PLAYS

written by THEA IBERALL

“Thea tells narrative stories that mask hidden layers

of meaning and emotion.”

 -OC Weekly

 

FULL-LENGTH PLAYS 

                          

THE ONLY THING GREEK ABOUT ME IS MY NAME  by Thea Iberall
1F
75 minutes
Drama/Comedy. A deeply emotional but humorous historic and personal journey as Thea tries to live up to the meaning of her name and come to terms with Aristotle.
Suitable for high school and older.
Production History: see www.theonlythinggreek.com.
This play is the story of what it is to be a thing – anything. A word, a name, a rock, a building, a scientist, a boy facing death, a woman in a patriarchy, a member of a race Hitler tried to eradicate. This play is about finding new teachers to learn from. It is about learning to ask questions without fear. It is about redefining god.

 Audience feedback:
“It was captivating and moving!”
“A delightful theatrical experience!”
“A winning combination of humor, pathos, and darn fascinating science!”
“Brilliant! Thea and her work deserves a VERY large audience”
“I felt like I was on the bus with her…Thea is wonderful, creative, very talented playwright, poet and performer.”
“It was amazing to experience Thea's range of knowledge, keen sense of observation, depth of feeling, and through the lens of various trips to Greece with her sisters. She took me on a journey which wove the inner and outer world into a dazzling fabric of the imagination.”
 

                                                                             

AMACRY! THE NEURONIC MUSICAL
Book and lyrics by Thea Iberall; Music by James Harding
7F 3M
120 minutes
Musical. A behind-the-scenes view of a same-time-next-year story about
a woman afraid of relationships that takes place inside her brain.
The main characters are neurons trying to figure out how to be happy! 
Production History: Workshop version at the The OUT Theatre, Long Beach, CA. April 2004  

 

Audience feedback:

“I liked it so much, and even better the second time. Some of the themes really hit home"
"Ah, the message!  It spoke to my heart. I told 50 of my friends.
"Very moving!"
“Well written play!”
“A provocative theme that stirs the emotions. How utterly true to see our inner thoughts and our clever defenses to keep ourselves safe from harm’s way."
“The music was superb and added a liveliness to the play.”
“If only for today, I am unafraid – how great! One day at a time.”
“Hooray for kisses and endorphins!!!”
“Great! Smart!”
"A unique look at love!"
“It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it had me singing as I left the theatre. I thought the science was fabulous.  I learned some really useful things about how the brain works. Theatre--the new teaching tool!”
“AMACRY was very entertaining and filled with humor. It's a musical in which you laugh, love and learn.”
“It was a brilliant play, a lay person could understand the working of the brain. I enjoyed, laughed and was touched by the insight and honesty. Years of therapy explained in one play.”

                                                                                    

 
  

ONE-ACT PLAYS 

WHEN I WAS CALLED TONY by Thea Iberall
3 F 1M
55 minutes
Drama. A lesbian in her 50s wants to marry her partner. Through flashbacks the story of Alexandria’s and Katherine’s compelling 23-year relationship is told against a backdrop of lesbian history
 Production History: A shorter one-act version was produced by The OUT Theatre, Long Beach, CA November 2002.

 

“When I Was Called Tony…is lovingly wrapped up by the play’s hopeful denouement.”   – OC Weekly, 11/15/02
 
“It's a very moving, powerful play. The writing is first-rate…It's just wonderful and it should be done and it should win prizes. It moved me to tears.”  - David Scott Milton, playwright

 

 

 

PRIMED FOR LOVE by Thea Iberall and Helene Iberall
2F 1M
18 minutes
Comedy. She’s looking for love. He’s into numbers. Will this equation lead to romance?
Readings:
Leisure World Theatre Guild, staged reading, September 18, 2003
Strawn's Attic, staged reading, September 29, 2003
Productions:
Eclectic Theatre Company, North Hollywood, CA Oct 15-17,2004
 

“Primed for Love” is a gem of a one-acter—utterly entertaining and emotionally satisfying.  This romantic comedy…never misses a beat.  The play is utterly whimsical, erudite, and humane.  It is a delight to enjoy time and time again." - audience member

 
"Primed For Love” is excellent and I have no doubt of its future. -- Strawn Bovee, actress, The Odyssey Theatre
 

 

BRAIN SWAMPING by Thea Iberall
3F 1M
20 minutes
Drama. Grace goes on the trip of her life, deep into her father’s brain
Production History:
Strawn's Attic, staged reading, September 29, 2003

 

LIFE IS NOT A FLAME by Thea Iberall
4F 2M
32 minutes
Drama. An engineer with a dream dies, leaving his family to sort out its own complexity and the mystery he left behind.
Suitable for college and older.
Reading: Moving Arts Theatre, March 2004 

“’Life is Not a Flame’ has humor, family drama, an intelligent mini-mystery, and characters that seem real.” -audience member

 

TEN-MINUTE PLAYS

THE PEOPLE OF CAPHTOR by Thea Iberall
2F 1M
10 minutes
Comedy. While trying to come to terms with her aunt’s death, a woman meditates on the ten biblical plagues of Egypt.
Production History: not yet produced

 

SHORT ARMS by Thea Iberall
1 F
6 minutes
Comedy. She’s a drunk. He's got short arms.
Production History: not yet produced

 

CHILDREN'S MUSICALS

VANILLAVILLE
 Music by Susan Chodakiewitz, Lyrics by Erica Stux and Susan Chodakiewitz; Book by Thea Iberall
3F 2M
50 minutes
Musical. Will it take something bizarre to jolt the neighbors of Vanillaville out
of their bland predictable lives and who will dare to do it?.
Production History: 15 minute version, Colony Theatre, June 15-17, 2004

 

AT SEVEN
Music and Lyrics by Penni Rubin; Book by Thea iberall

2F 3M
50 minutes
Suitable for children and older.
Musical. Melanie, a children’s party performer, has to prove she can do something important with her life. 14 children’s songs.
Production History: Toledo Rep Young Playgoer's Series, 2006-8

 

“Thank you for the play ‘At Seven’. I really like what you put on for us. To me, it was very educating because I had that same problem with my dad. I told him I wanted to work with kids like myself and he said if you do that you will just be wasting my time. I watched that play and it really hit me. Thank you very much, you taught me a lesson.” - student
 
“Thank you all for the play ‘At Seven’. My favorite was the Wizard of Wonder and the zebra. My hand is still sore from clapping.” - student
 
“I really liked the show my favorite part was the whole thing." -student
 
“I liked how the message was so clear to the students. I also liked how the songs used repetition to help students remember.” -Teacher at St. Joseph School, Toledo, OH
 
“The music was very suitable and contagious! The performers were so active that they held our interest the whole time.” -Teacher at St. Joseph School, Toledo, OH
 
“It was an excellent performance – fast-paced and kept students’ attention!!” – Teacher at Dorr Street School
 
 

 

 thea@iberall.com

www.theaiberall.com

 

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