FULL-LENGTH PLAY
Drama
Drama
A unique stretch of land ties generations of a family together
in the heart of the American South.
When a stranger disrupts the very nature of home,
difficult choices unearth complex truths.
And through the lens of a camera, redemption exists
between what the photographs reveal and the secrets they hold.
in the heart of the American South.
When a stranger disrupts the very nature of home,
difficult choices unearth complex truths.
And through the lens of a camera, redemption exists
between what the photographs reveal and the secrets they hold.
LOCATION
On an acre of land in rural Alabama
On an acre of land in rural Alabama
CHARACTER INFORMATION
Harlan: Man, 30s, Born and raised in the South
Playful, Confident, Rooted
Mason: Man, 30s, Born and raised in the South, returning after a long absence
Passionate, Conflicted, Adrift
Playful, Confident, Rooted
Mason: Man, 30s, Born and raised in the South, returning after a long absence
Passionate, Conflicted, Adrift
Zara (Younger): Woman, 20s, Born and raised in the Northwest
Bold, Impulsive, Ambitious
Bold, Impulsive, Ambitious
Zara (Older): Woman, 50s, Born and raised in the Northwest, travels extensively
Direct, Intuitive, Resourceful
Direct, Intuitive, Resourceful
THEMES
Generations, Romance, Photography, Ecology
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
DISTINGUISHED WORK
Valley Players, CA - 2026
RUNNER-UP, LOUISE WIGGLESWORTH EXCELLENCE IN PLAYWRITING AWARD
Laboratory Theater Of Florida, FL - 2026
Valley Players, CA - 2026
RUNNER-UP, LOUISE WIGGLESWORTH EXCELLENCE IN PLAYWRITING AWARD
Laboratory Theater Of Florida, FL - 2026
REVIEWS & RECOMMENDATIONS
"Themes of land, legacy, ecological rupture, and generational consequence emerge with clarity and resonance…dialogue is musical, vivid, and often beautifully observed. The play’s lyrical passages are among its finest moments…theatrical and moving. The script offers designers rich opportunities for expressive lighting, sound, and staging. This is an emotionally ambitious, thematically rich play with strong theatrical imagination. Its parallel timelines, sensory descriptions, and intergenerational echoes give it a distinctive voice…the themes hold particular resonance for older women, especially in their exploration of aging, regret, and reconciliation. The play has moments of real beauty and depth, and its central questions about responsibility, legacy, and belonging are genuinely engaging…crafted with intelligence and sincerity…a powerful emotional landscape for performers and audiences alike."
(Valley Players)
(Valley Players)
“A Thousand Words is a beautifully constructed, emotionally resonant play that weaves past and present with striking theatricality. John Mabey crafts vivid characters and lyrical dialogue, using photography as a powerful metaphor for memory, loss, and redemption. The storytelling is intimate yet expansive, culminating in a moving exploration of legacy, love, and the fragile imprint we leave behind.”
(Donald Loftus)
(Donald Loftus)
“Mabey’s writing is striking in its restraint, spare, poetic dialogue that carries enormous emotional weight in just a few words. The rhythm is so fluid it pulls you forward and breaking from it feels like losing the spell. By minimizing stage direction and offering lyrical, evocative cues, he trusts actors to fully inhabit the work. There is also a deep generosity in the writing that reflects Mabey himself, a beautiful human whose warmth and empathy shine through every line. The result is a moving meditation on connection that is brief, profound,
and not meant to last.”
(Craig Houk)
and not meant to last.”
(Craig Houk)