DJ Sanders - Playwright & Translator

A Brief Biography


DJ Sanders has been writing plays since 1995. With more than twenty plays penned, his style ranges from drama to comedy, absurdism to realism, suspense-driven to thought-provoking, mainstream to controversial, and classic adaptation to the contemporary American drama.

DJ is a Midwestern playwright having lived in northern Illinois, southern Illinois, central Illinois, and currently St. Louis, Missouri. Sanders has also lived in Barcelona, Spain on two different occasions where he learned to speak both Catalan and Spanish.

DJ Sanders is working toward his doctorate at Washington University in St. Louis in Comparative Literature with an emphasis in Drama. Sanders is also a judge for the Kevin Kline Awards, St. Louis's professional theatre recognition organization. Sanders is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America.

Holding a Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language and bachelor's degrees in Linguistics and Spanish (all three from the University of Illinois), DJ Sanders spent eight years teaching advanced English skills for numerous institutions including the University of Barcelona, the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, and Washington University in St. Louis. He has also completed a Master of Arts in Drama from Washington University in St. Louis.

DJ Sanders also translates plays from Catalan and Spanish into English. He has translated Catalan playwright Guillem Clua's award-winning play Skin in Flames (La pell en flames) and Clua's Taste of Ashes (El sabor de las cenizas) . Sanders was offered a fellowship to travel to Barcelona during the summer of 2006 where he began his translation of Àngel Guimerà's 1896 drama, Terra Baixa (The Lowlands), which premiered in a reading October 2006. Sanders has also translated internationally-produced Catalan playwright Jordi Galceran's award-winning thriller Word Play (Paraules Encadenades) and his award-winning dark comedy The Dakota Dream (Dakota).

Current projects: Sanders is currently working on revisions for When Everyone Wore Hats and working on some more original writing.

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Highlights of Productions and Readings of Works

Written and Translated by DJ Sanders

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Plays by DJ Sanders

FULL-LENGTH PLAYS BY DJ SANDERS

 

CYPHER: variations on therapy, sex, and baseball
Mental illness and sexual dysfunction hit home in a battle of gender and power
A drama in two acts
Running time: approx. two hours
Cast: 2 men, 1 woman
S et requirements: two simple sets (one per act)

Some partake in the gym culture or playing sports to alleviate their stress, others turn to sex for physical gratification, while still others pay someone to validate their sanity, if only for a half hour. Amanda, Cypher, and the third man go through four related and unrelated segments in this drama on psychotherapy, sexual fantasy, and the all-American pastime--baseball.

Read a synopsis and sample scene from CYPHER: variations on therapy, sex, and baseball. [PDF]

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Jesus Signed My Bible (at the local Wal-Mart)
A parody on the commodification of Christianity and Consumerism.
A full-length drama
Running time: approx. one hour and thirty minutes
Cast: 2 men, 3 women (with some doubling)
Set requirements: unit set

Edward and Felicia Jenkins think their neighbor is crazy when she shows them her personally signed copy of the bible. But when the Jesus at Wal-Mart tour comes to their town, they become more than just believers. The Jenkins quickly find themselves playing an integral role in bringing savings of all sorts to millions across America.

Sample scene coming soon.

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When Everyone Wore Hats
An adaptation of Terry Scott Taylor's album and book about a septuagenarian couple reminscing their travels of Route 66.
A drama in two acts
Running time: approx. two hours
Cast: 2 men, 2 women, plus a fifth character to be played by either gender
Set requirements: one unit sets

Anna and her son, Joel, set out her parents' belongings for a final garage sale before they permanantly move the widowed Irma to a skilled nursing facility. As her daughter and grandson carelessly set out her belongings, Irma is visited by her husband, Bud. Bud and Irma Akendorf reminisce about their travels of Route 66 in this celebration of life, love, and loss.

Sample scene available soon.

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Temptations of the Father
A hard-hitting drama about two Catholic priests coping with today's sex abuse scandal
A drama in two act
Running time: approx. one hour and thirty minutes
Cast: 3 men
Set requirements: four simple settings

Anthony, almost a year into a leave of absence from his duties as a Roman Catholic priest, finds himself in an awkward meeting with his former mentor and long-time family friend, Ryan. A simple visit to a childhood haven turns into a painful journey through denial, regret, and faith. As Anthony contemplates relinquishing his pastoral duties, he is forced to accept his brother's death and confront his denial over what occurred fifteen years prior in the lake house. Two ordained men who dedicated their lives to serving others are forced to confront their own temptations and transgressions in order to find reconciliation with each other, the church, society, God, and themselves.

