The Place That Made You

by Darcy Parker Bruce

Ben, a ghost, returns to her childhood town after a tragedy overseas. Jonah is just trying to find somewhere to keep his mattress, his hotplate … and himself. Meanwhile, a giant white whale haunts the coastline of a sleepy Connecticut town. A modern-day reimagining of Jonah and the Whale, a tale of love, loss, and glory in small-town America.

Ben, a ghost, returns to her childhood town after a tragedy overseas. Jonah is just trying to find somewhere to keep his mattress, his hotplate … and himself. Meanwhile, a giant white whale haunts the coastline of a sleepy Connecticut town. A modern-day reimagining of Jonah and the Whale, a tale of love, loss, and glory in small-town America.

  • Inquire About Rights
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Library

The Place That Made You

Recommended by

  • Rachel Teagle: The Place That Made You by Darcy Parker Bruce
    “

    A haunting, moving, evocative play with engulfing imagery and lived-in characters. I loved the play between worlds and how such enormous impossible ideas can live beside such intimate, heartbreaking moments.

    A haunting, moving, evocative play with engulfing imagery and lived-in characters. I loved the play between worlds and how such enormous impossible ideas can live beside such intimate, heartbreaking moments.

    ”
  • Cheryl Bear: The Place That Made You by Darcy Parker Bruce
    “

    A gorgeous portrait of pain and loss that intimately connects in a magical way. Excellent.

    A gorgeous portrait of pain and loss that intimately connects in a magical way. Excellent.

    ”
  • Asher Wyndham: The Place That Made You by Darcy Parker Bruce
    “

    Many of us could easily connect with these characters and their struggle to belong and make sense of so much pain and loss in their lives.
    Immensely theatrical, Bruce's play swallows you whole like a big whale.
    Most plays are just fine treading the shoreline - this one goes deep, deep in the ocean.
    Another challenging - certainly rewarding - play for designers.

    Many of us could easily connect with these characters and their struggle to belong and make sense of so much pain and loss in their lives.
    Immensely theatrical, Bruce's play swallows you whole like a big whale.
    Most plays are just fine treading the shoreline - this one goes deep, deep in the ocean.
    Another challenging - certainly rewarding - play for designers.

    ”
View all 19 recommendations

Character Information

  • Jonah
    frog kissing boy of the summer. searching the waves searching for answers searching for home.

    30s
    Any
    Trans man
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Ben
    A ghost returning.
    30s
    Any
    Genderqueer
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Non-binary
  • Emily
    Fierce
    30s
    Any
    Cis female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Brendan
    an EMT
    30s
    Any
    Cis male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Bud
    vietnam vet and proud american
    60s
    Any
    Cis male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      60s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man

Development History

  • Residency, Interlochen Center for the Arts, 2023
  • Reading, TheaterWorks Hartford , 2020
  • Reading, The Depot (CT), 2019
  • Reading, Local Readings Coop, 2019
  • Workshop, LAMBDA, 2019
  • Residency, One Company, 2017

Awards

  • Seven Devil's Playwrights' Conference
    Seven Devils
    Finalist
    2023
  • 2020 Conference
    Seven Devils
    Semi-Finalist
    2020
  • Broad Horizons Development Series
    Broad Horizons Theatre Company
    Finalist
    2020
  • International Thomas Wolfe Playwriting Competition
    Playmakers Repertory Company
    Semi-Finalist
    2019
  • Normal Ave's NAP Series
    Normal Ave
    Semi-Finalist
    2019
  • Reading Series
    Campfire Theatre Festival
    Finalist
    2019