The Myth of Summer by Conni Massing

Comedy/ 8 Characters, 5 women, 3 men/ Full Length, Two Acts

Synopsis: A lightning strike and the inspirational story of Joan of Arc trigger a series of magical occurrences for 16-year old Jessica and everyone else around her caught up in the fleeting euphoria of this most maddening season of the year. German massage therapist Werner and frantic puppeteer Melanie fall in love over dreams of the Canadian wilderness and French erudition, both of which turn out to be empty promises. Party planning duo Dacia and Kevin orchestrate important events for others while deluding themselves about the lack of meaning in their own lives. Meanwhile Jessica wields her newfound powers to help her mother Brenda, aunt Jackie, and boyfriend Mordred see the painful truth about love.

“Bursting with comedy and dynamic characters in a world both familiar and hilarious in its failures . . . . A grand, comic spectacle.” — Fast Forward

“Sashays from poignant moments to deep belly laughs.” — Calgary Sun

“Proves time and time again the comic ingenuity and richness that’s possible in the use of everyday language to bring not-so-ordinary situations to life.” — Calgary Herald

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Performance rights must be secured before production
Contact information:
Amateur and professional rights:
Michael Petrasek
Kensington Literary Agency
Ph.: 416-848-9648
Email: kensingtonlit@rogers.com

About the Playwright: Conni is an award-winning writer working in theatre, film and television. Stage credits include Matara and The Invention of Romance, both premiered by Workshop West Playwrights Theatre, Oh! Christmas Tree (Roxy Performance Series), and her widely-produced stage adaptations of W.O Mitchell’s Jake and the Kid and Bruce Allen Powe’s The Aberhart Summer. Conni has worked as a story editor on television series such as Mentors, The Beat, North of 60, The Adventures of Shirley Holmes, Taking it Off, and Family Restaurant. Film projects include two feature-length comedies (in development) and two short films: Invisible, co-written with and directed by Neil Grahn and Voila, co-produced and directed by Geraldine Carr. Conni has several publications to her credit, including six of her plays and a comic memoir, Roadtripping: On the Move with the Buffalo Gals (Brindle and Glass Publishing). Her writing has been recognized by AMPIA, the Academy of Cinema and Television, the Betty Mitchell Awards, the Writers Guild of Alberta, and the Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards.

The Myth of Summer was first produced by Alberta Theatre Projects, Calgary, Alberta in Jan. 2005.