Drama/ 5 Characters, 1 Man, 4 Women/ Full Length, Two Acts
Synopsis: Single mom Josephine has three children from different dads; identical and infertile twin Marjorie wants to be childless — until Jo offers to be her egg donor surrogate …
From The Buffalo News: “Seeds is the very personal and intimate story of Marjorie and Aiden, two thirtysomethings once called DINKS – double income, no kids – pondering parenthood. He’s obsessed with being a dad, needs to be one.
Marjorie’s not so sure. She’s a scientist and lives in a world of research and grants, long hours, cutting-edge stuff. She’s seen countless doctors about her apparent infertility, ultrasounded and probed ad infinitum. Marjorie likes her life as it is and motherhood is not a first choice.
Marjorie’s twin, Josephine, on the other hand, has three children by three different fathers. She can get pregnant with a handshake. So, the topic of Jo as a surrogate mother arises, is argued and agreed upon . . .
From this point on, Seeds is full of crises, some foreseen, some not. Baby Joseph’s premature birth is complicated and prior arrangements – Who’s the aunt? Who’s the mother? – surface. There are blowups and meltdowns. ‘Babies can ruin relationships,’ observes Kay, the twins’ caustic but wise mother. ‘Look at Josephine. Look at me. Look at Woody Allen.'”
“Simply put, the instructional, observant and insightful Seeds is Hoke’s best work to date . . . Hoke is at work exploring decision-making, societal expectations and perceptions in this important play . . . suggesting that even looking for love in all the wrong places may turn out fine.”
– The Buffalo News
Contact Information:
Amateur and professional rights:
Donna Hoke
donna@donnahoke.com
Ph.: 973-919-2038
Playwright’s website: donnahoke.com
Representation: Patricia McLaughlin, Beacon Agency
beaconagency@hotmail.com
212-736-6630
About the Playwright: Donna’s work has been seen in 47 states and on five continents, including at Barrington Stage, Barrow Group, Celebration Theatre, Gulfshore Theatre, Queens Theatre, The Road, Writers Theatre New Jersey, Phoenix Theatre, Atlantic Stage, Purple Rose, Skylight, Pride Films and Plays, New Jersey Rep, Hens and Chickens (London), The Galway Fringe Festival, and Actors Repertory Theatre of Luxembourg. Plays include BRILLIANT WORKS OF ART (Kilroys List), ELEVATOR GIRL (O’Neill and Princess Grace finalist), SAFE (winner of the Todd McNerney, Naatak, and Great Gay Play and Musical Contests), and TEACH (Gulfshore New Works winner). She has been nominated for the Primus, Blackburn, and Laura Pels prizes, and is a three-time winner of the Emanuel Fried Award for Outstanding New Play (SEEDS, SONS & LOVERS, ONCE IN MY LIFETIME). She has also received an Individual Artist Award from the New York State Council on the Arts to develop HEARTS OF STONE, and, in its final three years, Artvoice named her Buffalo’s Best Writer—the only woman to ever receive the designation.
Donna also serves on the Dramatists Guild Council, is an ensemble playwright at Road Less Traveled Productions, blogger, moderator of the 12,000+-member Official Playwrights of Facebook, New York Times-published crossword puzzle constructor; children’s and trivia book author; and founder/co-curator of BUA Takes 10: GLBT Short Stories. Speaking engagements include Citywrights, Kenyon Playwrights Conference, the Dramatists Guild National Conference, Chicago Dramatists, the Austin Film Festival, and a live Dramatists Guild webinar. Her commentary has been seen on #2amt, howlround, The Dramatist, the Official Playwrights of Facebook, Workshopping the New Play (Applause, 2017), and at donnahoke.com.
Seeds was first produced by the Road Less Traveled Theater, Buffalo, NY in March 2013.