Daniel Guyton



    One-Act Plays





    A list of one-act plays by Daniel Guyton. Each is longer than 10-minutes, but under 1 hour. Includes comedies, dramas, and everything in between. Scroll past the poster art for descriptions of each. For more information on any title, you can click on the image or the description below.



    One-Act Plays



    American Bhishma




    1M. One-Act Monologue (45 min). Dev is an American immigrant from India. He recounts his journey, which involves both humorous and tragic moments. Throughout the monologue, he explores and explains Hindu culture, and how it relates to his life, and affects his understanding of the world around him. ​


    "I absolutely loved the integration of history and legend and the way the two storylines wove together. I was enthralled the whole time... never lost my attention for a second. Mad applause to everyone on this team. Great writing, acting, directing, closed captioning, etc!" (Paige Steadman Ross, Merely Players Presents, 2020)


    Produced by Merely Players Presents in Atlanta, GA, 2020



    Attic




    3M,1F. One-Act (35 min). A dark, poetic journey into the mind of a troubled teenager. It combines poetry, audience interaction, and dark humor in a unique story-telling environment, inspired by Edgar Allan Poe and Alfred Hitchcock. Part One of The Darker Places Trilogy , a series of one-act plays centering around 3 different rooms within a troubled man's home.

    • Winner of the Kennedy Center/ACTF Region II Playwriting Award, 2001

    "Darkly funny and emotionally raw... Directing [ATTIC] was one of the highlights of my theatrical career. This is a dark, yet moving play that can be taken in many interesting directions by an intelligent and creative cast. It's deep, with a lot of facets, so have fun with it!" (Greg Campbell, Incumbo Theatre Company, 2012)


    For more information, please click here.



    Basement




    1M,2F. One-Act (25 min), Part Two of The Darker Places Trilogy , a series of one-act plays centering around 3 different rooms in a troubled man's home. BASEMENT involves two women trapped in a basement. It chronicles their efforts to escape.


    "As a professional actress with 30 years of experience I was lucky enough to perform in the world premiere of BASEMENT. The character was masterfully crafted, the play a gem." (Lisa Mende, Circle Ensemble Theatre, 2012)


    For more information, please click here.



    bedford's Sty




    3M. One-Act (20 min), A grown man named Bedford refuses to clean up his room - even when a ghost tells him he has to!


    "By far the most entertaining night of theater I have seen at the Alley [Theater]... BEDFORD'S STY ... brought the classic Vincent Price films to mind... It explores the hell we create for ourselves. This play has taken elements of comedy and thrown in moments of psychological thrills and created a piece that culminates not only the collection of plays within "Bits and Pieces" but also the entire Inhuman Festival occurring at the Alley Theater." (Kate Barry, Arts-Louisville.com , 2013)


    For more information, please click here.



    Be Yourself




    4M.4F. One-Act (45 min). Three teenagers struggle with their own self-image and self-worth. Everyone tells them to "be themselves", but none of them really know what that means.


    "It was an excellent presentation. The actors were all amazing and the message was absolutely perfect. When I found it on New Play Exchange, I thought it would be perfect for high school... Really, really good play. I hope more people get to produce it." (CA Taylor, Allen High School, 2018)


    For more information, please click here.



    Brittle





    3 characters, either gender. One-Act (20 min), Art and humanity collide, in this one-act drama about three people in a museum trying to decide which of them is art, and which of them is real.


    "I [enjoyed it]. Immensely! Your play was very good and fascinating. The actresses did a fantastic job!" (Scott Rousseau, Onion Man Productions, 2016) ​


    "What a thought-provoking enjoyable play! Art. Magic. What exists. What’s real. What’s not. Guyton’s authentic dialog and interesting characters weave together so many themes. Excellent!" (Kim E Ruyle, New Play Exchange, 2021)

    • Produced by New Origins Theatre Company in Atlanta, GA, 2016
    • Produced by Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga in Chattanooga, TN, 2020


    Fear





    4M.5F. One-Act (45 min). A group of teenagers and adults deal with fear in their lives – from terrorism, gun violence, racial tension, and more. There is hope, but they have to work together to find it.

