doollee banner
The Playwrights Database
contact doollee


Topher Payne

TOPHER PAYNE

  (1979 - )
Nationality:    USA
email:    Click here to contact     Website:    Click here

Literary Agent:    n/a

Topher Payne had a lot of imaginary friends as a child, and found a way to put them to work at age seventeen. He's been chasing those voices ever since. Topher premieres four new works in 2013: the jazz-age mystery SWELL PARTY at Georgia Ensemble Theatre; a terrorist buddy comedy about ANGRY FAGS at 7 Stages; locking Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift, and Elizabeth Taylor in a hotel room in Pinch n Ouch Theatre's the ONLY LIGHT IN RENO; and LAKEBOTTOM PRIME, in which a 1920s wedding is interrupted by an alien invasion, at the State Theatre of Georgia, the Springer Opera House. Topher lives with two other Mississippi misfits- a husband named Tommy and a beagle named Daisy- in a good house surrounded by a bad neighborhood outside AtlantA.

Research:    https://www.facebook.com/HelloTopher

Buy Plays with Doollee

Each page of doollee.com has links to play/book outlets, either directly to the Publisher, through Stageplays.com and Amazon to the second hand and 1st editions of AbeBooks. These links will automatically take you to the relevant area obviating the need for further search.
AbeBooks.co.uk   AbeBooks.com   Stageplays.com   amazon.com   amazon.co.uk   amazon.ca
whether you are a Playwright who wishes to make their entry definitive, an unlisted Playwright or a User with a tale to tell - we want to hear from you.
download WORD submission template

below is a list of Topher Payne's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         Above the Fold         Angry Fags         Attala County Garden Club, The         Bad Mama         Beached Wails         Christina Darling         Entertaining Lesbians         Evelyn in Purgatory         Greetings Friend Your Kind Assistance Is Required         Jeff Recommended: "Perfect Arrangement"         Lakebottom Prime         Let Nothing You Dismay         Medicine Showdown         Morningside         Only Light In Reno, The         Perfect Arrangement         Relations Unknown         Swell Party         Tokens of Affection
Above the Fold

Synopsis:
Long after the news cameras have moved on people still have to cope with the circumstances that lead them to being front page news: friends of the High School shooter, a scandel involving a pop star and so on

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
One act

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
https://twitter.com/topherpayne

Top of Page Top of Page

Angry Fags

Synopsis:
An out lesbian senator is up for re-election. One of her aides ex-boyfriend is gay bashed with a baseball bat and killed. The aide is appalled when the senator refuses to call this a hate crime. Together with a friend the aid starts a vendetta of murder and sabotage

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
7 Stages     2013

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Gay/Lesbian black comedy full length

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Attala County Garden Club, The

Synopsis:
Newly married Rose moves into her new home with her husband and baby. She applies to join the local garden club - her mother is a member - and is rejected.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Onstage, Atlanta     2005

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Black comedy

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  6            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Bad Mama

Synopsis:
A series of scenes and monologues depicting mothers who will go to ANY length for their progeny, leading to disastrous and hilarious results. Included in the evening: A New Jersey young mother-to-be reveals her plan to raise her child as a homosexual; A Mississippi mother battles for control of her son's wedding reception, with shocking results; Divorced parents use every tactic possible to gain favor with their beleaguered daughter; and "A Lifetime Original Movie Starring Judith Light", which filters the plotlines of 23 Lifetime Television movies into one woman's very, very bad day.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Atlanta, Georgia     2005

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Farce

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  5            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Beached Wails

Synopsis:
Every summer, the four Harmon sisters pack up a car, wave goodbye to families in Kosciusko, Mississippi, and head for a week at the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama. This year's vacation is particularly needed; second-eldest sister Brenda lost her husband Lewis last fall, and all agree she could benefit from a week of rest. Rain greets them on the first day, and what seems at first an inconvenience proves to be more threatening: Gulf Shores lies directly in the path of a hurricane. their attempts at evacuating are thwarted by Brenda, who becomes convinced that the storm, which shares a name with her late husband, is a sign telling her to stay. Things become a bit more complicated with the arrival of an unexpected guest, 21-year old model Randy Bradford, who makes all of the Harmon sisters wonder whether their troubles remained at home after all. . .

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Atlanta, Georgia     2002

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Christina Darling

Synopsis:
Twenty years after writing the book that changed everyone's opinions of Joan Crawford - Christina Crawford is running a bed and breakfast establishment. Her writing and acting career went up in smoke and she took to drink. Now she needs money and is thinking of writing another book about her mother to get it. then some guests check in - one of whom is Mommie Dearest.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  6            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Entertaining Lesbians

Synopsis:
the School for Young People is the place for any responsible parent to send their preschool-age child in Atlanta. Rowena Tuttle knows this, and she will stop at nothing in her mission to secure a place for her four year-old daughter, Portia. Hoping to gain better standing with the parents of current students, Rowena and her husband Tad invite a lesbian couple into their home. But when Rowena has the cook impersonate a U.S. Ambassador, is forced to cope with the surprise arrival of her trashy sister Janis, and discovers a ransom note in the kitchen, things begin to spiral out of control. . . Hilarity ensues.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
New York, NY     2004

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Lesbian black comedy full length

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  5            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Evelyn in Purgatory

