abandon all hope.

World Premiere TBD.

A Play in 2 Acts for 4 Actors (2 Women, 2 Men) — may be performed without intermission

Recommended for Professional, Community, and College Productions

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An Absent Activist. A Stubborn Scientist. A Prejudiced Preacher. Three nineteen-year-olds who believe they know everything about life and what comes after have arrived in Brimstone Hall, Room 604 following their tragic, completely avoidable deaths. A fun-loving immortal being all-too-eager to take on the role of torturer has created the ultimate arena to drive each other insane — a tiny, messy college dorm room intended for two — and has challenged the three humans to a diabolical game. The winner will be granted instant admission to Heaven, in turn sentencing the others to an eternity of cold-blooded torture. Throughout the game, the guardian shows the competitors what their last day on earth was like — and why they may have ended up in Hell. A dark comedy for mature audiences inspired by Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit, Abandon All Hope explores themes of evangelical Christianity, self-centered activism, and thoughtful vulnerability.

A dedication statement for this play will be coming soon.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

SPOILERS BELOW. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

TERESA

Female, 40-49 Years Old, Any Ethnicity, Any Sexual Orientation

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She’s a clever trickster demon who likes to think outside the box as she tortures the three who died on the night of October 11th. Her plan goes deeper than what meets the eye... there’s something else she’s doing with this haphazard psychological torture chamber. Teresa also plays Amy (a professor), Sue-Ellen (a homeless woman), Krista (a feminist scholar), and Joyce (a rural mom)

MELISSA JONES

Female, 19 Years Old, Any Ethnicity (but likely White), Straight

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She’s a secular humanist and feminist who grew up in poverty in South Philly, who now studies political science. She says all the right things about equality, progress, inclusion and probably believes in them but when the power is in her hands to do right, she seems to care more about how she’s seen than actually doing the work. Melissa also plays Rachel (a newly out lesbian) and Laura (a county fair emcee).

SEAN LIU-OGDEN

Male, 19 Years Old, East Asian, Gay

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Sean is the dry-humored, cocky son of a wealthy film executive and an A-list actress from China. In an effort to be different from his parents, he tries to control and quantify everything in his life — reading game theory, studying engineering. He is in the process of owning that he is gay when he arrives in the room. Sean also plays Isaiah (a wide-eyed freshman) and Daniel (a suave older boyfriend).

EVAN DAIGLE

Male, 19 Years Old, White or Latino, Any Sexual Orientation

Evan is a naive and sheltered (though nonetheless earnest) conservative evangelical Christian insecure about his own masculinity. He believes everything there is to know about the world can all be pointed to in the Bible verse by verse at face value. As such, he has adopted rigid views on the roles of women and LGBTQ people. Evan also plays Jason (a woke do-gooder) and Adam (a dreamy twink).