Plays
For the Stage

Kirk Sheppard has written four produced plays exploring what it means to be seen, to heal, and to find connection — in holding cells, therapy rooms, and living rooms where the hardest conversations finally happen.

Production photos coming soon
Two-Act Drama
Chase the Dragon
FormatFull-length / Two Acts
SettingRural Indiana, 2014

A small, underfunded community mental health clinic in rural Indiana. Peter, a newly licensed counselor in his mid-30s, carries a troubled past — drug use, violent anger, a stint in juvenile detention — as he navigates his first caseload and the limits of his own recovery.

His first client is Chase, a guarded, sharp-tongued 16-year-old who has burned through every previous therapist at the clinic. As Peter sees his own younger self in Chase, the professional distance he's supposed to maintain begins to collapse — with consequences neither of them can undo.

Chase the Dragon is a drama about trauma, the ethics of care, and the uncomfortable question of whether good intentions are ever enough.

The rights to Chase the Dragon have been optioned to an Indian-based Hindi language film company.

Production history
2016 Workshop production, Cincinnati, OH
Chase the Dragon production photo
Chase the Dragon production photo
Chase the Dragon production photo
Webcam
One-Act Play
Webcam
FormatOne Act
RatingRated R · Ages 17+

Cory needs to pay for school and decides that taking his clothes off online is a perfectly reasonable way to do it. His best friend has objections — and other feelings, too. Maybe sex work wasn't such a great idea after all. Or maybe it was. It's complicated.

A play about intimacy, loneliness, and what it means to be seen. Contains adult language, adult situations, references to self-harm, frank discussions of sex, and partial nudity.

Production history
Jun 11, 2024 Cincinnati Fringe Festival — Fringe Development. Directed by Lauren Carr.
Webcam production photo
Webcam production photo
Webcam production photo
Michael and Jane
Ten-Minute Play
Michael and Jane
FormatTen Minutes
SettingAmusement Park

Jane has been accused of shoplifting and finds herself in the holding cell of a local amusement park. There, she meets Michael — who is also being detained, for reasons you won't see coming.

A play about unexpected connection in the most unlikely place.

Production history
Jan 18, 2024 Staged reading — 10-Minute Connection Studio Series, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. Directed by Jared D. Doren.
Aug 3, 2024 Workshop mainstage performance, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati.
It's a Small World, After All
Ten-Minute Play
It's a Small World, After All
FormatTen Minutes

A couple contemplates opening their marriage. What begins as a pragmatic conversation becomes something more complicated — a negotiation about intimacy, trust, and what connection actually means when you stop pretending you have it all figured out.

Production history
Jan 9, 2025 Staged reading — 10-Minute Connections: Journey, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati.
Productions & licensing
Interested in producing one of these plays?

Kirk's plays are available for licensing to theatre companies, festivals, and educational institutions. Reach out directly to discuss rights, scripts, and production requirements.

Contact Kirk →