NEW: MLM is for Murder is now available for licensing through Dramatic Publishing!

Synopsis
Side hustles. It seems like everybody has at least one these days. For Minerva Ross, the way to escape the doldrums of her graphic design job in Washington, DC, is to write and narrate her own feminist true crime podcast about how and why women commit murder. Meanwhile, across the country, Felicity Evanston, a stay-at-home wife and mother—and Minerva’s high school nemesis—has just started selling ridiculously patterned leggings for the multi-level marketing company Linen & Fate, as much as a way of having something that’s just hers as to supplement her husband’s income. The two haven't crossed paths in years, but when the bubbly and unassuming Felicity snaps and realizes the only way to get ahead in a rigged pyramid scheme is to literally start killing off the competition, both women suddenly experience the kind of overnight success they’ve been so desperately craving—but risk losing their families, freedom, and very souls in the process.

MLM is for Murder (Or, Your Side Hustle is Killing Us) is an of-the-moment dark comedy about capitalism, feminism, work-life balance, and pop culture told using parody podcasts, emoji-strewn dialog, Facebook Live videos, and polyester-spandex murder weapons. It begs the question: How much are you willing to give up to get everything you’ve ever wanted?

Reviews and Recommendations
"John Bavoso’s dialogue is funny and full of classic lines that anyone who has received that “hey girl!!!” message from an MLM-entwined acquaintance will recognise all too well... MLM is for Murder is a charmingly funny look at the crazes that drive us crazy, and how far we’ll go to make them work." ~Theatre Travels

”While the play overall is as Bavoso described, a campy dark comedy, the dialogue is real life... I applaud the actors, director, stage manager, technical teams, dramaturge and playwright on an incredibly well presented and timely play.” —Saginaw Art Museum

"It's always nice to see a new modern script tread the boards that has relatability to our day-to-day lives. The throughlines around the prevalence of multi-level marketing schemes and everyone seeming to have their own podcast make the characters relatable, and thus some of the things that happen to them all the more revealing... If you’re looking for a show with relatable characters and conversations you’ve likely had before, this is one to head out to see." ~Theatre Reviews Perth

“This play is a wonderful distillation of the zeitgeist. MLMs, true crime podcasting, and the distant but connected world we all live in now. Fun and funny on the page, it's also very well suited to the stage.” — Jordan Noble

“A strikingly original, poignant, and morbidly hilarious story told through an infectiously charming cast of characters (each of whom is an absolute GOLDMINE for any actors lucky enough to portray them), MLM is for Murder provides an entirely new perspective on "women in the workplace" that is as madcap and absurd as it is gut-wrenchingly real and necessary. This is easily one of the best plays I've read in a long while, and is an absolute must-experience for all fans of comedy and enemies of capitalism alike.” — Nick Grosso

“I love a good dark comedy—almost as much as I dislike predatory business models. MLM IS FOR MURDER is at once subtly witty and over-the-top insane, full of great roles for women, and ultimately a very intelligent look at what, exactly, drives us to making red-flag-level bad decisions--business, moral, or otherwise. I’m eagerly awaiting the chance to see this performed! Bravo!” — Liz Dooley

Cast Breakdown
4W, 1M

Running Time
~2 hours

Production History
• Garrick Theatre, Guildford, Australia, September 2023 (Production)

• Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, June/July 2023 (Production)

• Pumphouse Players, Cartersville, GA, May 2023 (Production)

• Shafer Alliance Laboratory Theater (SALT), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, November 2022 (Production)

• Out of the Box, Oklahoma City University School of Theatre, Oklahoma City, OK, March 2022 (Production)

• Midland Center for the Arts/Center Stage Theatre, Midland, MI, February 2022 (Production)

Development History
• The Parsnip Ship, New York, NY, June 2023 (Reading/Podcast Recording)

• 21st Century Voices: New Play Festival, American Stage, St. Petersburg, FL, February 2020 (Reading)

• 5th Wall Productions, Charleston, SC, December 2019 (Workshop)

• NextStop Theatre Company, Herndon, VA, July 2019 (Reading)

Awards/Recognition
• Winner, NewPlayFest 2022, American Association of Community Theatre

• Finalist, Playwrights’ Week 2019, The Lark, NYC (top 25 out of 1,320 submissions)

Read the latest draft of the script on the New Play Exchange.

Listen to a themed playlist on Spotify.

Photo credit: Ashley Pott (Felicity in the Center Stage Theatre/Midland Center for the Arts production)

Synopsis
In the early aughts, deep in the unspecified woods, there is a summer camp where gender non-traditional, overly theatrical, and borderline agoraphobic teenage boys are taught to become real men... or so their parents think. Under the tutelage of two flamboyant counselors, a band of sissies finds sanctuary from societal expectations and judgement at Camp Mannuppia—that is, until two new campers arrive and turn everything on its head, setting off a chain of disastrous events. Are the campers doomed, or can they come to terms with each other and their own identities in time to make it out of the forest in one piece?

