The Woodpecker

The Woodpecker by Samuel Brett Williams

(2)
Productions (5)
Comedy/Drama
|
80 - 85 minutes
1 W, 4 M, 
Content Notes: Adult language and content
Set: The living room of a trailer in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. An interrogation room. The woods. A bedroom.

It's Jimmy's last day before going to war: he's addicted to glue, his mom is seeing visions in the sweet potato casserole, and his wheelchair-bound dad can and will kick his butt. He turns to a higher power for answers, and finds an Ivory-billed Woodpecker instead. A dark comedy that explores family, faith, and freedom, while blurring the lines between black and white and right and wrong.

Pricing Information

Min. Performance Fee* $85
Standard Edition $13.99
Stage Manager Edition $24.99

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

Play Details

It's Jimmy's last day before going to war: he's addicted to glue, his mom is seeing visions in the sweet potato casserole, and his wheelchair-bound dad can and will kick his butt. He turns to a higher power for answers, and finds an Ivory-billed Woodpecker instead. A dark comedy that explores family, faith, and freedom, while blurring the lines between black and white and right and wrong.

  • Comedy/Drama
  • |
  • 80 - 85 minutes
  • 1 W, 4 M, 
  • Content Notes: Adult language and content
  • Set: The living room of a trailer in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. An interrogation room. The woods. A bedroom.
  • Standard Edition ISBN: 978-1-62384-475-2

Published Reviews

"The Woodpecker is top-drawer dark comedy -- or, in this current era of 'forever war,' squint your other eye and see one of the funniest tragedies in town. Either way, Samuel Brett Williams is a voice to be reckoned with."

Lee Blessing, Playwright

"In director Jon Cohn's darkly moody staging, the drama's sense of existential rage is urgent and evocative... Ferocious emotional charge."

LA Weekly

"CRITICS PICK: A complex yet lucidly dramatized mixture, enhanced with soaring lyricism and dark humor...a magnificent cast bring Williams' harrowing script to life in a gripping world-premiere staging."

Backstage

"...raw staging...vivid performances...mordant humor."

Los Angeles Times

"...a searing indictment of an American aggressiveness... The Woodpecker is driven by compellingly watchable performances... You won't go wrong."

LAist

"A terrific cast delivers an intense theatrical experience."

Southern California Public Radio

"...all sorts of awesomeness. See this play."

LAthtrNinja

Production History

MAR 04, 2011 - APR 10, 2011
Mutineer Theatre Company
Los Angeles, CA United States
Mutineer Theatre Company Los Angeles, CA United States
AUG 11, 2011 - SEP 11, 2011
XIII Pocket Theatre Company
Chicago, IL United States
XIII Pocket Theatre Company Chicago, IL United States
MAR 04, 2011 - APR 10, 2011
Mutineer Theatre Company
Los Angeles, CA United States
Mutineer Theatre Company Los Angeles, CA United States
MAR 25, 2008 - APR 05, 2008
Cherry Lane Theatre
New York, NY United States
Cherry Lane Theatre New York, NY United States
JUL 11, 2007 - JUL 13, 2007
Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference
Waterford, CT United States
Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference Waterford, CT United States
No upcoming productions.
MAR 04, 2011 - APR 10, 2011
Mutineer Theatre Company
Los Angeles, CA United States
Mutineer Theatre Company Los Angeles, CA United States
AUG 11, 2011 - SEP 11, 2011
XIII Pocket Theatre Company
Chicago, IL United States
XIII Pocket Theatre Company Chicago, IL United States
MAR 04, 2011 - APR 10, 2011
Mutineer Theatre Company
Los Angeles, CA United States
Mutineer Theatre Company Los Angeles, CA United States
MAR 25, 2008 - APR 05, 2008
Cherry Lane Theatre
New York, NY United States
Cherry Lane Theatre New York, NY United States
JUL 11, 2007 - JUL 13, 2007
Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference
Waterford, CT United States
Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference Waterford, CT United States

Awards (1)

The Helen Merrill Emerging Playwright Award