Language of Angels

Language of Angels by Naomi Iizuka

(9)
Productions (104)
Drama
|
70 - 80 minutes
4 W, 4 M, 
Content Notes: Adult language
Set: Flexible.

An eerie cycle of ghost stories, set in the cave country of North Carolina. After a young girl is lost in a cave on the edge of town, there is a Rashomon-like investigation of her disappearance and the fate of those who survive her.

Pricing Information

Min. Performance Fee* $85
Standard Edition $13.99
Stage Manager Edition $24.99
Archival Video License $150

*The per performance fee begins at $85. Your per performance fee will be provided during the ordering process.


Playscripts is pleased to offer an Archival Video License for an additional $150 for full-length plays and $75 for one-act plays.

Play Details

An eerie cycle of ghost stories, set in the cave country of North Carolina. After a young girl is lost in a cave on the edge of town, there is a Rashomon-like investigation of her disappearance and the fate of those who survive her.

  • Drama
  • |
  • 70 - 80 minutes
  • 4 W, 4 M, 
  • Content Notes: Adult language
  • Set: Flexible.
  • Standard Edition ISBN: 978-1-62384-139-3

Published Reviews

"[Iizuka] has taken some of the ghostly structure of the classical Japanese Noh play, recast it in a rural idiom and infused it with a humming, explosive energy -- language used like a loaded weapon."

Seattle Times

"What gives Language of Angels its strangeness, and a certain eerie magnetism, is that all these questions, pastpresentfuture, float around the stage simultaneously, unstuck from characters and chronology. Additionally, the play gives its most lyrical speeches to people who are insistently inarticulate. The angels are tarnished, earthbound, and their language has a kind of brute poetry."

Liz Nicholls, Edmonton Journal

"Great theater creates a trance and weaves the audience into a world with its own irrefutable logic and connections. That's what happens in Language of Angels, Naomi Iizuka's splendidly realized drama about small-town tragedies. Language is about the sort of marginal, working-class lives short story writer Raymond Carver chronicled. Like Carver, Iizuka celebrates the struggle and humanity and imploded despair of her characters without sentimentalizing it or condescending."

San Francisco Chronicle

"The only setting better than Appalachia for drama would be a cave in Appalachia, which happens to be where Naomi Iizuka's heavy-hitting play Language of Angels mostly takes place... The set's minimalism provides the perfect counterpoint to Iizuka's lush, evocative narrative style, and the opening monologue by Seth hooks the audience instantly."

Stacey Levine, The Stranger (Seattle)

"With Language of Angels, Iizuka has created a Rashomonlike meditation on the nature of memory, grief and passing time. To do this, she has taken some of the ghostly structure of the classical Japanese Noh play, recast it in a rural idiom and infused it with a humming, explosive energy -- language used like a loaded weapon. She is an important and arresting talent."