Reviews and Recommendations
”Camp Mannuppia is a chaotic, loving piece that healed a part of me that I did not know was wounded. I cannot stress how thrilled I am for people to see it.” — Begsy Inal

“Gut-achingly funny, sharply observed, and marvelously accessible. All theaters should produce this play, a high-water mark of craft, humor, talent, and sensitivity. Rollicking, meta-theatrical, and effervescent, Camp Mannuppia is, perhaps above all else, wildly ENTERTAINING. When playwrights go hoarse shouting to theaters about the talent that exists in our midst, about the plays ready for production that would grow (and thrill) a theater's audience, John's play is exactly what we're shouting about.” — Jay Stull

"This is the play to produce if your theater is interested in, oh, contemporary social issues, gender representations, identity questions, queer joy, or just about any other edgy, pressing issue circling the atmosphere as we speak. Also: it's just a lot of fun! John's writing is always funny, accessible and artful, but for all its shimmer, this play in particular never shies away from even the most difficult question: how do we become our truest, most authentic selves in a world that imposes its own expectations about who we're supposed to be?" — Quinn D. Eli

“‘An Alt-Masc Comedy’ could not be a better subtitle here. John tackles one of the things that the queer community has in common: a complicated relationship with masculinity. Should we embrace it? Shun it? Fear it? Don't look at it until it goes away? Each character has a different approach, leading to misunderstandings, misaligned gay-teen yearning, general hijinks you would want to see in a Summer camp comedy, and a real reckoning with stereotypes. No one is left unscathed (but also, no heart left untouched <3). In particular, the friendship between Mikey and Darnell warmed my heart. ” — Brian Dang

Cast Breakdown
5M, 1NB

Running Time
~2 hours

Development History
• National Queer Theater, New York, NY, October 2023 (Workshop Production)

• Chesley/Chambers Playwrights Project Reading Series, The Other Side of Silence (TOSOS)/National Queer Theater, New York, NY, July 2023 (Reading)

• Baltimore Playwrights Festival, June 2021 (Zoom Reading)

• The Play Reading Network, December 2021 (Zoom Reading)

• Pinky Swear Productions, April 2020 (Zoom Reading)

Awards/Recognition
• Finalist, 3rd Annual New Comedies Play Festival, B Street Theatre, 2020

Read the latest draft of the script on the New Play Exchange.

Listen to a themed playlist on Spotify.

Photo credit: Daniel Hidalgo

Synopsis
After being ousted from Mt. Olympus by his children/fellow deities for being a PR nightmare, a modern-day Zeus finds a kindred spirit in Sissy Fuss, the burnt-out proprietress of a Greek mythology-obsessed drag club in Athens, GA. While they're hiding away from the world and Sissy attempts to teach the king of the gods lessons about consent and toxic masculinity, Zeus’s children begin inserting themselves in the affairs of the kings and queens floundering in the wake of their fearless leader’s departure. Can Sissy and the rest of her house make amends and find the divinity within themselves to stand up to their immortal interlopers before their chosen family is torn apart?

FAG~GODS is a comic romp through the realms of ancient mythology and modern pop culture, featuring punny drag names, painfully on-the-nose lip-syncing, and groan-worthy wordplay. It resides at the intersection of queerness and divinity and celebrates LGBTQ+ folx creating a new pantheon in our own image.

Reviews and Recommendations
"All said, this is a charming, unique, hysterical, and important new piece of queer theatre. I think everyone needs to go see this, not just because it’s a really fun time, but because we need to support and normalize queer theatre, as well as new works. I couldn’t be happier that Spotlighters chose this show, and I truly hope that other theatres pick this up and make it a well-produced piece in the years to come." —TheatreBloom

“ Whether you are a fan of drag or Greek mythology (if both, you are not ready), Bavoso's divine comedy is filled to the brim with images, sequences, and bits that will remind you why you love theatre. I shudder to spoil any of it, but good god the puns alone. The puns! YOU ARE NOT READY. Despite that, I highly encourage you to dive into this epic of found family, themed lip-sync routines, and the destruction of the patriarchy. Thrilling, hilarious, and empowering. ” — Daniel Prillaman

“This play has everything! Part Mount Olympus meets the #MeToo era, part throwback ‘Let's put on a drag show!’ scheme, all fun. Though it never takes itself too seriously, FAG~GODS is whip-smart, surprisingly wholesome, and absolutely fabulous. ” — Asher de Forest

Cast Breakdown
4M, 2W

Running Time
~2 hours

Production History
• Spotlighters Theatre, Baltimore, MD, April 2024 (Production)

Development History
• Baltimore Playwrights Festival, Baltimore, MD, March 2023 (Reading)

Read the latest draft of the script on the New Play Exchange.

Listen to a themed playlist on Spotify.

Photo credit: machpe Photography

Synopsis
Can a home be haunted by the actions of its owners? In BLIGHT, Silvia and Cat Henson have just moved from a tiny apartment in Washington, DC, into their sprawling dream home in the small, affluent town of Greenville, Delaware. But the house only happens to be in their price range because it was most recently the home of a teenaged mass shooter and his single mother. Within days of moving in, they’re confronted by a mayor who wants to erase their house from the map, a neighbor who’s on a mission to turn it into a memorial, and an alarmingly chipper consultant who specializes in the macabre. Is this the right time and place for Silvia and Cat to bring a new baby into the world, or will the house create an irreparable rift between them and their new community?

