NEW WORKS FOR THE STAGE BY JOSEPH REED HAYES


  • Destination moon
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    A young woman forms a relationship with a disembodied voice in the night ... a veteran late-night radio personality.

    Coming 2025:
    Destination Moon, the Graphic Novel

  • A SLOW RIDE
    Three generations of women taking a Sunday ride, with the humor, affection and near-demented discord that arises when family is in close proximity for more than ten minutes.

    35below, Asheville Community Theatre, Asheville NC July 2024

  • TEMPUS
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    A 1940s New York loft, bebop jazz reimagining of Shakespeare's The Tempest, and a prelude to The Bebopera Project.
  • LA CUCHARA
    New Reading with pianist John O'Leary
  • IF I HAD MY WAY
    "A fascinating mix of contemporary issues about class, race, circumstance and relationships against a uniquely Florida historical background." ~ Orlando Sentinel
    Two Orlando Sentinel "Best of 2022" Lead Actor, Drama awards
  • SOLOS
    Love, deception, the hardships and joys of the jazz existence and the fabulous, always-changing life of the music itself.
    "A touching story about love, truth, God and jazz as religion." ~ Orlando Citybeat
    BroadwayWorld Orlando 2014 Best Lead Actress.
  • JAZZ SPOKEN HERE
    An evening exploring the rhythms of words with nu-jazz wonders La Lucha
  • TOM WAITS FOR NO MAN
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    THE BALLAD OF BOBBY ACE
    Bobby Ace, semi-professional third-rate road musician half-way between last call and last chance, playing the songs of Tom Waits in seedy saloons and half-empty roadhouses.
  • DELIVERANCE
    It is a city in the time of social isolation, and life is different now that food arrives at your door. A play on video.
  • A LITTLE CRAZY
    A contemporary play about Avram, an 84-year-old Russian immigrant, and his great-nephew Harry, and their sometimes turbulent relationship.
    "A wonderful 75 minutes of pure unadulterated entertainment which you won’t want to miss. 5 stars." ~ Monday Magazine
  • BUCKET BOY
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    A street storyteller returns to her home town to recapture a relationship with the girl she loved in high school ... a relationship that may or may not have ever existed.

  • THE SHORT PLAYS

    WEST FARMS
    A worn man reminisces about an almost mythical drinking establishment from his childhood near the West Farms bus depot in the Bronx.
    Telly Award Winner

  • THE SHORT PLAYS

    TELL IT TO THE BIRD
    Checking into a swank hotel, Mr. Thompson finds more than your typical amenities, including individual climate control, on-site fitness center, Internet access ... and Ethel, the Pest Elimination Companion.
    Beast Festival, Triangle Theatre, NYC

  • THE SHORT PLAYS

    A GOD IN ASPECT
    Ancient Lovecraftian gods or the Federal Government ... who is scarier?
    Charade Drama Group, Bristol, England

  • PRESENTER

    Founder, Word Play language-based series, former Alternative Programming Chair, Timucua Arts Foundation.
    • DescolonizARTE Teatro - El Delantal Blanco & El Censo
    • Hannah Benitez - Whitewashed
    • The Coldharts - Legend of White Woman Creek
    • The Coldharts - Edgar Allen
    • Southeast Sister Cities Poets of Jacksonville and Orlando
    • Poetry & Prose Writers of Tampa and Orlando
    • Paul Castañeda and Juan Cantú - The Wiz
    • Sanford's Love Your Shorts Film Festival 10th Anniversary

    Creator, Jazz On Edge music series
    • Jazz Spoken Here - spontaneous jazz meets unrehearsed words
    • Tom Waits For No Man - Concert preview
    • Bucket Boy
    • La Lucha House Concert
    • Nicole Omat and Derrick Harris Jazz On Edge Unplugged jazz popup series
    • Jun Bustamante House Concert
    • Heather Friedman Jazz On Edge Supper Club
    • Brian Groder & Tonino Miano - Fluidensity series
    • Per Danielsson Trio House Concert
    • The Cook Trio House concert
    • Edward Simon Trio & Tiptons Sax Quartet
    • Jazz On Edge Vol 1 - The Eastside Combo, Claire Courchene, Brian Groder

In PROGRESS


    • THE BAND OF DRUNKS
      They're young, wild and talented, hard-drinking, hard-living rock stars of their age ... Russia, in 1859.

    • THE LITTLE DICKENS
      Someone has stolen London's Christmas puddings; it's up to the children of Dickens to solve the mystery.
  • AFTER TWO

    Ray loves Carly. Carly loves Darryl, but can't remember why. Sandi loves Bill. Bill loves the waitress. James loves his son. Sam hates everyone. Early morning in a late-night diner. Over and over and over ...

    Staged reading and workshop, Lake County Repertory Theatre, Lower Lake CA: Brian Williams; Norman Winckler; Frank Perry: Hank Porter; Moira Harris; Frances Leuck; Max Oken. Finalist, "Playing by the Lake" Script Writing Festival

  • AND ...

