Black Eye
A Knockout in Ten Minutes
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Cast and Director of Fresh Fruit Festival Production, NYC
- 2024, Second Annual Summer Short Play Festival which will include a two-week run of “Pride on Stage." River & Main Theatre Company in collaboration with Bay of Quinte Pride.
- 2020, Friends of Ellen, University of Maryland (Zoom reading).
- 2019, Queen Bee Productions, Akron, OH.
- 2018, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland.
- 2016 "Fruitie" Award, Outstanding Ensemble Effort, Fresh Fruit Festival Awards Ceremony, NYC.
- 2015, Fresh Fruit Festival, NYC.
- 2015, 906 Theatre Company, Chicago.
- 2015, Winner (Judges' Pick!), Fresh Fruit Short Play Contest, Nuyorican Cafe, NYC.
- 2015, Rye Country Day School, Rye, NY.
- 2014, Women's International Theatre Festival, Provincetown Theater, Provincetown Theatre, MA.
- 2014, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA.
- 2010, Pace University, NYC.
- 2013, That Uppity Theatre Company, St. Louis.
- Published in Black Eye and Other Short Plays, Gage Press.
- Women’s Theatre Project, Ft. Lauderdale.
- Art of the Play, Kennebunk, ME.
"The struggle between compromise and the refusal to be bullied was humorously and poignantly explored."-- KDHX, St. Louis.
"... makes a great case for girl power."--Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio.
The year is 1953 and the setting is a middle-school principal’s office and the waiting area outside the door. Amanda, a thirteen-year-old tomboy, is waiting disconsolately on a bench. She sports a brand new black eye, and has apparently been fighting.
Her P.E. teacher, Miss Marshall, has been summoned to a consultation about the incident with the principal. On the way to his office, she checks in with Amanda, and the audience understands that she has been coaching the girl on her fighting skills.
The principal, Mr. Kent, is expelling Amanda and is hoping that Miss Marshall will be willing to convey the news to both Amanda and to her mother, as Miss Marshall is the girl’s favorite teacher. Miss Marshall is angered by the decision, arguing that the fight was provoked by the boys’ homophobic harassment.
When Mr. Kent attempts to terminate the meeting, Miss Marshall admits that she has taught the girl how to defend herself, and she informs him that she believes in fighting. She threatens to “out” Mr. Kent to the school board if he follows through on the expulsion. Mr. Kent is confident that she will not do this, as he knows that she is also in a same-sex relationship. Miss Marshall manages to trump his ace, however, and he agrees not to expel Amanda.
Leaving the office, Miss Marshall has a final, triumphant and subversive interaction with her student.
A woman, a girl, and a man
Single set
Nine minutes
Cast and director of winning production, Nuyorican Cafe, NYC (Fresh Fruit LGBT Short Play Contest)
- 2019, Queen Bee Productions, Akron, OH.
- 2018, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland.
- 2016 "Fruitie" Award, Outstanding Ensemble Effort, Fresh Fruit Festival Awards Ceremony, NYC.
- 2015, Fresh Fruit Festival, NYC.
- 2015, 906 Theatre Company, Chicago.
- 2015, Winner (Judges' Pick!), Fresh Fruit Short Play Contest, Nuyorican Cafe, NYC.
- 2015, Rye Country Day School, Rye, NY.
- 2014, Women's International Theatre Festival, Provincetown Theater, Provincetown Theatre, MA.
- 2014, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA.
- 2010, Pace University, NYC.
- 2013, That Uppity Theatre Company, St. Louis.
- Published in Black Eye and Other Short Plays, Gage Press.
- Women’s Theatre Project, Ft. Lauderdale.
- Art of the Play, Kennebunk, ME.
"The struggle between compromise and the refusal to be bullied was humorously and poignantly explored."-- KDHX, St. Louis.
"... makes a great case for girl power."--Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio.
The year is 1953 and the setting is a middle-school principal’s office and the waiting area outside the door. Amanda, a thirteen-year-old tomboy, is waiting disconsolately on a bench. She sports a brand new black eye, and has apparently been fighting.
Her P.E. teacher, Miss Marshall, has been summoned to a consultation about the incident with the principal. On the way to his office, she checks in with Amanda, and the audience understands that she has been coaching the girl on her fighting skills.
The principal, Mr. Kent, is expelling Amanda and is hoping that Miss Marshall will be willing to convey the news to both Amanda and to her mother, as Miss Marshall is the girl’s favorite teacher. Miss Marshall is angered by the decision, arguing that the fight was provoked by the boys’ homophobic harassment.
When Mr. Kent attempts to terminate the meeting, Miss Marshall admits that she has taught the girl how to defend herself, and she informs him that she believes in fighting. She threatens to “out” Mr. Kent to the school board if he follows through on the expulsion. Mr. Kent is confident that she will not do this, as he knows that she is also in a same-sex relationship. Miss Marshall manages to trump his ace, however, and he agrees not to expel Amanda.
Leaving the office, Miss Marshall has a final, triumphant and subversive interaction with her student.
A woman, a girl, and a man
Single set
Nine minutes