Reviews and Recommendations
“That’s a load of work for a two hour play to carry, but Bavoso and his cast make it work by installing their characters with complexity and depth. These are human beings, prone to error and capable of greatness, just like us, and so sympathetic and even sacred.” — DC Theatre Scene

“Aside from its laughs, which are scattered but sharp, at its core John Bavoso’s Blight is an engagingly original exploration of one of women’s most fraught choices in their childbearing years. Written from an implicitly women’s point of view, it has been imagined with insight and empathy by someone wombless.” — DC Metro Theater Arts

"Is it wrong to be so enamored of a play called 'Blight?' Written by John Bavoso, it is a show that has solid writing, some really funny lines, and an assortment of characters that ring true—they are recognizable in their humanity and in their inhumanity... it’s also a really well-done show with an erudite script, and a powerful emotional wallop." — MD Theatre Guide

"One of the fascinating aspects of theater is how it makes you ask yourself questions you have never considered: Would I live in a house where a mass murderer lived? That’s the thought writer John Bavoso plants in the audience’s mind at the start of 'Blight'... In 'Blight,' the word 'monster' gets thrown in every direction. But this play reminds us that it’s easy to label people and then dismiss them as enemies. Looking for our common humanity is much harder." — Orlando Sentinel

Cast Breakdown
6W, 3M

Running Time
2 hours with one intermission

Production History
• Beaver Country Day School, Chestnut Hill, MA, February 2025

• Playwrights' Round Table, Orlando, FL, April 2018

• Pinky Swear Productions, Washington, DC, October 2018

Development History and Awards/Recognition
• Semi-Finalist, National Playwrights Conference, Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, 2018 (withdrawn from further consideration in March 2018 due to production status)

• Finalist, Queer Village Reading Series, National Queer Theater, August 2018

• Rough Draft Reading Series, 5th Wall Productions, Charleston, SC, November 2018

• Premiere Series Staged Reading, Playwrights' Round Table, Orlando, FL, December 2017

• The Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage Festival (Reading), Pinky Swear Productions, Washington, DC, September 2017

• New American Voices Play Reading Series, The Landing Theatre Company, Houston, TX, April 2017

• Named one of the Top 20 Full-Length Play Finalists for the Source Festival 2017

• Hothouse New Play Development Series v5.0 (Workshop), Theater Alliance of Washington, DC, October 2016

Order your copy through Next Stage Press!

Listen to a themed playlist on Spotify.

Photo Credit: Pauline Lamb, Rachel Manteuffel, Hilary Kelly, Brian Crane, Rebecca Dreyfuss, and Thomas Shuman in the Pinky Swear Productions production, courtesy of C. Stanley Photography

Written by John Bavoso with Seth Alcorn, Karen Lange, Kenny Neal, and Britt Willis

Synopsis
Join the cast and crew of a traveling Bluegrass variety show as they record a special night of traditional murder ballads for the radio. Things quickly start to go awry as uninvited guests—of the spectral variety—begin to reveal the other side of these sadistic stories: the victims’. Will they—or you—be able make it out without a little bit of blood on their hands?

Reviews and Recommendations
"Over Her Dead Body shows us what it really means when we romanticize violence. It’s both entertaining and important, and haunting in the best possible way." — DC Theatre Scene

"You will walk away from Over Her Dead Body feeling strangely exhilarated, because you’ve discovered a work that manages to be fun and electrifying while at the same time chillingly thought provoking." — DC Metro Theater Arts

Cast Breakdown
4W, 1M

Running Time
90 minutes, no intermission

Production History and Awards
• Pinky Swear Productions, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh, Scotland, August 2024 (Production)

• Pinky Swear Productions, Capital Fringe Festival, Washington, DC, 2016 (Production)

• Winner, Best Musical and Best Overall Show, Capital Fringe Audience Awards 2016

• Pinky Swear Productions, Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage Festival, Washington, DC, 2016 (Reading)

Watch the Kennedy Center performance on YouTube.

Listen to a themed playlist on Spotify.

Photo Credit: Karen Lange, Rebecca Phillips, Rebecca Speas, and Britt Willis in the Pinky Swear Productions production; courtesy of Ryan Maxwell Photography

Synopsis
When Olivia and Lizzie, two best friends since college, planned their vacation to Rio de Janeiro, they were looking forward to booze, beaches, and beautiful Brazilian boys. What neither of them expected was to find their potential soul mate... in one another. But after a life-altering night in a rundown hotel, they must confront questions of romance, lust, friendship, and identity—and in doing so, discover that the road to true love is rarely straight.

Reviews and Recommendations
"First-time playwright John Bavoso’s inventive and appealing script for Olizzia would make a terrific indie rom-com caper that would be a hit on the lesbian-and-gay film festival circuit [...] Despite this production’s shortcomings (which are easily ignored), Olizzia is definitely a play worth seeing. And Bavoso is a playwright to watch out for." — DC Metro Theater Arts

"Ultimately, Olizzia may be a little talkative and hasty towards its resolution, but its heart is in the right place: soul mates can come from where you least expect them, so keep your eyes (and mind) open." — DC Theatre Scene

Cast Breakdown
2W, 2M

Running Time
70 minutes, no intermission

Production History
• Capital Fringe Festival, Washington, DC, June 2014

Read the script on the New Play Exchange.

Listen to a themed playlist on Spotify.

Synopsis
After luring Isaac to the top of Mount Moriah under false pretenses, binding him, and nearly sacrificing him, Abraham is faced with an even more arduous task... attempting to make small talk with his son during their walk home.