Seattle Times

Production History

APR 26, 2024 - APR 28, 2024
Ramapo College of New Jersey chapter of Alpha Psi Omega
Mahwah, NJ United States
Ramapo College of New Jersey chapter of Alpha Psi Omega Mahwah, NJ United States
FEB 15, 2024 - FEB 18, 2024
University of SC
Columbia, SC United States
University of SC Columbia, SC United States
NOV 15, 2023 - NOV 18, 2023
Lees-McRae College Theatre
Banner Elk, NC United States
Lees-McRae College Theatre Banner Elk, NC United States
OCT 26, 2023 - OCT 29, 2023
Foothills Community Players
Maryville, TN United States
Foothills Community Players Maryville, TN United States
OCT 12, 2023 - OCT 21, 2023
Ball State University Department Of Theatre And Dance
Muncie, IN United States
Ball State University Department Of Theatre And Dance Muncie, IN United States
JUL 21, 2023 - JUL 22, 2023
Stagedoor Manor
Loch Sheldrake, NY United States
Stagedoor Manor Loch Sheldrake, NY United States
APR 21, 2023 - APR 23, 2023
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ United States
Montclair State University Montclair, NJ United States
APR 20, 2023 - APR 23, 2023
Eastern New Mexico University
Portales, NM United States
Eastern New Mexico University Portales, NM United States
APR 04, 2023 - APR 06, 2023
Booker T Washington HSPVA
Dallas, TX United States
Booker T Washington HSPVA Dallas, TX United States
NOV 29, 2022 - DEC 01, 2022
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, IL United States
Columbia College Chicago Chicago, IL United States
NOV 12, 2022 - DEC 04, 2022
University of Washington School of Drama
Seattle, WA United States
University of Washington School of Drama Seattle, WA United States
MAR 15, 2022 - MAR 17, 2022
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, IL United States
Columbia College Chicago Chicago, IL United States
NOV 18, 2021 - NOV 21, 2021
Dailey Theatre
La Verne, CA United States
Dailey Theatre La Verne, CA United States
OCT 23, 2021 - OCT 25, 2021
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA United States
Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, MA United States
OCT 22, 2021 - OCT 22, 2021
Black Hills Community Theatre
Rapid City, SD United States
Black Hills Community Theatre Rapid City, SD United States
MAR 10, 2021 - MAR 14, 2021
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA United States
Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, MA United States
NOV 30, 2020 - NOV 30, 2020
Kingsborough Community College
Brooklyn, NY United States
Kingsborough Community College Brooklyn, NY United States
OCT 23, 2020 - OCT 25, 2020
St. Joseph Notre Dame HS
Alameda, CA United States
St. Joseph Notre Dame HS Alameda, CA United States
FEB 19, 2020 - FEB 23, 2020
Creighton University Fine & Performing Arts
Omaha, NE United States
Creighton University Fine & Performing Arts Omaha, NE United States
OCT 10, 2019 - NOV 03, 2019
Three Crows
Evanston, IL United States
Three Crows Evanston, IL United States
APR 27, 2019 - APR 28, 2019
Kinkaid School
Houston, TX United States
Kinkaid School Houston, TX United States
APR 26, 2019 - APR 27, 2019
Duxbury High School
Duxbury, MA United States
Duxbury High School Duxbury, MA United States
SEP 13, 2018 - SEP 15, 2018
Southwest High School
San Antonio, TX United States
Southwest High School San Antonio, TX United States
APR 20, 2018 - APR 29, 2018
Harper College
Palatine, IL United States
Harper College Palatine, IL United States
DEC 07, 2017 - DEC 09, 2017
The New School, School Of Drama
New York, NY United States
The New School, School Of Drama New York, NY United States
OCT 19, 2017 - OCT 21, 2017
Perry Theater
Florence, AL United States
Perry Theater Florence, AL United States
APR 28, 2017 - APR 29, 2017
University Of Colorado
Boulder, CO United States
University Of Colorado Boulder, CO United States
FEB 15, 2017 - MAR 26, 2017
The Cuckoo's Theater Project
Chicago, IL United States
The Cuckoo's Theater Project Chicago, IL United States