Evelyn in Purgatory
When a complaint is filed against one of the 70,000 teachers in New York's public schools, they're sent to a Reassignment Center, one of a series of empty offices in the Department of Education Building. There, they sit and wait for their case to be reviewed. Usually for months. Sometimes for over a year. A claim of improper behavior by a failing student lands Evelyn Reid in "the rubber room," where she encounters a group of teachers, some guilty, some not, who have long since lost any hope of returning to a classroom. Over the course of the school year, these colleagues form an unlikely alliance, reminding each other of forgotten passions, emerging to face life outside in unexpected new directions. They also learn French and workshop a screenplay.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Essential Theatre Company in Atlanta, GA     05 Jul 2012

Organisations:
-

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Dark Comedy

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  5            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Greetings Friend Your Kind Assistance Is Required

Synopsis:
Retired school teacher Rhonda receives an e-mail. It is from an African Prince and he is in trouble having been imprisoned. She takes it at face value and with her room mate Marybeth travels to Zardelgnia with a plan to rescue the Prince

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Ensemble Theatre, Georgia     2017

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Jeff Recommended: "Perfect Arrangement"

Synopsis:
The Witch Hunt for Communists moves on to gay people. In the U S State Department Norma and Bob are told to route out sexual deviants. Trouble is they are both gay

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Primary Stages, New York     2015

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Gay/Lesbian black comedy full length

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Lakebottom Prime

Synopsis:
Tad and Rowena live in the right part of Columbus GA and are a "proper" couple. They are desperate to get their daughter, Portia, into Columbus' most prestigious school. A lesbian couple co-chair the school board. To impress them Rowena pretends she is having an affair with her maid. Meanwhile a kidnapper is after Portia

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Onstage, Atlanta     2011

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Lesbian comedy full length

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Let Nothing You Dismay

Synopsis:
Allie and Kevin are about to become parents. They have told their own parents not to visit at this time. Then Kevin's father with his new much younger wife and other members of the family turn up. Followed by Kevin's mother and her favourite author and a vegetarian. Allie's mother and grandmother are next with the grandmother's toy boy

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Stage Door Players, Dunwoody, GA     2015

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  4            Other:  doubling

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Medicine Showdown

Synopsis:
1918 there is a global pandemic of Spanish Flu. A doctor urges the town council to lock down to stop it spreading. The council are earning too much money from the Traveling Medicine Show to want to do this

Notes:
Written by Topher Payne and Adam Koplan

1st Produced:
East 4th Street Theatre, New York     Oct 2013

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Black comedy

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Morningside

Synopsis:
A baby shower and it is get the guests before they get you

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Ensemble Theatre, Georgia     2017

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Black comedy

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Only Light In Reno, The

Synopsis:
Marilyn Monroe and Montgomery Clift are in Reno filming "The Misfits". It is over running and Marilyn is due in Hollywood for the premiere of her last movie. It is decided that the premiere will be held instead in Reno.Elizabeth Taylor is sent out to walk the red carpet. Monty is pleased with two of the most glamorous women in Hollywood to escort the rumours about him should go away. They are staying in a mall Reno hotel together with Paula Strasberg. Then the power goes off and it is 116 degrees. Paula sends for a generator on the film set. Marilyn's room is now the only one with power for light and air conditioning. The four of them start talking

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Pinch N Ouch Theatre     2013

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Black comedy

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Perfect Arrangement

Perfect Arrangement
Washington, 1951: After crafting the criteria for identifying Communists hiding in the U.S. Department of State, Bob and Norma have been tasked with a new challenge-outing homosexuals. That'll be tricky, since they're both gay, and have married each other's partners as a cover, presenting lives as flawless and wacky as a 50's sitcom. Can they lead the witch hunt without outing themselves?

Notes:
Developed at the 2012 NNPN/Kennedy Center MFA Playwrights Workshop. one of 25 full-length plays that have been selected as finalists for the 2013 Source Festival. Three full-length plays will be selected from the 25 finalists and will be produced at the Source Festival from June 7-30.

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Gay, full length

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Relations Unknown

Synopsis:
When Shep, an accountant in Atlanta, decided to become a sperm donor, he could never have imagined the impact it would have on everyone in his life. After being given information that makes him consider his mortality, he reconnects with his ex-boyfriend Chris, who's busy fighting dual battles with cancer, and his mother, Dorothy Jean. the technician from Shep's sperm bank, who may or may not be a psychiatrist, hires Shep's best friend Narissa as a personal trainer, but their training sessions quickly give way to therapy. Meanwhile, Chris's current boyfriend, Owen, who was once engaged to Narissa, faces surprising news from his past. Add into the mix a lesbian pot dealer on a mission from God, a larger-than-life drag queen named Ruby Red, and a round of cocktails for everyone involved, and you've got the story of seven people chasing unlikely dreams, realizing along the way that sometimes, your real family is made up of the people you choose.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Atlanta, Georgia     2003

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy/Drama Comedy

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Swell Party

Synopsis:
The young heir to a Tobacco Empire Smith Reynolds arrives back home on the plantation with a wife many years older than he is. The wife, Libby Holman, is a Broadway performer arrives with a trunk of gin and an insane acting coach. Smith's guardian Kate Reynolds is appalled. She tries to give Libby a crash course on how to act as a Southern Lady. There is to be a party to introduce her to the local Society. Unfortunately the morning of the party someone murders Smith

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Georgia Ensemble Theatre     2013

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
jazz-age mystery

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page

Tokens of Affection

Synopsis:
Frank is caught off guard when his wife of thirty years Jackie says she is leaving him because he no longer gives her flowers. He flees to his son Charlie's apartment in New York. Charlie in a panic phones his sister Claire in Connecticut who says their Mother is there. The siblings plot on how to get Mum and Dad back together. Meanwhile Frank has met the widow next door

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Ensemble Theatre, Georgia     2011

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

Top of Page Top of Page