Reviews and Recommendations
"Bavoso has written this anything but awkward 'Conversation …' with wry wit and insight and it is played by Zukerman and Harris with light-hearted skill and understanding. 'An Awkward Conversation …' not only is about faith and trust, it is about the difficulties of navigating a meaningful, complicated relationship — several relationships, in fact — with openness and honesty." — The Berkshire Eagle

“One of the best entries is ‘An Awkward Conversation in the Shadow of Mount Moriah,’ in which author John Bavoso imagines the father-son conversation that followed the Bible's account in Genesis of Abraham (Robert Zukerman) being willing to sacrifice son Isaac (Doug Harris) because God told him to.” — Times Union

“One of the funniest scripts in the group, the modern language take on these Biblical folk brings a new understanding to a near-tragic event. I could watch this play countless times and find more things in it each time.” — Berkshire Bright Focus

“Can you imagine what century-old Abraham and son Isaac chatted about after the boy narrowly escaped being sacrificed by his own father on the altar of God? Writer John Bavoso did, and the result is his clever, thoughtful and well-performed ‘An Awkward Conversation in the Shadow of Mount Moriah,’ crisply directed by Gina Pulice… Also admirable about Bavoso's strong work here is the organic nature of the humor. There are no cheap laughs, only well-earned ones.” — BroadwayWorld Rockland/Westchester

”This is a play of wisdom, tenderness, and wit. While the play explores the topics of faith and trust, it is also about the difficulties of navigating a meaningful, complicated relationship with openness and honesty as a son and father truly see one another for the first time.” —Steve Ramirez, Director

“What is worth defying God for? Bavoso is amazing. Instead of taking what could easily be a one-joke premise stretched out to ten minutes, he adds an insane amount of BEAUTIFUL layers to one of the most "extra" Sunday School stories. We chuckle at the thought of the awkward conversation, but the surprising heartfelt words both said and unsaid are moving, funny, and eye-opening, as son and father truly see one another for the first time. This is a stellar short play.” — Daniel Prillaman

“Boy, oh boy, did I enjoy this disarming and witty father-son piece about what happens when Abraham and Isaac have to get home after...well, after what famously *almost* happened in the Bible *didn't* happen. Isaac's mouthy and unremarkably gay outrage is a freakin' joy to behold, and Abraham's desire to connect with his growing stranger of a son is beautiful and sweet. There are throwaway lines here that sparkle with such wit I want to quote them -- but won't, so they can slap an unexpected laugh out of you, too. Charming and winning and delightful.” — Vince Gatton

Cast Breakdown
2M

Running Time
10 minutes

Production History
• Eleventh Annual 10x10 Festival, Barrington Stage Company, Pittsfield, MA, February/March 2022 (Production)

• 10x10x10 2022, Fells Point Corner Theatre, Baltimore, MD, April/May 2022 (Production)

• 2022 Collection of One Acts, Eden Prairie Players, Eden Prairie, MN, September 2022 (Production)

• Short+Sweet South India 2022, Chennai, November 2022 (Production) — Watch a recording of the production on YouTube!

• 2023 8 Tens @ 8 Festival, Santa Cruz County Actors' Theatre, Santa Cruz, CA, January 2023 (Production)

• 3rd Annual Playwriting Festival, Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre, Fargo, ND, January 2023 (Production)

• 2023 Evening of One Acts, The Ridgefield Theater Barn, Ridgefield, CT, March 2023 (Production)

• Summer Shorts 2023, The Playwrights’ Round Table, Orlando, FL, August 2023 (Production)

• Short+Sweet Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA, May/June 2024 (Production)

• Summer Shorts: Flipping the Script, City Theatre, Miami, FL, June 2024 (Production)

Development History
• Gather by the Ghost Light, June 2022 (Podcast Recording)

• Autumn S&Co Scratch Night, Scriptwriters & Co., Bath, UK, September 2022 (Zoom Reading)

Read the script on the New Play Exchange.

Photo Credit: David Dashiell, of Robert Zukerman and Doug Harris in the Barrington Stage Company production.

Synopsis
What happens when the people we create to hide our true selves get to live lives of their own? Tiffany is about to find out… but she’s gotta get through a very enthusiastic Orientation Coordinator first.

Reviews and Recommendations
“John Bavoso's The Home for Retired Canadian Girlfriends is one of the funniest plays we've produced. Not only did our reading committee and actors love the concept, our audiences roared with delight during the whole show.” — The Q Collective

"'The Home for Retired Canadian Girlfriends' by John Bavoso... is probably one of my favorites of the evening. Bavoso creates an imaginary world where imaginary girlfriends go when they are no longer needed. It’s relatable, current, and relevant with a solid script and concept." — Backstage Baltimore

"The ninth number of the evening titled 'The Home for Retired Canadian Girlfriends' by John Bavoso was, by far, the most clever work on the playbill... This play is a true gem." – MD Theatre Guide

“A lighthearted comedy of a possibility that feels totally unexplored: What happens to all those Canadian Girlfriends? Very funny, a great addition to any festival.” — Maggie Goscinski

“There’s a whole new level of ‘beards’ in this cleverly conceived comedy. Long after the laughs, long after you’re done rooting for both Tiffany and Rupert, you will be lost in thought. Bavoso will have you in the palm of his hands. As it turns out, it is the perfect place to be.” — Claudia Haas

Cast Breakdown
1M, 1F

Running Time
10 minutes

Production History
• Evening of One Acts 2024, The Ridgefield Theater Barn, Ridgefield, CT, January 2024 (Production)

• 2023 10-Minute Play Festival, University of South Carolina Department of Theatre and Dance, Columbia, SC, November 2023 (Production)

• 2022 10-Minute Play Festival, Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop, South Fallsburg, NY, June 2022 (Production)

• Spectrum Showcase, Digital Dramatists, June 2021 (Zoom Production)

• Queer Voices Digital One Act Festival, Rainy Day Artistic Collective, Seattle, WA, June 2021 (Zoom Production)

• One Act Play Festival, The Magnetic Theatre, Asheville, NC, June 2021 (Production)

• Cranford Creations One-Act Play Festival, CDC Theatre, Cranford, NJ, December 2020 (Production)

