Full Length Plays
The Killing Fields
5 W, 3 M
For Cly, the news of her husband’s early release from prison threatens to unravel everything she’s worked for. Set in East Oakland in the midst of the 1980’s crack epidemic, The Killing Fields re-imagines the story of Agamemnon through one mother’s epic struggle to rescue her daughter.
Originally commissioned by Portland theatre company, Orphic, The Killing Fields was further developed at the Last Frontier Theatre Conference, the Seven Devils Theatre Conference, and the Great Plains Theatre Conference. It also received a virtual workshop through the SUNY New Paltz Theatre Department.
““The Killing Fields,” is a tightly written deep-dive into systemic racism, exploring the jarring villainization of black bodies during President Reagan’s War On Drugs; a villainization that, evidently, society has not yet released. As the tragedy unfolds, the theme of fate vs. faith is posed repeatedly: an oppressive, horrific fate was dealt heavy-handedly unto communities of color by government systems. Do we have enough faith to help enact change?”
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Without a Formal Declaration of War
4 W, 4 M
The War in Vietnam rages, a revolution brews, and the FBI targets the Black community while Clytemnestra finds herself, and the world, on the brink of great change. Set in the section of East Oakland that will come to be known as The Killing Fields, Without a Formal Declaration of War places characters from Aeschylus’ Agamemnon in 1969.
Prequel to The Killing Fields. Commissioned by Portland Center Stage.
Without a Formal Declaration of War was developed at Seven Devils New Play Foundry, JAW at Portland Center Stage, and Great Plains Theatre Conference.
The Measure of Innocence
5+ W, 6+M
“Some rise by sin, some by virtue fall.” Drawing on Shakespeare’s penchant for blending the comic and the tragic, playwright Anya Pearson adds her own unique command of language, humor, and social insight to this reimagining of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure through the all-too-relevant lens of the systemically unjust criminal justice system and the contemporary Black Lives Matter movement. Set in our current fractured political landscape, The Measure of Innocence is a captivating new dramedy about the dichotomy between corruption and humanity, morality and mercy.
The Measure of Innocence won the 2020 Drammy Award for Best Original Script, made the 2020 Kilroys List, and was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award for Drama.
____ The Wolf
4 W, 1 M
Shaking the Tree Theatre, Oct/Nov 2018.
As the Playwright-in-Residence for the 2018-2019 season, Anya wrote the script for and starred in “______ The Wolf,” a devised piece at Shaking the Tree.
“_____ the Wolf” is a deconstruction of the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale exploring modern day relationships between men and women and the “assigned roles” of women at each stage of life.
“Anya Pearson pulls double duty here as performer and playwright, putting a lyrical polish on the ensemble's creations and delivering an affecting monologue on the joy and pain of motherhood.” — Oregonian Review of ____ The Wolf
Short Plays
Three Love Songs
For those of us who have been taught to fear the silence, I offer you: a counter-attack. An ode, a dirge, a lament, an operatic examination of quarantine life.
To be performed as a counter to silence. For one or many voices.
(no formal singing required)
But please, please, do have the dance party.
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Three Love Songs was commissioned by Portland Center Stage as a part of the Play at Home Initiative.
Willamette Week called Three Love Songs, “a masterpiece that emerged from the wreckage of 2020.” Read the full article here.
You can download the script here and perform it for free!
DO have the dance party!
Check out this video of the script featuring amazing artists around the country.
Willamette Week's Best New Play: Three Love Songs, (Portland Center Stage)
Butterflies Eat Decay
1 W, 1 M
A modern love story.
Or not.
You decide.
Butterflies Eat Decay will be published in the anthology of short plays, Go Play Outside, edited by Lolly Ward. Order the collection here.
“Anya Pearson's "Above a Whisper" combines spoken word, dance, and visual art into a haunting work on sexual harassment and abuse”