Songbird

Readings:
New York City, NY, 2019
Union, NJ, 2020
Union, NJ, Virtual Reading, 2021
Songbird had a virtual staged reading with Premiere Stages at Kean University on March 19, 2021.
Jess is an up-and-coming singer/songwriter who she doesn't want to talk about why she abandoned her career. In fact, she doesn't want to talk about it so badly that she hasn't spoken or sung about anything in months. Jess's sister, Brit, thinks a beach trip to their old family vacation spot is just the trick to get Jess to open up. What Brit doesn't expect is for her sister to stay silent, while also making friends with a young teenager who breaks into their beach house. Jess is haunted by the events that led up to her vow of silence, even as she is battered by her sister's insecurities and troubled by signs of abuse marking her new friend's face. As tensions rise, Jess knows there are words that have to be spoken; she's just hoping she has the right ones.

You can read Songbird on New Play Exchange.

Characters:
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JESS, a former singer who has gone silent 
BRIT, Jess’s sister, older by 5-10 years 
HARRY, a woman about Jess’s age; her best friend and manager 
BOY, around the age of 12 or 13 
MAN, the boy's father