• The Laughing Dog Comedy Short Play Festival, Aux Dog Theatre Nob Hill, Albuquerque, NM, February 2020 (Production)

• Ernest J. King High School, Sasebo, Japan, January 2020 (Production)

• The Coming Out Play Festival, The Q Collective, St. Louis, MO, October 2019 (Production)

• 10x10x10 2019, Fells Point Corner Theatre, Baltimore, MD, May/June 2019 (Production)

• Belfast Pride Play Festival, Cold Comfort Theater, Belfast, ME, June 2019 (Production)

• ArlingTEN Short Play Festival, AFD Theatre, Arlington, MA, June 2019 (Production)

• Second Festival of Shorts, B3 Theater, Phoenix, AZ, June 2019 (Production)

Development History
• Midwest Dramatists Conference, Olathe, KS, September 2019 (Reading)

Publications
• The Best New Ten-Minute Plays, 2021, Applause

Listen to a reading of the play on the Short Play Podcast.

Read the script on the New Play Exchange.

Photo Credit: Grace O'Keefe and Tom Piccin in the Fells Point Corner Theatre production, courtesy ofTrent Haines-Hopper/THsquared Photography

Synopsis
The eagle charged with eating Prometheus’s liver each day is growing weary of the routine. But when Heracles shows up to free the titan, the two unlikely friends are forced to decide whether to take a risk on a new life or stick with what they know.

Reviews and Recommendations
“Bavoso turns Prometheus Unbound into a tale of friendship and anti-heroes. And it all makes sense. Who doesn’t love routine even if it means getting your liver eaten daily? I am hoping Bavoso rewrites all of Greek mythology. If it is in the vein of Prometheus Shrugs, future students of Greek mythology will thank him.” — Claudia Haas

“A playful take on the Greek myth of Prometheus that surprisingly speaks to us today about friendship. It makes you think about the beauty of predictability and routines of friendship. This would be a hit at any festival on myths (esp Greek myths) or any comedy showcase. This is a perfect comedy with the liveliness of a David Ives short play. The hugging in this play -- it's so sweet!!! This would be a fun, challenging play for beginning design and costume designers in high school and college.” — Asher Wyndham

Cast Breakdown
3 actors, any age/race/gender

Running Time
10 minutes

Production History
• Marin Academy, San Rafael, CA, January 2024 (Production)

• Seoul Players, Seoul, South Korea, November 2022 (Production)

• Twisted Tales One-Act Festival, Rainy Day Artistic Collective, Seattle, WA, December 2021 (Virtual Production—watch on YouTube!)

• 2021 One-Act Festival, Carrollwood Players, Tampa, Fl, July 2021 (Production)

• 4th Festival of Shorts, B3 Theater, Phoenix, AZ, June 2021 (Production)

• Sullivan County Dramatic Workshop, South Fallsburg, NY, June 2021 (Production)

• 10 Minute Play Festival, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, May 2021 (Production)

• Festival @ First 11: Myths and Legends, Theatre@First, Somerville, MA (Postponed Due to COVID-19)

• 10x10x10 2020, Fells Point Corner Theatre, Baltimore, MD (Postponed Due to COVID-19)

• Short+Sweet Sydney, Sydney, Australia, February/March 2020 (Production—watch on YouTube!)

• Short+Sweet Dubai, Dubai, UAE, January 2020 (Production)

Development History
• Caravan Theatre, United Kingdom, July 2020 (Reading)
• At The Table - A Play Reading Series, May 2020 (Podcast Reading)
• Orange County Ten-Minute Play Festival, Orange County Arts Council, Sugar Loaf, NY, August 2019 (Reading)

Publications
• The Best Ten-Minute Plays 2021, Smith & Kraus
• 2019 Emerge Lambda Fellows Anthology, Lambda Literary

Read the script on the New Play Exchange.

Photo credit: Jim Crew

Synopsis
On a dark and stormy Halloween night (omg, so cliché, right?!?), two characters—victims of the "bury your gays" trope, both—have come to life and are out for bloody revenge on their author/father. But the unexpected arrival of a fourth character leads to events none of them could have planned.

Reviews and Recommendations
“Deliciously witty, twisting, and bloody, Bavoso’s play is a perfect short for the spooky season. Come for the frights, stay for the articulate critique of tired, disrespectful tropes, and trust in the electrifying ride Bavoso’s penned. The ending, in particular, is a brilliant touch, genuinely surprising, but not so shocking as to feel unearned. Wonderful work.” — Daniel Prillaman

Cast Breakdown
3M, 1F

Running Time
10 minutes

Production History
• Stage Frights, Gather By the Ghost Light, Augusta, GA, October 2024

• LAUNCH, Playwrights’ Round Table, Orlando, FL, March 2022 (Production)

• 10x10x10 2022, Fells Point Corner Theatre, Baltimore, MD, April/May 2022 (Production)

Development History
• Campfire Nights Reading Series, Bump in the Night Theatre Company, Chicago, IL, June 2023 (Reading)

• First Fridays, The Barrow Group, New York, NY, October 2021 (Reading)

• Whiskey Theatre Factory/Central Florida Community Arts, Orlando, FL, July 2021 (Reading)

Read the script on the New Play Exchange.

Photo Credit: Kiirstn Pagan

Synopsis
Theo and Frank meet in the woods outside the small town they grew up in on the night before Thanksgiving. But will either get what he wants out of the reunion?