Read more about Temptations of the Father (including a synopsis and sample scene.) [PDF]

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When Others Linger
An American waitress and a European artist struggle to keep their passion alive when a sculpture enters their relationship
Full-length drama
Running time: approx. one hour and forty minutes
Cast: 2 men, 1 woman
Set requirements: two settings (one per act)

Anna has run off to Europe where she is living off her saved waitressing tips from the past six years. Xavier is a Catalan sculptor of London schooling who enjoys living the easy life inherited from his rich aunt. Now living together in a flat in the small Spanish coastal town of Altafulla, they begin forming a closer bond until Xavier begins his newest masterpiece. Jealousy and deception destroy their relationship while creating a newer masterpiece.

Read a synopsis and sample scene from When Others Linger. [PDF]

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The Damascus Trilogy
A modern adaptation of August Strindberg's classic trilogy To Damascus, I-III
A drama in three acts:
Running time: approx. two and a half hours
Cast: 2 men, 2 women
Set requirements: bare set with variable set pieces

These three journeys to Damascus trace the original story of the Stranger in August Strindberg's three turn-of-the-century dramas, To Damascus, I-III. Over six hours of material for nearly thirty performers is packed tight into this fast-paced, vaudevillian-style drama on the battle of the sexes, the desire for fame, and the quest for God.

Read a synopsis and sample scene from The Damascus Trilogy. [PDF]

A longer sample is available to review and purchase through Production Scripts.

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Picture Perfect
One woman fights to keep her sanity and morals during a weekend family reunion
A drama in two acts:
Running time: approx. one and a half hours
Cast: 4 women, 1 man, 1 boy
Set requirements: one setting

Once Sarah Whitfield brings home her bed-ridden husband, Jacob, she has precious little time to prepare for her weekend house guests. Jackie, a home health care worker, arrives that Thursday to assist Sarah as she prepares for visits from her grandson, Rubin, and Rubin's mother, Alyssa, and also from her eldest son, Matthew. In light of Jacob's health, emotions are heightened and sometimes holding the truth back is the last thing possible.

Read a synopsis and sample scene from Picture Perfect. [PDF]

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ONE-ACT PLAYS BY DJ SANDERS

White Horses
A prequel to Ibsen's Rosmersholm detailing how one woman drove another to suicide
A period drama in one act:
Running time: approx. forty-five minutes
Cast: 3 women
Set requirements: one setting: a Norwegian home in 1885

This prequel to Henrik Ibsen's Rosmersholm reconstructs how Rebekka West drove Beate Rosmer to suicide. Using Ibsen's exposition, symbolism, and language we see how Beate might have been led to the mill-race.

Read a dialogue sample from White Horses. [PDF]

A longer sample is available to review and purchase through Production Scripts.

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The Present
Two unlikely friends explore the rules of hospitality and the ritual of gift giving
An absurd drama in one act
Running time: approx. twenty minutes
Cast: 2 people (blind gender casting)
Set requirements: one setting: an apartment

Raspberry and Mango share in the three “C”s of life: cookies, coffee and conversation. The present, however, is sure to change their friendship.

Read a dialogue sample from The Present. [PDF]

A longer sample is available to review and purchase through Production Scripts.

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Look in Her Eyes
A controversial drama exploring the fine line between consensual sex and date rape
A drama in one act
Running time: approx. 25 minutes
Cast: 3 men, 2 women
Set requirements: one setting: a bar

Over beers, Johnny confides in his best friend, Vince, about his girlfriend being a rape survivor. A darker secret troubles Johnny as he comes to terms with his own past. On the other end of the bar, Allison begins her healing process by disclosing the events of a party three years ago. Two similar stories reveal that Allison and Johnny shared more than drinks, but did they share intentions?

Read a dialogue sample from Look in her Eyes. [PDF]

A longer sample is available to review and purchase through Production Scripts.

(Please note that this play contains language that may be offensive to some readers.)

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TEN-MINUTE PLAYS BY DJ SANDERS

(Un)comfortable Silence
A ten-minute comedy
2 people (blind gender casting)
no set required

A lull in a conversation can be comfortable between friends but awkward with a stranger. When two uncharacteristic people are uncertain of what occurred before the silence, motivations become confused. A humorous test may help classify the silence, but will they both be comfortable when the conversation stops? This absurd comedy takes the need to read the morning paper and the desire for friendly conversation to new heights.

Read a dialogue sample from (Un)comfortable Silence. [PDF]

(Un)comfortable Silence is available at a very low cost through Brooklyn Publishers for Forensics and other school-related dramatic competitions. Brooklyn may be contacted on-line at http://www.brookpub.com/ (request script #117A).

