Granted

Granted is an Alice in Wonderland-style psychotic break of a play about trying and explosively failing to dodge the landmines of being an artist-only to become your own worst enemy: a gatekeeper. We follow our protagonist, Ella, as she makes a deal with the devil (an unpaid commission from an artistic director) and sets out to write a play that contains no trauma. Her efforts quickly spiral out of control as she takes the audience on a day in her job as an arts grants officer (and tries to write her play about it, as it totally isn't traumatic in the slightest). What begins as a simple grants panel deteriorates into a kidnapping of Helen Shaw, demon program officer murders, and a group of jilted clowns taking revenge on Ella when she sells out in pursuit of the glory of a 29-hour reading.

Reading, Hunter College MFA Playwriting Festival, May 2026

Directed by Hannah Yurfest

starring

Sarina Freda

Sarah Grace Goldman

Sydney Greenhill

Andrew Hardigg

Keyana Hemphill

Adin Lenahan

Becca Lish

Jose Pelegri

Stage Directions by Lola Bode