*This play was written as part of round one of The Coordinates Project, organized by Justin Guidroz/*NU* Theatre, in which a group of playwrights were given a set of randomly generated coordinates and had a month to write and turn in a play set at those coordinates. For those interested, the coordinates for this play are: 37.38783, -89.13351.*

Reviews and Recommendations
"At the intersection of "Where I Live" and "Where It Hit Me" lies this play! Gay men in mid life – one who stayed in the hometown and another who left – with a history both finished and unfinished... BLACKOUT WEDNESDAY reads like torn-out pages of our diaries. Bavoso expertly and actively lays out a lifetime of history filled with starcrossed ideals and missed opportunities. The play illuminates a crossection of America where family and geography aren't choices unless you force them to be. I feel like I know these guys and they pierce my heart." — Scott Sickles

Cast Breakdown
2M

Running Time
10 minutes

Production History
• Pink Pen Theatre, Baltimore, DC, September/October 2023 (Production)

Development History
• Dragon Eggs Short Play Incubator, Dragon Productions Theatre Company, Redwood City, CA, November 2021 (Reading)

Read the latest draft of the script on the New Play Exchange.

Listen to a themed playlist on Spotify.

Synopsis
Ray and Aiden meet in the waiting room of a sperm bank, but soon discover they’re there for very different reasons.

Reviews and Recommendations

"It’s witty, it’s hilarious, the actors are given something surprisingly deep to sink their teeth into, it’s a little gritty, a little scandalous, and sends a tremendously impressive message." —Theatre Bloom

"Over the course of the sketch the two very different men turn an initially awkward encounter into a moment of bonding that was, quite frankly, heartwarming… We need more pieces like this. Our world is so bitterly divided amongst tribal lines and raging towards conflict. We need art that demands us explore our common humanity with people that we may not, at least initially, seem to have a lot in common with." —The Orlando Performer

“Charming, yet relatable (even if not in the market for a "sample"). The intergenerational difference between Ray and Aiden plays well here, in a casual but real feeling way. Aiden was seeking information, but left with a direction, and successfully so!” —Bram Hartman

Cast Breakdown
2M

Running Time
10 minutes

Production History
• Pink Pen Theatre, Baltimore, DC, September/October 2023 (Production)

• Launch 2024, Playwrights’ Round Table, Orlando, FL, January 2024 (Production)

• Lights OUT LGBTQ+ One Act Play Festival, Carrollwood Players Theatre, Tampa, FL, July 2024 (Production)

Read the latest draft of the script on the New Play Exchange.

Synopsis
Markus is anxious. Preston is predictable. But when one of them makes a spontaneous move with permanent consequences, they're both forced to grapple with the future of their relationship.

Reviews and Recommendations
“This is a witty and charming romantic comedy without falling in the trap of being too precious. What a treat! Bavoso has many wonderful one-liners in here, but always in service of the story, as he keeps the plot moving. Preston's 'errand' from earlier in the day is a perfect metaphor for depicting the turning point in these two men's relationship. A pleasure to read and, I imagine, so very stageable and dynamic.” — Nick Malakhow

Cast Breakdown
2M

Running Time
10 minutes

Production History
• Festival of Ten XII, The College at Brockport, Brockport, NY, May 2021 (Streaming Production)
• Off-Stage/On-Line, Theatre Three, Port Jefferson, NY, August 2020 (Zoom Production—watch on YouTube!)
• Virtual Stories: New Shorts, American Stage, St. Petersburg, FL, July 2020 (Zoom Production)
• Short & Sweet Festival of New (tiny) Plays, Silverthorne Theater Company, Greenfield, MA, February 2021 (Video Production)

Development History
• At The Table - A Play Reading Series, May 2020 (Podcast Reading)
• 3rd Annual Short New Play Festival, St. Paul's Arts Council, New Albany, IN, February 2020 (Reading)
• Fringe Festival of the Playwriting Symposium, Mid-America Theatre Conference, Chicago, IL, March 2020 (Reading)
• Hothouse: Surprise!, Theater Alliance, Washington, DC, October 2019 (Reading)

Read the script on the New Play Exchange.

Synopsis
The morning after tasting the forbidden fruit, Adam is getting ready to leave Eden forever with Eve. But he has to do one thing first—officially break up with his boyfriend, Steve.

Reviews and Recommendations
"John Bavoso... has a clear handle on how to infuse humor into a serious situation... Bavoso may have set the play in the biblical garden of Eden, but it’s got a modernity to it. Choosing the ‘norm’ because you thought it would be easier, staying in the closet because father knows best; these are both concepts that get contextually layered into Bavoso’s work, fitting this ‘alternative biblical narrative’ divinely while still resonating with present day situations. The work itself is really smart because it frames up ‘Adam leaving the Garden of Eden’ just not in the way you expect." — Theatre Bloom

“A very funny take on what REALLY went down in Eden. Bavoso takes very familiar elements and tropes, mixes 'em up and voila! A new, entertaining theater piece is born. Recommended!” — Bryan Stubbles

“What a delightful play about the fall of man. I enjoyed the banter between Adam and Steve and I know Steve’s new garden is one I’d be more than happy to be a part of if I could.” — Lee Lawing

Cast Breakdown
2M

Running Time
10 minutes

Production History
• Whiskey Theater Factory, Orlando Fringe Out Fest, Orlando Fringe, Orlando, FL, September 2024 (Production)

• One Act Festival, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Platteville, WI, May 2024 (Production)

• Pink Pen Theatre, Baltimore, DC, September/October 2023 (Production)

• Bi, Bi, Bi!, Whiskey Theatre Factory, Orlando, FL, August 2021 (Reading)

• arciTEXT 2019: Forbidden Fruit, The Arc Theatre, Chicago, IL, March 2019 (Production—watch on YouTube!)

