BRILLIANT WORKS OF ART

by Donna Hoke

Kilroys List
Winner, Firehouse Festival of New American Plays
Nominated for the Susan Blackburn Prize

Law student Abby Gates has no qualms about becoming a sugar baby to get her tuition bills paid--until it means keeping a secret from the man she loves, an artist exploring confession and thresholds of shame. When Abby's two worlds collide, she discovers her sugar daddy has taught her about more than good wine....

Kilroys List
Winner, Firehouse Festival of New American Plays
Nominated for the Susan Blackburn Prize

Selection, 2016 Kilroys List; Nominated for the Susan Blackburn Prize; Finalist, nuVoices , Actors Theatre Charlotte; Winner, Firehouse Festival of New American Plays; Winner, HRC Showcase ; Finalist, Rising Sage; Finalist, Woodward/Newman Drama Award;
Finalist, Theatre Conspiracy New Play Contest; Semi-Finalist, Playwrights First; Last Frontier Theatre Conference

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BRILLIANT WORKS OF ART

Recommended by

Emmet L.F. Cameron: BRILLIANT WORKS OF ART by Donna Hoke

“

Donna Hoke knows how to score a contemporary story like an opera, giving actors big characters & big ideas to play with while saying the kind of exquisite lines most of us only wish we could say in real life.

Donna Hoke knows how to score a contemporary story like an opera, giving actors big characters & big ideas to play with while saying the kind of exquisite lines most of us only wish we could say in real life.

”
Tom Erb: BRILLIANT WORKS OF ART by Donna Hoke

“

"Brilliant Works of Art" is a play that explores the complexities of relationships and identity. The dialogue is sharp and witty, revealing the characters' depths through interactions. Donna Hoke's talent shines in crafting scenes that flow seamlessly.

"Brilliant Works of Art" is a play that explores the complexities of relationships and identity. The dialogue is sharp and witty, revealing the characters' depths through interactions. Donna Hoke's talent shines in crafting scenes that flow seamlessly.

”
Charles Riffenburg: BRILLIANT WORKS OF ART by Donna Hoke

“

A tight, intelligent script with compelling and layered characters. There is so much to unpack in this story that cuts to the heart of human interactions around trust, lies, power, and desire. "Brilliant Works of Art" leaves audiences with a lot to discuss on the ride home, which is what theatre should continually strive for. I cannot recommend this play highly enough.

A tight, intelligent script with compelling and layered characters. There is so much to unpack in this story that cuts to the heart of human interactions around trust, lies, power, and desire. "Brilliant Works of Art" leaves audiences with a lot to discuss on the ride home, which is what theatre should continually strive for. I cannot recommend this play highly enough.

”

View all 48 recommendations

Character Information

Abby

first year law student, sexually at ease girl next door

Character Age

24

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
Grant Parrish

businessman, impeccably dressed, self-aware

Character Age

late 40s-early 50

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  40s,
  
  50s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
James Gould

artsy, sexy, dramatic, nerdy-manic, focused, innocent

Character Age

29

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
Waiter

Briefly needed in scene one. Can be played by stage manager, or a very disguised James actor.

Character Age

any

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Any

Development History

Type Reading, Organization Outvisible Theatre, Detroit New Works, Year 2019
Type Reading, Organization Kennedy Center Page to Stage, Year 2019
Type Reading, Organization The Reading Parlor, Year 2017
Type Reading, Organization The Barrow Group, Year 2016
Type Reading, Organization Writers Theatre New Jersey, Year 2016
Type Reading, Organization Williamston Theatre, Year 2016
Type Reading, Organization Winner, Firehouse Festival of New American Plays, Richmond, VA, Year 2015

Production History

Type Community Theater, Organization Bellissima Productions, Year 2025

Awards

Detroit New Works Festival

Outvisible Theatre

Selection

2019
2016 Kilroys List

The Kilroys

Selection

2016
Last Frontier Theatre Conference

Last Frontier Theatre Conference

Selection

2015
HRC Showcase

HRC Showcase

Winner

2015
Firehouse Festival of New American Plays

Firehouse Theatre

Winner

2015

Genre

comedy,

drama

Subject Matter Keywords

kilroys,

double standard,

sex work

Length

90 minutes to two hours,

two to three hours

Cast Size

Age of Intended Audience

ages 14-17,

ages 18 and up

Narrative Attributes

Centers Female Characters

Supporting Materials

Script Sample

brilliantworksofart20pages.pdf

Reviews

Buffalo Theatre Guide

“
"Hoke’s strong character development and deft storytelling create vivid images of people and situations which are charming and flawed... Hoke creates a real warmth for and between her characters which makes them tremendously likeable, even when they are making questionable choices.... Hoke’s signature phrasing and sparks of humor balance the serious side of love and trust and fidelity and lack thereof."
”
Born Buffalo

“
Hoke’s artistry in eliciting visceral reactions from the audience is astounding... a must-see.
”
Buffalo Stages

“
The beauty of Hoke’s writing is in her reliance on detail and clarity. Abby might be personally confused but the audience is not. We are never guessing about what’s going on, so that leaves plenty of room for the complicated and contradictory emotional swings that all three characters are experiencing.
”
Broadway World

“
Something wonderful happens when as an audience you try to understand the complicated mindset of each character, asking what you would do in such a situation, where each character has something major to gain, yet also to lose.
”
Buffalo Rising

“
"Brilliant Works of Art lives up to his name... This is one helluva play... [a] pressure-cooker... As the British say 'Brilliant!'... In [Hoke's] plays, there are no tangents, no moments where the audience might think, “Where are we going here?” Every line and every gesture have a purpose."
”
Theater Talk Buffalo

“
Hoke is at the very top tier of Buffalo playwrights. [Her] razor-sharp exploration of moral compromise leaves the audience both entertained and disquieted.
”