i wish i was her(s)

Alison is a country singer turned mega pop star, who struggles to make friends... until she meets Marina, a fledging indie pop musician and one of Alison's biggest fans. After reaching a career peak, Alison’s career is under intense scrutiny after a popular podcast makes some accusations about her private life. As midnights become Alison & Marina’s afternoons, a concert of Alison’s Eras dissects parasocial relationships, queerbaiting, AI/deepfakes, and the impact of financial success on friendships.

Read the current draft here.

DEVELOPMENT HISTORY

The first ten minutes of i wish i was her(s) were directed by Abby Messina and featured Natalie Myrick & Kayla Zanakis for the Fucked Up Play Fest on January 14, 2023, at Caveat (NYC).

i wish i was her(s) was developed with the Under Construction 4 Playwrights Group at The Road Theatre Company (LA) from March - December 2023. Mackenna Goodrich facilitated the group.

i wish i was her(s) was selected for the Dramatists Guild & The 24 Hour Plays’ End of Play Virtual Readings on May 8, 2024. The actors featured Alison Ormsby, Stephanie Fongheiser, Cricket Brown, Mackenzie Moyer, and Zoe Nebraska Feldman.

The first public reading of i wish i was her(s) will be held at The Road Theatre Company on May 28, 2024. Ru Kazi directed an ensemble featuring Alison Ormsby, Lilli Passero, Esheka Varshney, Rachel Morgan Singer, and Jordan Moore.

i wish i was her(s) is the main project for SMJ’s time as a part of The Orchard Project’s 2023-2024 Greenhouse Lab.

A reading of i wish i was her(s) was held on October 11, 2024, at the Dramatists Guild Foundation. The reading served as the conclusion of SMJ’s time with The Road Theatre Company’s Under Construction 4 Playwrights Group. Mackenna Goodrich directed the reading. The cast featured Claire McPartland, Carolina Miranda, Jessie Jo Aka, Kathlynn Rodin, and Nick Turturro.

Fucked Up Play Festival, January 2023