Joseph Reed Hayes, playwright
"Joseph Hayes' sense of dialogue and structure, his wit and awareness of the foibles of our society and the humanism that fill the pages of his work make him a true dramatist." - David Amram
Coming Up...
If I Had My Way
Staged Readings, Fall 2009
The illogical logic of relationships and the inequity of war meets the magic of a Spring evening in a small citrus town.
A play about a forgotten moment in Florida history.
Winner, United Arts Professional Development Grant 2009; Recipient, Galati Research Grant 2007 (supporting original non-fiction research of artistic, historical and cultural importance to the history of Orlando and Florida.)
Full Length Plays
A Little Crazy
Fringe Festival hit
A comedy about real life (or a drama with some very funny bits) about an elderly Polish man's last days with his favorite nephew - a warm, touching tale of life, death, laughter, tears, family, storytelling, secrets, being Jewish, revelations about jazz and Louis Armstrong ... and glass pants.
Part 4 of the Avram Chronicles
Solos
Fringe Festival hit
The Jazz Romance of trumpeter Ben "Blue" Miller and Ellie Grace, a woman composer in a man's world.
A tale as passionate as the music.
After Two
Ray loves Carly.
Carly loves Darryl, but can't remember why.
Sandi loves Bill.
Bill loves the waitress.
James loves his son.
Sam hates everyone.
3 tables, 8 people, 25 minutes... over and over and over...
The Short Plays
Slow Ride
Three generations of women take a Sunday ride, with all the tension, humor, affection and near-demented discord that arises when family is in close proximity for more than ten minutes.
West Farms
2008 Telly Award Bronze winner
A worn man reminisces about youth, boxing, family and The Metropolitan, an almost mythical drinking establishment from his childhood in the Bronx.
A God In Aspect
Produced in UK
Jeremy Gilbert, minor government functionary at the Department of the Interior, meets the embodiment of his darkest dreams when a Lovecraftian Elder God walks into his office and demands to be classified an Endangered Species.
Hard to say which one is more frightening.
Tell It To The Bird
NYC Beast Festival
Checking into a swank hotel, Mr. Thompson finds more than your typical amenities, including individual climate control, on-site fitness center, Internet access ...
and Ethel, the Pest Elimination Companion.
Johnny Mystery: Public School Private Eye
The ghost in the closet, the Tooth Fairy, even the bite of the bed bugs, these are real things for Johnny Mystery, and for his friends, he'll solve anything.
A short play/radio drama series for kids.
Works In Progress
If I Had My Way
2009 United Arts Professional Development Grant
The illogical logic of relationships and the inequity of war meets the magic of a Spring evening in a small citrus town.
A play about a forgotten moment in Florida history.
Tempus
Coming Soon
The end of Swing
The birth of Cool
Music
Separation
Love
One musician's quest to play the music of his people while learning, and influencing, a new world of jazz.
Part 2 of the Avram Chronicles
The Band of Drunks Project
Coming Soon
They'll play all night, eat your food and seduce your daughters. They're raucous, brilliant, and usually drunk. The absolute definition of rock stars.
It just happens to be Russia.
In 1890 ...
Part 1 of the Avram Chronicles
NEWS:
"If I Had My Way" wins a 2009 United Arts of Central Florida Professional Development Grant. more>>
ABOUT:
Critics have called the work of Joseph Reed Hayes "lyrical", "touching", "beautiful" and "a welcome oasis of cultural smarts". Noted composer and writer David Amram has said, "His work and all the events he creates are significant nationally and internationally." more>>
