Cockroaches

by Emma Schillage

Cockroaches is a Southern Gothic dark comedy about three sisters trapped in their childhood home grappling with their mother's most recent suicide attempt. Momma has been acting strange since coming home from the hospital, causing eldest daughter, Jenny, to come home from college, middle child, Charlie, to act out, and youngest child, Sissy, to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Meanwhile, monsters are lurking...

Cockroaches is a Southern Gothic dark comedy about three sisters trapped in their childhood home grappling with their mother's most recent suicide attempt. Momma has been acting strange since coming home from the hospital, causing eldest daughter, Jenny, to come home from college, middle child, Charlie, to act out, and youngest child, Sissy, to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Meanwhile, monsters are lurking, ready to consume every bit of innocence in their path. As their mother's humanity fades, the sisters must learn to care for themselves and each other before it is too late. Cockroaches explores how we create monsters, survive them, punish them, and learn from them in the wake of disaster. Inspired by Southern Gothic tales and loosely based on Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis, the play features three young female characters filled with rage, joy, and fierce humor as they navigate a dark and treacherous world.

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Cockroaches

Recommended by

  • Joshua Piper: Cockroaches by Emma Schillage
    “

    If you like "Plano" by Will Arbury, you have to read this play. It's so wonderful and weird and it truly is a Southern Gothic play. I'd be willing to say in a way it defines the genre. Truly a lovely read!

    If you like "Plano" by Will Arbury, you have to read this play. It's so wonderful and weird and it truly is a Southern Gothic play. I'd be willing to say in a way it defines the genre. Truly a lovely read!

    ”
  • Playwrights Foundation: Cockroaches by Emma Schillage
    “

    The community of National Committee readers for the 47th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced COCKROACHES as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We specifically leaned into the texture and language of this script, which readers found both poetic and refreshingly direct. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production.

    The community of National Committee readers for the 47th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced COCKROACHES as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We specifically leaned into the texture and language of this script, which readers found both poetic and refreshingly direct. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production.

    ”
  • Paige Esterly: Cockroaches by Emma Schillage
    “

    My favorite new play I've read in a good long while. The realness of the sister relationships makes the horror aspects that much more disturbing. Southern Gothic tradition coming in HOT in this work; Crimes of the Heart's Meg, Lenny, and Babe have NOTHING on Cockroaches' Jenny, Charlie, and Sissy.

    My favorite new play I've read in a good long while. The realness of the sister relationships makes the horror aspects that much more disturbing. Southern Gothic tradition coming in HOT in this work; Crimes of the Heart's Meg, Lenny, and Babe have NOTHING on Cockroaches' Jenny, Charlie, and Sissy.

    ”
View all 6 recommendations

Character Information

NOTE ON CASTING
-Charlie, and Sissy are under the age of 18, but all roles should be played by actors who are 18+.
-The actor playing Momma must be a strong mover. Momma can be played by any age or gender.
-The sisters need not look like one another. They all have different fathers. Please cast based on what is representative of your community.
  • Jennifer "Jenny"
    18; the oldest child; the caretaker, she is responsible and intelligent, but she isn’t sure what her purpose is outside of taking care of her family
    18
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Charlotte "Charlie"
    15; the middle child; the pot-stirrer, she is intuitive and deeply insecure about her weight, her love and intensity can easily turn into violence, but that’s just her defense mechanism
    15
    Any
    Assigned female at birth -- female or non-binary
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary
  • Savina "Sissy"
    12; the youngest; the crybaby/the peace-keeper, she is sensitive and joyful, but somewhat disturbed, she feels everything with heightened intensity
    12
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Child,
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Mr. Sam
    35-55; the next door neighbor; the helper, the care he offers is dangerous
    35-55
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Momma
    the human parts of her are fading
    Any Age
    Any
    Any
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary

Development History

  • Residency, the cell theatre, 2024
  • Reading, Breaking and Entering Theatre Co. , 2023
  • Workshop, Breaking and Entering Theatre Company, 2023
  • Workshop, Columbia University, 2023

Production History

  • Professional, Revolution Stage Company, 2026
  • University, Columbia University, 2023

Awards

  • Stanley Drama Award
    Wagner College
    Runner Up
    2025
  • Long-Listed for 2024 Distillery New Works Festival
    Seattle Public Theatre
    Selection
    2024
  • Semi-finalist in Stage Play Script Competition
    Austin Film Festival
    Semi-Finalist
    2023