Broken Thread

by D-Davis ...

FULL LENGTH: Called home for a family portrait, four sisters are back home with their controlling mother for the first time since the hospitalization of one sister. While they prepare for their portrait, they memorialize about growing up and what happened. As they unwind their measured upbringing, their sister’s alienation, her assault by a teacher, and surviving life with an addict, everyone faces their part in...

FULL LENGTH: Called home for a family portrait, four sisters are back home with their controlling mother for the first time since the hospitalization of one sister. While they prepare for their portrait, they memorialize about growing up and what happened. As they unwind their measured upbringing, their sister’s alienation, her assault by a teacher, and surviving life with an addict, everyone faces their part in the order of things. These women want to be seen and understood: but how can one be seen if you are not seeing others for who they are? Broken Thread is a story about family expectations, making choices, and discovering that home is not always what you think it is.

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Broken Thread

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  • Premiere Stages at Kean University: Broken Thread by D-Davis ...
    “

    Premiere Stages, the professional Equity theatre company in residence at Kean University, is pleased to recognize Broken Thread as a Semi-Finalist for the 2025 Premiere Play Festival. Broken Thread rose through a competitive process conducted by Premiere staff and an external panel of professionals to become distinguished among 805 submissions. The panel was impressed by the use of jazz and classical music to bring additional emotional life to the play. Our congratulations and thanks to D-Davis.

    Premiere Stages, the professional Equity theatre company in residence at Kean University, is pleased to recognize Broken Thread as a Semi-Finalist for the 2025 Premiere Play Festival. Broken Thread rose through a competitive process conducted by Premiere staff and an external panel of professionals to become distinguished among 805 submissions. The panel was impressed by the use of jazz and classical music to bring additional emotional life to the play. Our congratulations and thanks to D-Davis.

    ”

Character Information

The family of daughters and their mother can be any ethnicity/race, yet the Mother and Daughter 3 must be the same ethnicity.

This play is an ensemble piece, where the actors remain onstage and movement, changes, and props are accessible on the edges of the stage.

  • Therese (Mother) / Mrs. Dombrowski / Doctor:
    A woman able to play over time; a Doctor, clinician, wearing thick black glasses; as Mrs D., an eastern European immigrant professional Piano Teacher
    Any
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Aurora / Friend
    She is 28 years old in the present, the oldest “first” daughter syndrome (responsible, ambitious, and confident), a 4.0 student who resigned herself to be the daughter her mother expects; she is 5 years older than Daughter 3 / As the ‘Bestie’ friend of Daughter 3, she is an 8th grader.
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Zander (Alexandra) / Mr. G (pantomime)
    She is two years older than Daughter 3, 25 in the present, an independent, level-headed, athletic daughter who wants peace but sees herself differently seeks out a role that's opposite Daughter 1 and is not afraid to call it as it is or go on her own / as Mr. G, a late 20-something nerd musician assured but awkward at the same time, wearing thick black glasses.
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Adeline (Addy)
    She is 23 years old as the narrator (the present), her age respectfully sets the standard of the other daughter’s ages in each scene, a typical middle-child personality.
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Cami (Camille)
    She is 21 in the present world, and 2 years younger than Daughter 3 in the other scenes - uncomplicated - the “baby” shouldering less responsibility but in the end is the glue keeping the family together / Waitress is brassy, chews gum, and has a pen that taps her pad while waiting for an order.
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Mr. G / Doctor
    A male voiceover, 30-something nerd male musician / the Doctor is a crisis clinician in his mid-30s, and speaks with an assured but calm authority.
    mid 30s-40s
    Any
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male

Development History

  • Reading, The Actor's Studio, 2024
  • Residency, Workshop Theater, 2023
  • Residency, Theater East, 2023
  • Reading, Columbia University, 2023

Production History

  • Workshop, FEMME Collective, 2025
  • Workshop, Columbia University, 2024