Plays under 15 minutes:
Better a Beggar
A young woman sulks in the kitchen during her sister's engagement party. When her sister tries to draw her back out into the party, their rivalries and resentments come to the fore, and the two end up sparring, not just verbally, but with everything they can get their hands on in the kitchen.
2 women
Better a Beggar was commissioned as a part of The Lady Cavaliers' "Fighting the Clock" series at the Bouwerie Lane Theatre.
Burns Night
Two friends hide out in the kitchen while a celebration of Robert Burns and all things Scottish starts to go overboard.
2 women
1 man
Burns Night premiered as a part of the Long Island City One-Act Festival at The Secret Theatre.
Canceling Christmas
Based on the true story of the Canterbury Christmas riots of 1647, Canceling Christmas imagines what might have happened when citizens first heard the news that a puritanical British parliament had banned the celebration of Christmas.
5 actors
Canceling Christmas was performed in 2009 by LiveWire Chicago Theatre as part of its annual VisionFest of new plays. It was subsequently published in The Louisville Review.
Corpse
A reporter interviews a family about recent happenings in a small town. Meanwhile, a corpse appears in their midst, but is seen only by a young child.
6 actors
Corpse was performed in 2009 as a part of Turtle Shell Productions' Summer Play Festival.
Darkness
Two men kidnap an alleged terrorist and decide to take justice into their own hands.
1 woman
2 men
Darkness was commissioned by the Epiphany Theater Company.
First to Draw Blood
Alvild prefers a life of piracy to submitting to an arranged marriage. But her betrothed is not willing to give up.
2 women
2 men
First to Draw Blood premiered in 2012 as a part of Mortal Folly Theatre's Broadside! event.
Housekeeping
A traveling businessman gets more than he bargained for when he admits a woman into his hotel room for housekeeping.
1 woman
1 man
Housekeeping was originally performed by Aching Dogs Theatre in 2011 in a workshop production at the Hudson Theatre Guild.
A young woman sulks in the kitchen during her sister's engagement party. When her sister tries to draw her back out into the party, their rivalries and resentments come to the fore, and the two end up sparring, not just verbally, but with everything they can get their hands on in the kitchen.
2 women
Better a Beggar was commissioned as a part of The Lady Cavaliers' "Fighting the Clock" series at the Bouwerie Lane Theatre.
Burns Night
Two friends hide out in the kitchen while a celebration of Robert Burns and all things Scottish starts to go overboard.
2 women
1 man
Burns Night premiered as a part of the Long Island City One-Act Festival at The Secret Theatre.
Canceling Christmas
5 actors
Canceling Christmas was performed in 2009 by LiveWire Chicago Theatre as part of its annual VisionFest of new plays. It was subsequently published in The Louisville Review.
Corpse
A reporter interviews a family about recent happenings in a small town. Meanwhile, a corpse appears in their midst, but is seen only by a young child.
6 actors
Corpse was performed in 2009 as a part of Turtle Shell Productions' Summer Play Festival.
Darkness
Two men kidnap an alleged terrorist and decide to take justice into their own hands.
1 woman
2 men
Darkness was commissioned by the Epiphany Theater Company.
First to Draw Blood
2 women
2 men
First to Draw Blood premiered in 2012 as a part of Mortal Folly Theatre's Broadside! event.
Housekeeping
A traveling businessman gets more than he bargained for when he admits a woman into his hotel room for housekeeping.
1 woman
1 man
Housekeeping was originally performed by Aching Dogs Theatre in 2011 in a workshop production at the Hudson Theatre Guild.
Kew Gardens
The night before an infamous murder in 1960s Queens, a young woman prepares to go off to work, seemingly both aware and unaware of her fate.
The night before an infamous murder in 1960s Queens, a young woman prepares to go off to work, seemingly both aware and unaware of her fate.
1 woman
Kew Gardens was originally performed and filmed in 2022 at Actors' Theatre in Santa Cruz.
The Lake Isle of Innisfree
An estranged father and son ride the ferry home after celebrating St. Patrick's Day in the city. Both search for beauty in a world that has betrayed them.
