This is a new “Digital Play Production” of one of my most popular short plays for high schools, colleges, and community theater — BRAIN SUCKING. In the stage version, one character, Greeley, tells a massive tall tale to his friend, Ed. In the “Digital Play Production” version (below), we’re able to fly off stage and open up into the wild imagination of Greeley. Give it a watch!
ABOUT THE PLAY:
BRAIN SUCKING is a 10-minute Southern style (Texas style!) comedy that is a favorite for UIL One-Act competitions, Student Theater Directors, College Students, Thespian Festivals, and Community Theater showcases of One-Acts. Whether you are searching for competition monologues (there are a few good monologues in this one), or engaging ten-minute plays for the classroom, this script delivers colorful comedic dialogue that audiences love.
🎭 To read the short play, BRAIN SUCKING, for free: https://stephenbittrich.com/plays/oneacts/BrainSucking_10MinutePlay.html
IMPORTANT: YOU MUST HAVE PERMISSION AND PAY A MODEST LICENSING FEE TO PERFORM THESE PLAYS
🍎 EDUCATORS:
This script is free for in-class study. 🎭 PERFORMANCES: A modest licensing fee is required for any performance in front of any audience beyond the classroom (including school assemblies, festivals, or filmed productions), whether or not admission is charged. 📩 QUESTIONS? I love hearing from students (and teachers)! Email me for a PDF perusal script or to ask about the world of BRAIN SUCKING.
To contact Stephen: https://stephenbittrich.com/contactstephen.html
ABOUT THE PLAY:
Flexible Casting (Non-Traditional Casting Encouraged): Perfect for a 2 person ensemble cast.
MINIMAL SET:
Can be performed with just a couple of lawn chairs and a little table.
COMPETITION READY:
Fits perfectly within the time limits for short play festivals and forensics categories.
SYNOPSIS:
Brain Sucking takes place on a back porch in South Texas. Greeley recounts his tall tale of being abducted by a brain sucking alien to his best friend, Ed, while also revealing some rather questionable recent behavior toward his fiancée. Think Greater Tuna vibes.
❤️ Drama Teachers love this script. ❤️
Photos from just a handful of the numerous productions of BRAIN SUCKING:
BRAIN SUCKING was expanded into a full-length script titled HOME OF THE GREAT PECAN, which is handled by Broadway Play Publishing.
CREDITS FOR THE DIGITAL PLAY PRODUCTION:
Both characters were vocally performed by Stephen Bittrich
using Elevenlabs.io tools to change vocal timbre.
Character images were created usingOpenArt.ai, Midjourney.com and LTX.studio
The 10-minute play “BRAIN SUCKING” was written by
Stephen Bittrich
and originally performed at
Actor’s Theatre of Louisville in the Victor Jory Theatre
with the following Cast & Crew:
William McNulty
Director
Dustin Longstreth
The Original “Greeley”
Eric Shephard
The Original “Ed”
“BRAIN SUCKING”
was expanded into a full-length play called
“HOME OF THE GREAT PECAN”
which can be licensed through Broadway Play Publishing
www.BroadwayPlayPublishing.com
The World Premiere of “HOME OF THE GREAT PECAN”
was produced by The Drilling Company Theater
with a cast of 16 company members
(The play may be done with 4 actors or as many as 21 actors)
Hamilton Clancy
Artistic Director and Director
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT:
Stephen Bittrich’s first play was a 30-minute STAR TREK tribute in junior high school where he penned himself into the starring role of Captain Kirk. For over a decade and a half he worked primarily with The Drilling Company Theater https://drillingcompany.org/history on the Upper West Side of Manhattan where many of his plays were produced. Excerpts from his writings and other interesting tidbits may be found on his website: https://stephenbittrich.com/plays/BittrichOneAct.html. HOME OF THE GREAT PECAN is a full-length comedy handled by www.BroadwayPlayPublishing.com.
Other published plays include BRAIN SUCKING (DRAMATICS MAGAZINE, 1995), DUTY HONOR COUNTRY (New York Theatre Experience, 2005), THE PROPOSAL (Smith and Kraus, 2006), HOLE (Smith and Kraus, 2011) — as well as monologues and scenes in BEST MEN’S STAGE MONOLOGUES 2005, BEST WOMEN’S STAGE MONOLOGUES AND SCENES 2012, and BEST MEN’S STAGE MONOLOGUES AND SCENES 2012 (Smith and Kraus, 2005, 2012).
