One Acts History
Eden Prairie Players began producing collections of one acts plays at Riley-Jacques Barn each September starting in 2005. Initially, we produced published plays, often by well known playwrights such as Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee, David Ives, and Christopher Durang. In 2008, we produced our first original, unpublished one act play, Rose Beds, which was written and directed by Jeannine Coulombe. In 2010, we made called for submissions of unpublished one acts and made them a regular part of the production, mixing published and unpublished works for a few years. Soon, we saw the unpublished material had been well received by our audiences, actors, and directors and we switched over to producing entirely unpublished works in 2016, after a special “Best of the First 10 years” in 2015.
In 2018, we added a new production to the schedule: Women’s One Acts. WOA featured unpublished plays written and directed by women. WOA was immediately popular and now appears in Riley-Jacques Barn each year in early May. In 2023, WOA becomes WOA+, featuring seven unpublished plays written and directed by those with female and gender diverse identities.
Here is a listing of all of the one acts we have produced over the years.
* indicates unpublished works.
2022 Collection of One Acts
Fourth Wall*
by Terry Riley, directed by Liz Michaelson
Tiny, Secret Notes*
by Marj O’Neill-Butler, directed by Stephen Houtz
Shakespeare and Juliet*
by Andrea Aptecker, directed by Lori Alsdurf
A Benevolent Alliance of Mourners*
by Ken Preuss, directed by Megan Gooden
Family Justice*
by James McLindon, directed by Laura Baker
Who Didn’t Dunnit?*
by Thomas Misuraca, directed by Dan Stephans
An Awkward Conversation in the Shadow of Mount Moriah*
by John Bavoso, directed by Steve Ramirez
2022 Women’s One Acts
Rock Star*
by Peggy Powell, directed by Lori Alsdurf
Matchmade*
by Dale Griffiths Stamos, directed by Jen Frieden
Cicadas*
by Carol Mullen, directed by Samantha Faye King
The Sign*
by Julie Zaffarano, directed by Shelley Smith
The Garden Path to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions*
by Kelly McBurnette-Andronicos directed by Michelle Schwantes
Heartache Tonight*
by Laura Thoma, directed by Vanessa Powers
The...Thingy*
by Kathleen Monaghan, directed by Sara Skar
Collection of One Acts: Special Edition (Winter 2022)
Monday Night Chess*
by William Sikorski, directed by Lori Alsdurf
What I Got Nobody Wants*
by John Kelly, directed by Stephan Houtz
Minor Deviations*
by Erin Osgood, directed by Chad Giefer
Corrections*
by Jackie Martin, directed by Dan Stephans
Time Went By*
by Thomas Misuraca, directed by Justin Cervantes
Four Stars*
by Barbara Kimmel, directed by Liz Michaelson
2021 Women’s One Acts
Cut and Run*
by Allie Costa, directed by Tinka
Family Baggage*
by Chris Shaw Swanson, directed by Lori Alsdurf
The Invention of Pickle Ball*
by Rachael Carnes, directed by Megan Gooden
Spark F***ing Joy*
Hannah Vaughn, directed by Jess Passaro
Cupid’s Beau*
by Barbara Lindsay, directed by Carey Morrison
Secret Family Recipes*
Emily McClain, directed by Amanda Weis
EPP Radio Theater (2021: a special Covid production)
Indelible*
by John Bavoso, directed by Daniel Stephans
The Stranger in the Storm*
by Nicholas Thurkettle, directed by Kaz Loren
Infidelity*
by Tony Manzo, directed by Amanda Weis
2019 Collection of One Acts
Karma*
by Anne Flanagan, directed by Glen Stone
The Thing With Feathers*
by Susan M. Steadman, directed by Tim Williams
Just Another Monday*
by Kayla Hambek, directed by Justin Cervantes
When Romcoms Go Bad*