2 men
The Lake Isle of Innisfree was originally performed as part of Sundog Theatre's Scenes From the Staten Island Ferry in 2006.
Leap of Faith
Seeking love, a woman bursts into a room and offers unconditional commitment to a total stranger. This short play explores the absurdity of relationships in a fun and touching manner.
1 woman
1 man
Leap of Faith was originally performed as part of the Seattle Fringe Festival. It was later published in the literary journal Yemassee.
The Machine Stops
It was an ordinary Thursday in NYC. Suddenly, all cell and satellite service went out. New Yorkers were stuck with land lines and dial-up.
3 women
2 men
The Machine Stops was originally produced on June 2, 2012, as a part of a 24-hour theater project by Momentum Repertory Company.
The Mating Habits of New Jersey Wildlife
Under special laboratory conditions, two scientists study Vinnie and Ruth, both natives of New Jersey, as they begin their courtship. This short, frantic play sends up stereotypes and lampoons the trials and tribulations of modern dating.
2 women
2 men
The Mating Habits of New Jersey Wildlife was commissioned for Dance Space Center in New York City.
My Fellow Americans
The Lake Isle of Innisfree
An estranged father and son ride the ferry home after celebrating St. Patrick's Day in the city. Both search for beauty in a world that has betrayed them.
2 men
The Lake Isle of Innisfree was originally performed as part of Sundog Theatre's Scenes From the Staten Island Ferry in 2006.
Leap of Faith
Seeking love, a woman bursts into a room and offers unconditional commitment to a total stranger. This short play explores the absurdity of relationships in a fun and touching manner.
1 woman
1 man
Leap of Faith was originally performed as part of the Seattle Fringe Festival. It was later published in the literary journal Yemassee.
The Machine Stops
It was an ordinary Thursday in NYC. Suddenly, all cell and satellite service went out. New Yorkers were stuck with land lines and dial-up.
3 women
2 men
The Machine Stops was originally produced on June 2, 2012, as a part of a 24-hour theater project by Momentum Repertory Company.
The Mating Habits of New Jersey Wildlife
Under special laboratory conditions, two scientists study Vinnie and Ruth, both natives of New Jersey, as they begin their courtship. This short, frantic play sends up stereotypes and lampoons the trials and tribulations of modern dating.
2 women
2 men
The Mating Habits of New Jersey Wildlife was commissioned for Dance Space Center in New York City.
My Fellow Americans
A woman gives her dream speech as President of the United States, but pressing issues intervene.
1 woman
My Fellow Americans premiered at the Act One: One Act Festival at The Secret Theatre in Queens.
The Rainbow
Two strangers meet for a picnic -- sans their mutual friend -- using a certain book to find each other. Together, they try to figure out what might still be possible.
1 woman
1 man
The Rainbow premiered at the American Globe Theatre and was later named as a finalist for the Actors Theatre of Louisville's 2012 Heideman Award. It is anthologized in The Best American Short Plays: 2012-2013 published by Applause.
Reflection
Two friends meet for coffee and discover they may not remain friends for long.
1 woman
1 man
Reflection premiered at The Gene Frankel Theatre in New York as part of an evening of short plays presented by Lightyear Production.
The Sign in the Scarlet Prison
Two women. A cell. A mysterious cross in blood. And a deadly lesson in swordplay.
2 women
The Sign in the Scarlet Prison was originally produced by the Lady Cavaliers at the 2002 Women-at-Arms Festival at Theater for the New City. It was performed again in 2012 as a part of Mortal Folly Theatre's Broadside! event. It was subsequently published in Southern Indiana Review.
The State of Colorado v. Tennessee Williams
Though the State of Colorado has banned the smoking onstage of even non-addictive, non-carcinogenic fake cigarettes, it is perfectly legal to smoke marijuana off stage. The logical outcome? Four actors and an intrepid stage manager decide to perform The Glass Menagerie without the onstage smoking, but only after getting stoned out of their minds first.