NOV 17, 2016 - NOV 19, 2016
Colonial Forge HS DRAMA
Stafford, VA United States
Colonial Forge HS DRAMA Stafford, VA United States
OCT 28, 2016 - OCT 28, 2016
Colonial Forge HS DRAMA
Stafford, VA United States
Colonial Forge HS DRAMA Stafford, VA United States
OCT 21, 2016 - OCT 22, 2016
Cypress Creek High School
Orlando, FL United States
Cypress Creek High School Orlando, FL United States
APR 14, 2016 - APR 14, 2016
Driscoll MS
San Antonio, TX United States
Driscoll MS San Antonio, TX United States
FEB 26, 2016 - FEB 26, 2016
Driscoll MS
San Antonio, TX, TX United States
Driscoll MS San Antonio, TX, TX United States
MAY 01, 2015 - MAY 30, 2015
W. T. White High School
Dallas, TX United States
W. T. White High School Dallas, TX United States
OCT 30, 2014 - NOV 01, 2014
Stuarts Draft High School
Stuarts Draft, VA United States
Stuarts Draft High School Stuarts Draft, VA United States
OCT 25, 2014 - OCT 25, 2014
Stuarts Draft High School
Stuarts Draft, VA United States
Stuarts Draft High School Stuarts Draft, VA United States
OCT 18, 2014 - OCT 30, 2014
The Happy Medium Theatre
Boston, MA United States
The Happy Medium Theatre Boston, MA United States
OCT 17, 2014 - OCT 26, 2014
West Valley College
Saratoga, CA United States
West Valley College Saratoga, CA United States
FEB 14, 2014 - FEB 15, 2014
SFA School of Theatre
Nacogdoches, TX United States
SFA School of Theatre Nacogdoches, TX United States
OCT 10, 2013 - OCT 13, 2013
Mabee Theater
Kansas City, MO United States
Mabee Theater Kansas City, MO United States
JUL 19, 2013 - JUL 21, 2013
Bold Print Theater Company
Seattle, WA United States
Bold Print Theater Company Seattle, WA United States
MAY 24, 2013 - MAY 25, 2013
One Song Productions
Durham, NC United States
One Song Productions Durham, NC United States
MAR 19, 2013 - MAR 24, 2013
Ball State University Theatre And Dance
Muncie, IN United States
Ball State University Theatre And Dance Muncie, IN United States
MAR 07, 2013 - MAR 17, 2013
University Of Scranton
Scranton, PA United States
University Of Scranton Scranton, PA United States
FEB 07, 2013 - FEB 09, 2013
Northwestern University-Sit & Spin Productions
Evanston, IL United States
Northwestern University-Sit & Spin Productions Evanston, IL United States
OCT 16, 2012 - OCT 21, 2012
The Theatre School, Depaul University
CHICAGO, IL United States
The Theatre School, Depaul University CHICAGO, IL United States
JUL 22, 2011 - AUG 06, 2011
Bowie Community Theatre
Bowie, MD United States
Bowie Community Theatre Bowie, MD United States
MAY 06, 2011 - MAY 08, 2011
Depauw University
Greencastle, IN United States
Depauw University Greencastle, IN United States
MAY 06, 2011 - JUN 05, 2011
Theatre Three, Inc.
Dallas, TX United States
Theatre Three, Inc. Dallas, TX United States
MAR 25, 2011 - APR 02, 2011
Indiana University, Bloomington
Bloomington, IN United States
Indiana University, Bloomington Bloomington, IN United States
NOV 05, 2010 - NOV 21, 2010
City College Of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA United States
City College Of San Francisco San Francisco, CA United States
NOV 05, 2010 - NOV 07, 2010
The Theatre School, DePaul University
Chicago, IL United States
The Theatre School, DePaul University Chicago, IL United States
NOV 05, 2010 - NOV 20, 2010
City College Of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA United States
City College Of San Francisco San Francisco, CA United States
OCT 22, 2010 - OCT 23, 2010
Volunteer High School
Church Hill, TN United States
Volunteer High School Church Hill, TN United States
OCT 07, 2010 - OCT 15, 2010
Central Fine & Performing Arts Magnet High School
Tulsa, OK United States
Central Fine & Performing Arts Magnet High School Tulsa, OK United States
AUG 04, 2010 - AUG 10, 2010
Pepperdine University
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Pepperdine University Edinburgh, United Kingdom
NOV 19, 2009 - NOV 22, 2009
University Of South Carolina Department Of Theatre And Dance