A longer sample is available to review and purchase through Production Scripts.

There is also a short film version of a portion of (Un)comfortable Silence on YouTube.

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Metatheatre
A ten-minute comedy
2 people (blind gender casting)
no set required

METATHEATRE (n.) 1. A genre of theatre breaking all notion of realism to present a play as simply a fabricated work by a playwright performed by actors to an audience. 2. An adventurous new comedy about air travel, annoying habits, and audience etiquette. 3. Ten full minutes of theatrical dogma, societal parody, and audience participation packed into four hilarious scenes!

Read a dialogue sample from Metatheatre. [PDF]

Metatheatre is available at a very low cost through Brooklyn Publishers for Forensics and other school-related dramatic competitions. Brooklyn may be contacted on-line at http://www.brookpub.com/ ( request script #131A).

A longer sample is available to review and purchase through Production Scripts.

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C. Greek
A ten-minute comedy
2 people (blind gender casting)
setting: two chairs

It's the first day of class and an eager student walks into the language classroom to find only the instructor. This one-on-one lesson takes new methods of language instruction to the extreme. This is not your typical Spanish I class!

Read a dialogue sample from C. Greek. [PDF]

C. Greek is available at a very low cost through Brooklyn Publishers for Forensics and other school-related dramatic competitions. Brooklyn may be contacted on-line at http://www.brookpub.com/ ( request script #119A).

A longer sample is available to review and purchase through Production Scripts.

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People Watching
A ten-minute comedy
2 people (blind gender casting)
no set required

Some “people watch” to relax while others take people watching more seriously. See how people interact when an Amateur People Watcher is given the chance to learn some new tricks of the trade from a Professional People Watcher.

Read a dialogue sample from People Watching. [PDF]

People Watching is available at a very low cost through Brooklyn Publishers for Forensics and other school-related dramatic competitions. Brooklyn may be contacted on-line at http://www.brookpub.com/ (request script #196).

A longer sample is available to review and purchase through Production Scripts.

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Vacas Locas: an ode to mad cow disease
A ten-minute comedy
2 people (blind gender casting)
no set required

This “ode to mad cow disease” is a comical conversation between two American cows discussing the outbreak of mad cow disease in Europe and their fears of contracting what Spanish speakers call “el mal de las vacas locas.”

Read a dialogue sample from Vacas Locas. [PDF]

Vacas Locas: an ode to mad cow disease is available at a very low cost through Brooklyn Publishers for Forensics and other school-related dramatic competitions(script #108A.) Brooklyn may be contacted on-line at http://www.brookpub.com/. I will not e-mail out copies of this scripts out of respect for my publisher. Thank you for your understanding.

A longer sample is available to review and purchase through Production Scripts.

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Very Experimental: a play about you
A ten-minute comedy
2 people (blind gender casting)
setting: two chairs

Characters Eleven and Twelve get comfortable in their seats awaiting the lights to come up and the show to begin. Both actors and audience are confused as the theater lights up and nothing happens. But who are the spectators and who are the actors?

Read a dialogue sample from Very Experimental: a play about you. [PDF]

Very Experimental: a play about you is available at a very low cost through Brooklyn Publishers for Forensics and other school-related dramatic competitions. Brooklyn Publishers may be contacted on-line at http://www.brookpub.com/ (request script #151).

A longer sample is available to review and purchase through Production Scripts.

This script is also available in Spanish and is titled Muy Experimental: una obra sobre ti. The Spanish translation is available upon request from the playwright.

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TRANSLATIONS BY DJ SANDERS

Skin in Flames
by Guillem Clua
City of Alcoi Theatre Prize Winner, 2004
Serra d'Or Critics Award for Theatre, 2005
Premios Butaca Best Play Nomination, 2006
Translated from the Catalan La Pell en Flames
A drama
Running time: approx. ninety minutes with no intermission
Cast: 2 men, 2 women
Set requirements: a hotel room

A famous photographer returns to a war-torn nation where twenty years prior he captured his famed image of a young girl flying through the air with her skin in flames. Before leaving his hotel room to receive an award from local dignitaries for his "contributions to peace", a local journalist interviews Frederick Salomon resulting in more questions than answers. Meanwhile, a desperate woman exchanges sexual favors to receive medicine and medical assistance from a U.N. representative to save her dying daughter. Two couples. Two stories. One surprising ending.

Please visit the Skin in Flames webpage.

