Camden High Street Books Publishes Award-Winning Erik Patterson Plays
Actors, theaters, producers, directors, theatre lovers, and everyone in between: I have fantastic news! Camden High Street Books has published five of my plays.
These plays explore topics such as love, loss, addiction, hypochondria, and discrimination. If you’re looking for a fresh monologue for your next audition, if you need a compelling scene to work on in your acting class, or if you want to find an exciting new play to program in your next season, read on.
originally produced by Theatre of NOTE
dramedy / 3 female, 3 male / full length, no intermission
Our lives can change in an instant. One moment you’re getting engaged, and a few surreal moments later you’re sitting with strangers in an ICU waiting room, praying your fiancé will survive a brain aneurysm. While waiting for Frank to wake from a coma, Ada meets Julia, Paul, and Josh, who are waiting for their mom to wake up. A tenuous friendship is born. I Wanna Hold Your Hand looks at life, death, and recovery, and what it means to try your hand at living again...
originally produced by Theatre of NOTE
drama / 1 female, 6 male / full length, one intermission
It’s the early 2000s, before PrEP. Ted is new to Los Angeles, and newly out of the closet. He goes on a journey through Hollywood back rooms, nightclub bathrooms, and Internet chat rooms—where he meets and falls in love with Henry. But Henry doesn’t yet know how to navigate the dating landscape with his new HIV diagnosis, so he breaks things off with Ted...who then makes a desperate decision to win Henry back. He Asked For It asks how far are you willing to go for love? And how much will you forgive? GLAAD Media Award nominee for Outstanding Los Angeles Theater. (Includes a BONUS new never-before-seen "Act 3" that completes the story.)
originally produced by Playwrights' Arena (at LATC)
dramedy / 3 female, 3 male, 1 child / full length, no intermission
David needs to get laid, Gary could use a drink, and Tim would like you to take your top off. Carla craves cocaine, Jeannie’s got God, and Pamela keeps digging herself deeper into the funny and frightening world of hypochondria. But when one of their own gets sick for real, they’re all going to have to face their greatest fears and grow up.
originally produced by Echo Theater Company
dark comedy / 2 female, 2 male / 90 minutes, no intermission
A paraplegic woman plays outrageous power games to get something she desperately wants in this dark, twisty, sexy play that takes office politics to new extremes. One of the Nice Ones received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Playwriting.
originally produced by Echo Theater Company
dark comedy / 2 female, 4 male / 90 minutes, no intermission
An encounter between a white, gay playwright and his black, straight “shirtless maid” goes disastrously wrong when signals are misinterpreted, lines crossed. Handjob explores the aftermath of their meeting, as it reveals deep layers of discrimination, discord, and discontent among people who should be allies. How do you know when you’ve gone too far if you completely ignore other people’s boundaries?