Jeffrey M. Cordell
(Playwright)

Jeff.Cordell@marietta.edu

(Click my e-mail above to contact me reagrding interest in any of my plays - I am willing to provide samples or copies to sincerely interested parties.)

One-Act Plays:

- "From the Gentleman, Over There" - written for the final RTP festival of spring semester, 2006 -

Synopsis: As a sexy woman poetically dances a lonely night away, a shy man laments never having connected with her in the smallest way. (1m, 1w)

 

- “How Gay? So Gay.” (one act) - given a self-driected workshop production as part of 2nd annual Pittsburgh Pride Theatre Festival (2005), sponsored by Pittsburgh Playwright’s Theatre Company (Reviews)

Synopsis: A choral piece with power monologues for three men about what it does and doesn't mean to be gay today. (3m)


- “Defense of Marriage” (one-act) - received a workshop production directed by Ted Hoover as part of inaugural Pittsburgh Pride Theatre Festival (2004), sponsored by Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company (Reviews)
- received a staged reading by Theatre OUTlanta (Gerogia) as part of a political fundraiser (2004)

Synopsis: A gay couple comically gropes toward a decision on a more committed life together - will it clean up some misunderstandings or be a drag? (2m)

 

Other one-act plays: (workshop ready scripts)
"Ammon in Bed" - an exotic patron saint of doing-nothing-but-what-pleases confronts fears of a meaningless life amidst a chain of one night stands (3m, 1w)


"Throw for It" - How will Rock, Paper, and Scissors decide amongst themselves for the pleasure of being "it?" (3 actors)

Adaptations:

Adaptation of "The Only Jealousy of Emer" by W. B. Yeats
- self-directed this original adaptation as part of The Cuchulain Cycle, Kell’s Theatre (2004)
- adaptation expanded and explored role of the musicians/chorus in Emer’s and Eithne’s conflict over Cuchulain’s body and memory
- steered the piece towards a female dominated ensemble (reviews)

Adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
- new title: Faeries, Mortals, & Magic: A Midsummer Celebration
-
self-directed this original adaptation which replaced the lover’s plot with varied summer solstice rituals from various cultures and traditions, Avalon Productions (2002)

 

Mentoring:

Planned and coordinated the innaugural 24-Hour Play Festival at Marietta College.

Playwright-in-Residence – AY 05-06, The Red Eye Theatre Project (RTP) at Univeristy of Pittsburgh
- 24-hour student playwriting and production company; two events per semester - advised eight student playwrights during intensive 12 hour writing session for three festivals