• Festival of Ten XI, The College at Brockport, Brockport, NY, March 2019 (Production—watch on YouTube!)

• Short+Sweet Sydney, Sydney, Australia, February/March 2019 (Production)

• Short+Sweet Queensland, Gold Coast, Australia, July 2018 (Production)

Development History
• Orange County New York Arts Council 10-Minute Play Festival, Port Jervis, NY, July 2017 (Reading)

• Act Out: A Queer Review, Washington, DC, May 2017 (Reading)

Publications
• The Best Ten-Minute Plays 2022, Smith & Kraus

Read the script on the New Play Exchange.

Photo credit: Laura Seeds

Synopsis
On the night the Washington Capitals win the Stanley Cup, Rebeccah stands on a platform in the Gallery Place-Chinatown station of the Washington Metro and mourns the loss of her Jimmy Choos... and potentially her relationship with Sonja.

Reviews and Recommendations
“Among the strengths of Bavoso's #AREASONABLEAMOUNTOFCAPS is its specificity. The time and location of this play are absolutely integral to understanding the characters and action. This play could only take place when and where Bavoso sets it, which leads to details in the dialogue and characterizations that added so much to my enjoyment.” — Steven G. Martin

Cast Breakdown
4W, 1M

Running Time
10 minutes

Production History
• LiveArt in a Day, LiveArtDC, Washington, DC, June 2018

Read the script on the New Play Exchange.

Photo Credit: Ryan Maxwell Photography

Synopsis 
Erin thinks she's got a handle on her grief, until she receives a package that challenges everything she thought she knew about her recently deceased big sister.

Reviews and Recommendations
“This concisely captures that moment after the death of someone we love. A lot of ‘ifs’ and new discoveries. Despite the play being about grief, it is actually quite funny. Bravo!” — Bryan Stubbles

Cast Breakdown
2W

Running Time
10 minutes

Production History
• Summer Shorts, Playwrights’ Round Table, Orlando, FL, July 2018

Read the script on the New Play Exchange.

Synopsis
Shari's thrilled to have her new girlfriend, Deanna, as her guest to her cousin's wedding... that is, until Deanna throws an unexpected punch during the reception.

Reviews and Recommendations
“… a compelling look at the ‘old guard’ of the LGBT community’s pitfalls in adopting the language and perspective of its younger members.” — DC Metro Theater Arts

“I was lucky enough to see a reading of this incredibly funny (and sincere!) play and enjoyed it tremendously. Bavoso skillfully explores homophobia (and biphobia within the queer community) with the cadence of a screwball comedy. Even when I thought I knew where the scene was headed next, Bavoso proved me wrong, catching my assumptions off-guard in the best ways! And, hey, two GREAT roles for women here!” — Brittany Alyse Willis

“Funny, pithy, and poignant. Excellent exploration of the many levels of damage homophobia can do. And it does not go where you think it will.” — Patrick Flynn

Cast Breakdown
2W

Running Time
10 minutes

Production History
• DC Queer Theatre Festival, Washington, DC, December 2018
• Shorts Gone Wild 6, City Theatre/Island City Stage, Wilton Manors, FL, August 2018
• Queer Shorts: Unity, StageQ, Madison, WI, June 2018

Development History
• 7th Annual New Works Festival (Reading), Fantastic.Z Theatre, Seattle, WA, February 2019
• Hothouse: The Punch! (Reading), Theater Alliance, Washington, DC, June 2017

Read the script on the New Play Exchange.

Photo credit: Casey Sacco and Christina Groom in the City Theatre/Island City Stage production; courtesy of George Wentzler

Synopsis
Two strangers. One crowded Metro car. A gallon of milk. What could go wrong?

Reviews and Recommendations
”Also delightful is local playwright John Bavoso’s “Threat Level: Cream,” a droll and twisty tale of two Washingtonians (Chloe Mikala and Jonathan M. Rizzardi) who encounter a suspicious gallon of milk on the Metro." — The Washington Post

"I also liked John Bavoso’s Threat Level: Cream, which closes out the first Act. Rusty (Jonathan M. Rizzardi) and Kara (Chloe Mikala) are strangers on a train — specifically, the Washington Metro — who engage over a bottle of milk which someone has left on the seat next to Rusty... Eventually the conversation drifts to more mundane matters — their jobs, how hard it is to get rest, and so on. Indeed, they go on a bit too long (can a ten-minute play be too long?) until the action suddenly lurches more violently than a Metro train. The terrific climax is accentuated by Rizzardi’s first-rate work as Rusty and by director Connor Hogan and the production team, who bring the Metro experience to life." — DC Theatre Scene

“Extremely funny, timely, and well-written, this ten-minute play is a trip (pun intended). Just when you think you know what's going to happen, Bavoso sends you reeling off in a direction you never expected. Full of snappy, witty dialogue, great roles for both actors, a strange little truth that many of us have felt but never expressed, and a wicked ending that will leave audiences talking about it for days. Great piece!” — Emily Hageman

“A tale you'll identify with—at first. Two people so run ragged by modern America's rampant negativity and obsession with safety meet on a Metro train. An unopened gallon of milk becomes the topic, but this play ends with a twist reminiscent of Zoo Story. Shocking and fun.” — Francis Boyle

Cast Breakdown
1W, 1M

Running Time
10 minutes

Production History
• Source Festival, Washington, DC, June/July 2017
• Orange County New York Arts Council 10-Minute Play Festival, Port Jervis, NY, July 2017 (Reading)

Read the script on the New Play Exchange.