by Ken Levine, directed by Chad Giefer
The Salty Part of the Animal*
by Erin Mallon, directed by Carey Morrison
Collateral Damage*
by George J. Bryjak, directed by Steven Ramirez
Making It Up As We Go Along*
by Mark Harvey Levine, directed by Lori Alsdurf
2019 Women’s One Acts
Between Dollywood and Disney*
by Robin Rice, Directed by Taryn Verley
Exceeding The Purchasable Calories*
by Rhea MacCallum, directed by Kayla Hambek
Back Cover*
by Emily Hageman, directed by Lori Alsdurf
Creating: The Enticing Esmeralda*
by Tabitha Kerr, directed by Tabitha Kerr and Kelly Rohde
Who She Could Have Been*
by Allie Costa, directed by Elizabeth Michaelson
The Morning Menage*
by Tracey Jane, directed by Jessica Passaro
2018 Collection of One Acts
A Little Culture*
by Elin Hampton, directed by Liz Michaelson
Red Roses at a Funeral*
by James Colgan, directed by Tim Williams
How Nice of You to Ask*
by Rich Rubin, directed by Jen Cordes
Stuck*
by Scott Mullen, directed by Nikki Abramson
Put Asunder*
by James McLindon, directed by Steve Ramirez
Pumps*
by Brett Hursey, directed by Lori Alsdurf
A Harmony of Both*
by Terence Patrick Hughes, directed by David Durkee
Hypothetically*
by Peter Floyd, directed by Chad Giefer
2018 The First Annual Women’s One Acts
Joyland*
by Karen Saari, directed by Jen Cordes
Into the City*
by Marj O’Neill-Butler, directed by Liz Michaelson
Medical Records*
by Connie Schindewolf, directed by Lori Alsdurf
Jim Reaper*
by Tracey Jane Smith, directed by Jessica Passaro
Homespun Webs: Imagining Louise Bourgeois*
by C.J. Ehrlich, directed by Taryn Verley
Meet the Pets*
by Tracey Jane Smith, directed by Tabitha Kerr and Kelly Rohde
2017 Collection of One Acts
Taking Things in Hand*
by Marj O’Neill-Butler, directed by Lori Alsdurf
A Place that Looks Like Davenport*
by Paul Lewis, directed by Matthew Kraft
Don't Bleed On Me (or Clothes Minded)*
by Andy Rassler, directed by Liz Michaelson
From Sex to Oatmeal*
by Richard Karulf, directed by Deb Karulf
Romeo and Juliet: Epilogue*
by William Sikorski, directed by David Durkee
Driving Green*
by Martin Blank, directed by Chad Giefer
2016 Collection of One Acts
The Prodigal Cow*
by Mark Harvey Levine, directed by Megan Klett
Fishbowl*
by Erik Meixelsperger, directed by Reed Schulke
Monkey Play*
by Rand Higbee, directed by Gina Light and Matthew Kraft
Peck*
by Frank Tangredi, directed by Stephen Houtz
Bob & Jane One*
by Walt Vail, directed by Rhianna Picht
How I Knew Her*
by Allie Costa, directed by Liz Michaelson
Gram Scams*
by Cary Pepper, directed by Jen Cordes
2015 Collection of One Acts: The Best of 10 Years
Mere Mortals
by David Ives, directed by Stephen Houtz
Controlling Interest
by Wayne S. Rawley, directed by Kerry Foerster
Post-Its (Notes on a Marriage)
by Paul Dooley & Winnie Holzman, directed by Taryn Verley
Back to Normal*
by Tom Moran, directed by Gizelle Erickson
Credit Check
by Eddie Zipperer, directed by David Durkee
Canyon’s Edge*
by Barbara Lindsay, directed by Matthew Kraft
Tough Cookies*
by Brett Hursey, directed by Liz Michaelson
The Right to Remain
by Melanie Marnich, directed by Reed Schulke
2014 Collection of One Acts
Ferris Wheel
by Mary Miller, directed by Gizelle Erickson
Framed*
by Brandon Holscher, directed by Brandon Holscher
Me And My Shadow*
by Rich Orloff, directed by Matthew Kraft
Tummy Trouble*
by Beth Tangeman, directed by Beth Tangeman
The Last Days of Wonder*
by Tess Light, directed by Warren Sampson
What You Don’t Know*
by Mora Harris, directed by Rhianna Picht
And What a Damn Fine Morning It Is*
by Trace Crawford, directed by Reed Schulke
2013 Collection of One Acts
Sunk*