    • Staged Reading at Atlanta Dramatists' Diversity Festival in Atlanta, GA, 2025
    • Zoom Reading at Senior University of Greater Atlanta (SUGA) in Atlanta, GA, 2025


    A Friend to All the Little Guys




    3M,1F. One-Act (40 min) Two mob thugs pressure a poor schmuck into kidnapping a baby for them. Ey, it's freakin hilarious.

    "I enjoyed all three of your works, and especially loved A FRIEND TO ALL THE LITTLE GUYS !" (Hal Harper, director, 2015)


    For more information, please click here.



    From the Cribb to the Grave





    4F,6M. One-Act (20 min), Miles Cribb, an historical figure from Norcross, GA, murdered his mother-in-law, and tried to murder his wife and sister-in-law. This play follows the events before and after his crime.


    Produced by Lionheart Theatre in Norcross, GA, 2019



    Georgie Gets A Facelift




    1M,2F. One-Act (15 min), A young man tries to kill himself in this dark, disturbing comedy, but an accidental murder puts things into perspective.

    • Finalist in the Kennedy Center/ACTF Region IV 10-Minute Play Competition , 2003
    • Finalist in Time to Strike! Festival in Manhattan, NY, 2012
    • Semi-Finalist in Riant Theatre's Strawberry One-Act Festival in Manhattan, NY, 2005
    • Joey Folsom awarded Outstanding Male Performance of 2010 in Theatre Jones
    • Published in One Acts of Note 2008 by Desert Road Publishing, 2009

    "In Daniel Guyton's GEORGIE GETS A FACELIFT , the blackest of black comedies, the suicide attempts of the title character (played by Joey Folsom) keep getting interrupted by the telephone and the doorbell... [The other show] holds your attention, but Guyton's delightfully perverse script is the one that you'll remember." (Lawson Taitte, Dallas Morning News , 2010


    For more information, please click here.



    Got Change For a Two?





    3M,2F. One-Act (45 min) - Co-written with Spencer Temkin. Two friends get drunk, discuss money, and bad-mouth the opposite sex. Well... not as much as they bad-mouth each other.


    "90s-era perversity vomited onstage. Contains these winners: "Nah, man, you don’t look at the mantle when you’re poking the fire!" and "I’m sure you’re a nice guy and all, but I’d rather f--k the bartender than talk to you, all right?" For fans of shows like Married...with Children ." (Bryan Stubbles, New Play Exchange, 2018)


    Produced at SUNY Albany in Albany, NY, 1998



    In the Beginning





    2M,2F. One-Act (15 min), The Book of Genesis is produced as a play by a low-budget community theatre, to near disastrous results.


    Unproduced




    A Lesson From Dr. Waddel





    1M, One-Act (15 min) - Co-written with Evelyn Reece. Dr. Moses Waddel, fifth president of the University of Georgia, hands over the keys to the sixth president, Dr. Alonzo Church, in this biographical play - set in the actual home both men resided in during the early part of the 19th century. Adapted from a play by Thomas Horton, and written exclusively for the Church-Waddel-Brumby House in Athens, GA.


    "The tour starts at the Church-Waddel-Brumby house with A FAREWELL TO DR. WADDEL (sic), a vignette Daniel Guyton wrote while collaborating with [Evelyn] Reece. The play is adapted in part from Thomas Horton’s work, Log Cabin Learning on the Carolina Frontier . It’s a story that chronicles a changing of the guard between two early University of Georgia presidents during the early 1800's when the university was struggling. Even in hard times, the students wanted to give their leader a fitting send-off... The boys were rascals during this period – they’d stay up all night having parties and playing music... Some things haven’t changed that much." (Joe VanHoose, Athens Banner-Herald , 2011)


    Produced by Athens Welcome Center in Athens, GA, 2011-2012



    The Long Rest of Bob West





    6M. One-Act (20 min), Bob West, an historical figure from Norcross, GA, was murdered after a gambling argument. This play reenacts the moments before and after the murder.


    Produced by Lionheart Theatre in Norcross, GA, 2018



    Macabre-Cadabra




    2M,1F. One-Act (20 min), A magician with a very dark secret receives an offer that he really should refuse.

