THE STORYTELLER

by Sara Jean Accuardi

"I have done nothing but in care of thee,
Of thee, my dear one—thee my daughter," - William Shakespeare, The Tempest

[full length] 17-year-old Randy has lived her entire life off the grid with her dad on an old rotting houseboat, and she’s sick of it. Inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest, this play explores the magic and power of the narratives we create.

Winner: International Thomas Wolfe Playwriting...

"I have done nothing but in care of thee,
Of thee, my dear one—thee my daughter," - William Shakespeare, The Tempest

Winner: International Thomas Wolfe Playwriting Competition
Winner: Oregon Book Award for drama
Winner: Best New Play of 2025, Broadway World

Finalist: O'Neill Center's National Playwrights Conference.

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THE STORYTELLER

Recommended by

Cam Torres: THE STORYTELLER by Sara Jean Accuardi

“

Wow. A masterful retelling of one of Shakespeare’s greatest plays. This play has the perfect balance of love, magic, and mystery. I will be keeping my eye out for more of Accuardi’s work. Bravo!

Wow. A masterful retelling of one of Shakespeare’s greatest plays. This play has the perfect balance of love, magic, and mystery. I will be keeping my eye out for more of Accuardi’s work. Bravo!

”
Audrey Lang: THE STORYTELLER by Sara Jean Accuardi

“

Accuardi has written a magical adaptation with "The Storyteller." Growing up is hard for the person doing the growing, but it's hard for those around her, too, and this play represents that so well.

Accuardi has written a magical adaptation with "The Storyteller." Growing up is hard for the person doing the growing, but it's hard for those around her, too, and this play represents that so well.

”
Cheryl Bear: THE STORYTELLER by Sara Jean Accuardi

“

Masterful storytelling that captures the magnitude of life in it's uncertainty, struggle and memories. Well done.

Masterful storytelling that captures the magnitude of life in it's uncertainty, struggle and memories. Well done.

”

View all 8 recommendations

Character Information

3w, 3m

THE LADY

She tells stories.

Character Age

30s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman
PAPS

A father.

Character Age

30s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Man
RANDI

A daughter.

Character Age

17

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens,
  
  20s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman
TIFF

A friend.

Character Age

30s - 50s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman,
  
  Non-binary
JIMMY

Doesn't belong here.

Character Age

40s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Man
SPENCER

A nice young boy.

Character Age

18

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens,
  
  20s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Man,
  
  Non-binary

Development History

Type Workshop, Organization Seven Devils New Play Foundry , Year 2022
Type Reading, Organization PlayMakers Repertory Company, Year 2020
Type Reading, Organization Something Marvelous (Chicago, IL), Year 2019
Type Reading, SPOOKY ACTION THEATER, Year 2019
Type Reading, Organization Fertile Ground Festival of New Work, Year 2018

Production History

Type Professional, Artists Repertory Theatre, Year 2025
Type University, Western Washington University, Theatre and Dance Department, Year 2025
Type Workshop, Seven Devils New Play Foundry, Year 2022

Awards

Best New Play

Broadway World

Winner

2025
Angus Bowmer Award in Drama, Oregon Book Awards

Literary Arts

Winner

2023
Bay Area Playwrights Festival

Playwrights Foundation

Semi-Finalist

2020
International Thomas Wolfe Playwriting Competition

Playmakers Repertory Company

Winner

2020
New Works in Action

SPOOKY ACTION THEATER

Selection

2019
O’Neill National Playwrights Conference

Eugene O'Neill Theater Center

Finalist

2019
The Something Marvelous Festival of Magical Realism

Selection

2019
Seven Devils Playwrights Conference

Finalist

2018

Genre

adaptation,

comedy,

dark comedy,

drama,

fable/folktale,

fantasy,

immersive,

romantic comedy,

tragedy

Subject Matter Keywords

housing insecurity,

The Tempest,

grief

Length

90 minutes to two hours

Cast Size

Age of Intended Audience

ages 18 and up

Narrative Attributes

Centers Female Characters

Supporting Materials

Supporting Video

https://vimeo.com/1078816886

Reviews

Oregon ArtsWatch

“
“The world premiere of this warm-hearted play, which won the 2023 Oregon Book Award for drama ...explores constellations of intriguing themes. In just 90 minutes, it touches on grief, parenthood, and isolation, to name a few of its topics. Most compelling of all, though, is its exploration of the power of storytelling, encompassing how we change our stories to comfort or entertain, and who has the right to tell them.”
”
Broadway World

“
“This play skates right on the edge of fantasy and reality… full of twists and turns, surprises and delights. But also grief, isolation,longing. It’s a visceral experience of the truest love and the most painful loss that reflects how we shape stories, how they shape us, and what happens when they change … This world premiere is theater at its finest– beautifully written, emotionally resonant, and executed with artistry.”
”