Columbia, SC United States
University Of South Carolina Department Of Theatre And Dance Columbia, SC United States
NOV 13, 2009 - NOV 22, 2009
The Radburn Players
Fair Lawn, NJ United States
The Radburn Players Fair Lawn, NJ United States
OCT 27, 2009 - OCT 27, 2009
Knightdale HS Auditorium
Knightdale, NC United States
Knightdale HS Auditorium Knightdale, NC United States
OCT 22, 2009 - OCT 31, 2009
University Of Virginia Department Of Drama
Charlottesville, VA United States
University Of Virginia Department Of Drama Charlottesville, VA United States
APR 23, 2009 - APR 23, 2009
Ponte Vedra High
Jacksonville, FL United States
Ponte Vedra High Jacksonville, FL United States
APR 16, 2009 - APR 18, 2009
Yale School Of Drama - Yale Cabaret
New Haven, CT United States
Yale School Of Drama - Yale Cabaret New Haven, CT United States
JAN 17, 2009 - JAN 17, 2009
Ponte Vedra High
St. Johns, FL United States
Ponte Vedra High St. Johns, FL United States
DEC 13, 2008 - DEC 13, 2008
New Smyrna Beach High School
New Smyrna Beach, FL United States
New Smyrna Beach High School New Smyrna Beach, FL United States
OCT 08, 2008 - OCT 10, 2008
Akins High School Journey Theatre
Austin, TX United States
Akins High School Journey Theatre Austin, TX United States
OCT 02, 2008 - OCT 05, 2008
Connecticut College Theater Department
New London, CT United States
Connecticut College Theater Department New London, CT United States
APR 10, 2008 - APR 18, 2008
Apopka High School
Apopka, FL United States
Apopka High School Apopka, FL United States
APR 03, 2008 - APR 05, 2008
Philadelphia University
Philadelphia University, PA United States
Philadelphia University Philadelphia University, PA United States
DEC 01, 2007 - DEC 01, 2007
NYU Players Club
New York, NY United States
NYU Players Club New York, NY United States
NOV 27, 2007 - DEC 02, 2007
Morehead State University Theatre
Morehead, KY United States
Morehead State University Theatre Morehead, KY United States
NOV 08, 2007 - NOV 18, 2007
Cornish College Of The Arts
Seattle, WA United States
Cornish College Of The Arts Seattle, WA United States
SEP 28, 2007 - OCT 07, 2007
Saint Louis University Theatre
Saint Louis, MO United States
Saint Louis University Theatre Saint Louis, MO United States
MAY 11, 2007 - MAY 20, 2007
University of California
Santa Cruz, CA United States
University of California Santa Cruz, CA United States
JAN 19, 2007 - FEB 07, 2007
Converse College
Spartanburg, SC United States
Converse College Spartanburg, SC United States
DEC 12, 2006 - DEC 12, 2006
Echo Theatre
Dallas, TX United States
Echo Theatre Dallas, TX United States
NOV 30, 2006 - DEC 09, 2006
Walden Theatre
Louisville, KY United States
Walden Theatre Louisville, KY United States
NOV 10, 2006 - NOV 11, 2006
Volunteer State Community College
Gallatin, TN United States
Volunteer State Community College Gallatin, TN United States
OCT 27, 2006 - OCT 28, 2006
Tiffin University
Tiffin, OH United States
Tiffin University Tiffin, OH United States
OCT 13, 2006 - OCT 14, 2006
Players Club Of Swarthmore
Swarthmore, PA United States
Players Club Of Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA United States
OCT 12, 2006 - OCT 28, 2006
Harlem Theater Project, Inc.
New York, NY United States
Harlem Theater Project, Inc. New York, NY United States
MAY 10, 2006 - MAY 12, 2006
St. Augustine Catholic High School
Tucson, AZ United States
St. Augustine Catholic High School Tucson, AZ United States
MAR 03, 2006 - MAR 04, 2006
Lincoln Center Institute
New York, NY United States
Lincoln Center Institute New York, NY United States
FEB 26, 2006 - MAR 12, 2006
University Of Washington
Seattle, WA United States
University Of Washington Seattle, WA United States
FEB 15, 2006 - FEB 18, 2006
Radford University
Radford, VA United States
Radford University Radford, VA United States
JAN 13, 2006 - JAN 13, 2006
Lawrence University
Normal, IL United States
Lawrence University Normal, IL United States