by Caity Shea Violette, directed by Reed Schulke
The Right to Remain
by Melanie Marnich, directed by Linda Hayen
Late*
by Sina Lucia Skates, directed by Matthew Kraft
The Ketchup Bottle*
by Tony Devaney Morinelli, directed by Linda Hayen
Funeral Parlor
by Christopher Durang, directed by Abigail Nones
Shooting Pool With A Rope*
by Lynn-Steven Johanson, directed by David Durkee
The August Jinx*
by Linda Escalera Price, directed by Jennifer Kaune
Tough Cookies*
by Brett Hursey, directed by Ben Layne
2012 Collection of One Acts
The Lady and “The Tyger” or William Blake’s “How I Met Your Mother”*
by Trace Crawford, directed by Abigail Nones
The Rental*
by Mark Harvey Levine, directed by Matthew Kraft
The Sweet Spot*
by Richard Karulf, directed by Deb Karulf
Credit Check
by Eddie Zipperer, directed by Reed Schulke
In the Yichud Room*
by Joel Fishbane, directed by Stephen Houtz
Canyon's Edge*
by Barbara Lindsay, directed by Kerry Foerster
2011 Collection of One Acts
Weight of the World*
by Eddie Zipperer, directed by David Durkee
Malled*
written and directed by Kerry Foerster
Missing*
by Robin Pond, directed by Jennifer Kaune
Seldom is Heard*
by Mary Steelsmith, directed by Abigail Nones
Wanda's Visit
by Christopher Durang, directed by Liz Michaelson
Bedtime
by Mary Gallagher, directed by Crystal G. Schneider
A Passion Play
by Pippin Parker, directed by Linda Hayen
2010 Collection of One Acts
WASP
by Steve Martin, directed by Stephen Houtz
Post-Its (Notes on a Marriage)
by Paul Dooley & Winnie Holzman, directed by Reed Schulke
Back To Normal*
by Tom Moran, directed by Liz Michaelson
Storms, Sheets & Show Tunes*
by Stacey Lane, directed by Liz Michaelson
For One Day*
by Ryan M. Gage, directed by Matthew Kraft
Mornin' Son O' Mine*
by Tom Deiker, directed by Dan Reiva
2009 Collection of One Acts
Impromptu
by Tad Mosel, directed by Stephen Houtz
Medea
by Christopher Durang & Wendy Wasserstein, directed by Liz Michaelson
Last Tuesday
by Donald Margulies, directed by Tom Peterson
Will You Accept The Charges
by Neal Bell, directed by Reed Schulke
Controlling Interest
by Wayne S. Rawley, directed by Emily Meranda
The Last Yankee
by Arthur Miller, directed by Jim Melzer
2008 Collection of One Acts
Desire, Desire, Desire
by Christopher Durang, directed by Thomas Peterson
The Committee Meeting
by Joellenn K. Bland, directed by Kirsten Hambleton
No Shoulder
by Nina Shengold, directed by Shelley Smith
Rose Beds*
written and directed by Jeannine Coulombe
The Siren Song of Stephen Jay Gould
by Benjamin Bettenbender, directed by Kirsten Hambleton
2007 Collection of One Acts
The Still Alarm
by George S. Kaufman, directed by Shelley Smith
27 Wagons Full of Cotton
by Tennessee Williams, directed by Dan Reiva
The Valiant
by Holworthy Hall & Robert Middlemass, directed by Ron Kerr and Christina Akers
Words, Words, Words
by David Ives, directed by Barbe Marshall
The Tridget of Greva
by Ring Larner, directed by Natalie Novacek
2006 Collection of One Acts
Sure Thing
by David Ives, directed by Steve Fusselman
Visitation
by Rebecca Reynolds, directed by Reed Schulke
Are We There Yet?
by Kent R. Brown, directed by Jamey Olson
The Sandbox
by Edward Albee, directed by Shelley Smith
The Actor's Nightmare
by Christopher Durang, directed by Reed Schulke
2005 The First Annual Collection of One Acts
Mere Mortals
by David Ives, directed by Reed Schulke
The Lady of Larkspur Lotion
by Tennessee Williams, directed by Shelley Smith
The Zoo Story
by Edward Albee, directed by Shelley Smith
For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls
by Christopher Durang, directed by Sarah Holmer