Read more about Skin in Flames (including a synopsis and dialogue sample.) [PDF]

Read the reviews from the U.S. Premiere Production. [PDF]

View the poster art from U.S. Premiere Production (by Jill Ritter.) [Version 1] [Version 2]

Inquiries for the full script and production rights should be addressed to Susan Gurman at The Susan Gurman Agency.

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Taste of Ashes
by Guillem Clua
Translated from the Spanish El Sabor de las Cenizas
A drama
Running time: approx. one hundred minutes with no intermission
Cast: 2 men, 2 women, 1 boy
Set requirements: unit set

There is a proverb that claims that you will never know for certain if a fruit is sweet or bitter until you have bitten into it. That same proverb holds true for the taste of ashes in Guillem Clua's newest drama. In Jerusalem, the birthplace of ancient religions, perpetual wars, and millennia-old myths, three U.S. tourists confront the weight of history and their own personal demons. Meanwhile, two young Palestinians bring to fruition a secret plan to give meaning to a life full of misery. In Taste of Ashes, the collision of the western and eastern worlds passionately explodes, forever changing the course of these five people's lives. This skillfully orchestrated character drama will offer audiences hours of reflection on politics, faith, love, and the taste we all yearn for in our futures.

Read more about Taste of Ashes (including a synopsis and dialogue sample.) [PDF]

Inquiries for the full script and production rights should be addressed to Susan Gurman at The Susan Gurman Agency.

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Word Play
by Jordi Galceran
XX Born Prize for Theatre , 1995
Serra d'Or Critics Award for Theatre, 1996
Premios Butaca Best Play, 1998
Translated from the Catalan Parales encadenades
A thriller
Running time: approx. ninety minutes with no intermission
Cast: 1 man, 1 woman
Set requirements: a warehouse

One man and one woman locked in a room together play for their lives. Who is lying and who is telling the truth? One wrong word and it could all be over. Jordi Galceran's award-winning thriller keeps you guessing till the final word.

Sample scene coming soon.

Inquiries for the full script and production rights should be addressed to Susan Gurman at The Susan Gurman Agency.

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The Dakota Dream
by Jordi Galceran
Translated from the Catalan Dakota
A dark comedy
Running time: approx. ninety minutes with no intermission
Cast: 3 men, 1 woman
Set requirements: unit set

The Dakota Dream is a dark comedy with an absurdist bent. Dr. Sergi Feliu, a periodontist, has suffered severe head trauma resulting in a confusion of dreams and reality. Coming to learn that his dreams predict the future, Sergi scrambles to decipher the clues forecasting his wife's unfaithfulness and a massacre in Bismark , North Dakota . This seamless ninety-minute play weaves together Sergi's interactions with multiple variations of the same three characters slowly revealing common threads running through every encounter.

Sample scene available soon.

Inquiries for the full script and production rights should be addressed to Susan Gurman at The Susan Gurman Agency.

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The Lowlands
by Àngel Guimerà
Translated from the Catalan Terra Baixa (1896)
A drama in three acts
Running time: approx. two and a half hours
Cast: 8 men, 4 women (optional extras)
Set requirements: a mill house

At the turn-of-the-century, Àngel Guimerà's Terra Baixa was an international hit. The play was translated into more than a dozen different languages and the Spanish translation was presented regularly for a period of thirty years by both Enric Borràs's and María Guerrero's theatre troupes throughout Spain and Latin America. In English, the play received two Broadway productions (1903 and 1908). Today, Terra Baixa continues to be one of the most revived plays in Catalonia.

In addition to being a popular stage play, it was made into six films, including a silent film in the United States, entitled Marta of the Lowlands (1914.) Terra Baixa also served as the source material for two operas: Tiefland (German) and La Catalane (French.) Playwright Àngel Guimerà was even nominated a record 17 times for the Nobel Prize in Literature, though he never won.

Terra Baixa is the story of Marta, a poor girl from Barcelona, who finds herself the young lover to Sebastià, the most important landowner in the Catalan lowlands. Sebastià must marry a woman of prominence to keep his land and inheritance. To squelch gossip of his relationship with Marta but still keep her as his lover, Sebastià marries her off to the unsuspecting Manelic, a young shepherd from the Pyrenees, and sets the newlyweds up in the house attached to town's mill. Marta finds herself torn between her old domineering lover and her new caring husband, and Manelic is determined to discover who the man was to climb through the window into Marta's bedroom.

Terra Baixa was previously translated into English as Marta from the Lowlands by Wallace Gillpatrick (first produced in 1903, published in 1914.) Gillpatrick's translation, however, was based on José Echegaray's Spanish translation Tierra Baja, which differs significantly from Guimerà's original Catalan. This new translation is the first English translation done directly from Guimerà's Catalan text.

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