NOV 17, 2005 - NOV 20, 2005
Lawrence University Dept. Of Theatre Arts
Appleton, WI United States
Lawrence University Dept. Of Theatre Arts Appleton, WI United States
OCT 13, 2005 - OCT 22, 2005
Artesia Community Theatre
Artesia, NM United States
Artesia Community Theatre Artesia, NM United States
APR 06, 2005 - APR 09, 2005
Truman State University
Kirksville, MO United States
Truman State University Kirksville, MO United States
NOV 05, 2004 - NOV 07, 2004
Pace University
NEW YORK, NY United States
Pace University NEW YORK, NY United States
OCT 22, 2004 - NOV 21, 2004
Synchronicity Performance Group
Atlanta, GA United States
Synchronicity Performance Group Atlanta, GA United States
AUG 20, 2004 - AUG 20, 2004
Cascade Christian Schools
Puyallup, WA United States
Cascade Christian Schools Puyallup, WA United States
APR 01, 2004 - APR 03, 2004
Rowan University Dept Of Theatre And Dance
Glassboro, NJ United States
Rowan University Dept Of Theatre And Dance Glassboro, NJ United States
FEB 21, 2004 - FEB 21, 2004
Charles M. Russell High School
Great Falls, MT United States
Charles M. Russell High School Great Falls, MT United States
FEB 13, 2004 - FEB 17, 2004
Charles M. Russell High School
Great Falls, MT United States
Charles M. Russell High School Great Falls, MT United States
FEB 12, 2004 - FEB 15, 2004
Shaw University
Raleigh, NC United States
Shaw University Raleigh, NC United States
FEB 10, 2004 - FEB 13, 2004
Santa Rosa Junior College
San Bernadino, CA United States
Santa Rosa Junior College San Bernadino, CA United States
OCT 10, 2003 - OCT 19, 2003
Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa, CA United States
Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa, CA United States
AUG 14, 2003 - SEP 28, 2003
The Gift Theatre Company
Chicago, IL United States
The Gift Theatre Company Chicago, IL United States
MAY 09, 2003 - MAY 09, 2003
Queen Marys College
Basingstoke Hants, United Kingdom
Queen Marys College Basingstoke Hants, United Kingdom
APR 23, 2003 - MAY 04, 2003
Northern Light Theatre
Edmonton, AB Canada
Northern Light Theatre Edmonton, AB Canada
OCT 10, 2002 - OCT 13, 2002
Univ of Iowa Dept of Theatre Arts
Iowa City, IA United States
Univ of Iowa Dept of Theatre Arts Iowa City, IA United States
SEP 18, 2002 - SEP 28, 2002
The Alternate Theatre
Montreal, QC Canada
The Alternate Theatre Montreal, QC Canada
APR 27, 2001 - JUN 02, 2001
Theater Schmeater
Seattle, WA United States
Theater Schmeater Seattle, WA United States
JAN 01, 2000 - DEC 31, 2000
Campo Santo + Intersection for the Arts
San Francisco, CA United States
Campo Santo + Intersection for the Arts San Francisco, CA United States
APR 26, 2024 - APR 28, 2024
Ramapo College of New Jersey chapter of Alpha Psi Omega
Mahwah, NJ United States
Ramapo College of New Jersey chapter of Alpha Psi Omega Mahwah, NJ United States
MAY 06, 2011 - JUN 05, 2011
Theatre Three, Inc.
Dallas, TX United States
Theatre Three, Inc. Dallas, TX United States
OCT 22, 2004 - NOV 21, 2004
Synchronicity Performance Group
Atlanta, GA United States
Synchronicity Performance Group Atlanta, GA United States
APR 23, 2003 - MAY 04, 2003
Northern Light Theatre
Edmonton, AB Canada
Northern Light Theatre Edmonton, AB Canada
SEP 18, 2002 - SEP 28, 2002
The Alternate Theatre
Montreal, QC Canada
The Alternate Theatre Montreal, QC Canada
APR 27, 2001 - JUN 02, 2001
Theater Schmeater
Seattle, WA United States
Theater Schmeater Seattle, WA United States
JAN 01, 2000 - DEC 31, 2000
Campo Santo + Intersection for the Arts
San Francisco, CA United States
Campo Santo + Intersection for the Arts San Francisco, CA United States

Archival Video License

Playscripts is pleased to offer an Archival Video License to add to your order for an additional $150 for full-length plays and $75 for one-act plays.

This allows you to record one of your live performances for your internal archives only. This cannot be streamed.

For more information, please reach out to [email protected]