The February People’s Choice Award goes to…

The people have spoken… The February People’s Choice Award goes to Uma Incrocci for her short play What They Say About Us Anyway, presented as a staged reading live online on February 26th. Congratulations, Uma!

Courtesy of Uma, we’re pleased to share the first few pages from the award-winning script. Enjoy!

What They Say About Us Anyway
by Uma Incrocci

Characters
IZZY: female, teens
SAM: short for Samantha, female or non-binary, teens

Setting
The coat room at a high school dance

A small coat check room at a high school dance. SAM (short for Samantha), in Buddy Holly glasses and a suit, squeezes through an upstage rack of coats, and then indicates for IZZY, in a 70s inspired look, to follow her.

IZZY
Really? We’re just gonna hide in the coat room?

SAM
Just for a minute. I didn’t know what else to do.

IZZY
He’s such a jerkface —

SAM
This was a bad idea.

IZZY
And his stupid jerkface friends — Hiding in the closet? Yeah. This is a bad idea.

SAM
I just needed a minute. Are you okay?

IZZY
Yeah. Just rattled, I guess. I hate to even admit it but…

SAM
That was scary.

IZZY
Yeah. It was.

SAM
And that’s why this was a bad idea. I’m sorry.

IZZY
What was a bad idea?

SAM
Maybe we shouldn’t have come to the dance together.

IZZY
What?

SAM
I mean, we still could have come together, but just like… in a group.

IZZY
You asked me to the dance!

SAM
I know. And we’d still know it was a date but we didn’t have to like let everyone else know.

IZZY
It was your idea!

SAM
Yeah, but you admitted you were nervous about what people would say. And maybe you were right.

IZZY
I said I was okay with it. Are you not okay with it anymore?

SAM
I am. I was. But maybe it’s not worth dealing with Trevor and his vile meathead friends. I honestly was worried he might like… punch me.

IZZY
He wouldn’t punch you.

SAM
He wouldn’t?

IZZY
He might.

SAM
See?!

IZZY
He’s just mad. And jealous.

SAM
Yeah because he has a crush on you! I told you like a hundred times that guy has a thing for you / —

IZZY
(overlapping) Sam —

SAM
–And you’re always like no, he’s just a / friend —

IZZY
Look, you’re —

SAM
And we’ve known each other forever and now will you finally admit that I’m right?!

IZZY
You’re right.

Join us for our next Monday Night Playground on March 25, live at The Producers Club and simulcast! For more info, click here!