    FROM YOUR LIPS the AI genealogy romcom play

    ROCK N ROLL HEAVEN

THE WORK

Playwright, director, producer and musical director, native New Yorker Joseph Reed Hayes combines abilities learned as a devilish child on Bronx streets with inherited storytelling genes and the shifting consciousness of a proudly neurodivergent creative.

68 productions and readings from coast to coast and in three countries. From big stage, big band extravaganzas to intimate "living room" drama, his plays portray people on buses and in bars, in hotel rooms and government offices, farmhouse kitchens and jazz stages.

His other hat is worn as an award-winning food writer, travel and feature writer, theater and music critic, jazz and event presenter and advocate for new, original creative work for in-house and online audiences.

awards

  • Orlando International Fringe Festival 2022 Critics' Choice Awards
    • Best Individual Performance, Drama: Sarah Lockard, The Mockingbird News
    • Best Director: Leesa Casteneda, The Mockingbird News

  • Orlando Sentinel Best of Theater 2022
    • Leading Actor, Drama: Jesus Kahwati, If I Had My Way
    • Leading Actor, Drama: Iris Lynne Sherman, If I Had My Way

  • BroadwayWorld Orlando 2014
    • Best Lead Actress: Desiree Perez, Solos
    • Nominee, Best Director: Paul Castañeda, Solos

  • • Community Foundation of Jacksonville Art Ventures Fund Grant
    • Orlando Science Center and Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs Office Artistic Partner funding, Pompeii's Table
    • Two-time United Arts Professional Development Grant
    • Florida DOS Division of Arts & Culture Special Cultural Project
    • Florida Division of Cultural Affairs Individual Artist Fellowship
    • United Arts Venue Subsidy Grant
    • Telly Award, best independent video script
    • Galati Research Grant
    • Lake County Repertory Theatre "Playing by the Lake" Festival
    • Awesome Foundation grant
    • Three-time Artist-in-residence, Atlantic Center for the Arts.