    • Official Selection of the Last Frontier Theatre Conference in Valdez, AK, 2012

    "A professional magician thought he had everything he ever wanted, until he gets a taste of the real thing. Will he choose tricks over treats? Or is he happy waving his wand and pulling out a rabbit? Find out in this inquisitive comedy/drama by Daniel Guyton, MACABRE-CADABRA! " (Darkhorse Dramatists, 2013)


    For more information, please click here.



    MacBreath





    5M,5F. One-Act (25 min), a parody of Shakespeare's Macbeth . Set in corporate America. Highlights include Dunkin', the president of the Donut company, getting killed by a scalding cup of coffee.


    Published in Dimensions Magazine in 1995

    Staged Reading at Sachem High School in 1995



    Milo & Barbara




    1M,1F. One-Act (15 min), Barbara's life is turned upside-down when her husband suddenly vanishes without a warning. When he returns four weeks later, they each try to pick up the pieces.

    • Finalist in the Kennedy Center/ACTF Region IV 10 Minute Play Competition , 2002

    " MILO & BARBARA by Daniel Guyton... has an intriguing set-up, and an ironic ending, as a husband returns home after an unexplained absence of four weeks to discover some unexpected changes have occurred. It is psychologically interesting, and gifted actors Matt Benton as Milo and Courtney Lomelo as Barbara find both the intensity and the humor, and create an intriguing portrait of a marriage leaving a lot to be desired. The work is directed by Melissa Flower, who found the energy and pace." (Jim J. Tommaney, Houston Press , 2013)


    For more information, please click here.



    Pigtails and Bobby Socks





    1M,1F. One-Act (15 min), A young girl and a pervert meet at a park bench. It doesn't turn out quite the way you'd expect...


    "This may be the greatest short play about a pedophile ever written by a playwright in the history of American theatre or maybe the only one because other playwrights are sane enough to not go there. And this playwright goes there and pushes it further than I expected. An uncomfortable, WTF short play that switches the roles of victim/victimizer and f---s with your brain and tugs on your heart-strings when you don't want it. Guyton's expansive imagination sometimes creeps into a territory only a few playwrights wander to. If you delight in sick, dark comedies, then check this out." (Asher Wyndham, New Play Exchange, 2018) ​


    "Have you ever read a play where your initial thought was "What the Hell did I just read?" - this is that play. Recommended for those who want something different. You may just get what you want." (Bryan Stubbles, New Play Exchange, 2018)


    Staged Reading at Process Theatre's New Play Read-A-Thon in Atlanta, GA, 2013

    Staged Reading by Core Artist Ensemble in Manhattan, NY, 2013



    Prison Monologues, Pt 1




    4F. One-Act (50 min), A collection of 4 monologues about women in prison. Including JANUARY'S ALIBI, HATE MALE, SAY HI TO AGNES FOR ME, and THE SINS OF REBETHANY CHASTAIN .

    • Winner of Three Acting Awards - Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and All-Star Award - from the Georgia Theatre Conference Community Theatre Competition , 2020

    " PRISON MONOLOGUES, PART I by Daniel Guyton​, produced by Liberal Eye Productions is a series of solo performances drawn on emotional power, subtle explorations of message, and dark, evocative imagery that made this exhibition truly one of the powerhouses of this year's Fringe. All of these narratives are powerfully delivered and bring something very interesting to the table... Keep an eye out for future offerings of this piece." (Daniel Lamb, Edge Media Network , 2015)


    For more information, please click here.



    Romance is Dead




    1M. Monologue (15 min). Dr. Edward Bainsbridge has been arrested for a terrible crime - interfering with a dead body. Four dead bodies, to be exact. Come hear his terrible confession, which will shock you, repulse you, and might even make you laugh...

    "Thanks for writing such an awesome piece. I've had a great time with this role and I haven't been this excited about an opening night in a long time. It's stuff like this that made me fall in love with acting in the first place." (Charlie Pierce, Third Eye Theatre, 2011)


    For more information, please click here.





    Daniel Guyton

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