playwrights- unsuccessfully

.

7/14/2025 – Room 50, G. Kayner, “The funniest joke in the world.”, 133 min, is an ensemble play wherein five characters are forced into conflict with themselves and each other when the bar they either work at or drink in is put up for sale.

7/21/2025 – Room 50 - S. Wetzel, “Belle and the Beast”, 90 min, nine years after Belle and the Beast get married they are navigating adulthood now as parents trying to build their own lives past their happily ever after. 

7/28/2025 – Room 50 – K. Chess, Under the Dam, 92 min, in a break room under the Hoover Dam, two people... hidden agendas versus lust versus hidden agendas...which will win out?

8/4/2025 – Room 50 – D. Youngerman, “Does a Symphony Orchestra Really Need a Bassoon?’, 10 Min. The conductor and bassoonist finally connect. M. Hector, “Reuniting”, 10 min, a class reunion revisits a tragedy.

8/18/2025 – Room 50 - A. Cory, “The Knight of Malta”, 20 min, Times up for Caravaggio as an assassin seeks to cancel the artist and his art for unforgiveable crimes. Originally performed at Manhattan Repertory Theatre.   

8/22/2025 – Room 50 – L. Powell, “Let’s Get This Party Started”,12 min, Neighbors learn lesson of live-and-let-live in politically fraught times.

8/25/2025 – M. Hector, “Rose to the occasion”, 10 min, putting to bed the play after the performance.

9/1/2025 – Room 50 – A. Cory, “Handel’s Place”, 50 min, nothing is as it seems when the wife of a disgraced WWI general meets a renowned black activist at the site where the Crystal Palace burned down.  M. Hector, “Water Rising Locally”, 15 min, a story of eventual revenge. S. Otstot, “Dear John”, 10 min, the play’s theme is verbal and emotional abuse culminating in relationship rape.

9/15/2025 – Room 50 – L. Rose, “Shade”, 10 min, what might be the history of that sinister relic passed down through the family? L. Rose, “A Stroke of Madness”, 10 min, a sister must determine if her brother is using again, or if something else going on. L. Rose, ‘Colors”, 10 min, what might our world look like if the current political atmosphere doesn’t shift?

9/29/2025- D. Kravet, ”Verify that you are human, 30 min, last Sunday, Alice decided to escape the rise of technocracy by hiding in a bunker in the middle of nowhere. Twenty years from now, Eugene finally finds her.

10/20/2025 – Room 50 – C. Damhesel and M. Hector, “Half Lives”, 30 min, art after the apocalypse.

11/3/2025 – Room 50 – S. Surhoff, “For God, Russia, and the Czar”, 45 min, The Death of Rasputin.

11/10/2025- Room 50 – M. Hector, “Not so spontaneous regression, 30 min, a geographic cure for cancer? K. Kallen-Keck, “A little Christmas Play”, 12 min, to save the family Christmas, two cousins must pull off a daring heist.

11/24/2025 – Room 50 – J. Heyl, “The Chairman”, 15 min, a silly, incompetent leader falls victim to his “loyal” retainer. L. Powell, “’tis The season”, A married couple struggle to find a new way of giving for Christmas. J. Webster, “Cheap Therapy”, 12 min, a grieving family struggles with cleaning out their late mom's house.

11/30 2025 – Christmas Light of the World Event, La Encantada Mall.

12/4/2025 - Christmas Light of the World Event, La Encantada Mall.

12/8/2025 – Room 50 – M. Hector, “Split Asunder”, 15 min, Why do MAGA Christians seem so unchristian?

12/15/2025 – Room 50 – S. Surhoff, “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do”, 20 min, government attorney finds grooming women in his office exciting and rewarding. M. Hector, “Christmas Collateral”, 10 min, a struggle for holiday in the hospital.

12/22/2025 – Room 50 – S. Otstot, “My Wonderful Life”, 60 min, in this comic satire two high society wives at brunch discuss important issues such as face lifts and Canadian bacon while the wait staff judges their foolishness. D. Vassallo, “Jeff”, TIME. 10 min, a

lawyer for Hope Ministries begins to have doubts if Jesus would agree with what his leader is followers to do. D. Vassallo, “The Garage”, 10 min, Sandra thinks Leland needs to get rid of stuff in his garage, but what about her stuff?

2026

1/9/2026 – Scoundrel and Scamp Fringe festival. D. Rochon, “Boredom is Hell”, 45 min., is about angels, demons, existential angst… and pie.

1/10/2026 – Scoundrel and Scamp Fring Festival. L. Powell, “Child Free”. 12 min, A mother and daughter face hidden truths during a decluttering project. M. Hector, “Randy”, 15 min, about the joys of dog care. M. Hector, “Honey Nuts”, 30 min., about the reverence for serial killers.

1/12/2026 – Room 50 – K. Kallen-Keck, “Dramatic Reveal, 12 min, when a storm strands a shy stage manager and gregarious leading man at a theater, running lines leads to a reveal neither one expected.

2/9/2026 – Room 50 – M. Hector, “Screwed. Up”, 80 min., about manliness and opportunities.

2/16/2026 – Room 50 – A. Cory, “Landfill”, When an avid gardener poisons the partner of her ex-lover, her actions result in ghastly consequences. M. Hector, “Innerview”, 12 minutes, about the new world of providing medical leaders.

3/2/2026- Room 50 – M. Hector, “Class action”, 10 min., about ageing and financial power. M. Hector, “Brain Aflame”, 10 min, about advances and hopes in treating brain inflammation. M. Hector, “Clinical Year Fears”, 15 min, a dramatization of the risks in the most dangerous workplace in America.

3/9- Room 50- Liisa Rose, “Support and Defend”, 90 min, a play that asks the question, “what is the ultimate sacrifice and who makes it?”

4/2/2026 – Invisible Theatre – 37th OPP Play Festival – D. Vassallo, “HOA Blues”, 81 min, how is the Sparkling Springs HOA quirky executive board going to solve the problem of roads that look like a moonscape when they have no money in their deferred

maintenance fund?

4/3/2026 – Invisible Theatre – 37th OPP Play Festival – M. Hector, “AIAIO”, 80 min, about the fear and challenges of ethical artificial intelligence.

 4/4/2026 – Invisible Theatre – 37th OPP Play Festival Matinee – L. Rose, “Clutch”, 10 min. Gunshots, watermelon, a Mallard duck. A pair of siblings deal with their shared childhood trauma in different ways. L. Powell, “What a Trip”, 10 min, A comedy about two sisters who clash with a federal agent and learn to see one another as never before. L. Powell, “Change”, 10 min, . In a world of the ‘haves-and -the-have-nots’ three characters are trapped underground to learn lessons of late-stage capitalism and the dangers of disconnection from basic humanity. K. Kallen-Keck, “Moving Day”, 13 min, a couple prepares for a big, exciting move, but a missing cat might just derail everything.

4/4/2026 – Invisible Theatre – 37th OPP Play Festival – J. Vornholt, “Chemo Lounge”, 80 min, all types of people gather at the infusion center of a cancer clinic for hours a day and learn too much about each other's lives.

4/5/2026 – Invisible Theatre – 37th OPP Play Festival – A. Cory, “Don’t Feed the Troll”, 60 min, when an op-ed columnist’s world is ripped apart, she seeks to take down the abusive online troll at the center of her despair. This play won Best Drama at the 2026

Tucson Fringe Festival.