5 actors
The State of Colorado v. Tennessee Williams premiered in 2014 as part of the Bad Theater Fest at the Treehouse Theater in New York City. The play was subsequently published in Canyon Voices literary magazine.
The Trade
A young couple meets to discuss their relationship. But there are rules to this conversation. Very specific rules. The two soon discover that love cannot boil down to a simple game of trading cards.
1 woman
1 man
The Trade premiered on June 4, 2015 at the Gallery Players' 18th Annual Black Box New Play Festival in Brooklyn.
The True Author... Revealed
It's the truth that could only be known by the 19th century! The true author of the plays formerly attributed to Mister William Shakespeare revealed to the world for the first time by Miss Delia Bacon! Based on a true story, this one-woman play depicts an eccentric woman delivering a mad lecture in England under the patronage of Nathaniel Hawthorne, then American consul to Liverpool. As the lecture continues, we see her gradually slip into insanity.
1 woman
The True Author... Revealed premiered in 2009 and is anthologized in The Best American Short Plays: 2008-2009 published by Applause.
Two strangers meet for a picnic -- sans their mutual friend -- using a certain book to find each other. Together, they try to figure out what might still be possible.
1 woman
1 man
The Rainbow premiered at the American Globe Theatre and was later named as a finalist for the Actors Theatre of Louisville's 2012 Heideman Award. It is anthologized in The Best American Short Plays: 2012-2013 published by Applause.
Reflection
Two friends meet for coffee and discover they may not remain friends for long.
1 woman
1 man
Reflection premiered at The Gene Frankel Theatre in New York as part of an evening of short plays presented by Lightyear Production.
The Sign in the Scarlet Prison
2 women
The Sign in the Scarlet Prison was originally produced by the Lady Cavaliers at the 2002 Women-at-Arms Festival at Theater for the New City. It was performed again in 2012 as a part of Mortal Folly Theatre's Broadside! event. It was subsequently published in Southern Indiana Review.
Though the State of Colorado has banned the smoking onstage of even non-addictive, non-carcinogenic fake cigarettes, it is perfectly legal to smoke marijuana off stage. The logical outcome? Four actors and an intrepid stage manager decide to perform The Glass Menagerie without the onstage smoking, but only after getting stoned out of their minds first.
5 actors
The State of Colorado v. Tennessee Williams premiered in 2014 as part of the Bad Theater Fest at the Treehouse Theater in New York City. The play was subsequently published in Canyon Voices literary magazine.
The Trade
A young couple meets to discuss their relationship. But there are rules to this conversation. Very specific rules. The two soon discover that love cannot boil down to a simple game of trading cards.
1 woman
1 man
The Trade premiered on June 4, 2015 at the Gallery Players' 18th Annual Black Box New Play Festival in Brooklyn.
The True Author... Revealed
1 woman
The True Author... Revealed premiered in 2009 and is anthologized in The Best American Short Plays: 2008-2009 published by Applause.
Wedding Night
A young woman says goodbye to her mother on her wedding night. Both know the marriage will not be ideal, but as darkness descends, new possibilities emerge that no one ever anticipated.
2 women
A young woman says goodbye to her mother on her wedding night. Both know the marriage will not be ideal, but as darkness descends, new possibilities emerge that no one ever anticipated.
2 women
1 man
Wedding Night received a staged reading at Anacostia Playhouse in Washington, D.C.
Wedding Night received a staged reading at Anacostia Playhouse in Washington, D.C.
When Ladies Go A-Thieving
Three pickpockets in Seven Dials, London, compare their spoils one dark evening in 1841. Doll, having recently read the last installment of a cheap, popular novel, persuades her two companions to act out a duel from the story. As past resentments come to the surface, however, their play takes a deadly turn.
3 women
When Ladies Go A-Thieving was originally performed as a part of The Turnip Theatre Company and American Globe Theatre's 10th Annual Fifteen Minute Play Festival. It was revived in 2012 as part of Mortal Folly Theatre's Broadside! event.
For more information, e-mail armstrongwrites(at)gmail(dot)com.
