process: I love, love, love writing dialogue. I ask the magic “What if?” Then I get out of the way as the characters tell their story.
Plays: Mostly short. Some in progress, some produced, some submitted to Play Zoomers for production… Here are a few.
Four Square: 12-15 minute plays. Produced and Directed by Ansley Valentine. I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve and so did this little grouping of plays produced at Indy Fringe 2015. Included A Break at The Beach, Little Voice and The Girlfriend Play by Jean Childers-Arnold. A young man and his mom get together at a beach VRBO to discuss the literal hot mess our planet has become. She suggests it might be time for him to come back… Who is Little Voice?! Her single mom, and the planet, need a miracle…maybe she’s it? And finally Dierdre gets in trouble with her girlfriends for the sake of a lake house. Who’s the bad guy here in this threesome? (The fourth show was a hilarious OOB Festival finalist because we loved it).
Stonehenge Midwinter, 2016. 15 minute play. This piece was inspired by a family journey to, yep, Stonehenge. Groups of Druids, Wiccans, Vikings and our mysterious tour guide gather to await the Solstice Sunrise. Just like in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander books, some folks go through the stones…some do not.
Conjuring Christmas: 10-minute play. Produced by Indianapolis Phoenix Theatre as part of A Very Phoenix Xmas in 2018. Directed by Ben Asaykwe. Three witches, who just might be the Three Fates, brew up Christmas against their better judgement. In the end they toss in everything Christmas should be even when the sweetness makes their teeth hurt.
Ornamentality: 10-minute play. Newlyweds decorating their first Christmas Tree discover that their Christmas aesthetics are very, very different! Star Wars fans – this is your Christmas Carol.
Ralph’s Goodbye: 10-minute play. A cute, slightly satirical home funeral for Ralph …with a twist
Jean Acts 