PLAY VIDEOS

more videos

PERFORMANCES


  • • THE MOCKINGBIRD NEWS
    Richmond Fringe, Richard Newdick Theater, Richmond VA April 2025
    • READING: "My opening farewell" (A LITTLE CRAZY) All Arts Open Mic, Story Parlor Asheville NC August 2024 
    • A SLOW RIDE
     35below, Asheville Community Theatre, Asheville NC July 2024
    • READING: "2024 Project Preview II" (DESTINATION MOON and A SLOW RIDE)  All Arts Open Mic, Story Parlor Asheville NC June 2024
    • READING: "2024 Project Preview" (DESTINATION MOON and A SLOW RIDE)  All Arts Open Mic, Story Parlor Asheville NC May 2024
    • READING: "Opening" (DESTINATION MOON) All Arts Open Mic, Story Parlor Asheville NC April 2024
    • READING: "Take the bus" (A SLOW RIDE) All Arts Open Mic, Story Parlor Asheville NC March 2024
    • READING: "Bonnie & Stanley" (BUCKET BOY) All Arts Open Mic, Story Parlor Asheville NC Feb 2024
    • READING: "The Grilled Cheese" (DELIVERANCE)  All Arts Open Mic, Story Parlor Asheville NC Jan 2024
    • READING: "On the road" (TOM WAITS FOR NO MAN)  All Arts Open Mic, Story Parlor Asheville NC Dec 2023
    • READING: "Why the trumpet?"  (SOLOS) All Arts Open Mic, Story Parlor Asheville NC Nov 2023
    • READING: "When my mother turned 40" (DESTINATION MOON) All Arts Open Mic, Story Parlor Asheville NC Oct 2023
    • READING: "Time" (THE MOCKINGBIRD NEWS) All Arts Open Mic, Story Parlor Asheville NC Sep 2023
    • STAGED READING: TEMPUS
    Timucua Arts Foundation WordPlay Festival March 2023
  • THE HAYES PROJECT 2021-22
    Florida Division of Cultural Affairs Individual Artist Fellowship; United Arts Venue Subsidy Grant
    • "LA CUCHARA" spoken word w/John O'Leary, Timucua Arts Foundation Dec 2022 £
    • IF I HAD MY WAY
    Orlando Science Center June 2022
    • THE MOCKINGBIRD NEWS
    Orlando Fringe Festival May 2022
    • READING: AUTHENTIC SELVES Timucua Arts Foundation Mar 2022
    • JAZZ SPOKEN HERE w/La Lucha
    Timucua White House Jan 2022 £
    • STAGED READING: IF I HAD MY WAY ¤
    Timucua White House December 2021
  • • DELIVERANCE
    Timucua Arts Foundation, Digital streaming with live audience, March 2021 ¤£
  • POMPEII'S TABLE 2020-21
    7 interconnected food-based events supporting Orlando Science Center; Orlando Science Center and Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs Office Artistic Partner funding
  • • DESTINATION MOON
    Timucua White House Rebroadcast Sep 2020 £
    • A SLOW RIDE
    Timucua White House Rebroadcast June 2020
    • DELIVERANCE: The Grilled Cheese
    Playwright's Round Table Connected Voices III, online June 2020.
    • A LITTLE CRAZY
    Bēma Productions, Victoria BC Fringe Festival Aug 2019
    • A SLOW RIDE
    Timucua White House April 2019 ¤  £
    • READING: w/La Lucha, Timucua White House 2018 £
    • DESTINATION MOON
    Timucua White House July 2018 ¤♦ £
    • BUCKET BOY
    Timucua White House July 2017 ¤ £
    • TOM WAITS FOR NO MAN
    Timucua White House Nov 2015  ¤♦£
    • READING: ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC w/La Lucha, Timucua White House 2015 £
    • READING: ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC w/La Lucha, Jazz On Edge House Concert 2014 £
    • READING: w/Jun Bustamante, Jazz On Edge House Concert 2014
  • 13IN13 PROJECT
    13 creative events in 2013
    • A SLOW RIDE
    Downtown Credo July 2013
    • THE RECORD COVER PROJECT
    University Club of Winter Park 2013
    • SOLOS
    Lowndes Shakespeare Center Dec 2013
  • • READING: IF I HAD MY WAY
    Theater Row Studios NYC 2012
  • HOUSE THEATER PROJECT 2012
    • A LITTLE CRAZY
    May 2012; United Arts of Central Florida Artist Development Grant
  • • READING: BENNIE'S LETTERS, Jazz On Edge 2011
    • IF I HAD MY WAY
    Winter Park Playhouse 2009 ¤ winner, United Arts Professional Development Grant; Galati Research Grant
    • READINGS: , Atlantic Center for the Arts
    2007
    2000
    1997
    • WEST FARMS
    VisionTV, Orlando 2008; Telly Award, best independent video script
    • WEST FARMS
    Playwrights' Round Table "Summer Shorts X", Valencia College Black Box Theatre July 2007
    • WEST FARMS
    Playwrights' Round Table "Launch 2006", Theatre Downtown, Orlando Dec 2006
    • BUDDHA, MOHAMMED & JESUS WALK INTO A BAR
    State Forensics Competition, University of Wisconsin 2006
    • WEST FARMS
    Finalist, "Notes From the Underground" one-act festival, NYC 2006
    • WEST FARMS
    Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Critical Writing Competition, San Antonio TX 2006
    • READINGS: , Kerouac House, Orlando FL
    2006
    2005
    • READING: w/David Amram, Stardust Video 2005
    • SOLOS
    Orlando Fringe Festival May 2004
    • READING: "WHAT JAMES LEARNED ON THE INTERNET" w/Brian Groder and Doug Mathews; Cabaret Voltaire, Downtown Media Arts Center, Orlando 2004
    • TELL IT TO THE BIRD
    Beast Festival, Triangle Theatre, NYC Oct 2004
    • AFTER TWO
    Lake County Repertory Theatre CA 2004
    • READING: THE PLANETS ALIGN IN THEIR SINISTER DESIGN w/David Amram, Chapters on Park 2004
    • READING: A SLOW RIDE¤, w/Christopher "Preacher Boy" Watkins
    Kerouac Project Benefit May 2004
    • A GOD IN ASPECT
    Charade Drama Group, Bristol, England 2004 
     • AFTER TWO
    "Playing by the Lake" Script Writing Festival 2003
    • READING: "THE PLANETS ALIGN IN THEIR SINISTER DESIGN", w/Brian Groder, Jazz Gallery NYC 2003
    • A LITTLE CRAZY
    Bill Whitney Players Portland, OR Feb 2003
    • A LITTLE CRAZY
    Finalist, ATC Fall 2003 Contest for Original Full-Length Plays
    • A LITTLE CRAZY
    Orlando Fringe Festival May 2002
    • A LITTLE CRAZY
    Eyewitness Theatre, Manchester England 2001
    • READING: w/Samuel R. Delany, Java Jabbers Coffee House 1997

     £ show with La Lucha
     ¤ director
    ♦ musical director

CONTACT ME

playwright

68 productions and readings of my work from coast to coast and in three countries. Creator of House Theater Project; the year-long 13in13 series of shows; and the award-winning Hayes Project of interconnected plays.

freelance writer

Five-time Florida Magazine Association Award winning food writer and Orlando restaurant critic. Creator/host of the "No Crying In The Kitchen" video series. Environmental issues, music, movie and theater reviews and in-depth conversations with legends in jazz. Interviews and personality profiles are my specialty.

ARTS producer

Producer of the Jazz On Edge series, spotlighting new and original jazz and musicians. Founder, WordPlay series of language-based performance, Timucua Arts Foundation.