THE CAPTIVES

by Barbara Blumenthal-Ehrlich

T H E C A P T I V E S

THE CAPTIVES In Brief:
Painting death-row meals on china plates may seem like a quirky artistic endeavor. But Professor’s made quite a name for herself doing just that from the safety of her conservative Midwestern college. As someone who struggles with gender identity, she’s fascinated by this final decision in a life otherwise devoid of options. But now, pressured by her tenure...

T H E C A P T I V E S

THE CAPTIVES In Brief:
Painting death-row meals on china plates may seem like a quirky artistic endeavor. But Professor’s made quite a name for herself doing just that from the safety of her conservative Midwestern college. As someone who struggles with gender identity, she’s fascinated by this final decision in a life otherwise devoid of options. But now, pressured by her tenure committee, she has her first face-to-face with the next inmate to die — Texas prisoner Trevor Monroe. But Trevor wants a stay of execution — not a final meal — putting Professor uncomfortably front and center in a very public social media frenzy and setting up a series of life-altering events for the artist, the prison warden, and the man about to die. A gripping and darkly comic story about capital punishment, gender identity, and the consequences of personal choice. Inspired in part by true events, including the botched 2014 Oklahoma execution of inmate Clayton D. Lockett.

THE CAPTIVES Development History:
Finalist, 2019 Ashland New Play Festival
Placed in Beth Henley’s 2019 Henley Rose Competition.
Palm Beach Dramaworks “New Year/New Work Festival,” Jan. 2019
Reading, Luna Stage, West Orange, NJ, Feb. 2019
Reading, Theatre East, NYC, April 2019
Michael Chekov Theatre Festival, CT, Stage Reading, Oct. 2018
Winner, Grand Prize, Collective Consciousness Theatre’s 2018 Freshworks Play Festival, New Haven, CT. Reading June, 2018
Reading, Theatre 167 Wet Ink Festival, NYC, April, 2018
Reading, Garry Marshall Theatre, LA, May, 2018
Semi-Finalist, 2018 Dayton Playhouse Future Fest
Finalist, 2018 Campfire Theatre Festival, Idaho
Reading, Rogue Machine Theatre, LA, Oct. 2017
Semi-finalist, 2017 Bay Area Playwrights Festival
Finalist, 2017 Austin Playhouse New Play Festival
Finalist, 2017 Association of Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) Award of Excellence
Finalist, 2017 Playwright of the Year, Bridge Initiative, AZ
Workshop/Reading, The Blank Theatre, Living Room Series, L.A. (April, 2017)
Selection, 2017 Comparative Drama Conference
Winner, Route 66 Theatre New Works Festival, Chicago, Workshop and Reading, March/April, 2016. (Critiqued by The Goodman, Northlight, and Timeline Theatres)
Winner, 2016 Beverly Hills Theatre Guild Julie Harris Playwriting Award
Workshop and reading, Stella Adler Studios, NYC, January/2015 and July/2015.
Workshop and in-house reading, Interim Writers, Boston, June/2015.
Finalist, IATI Theatre, Cimientos Contest, NYC, 2015

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THE CAPTIVES

Recommended by

  • Palm Beach Dramaworks: THE CAPTIVES by Barbara Blumenthal-Ehrlich
    “

    The Captives was one of five finalists that received readings during our annual New Year/New Plays Festival in January of 2019. It is a beautifully affecting piece about three very different people, each trapped in their own way. As their lives continue to collide in deeper and more personal ways, they each try to control their own narrative only to discover painful but enduring truths about themselves and each other that will change all of them forever.

    The Captives was one of five finalists that received readings during our annual New Year/New Plays Festival in January of 2019. It is a beautifully affecting piece about three very different people, each trapped in their own way. As their lives continue to collide in deeper and more personal ways, they each try to control their own narrative only to discover painful but enduring truths about themselves and each other that will change all of them forever.

    ”
  • Cheryl Bear: THE CAPTIVES by Barbara Blumenthal-Ehrlich
    “

    An illuminating and powerful work shedding light on capital punishment and the prison system that truly opens your eyes and moves you toward action. Excellent work.

    An illuminating and powerful work shedding light on capital punishment and the prison system that truly opens your eyes and moves you toward action. Excellent work.

    ”

Development History

  • Workshop, The Blank Theatre, 2017
  • Reading, Rogue Machine Theatre, 2017
  • Workshop, Route 66 Theatre, 2016
  • Workshop, Stella Adler Acting Studio, NYC, 2015
  • Workshop, Interim Writers, Boston, 2015

Awards

  • Cimientos Award
    Finalist
    2016
  • Julie Harris Playwriting Award
    Beverly Hills Theatre Guild
    Winner
    2016