Photo Credit: Chloe Mikala and Jonathan M. Rizzardi in the Source Festival production; courtesy of Teresa Wood Photography

Synopsis
During a seemingly chance encounter after work in a shitty bar, Celia discovers she has more in common with Renee than just their fondness for whiskey.

Cast Breakdown
2W

Running Time
10 minutes

Production History
• Short + Sweet Dubai (Production), Dubai, UAE, January 2020
• Short + Sweet Hollywood (Production), Los Angeles, CA, July 2017
• Women's Eight-udes (Production), AlphaNYC Theater Company, New York, NY, April 2017

Development History
• The #metoo Plays (Reading), Celine Havard and Fish In Water Productions, New York, NY, May 2018

Read the script on the New Play Exchange.

Watch a brief excerpt from The #metoo Plays reading on YouTube.

Photo credit; Lavina Jaswani and Meghna Gupta

Synopsis
Curtis has only just met Everett, but he learns a lot about his new hookup—and his past—by snooping though the music on his computer.

Reviews and Recommendations
"Bavoso writes some wincingly funny lines and Atkin takes full advantage of them; indeed, Curtis is a character Oscar Wilde could have written, if Wilde had known what Spotify is." — DC Theatre Scene

"Bavoso wrote a hilarious script full of excellent, and excellently terrible, music." — MD Theatre Guide

"John — I had a chance to see your play at the Source Theater Friday night and it packed a mighty punch. I truly did not see the twist (nor did the people behind me)! And when I did I became teary-eyed and the whole meaning of the play shifted for me. It was just lovely and so poignant. Would you tell your cast that they were marvelous? Truly your play was one of the highlights of the night." — Karen Kane, Columbia Heights

“A tender story about unlikely relationships and the secret guilt held by regret and heartbreak. Bavoso creates a story that you think is going to go one way, but delightfully goes an entirely different direction and reveals new facets to a story that we think we know. John Bavoso has an amazing gift for making a plot twist both impacting yet so natural you almost miss it's a plot twist. Kylie and Janet and Robyn and Cher is a lovely play the is both funny and heartwarming. I highly suggest reading it.” — Franky Gonzalez

Cast Breakdown
3M

Running Time
10 minutes

Production History
• [spectrum] LGBT New Play Festival, Funky Little Theater Co., Colorado Springs, CO, July 2017
• Metropolitan State University of Denver, CO, December 2016
• Source Festival, Washington, DC, June/July 2016

Read the script on the New Play Exchange.

Photo Credit: Andrew Flurer, Gregory Atkin, and Patrick Joy in the Source Festival production; courtesy of Teresa Wood Photography

Synopsis
Two unlikely strangers volunteer to spend a year together away from the world in a mysterious bunker—though what unfolds underground isn’t what either of them could ever have expected.

Reviews and Recommendations
“Erie, ambiguous, and sweet is not a description I've used before, but then again, LGBTQ and post-apocalyptic is not common territory to be explored on stage. Bavoso has created a moment in an unknown time and place that somehow manages to be compassionate and relatable. In this unique setting, inhibitions are shed and characters develop into richly unique individuals. Unanswered questions and just enough exposition give the audience plenty to discuss in the afterglow.” — Aleks Merilo

“Talk about a roller coaster of a play. Just when you think you know what's going on, Bavoso yanks the rug out from under your feet. It's real, it's genuine, it's sweet—and then it's something else entirely. There is so much going on in this play—relationships between men, grieving, isolation, the longing for something great that seems unattainable. A true retelling of the Adam and Eve story, only instead of a red apple, there's a red button. A pretty brilliant short play that gets more done in ten pages than some plays do in fifty.” — Emily Hageman

Cast Breakdown
2M

Running Time
10 minutes

Production History
• Short + Sweet Theatre Festival, Sydney, Australia, January 2016

Read the script on the New Play Exchange.

Listen to a themed playlist on Spotify.

Photo Credit: Leon Joseph and Davo Hardy in the Short+Sweet Sydney production; courtesy of Favaloro Media

Synopsis
Ashley has brought her new girlfriend, Skyler, home for Christmas (Skyler's Jewish, but we're not going to talk it about it) to meet her family—who turn out to be exceptionally bad at adapting to change.

Reviews and Recommendations
"The funniest and best directed is "Homo for Christmas" written by John Bavoso... This is a total laugh fest! Ignorance of the facts doesn’t seem to matter in some circles these days, but it does have an unusual reaction in most family gatherings. Will the parents and grandmother accept the new partner of their beloved child? In this farcical production of miswords and misunderstandings, this family takes the prize." — NoHoArtsDistrict.com

“Probably the finest, cleverest, most inspired aspects of Bavoso's Christmas-set comedy are the complications that are never alleviated, only exacerbated. Grandma could prove a goldmine. The grand miscommunications, both deliberate and genuine, are ablaze and absolutely what set this apart from the other plays in its genre. Ready for the holidays or festivals, this family malfunction will absolutely work anywhere, anytime.” — Ricardo Soltero-Brown

Cast Breakdown
4W, 1M

Running Time
10 minutes

Production History
• 14th Annual inspiraTO Festival, Theatre inspiraTO, Toronto, ON, May/June 2019

• Actors Workout Studio, North Hollywood, CA, December 2017

• Pinky Swear Productions, Washington, DC, December 2015

Read the script on the New Play Exchange.

Photo Credit: Jonathan Cook/Gather By The Ghost Light