Produced by Yucaipa High School's 3rd Annual Writers Festival, 2026

Philosophical Dark Drama // 6+ Any // 1 act (40 min.)

Inside a smoky 1920s jazz club known as The Open Flame, guests are dealt tarot cards that determine who they become and how they live. Presiding over it all is the sly and all-powerful Emcee, who insists that fate alone controls every life. But when the hopeful Star is broken, the Hermit returns transformed, and two patrons begin to question the roles forced upon them, the illusion of order cracks. As memories surface and an unknown figure steps forward to challenge the dealer of destinies, the club spirals toward collapse. A surreal and provocative one-act about identity, free will, mortality, and whether life has meaning without an ending.

Stage Reading by Yucaipa High School's Writers Lab, 2026

Post-Apocalyptic Romantic Drama // 1 M, 1 F, 4+ Any // 1 act (35 min.)

In a future where rising temperatures have made cities nearly unlivable, two young survivors endure life inside a tightly controlled recovery camp governed by fear, propaganda, and constant surveillance. When restless dreamer Timothy uncovers evidence of a hidden underground society thriving beneath the ruins of New York City, cautious poet Irene must choose between safety and the chance for something greater. Together they flee into the scorched world above and the dark subway tunnels below, chasing freedom, truth, and the hope of beginning again. A haunting and heartfelt one-act about love, sacrifice, and whether one beautiful moment is worth the risk of everything.

*not available for licensing