Fnd out what's behind the work and what makes me tick - it's a merry mix of interests, passions and thought experiments.
The original power couple of the American Revolution, John and Abigail Adams spent many years apart and left us a voluminous correspondence. This commissioned work is based on their letters from 1774 - 1776.
The production features actors Heidi Swarthout and Christopher Williams as Abigail and John. Filmed in the studio at All Dressed Up Costumes in Batavia, Illinois during 2021 for streaming theatre.
When a mysterious email from HR brings newbie worker, Pax, to Brin's office, it's up to the seasoned worker to break the bad news: Just checking in means Pax will be checking out. This video was recorded during a performance of this 10-minute play for documentation purposes. Part of the Working Hard/Hardly Working Corporate Dystopia series.
A milestone birthday forces Beth to confront her unexplainable terror of motherhood and family--even as her wife, Alex, rushes ahead. While her mother makes things worse by trying to make them better and a therapist drives her crazy, Beth struggles to rewind her life in time to build a future. This table read was recorded at Chicago Dramatists.
A milestone birthday forces Beth to confront her unexplainable terror of motherhood and family--even as her wife, Alex, rushes ahead. While her mother makes things worse by trying to make them better and a therapist drives her crazy, Beth struggles to rewind her life in time to build a future. This table read was recorded at Chicago Dramatists.
“Takes a relatable and mundane experience and makes it completely absurd in the best way possible.”
"My stomach hurt from laughing while reading this. This kind of comedy is right up my alley. I love the dynamic between the ridiculous Alex and the straight man Hooper.
“Thoroughly enjoyed this play! The characters are hilarious and the story is truly an employment nightmare that I'll be thinking about for the rest of the day!”
"The more hellish it gets, the funnier it gets. You’ll laugh just to release the well-crafted tension of powerlessness. It’d be great for festivals, and high school kids would have a riot with this."
"If you have ever left a job or have watched a coworker leave your place of employment, this will hit you right in the funny bone! Hilarious... because it is true..”
“Want a play that will make your audiences ROLL in their seats PEEING with laughter, you've found it! Westby takes corporate America bullshit and turns it into a hilarious absurdist play. Excellent for festivals!”
“Westby's strength comes from his mastery with words. He creates unique characters that have their own voices.”
- Daily Herald
“A rollicking romp about law breaking and personal boundaries, Random Theft and Other Acts is a Fargo-esque comedy that follows three unemployed and over-educated suburbanites as they face the perfect storm of a real estate disaster and economic crisis.”
-Theatre in Chicago
“A sharp, darkly comic exploration of fate, trust, and desperation, Random Theft & Other Acts brings richly drawn characters to life through witty, fast-paced dialogue and escalating tension. A bold, inventive piece that skillfully balances comedy, tension, and emotional depth, leaving a lasting impression.”
AFTERIMAGE
"A richly layered and haunting drama, Afterimage weaves art, memory, and buried history into a compelling theatrical tapestry. John David Westby crafts vivid, complex characters, particularly Lila, whose inner conflict drives the play with emotional intensity. The dialogue is elegant and precise, while the shifting interplay between past and present creates a powerful sense of unease. Thought-provoking and visually evocative, the play lingers with quiet, resonant force."
“When a dystopian tale is done 'right' whether as prose, verse, or for the stage - the memory of it's message and lost, pain filled world stick like a fishbone in ones throat. Like Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451", John David Westby's "Burn Schedule 10Min" may never lose its relevancy. Or subtle power. And that is a problem. Kudos!”
“The very short play we need in these dark times. The reminder that what some would call an "Infraction" others would call "being alive." A powerful two hander and a pile of books. ”
“The conflict in Westby’s sharply written play about stolen books and the supposed dangers of words deals with a man looking for his lost daughter, along with the loss of imagined worlds and ideas, and a young man who is deathly afraid of allowing the words to live free. The case for the beauty of stories by E.B. White, Victor Hugo and Maurice Sendak is beautifully told, which strengthens the argument that we need books, plays and poetry, perhaps now more than ever.
Excellent work! ”
MADE YOU LAUGH
“ I cannot recommend this play enough.
It is hysterically funny and at the same time a dark and cautionary vision of a (our) possible future. ”
“I had the privilege of producing a reading of this hilarious ten-minute play, and the pissing with laughter from the audience made it doubly rewarding.
Not only is this play a gas, but it also hits hard with a political undercurrent and is a commentary on what could happen in a potential fascist overhaul... just in this case with clowns. Lots of clowns. Genuis script. Do it!”
BREAKAGE
“A poignant play that tackles discrimination and loneliness set in a nail salon. Great setting. Powerful ending. Two unique characters.”
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