NEW WORKS FOR THE STAGE BY JOSEPH REED HAYES

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    TEMPUS
    A 1940s New York loft, bebop jazz reinterpretation of Shakespeare's The Tempest, and a prelude to The Bebopera Project.
    Part of the inaugural Timucua Arts Foundation WordPlay Festival
  • 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

  • "Hayes is reaching to say something real about the relativity of time." ~ Orlando Weekly
    Two Orlando Fringe Festival 2022 Critics' Choice Awards

  • 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.
    "There's both poignancy and joy in the way [Hayes] has cleverly captured the essence of a family's dynamics." ~ Orlando Sentinel
  • 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.
  • An evening exploring the rhythms of words with nu-jazz wonders La Lucha
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    TOM WAITS FOR NO MAN
    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
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    DESTINATION MOON
    A young woman forms a relationship with a disembodied voice in the night; a veteran late-night radio personality.
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    BUCKET BOY
    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
    • Brian Groder & Tonino Miano - Fluidensity

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

MY WORK

A native New Yorker, Joseph Reed Hayes combines ephemeral abilities learned as a devilish unfocused child on Bronx streets with the shifting consciousness of a unabashedly neurodivergent creative — and is proud of both.

55 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.

awards

  • Orlando 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 Castendeda, 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

  • • TEMPUS
    Staged reading, prelude to The Opera Project, Timucua Arts Foundation March 2023

    • 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
    • AUTHENTIC SELVES reading
    Timucua Arts Foundation Mar 2022 
    • JAZZ SPOKEN HERE w/La Lucha
    Timucua White House Jan 2022 £
    • IF I HAD MY WAY ¤, reading
    Timucua White House December 2021
    • DELIVERANCE
    Timucua Arts Foundation, Digital streaming with live audience, March 2021 ¤£
    • POMPEII'S TABLE
    7 interconnected events supporting Orlando Science Center 2020-2021
    • 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 w/La Lucha, Timucua White House 2015 £
    • Reading  w/La Lucha, Jazz On Edge House Concert 2014 £
    • Reading, Jazz On Edge 2014
    • A SLOW RIDE
    13in13 Project: Downtown Credo July 2013
    • THE RECORD COVER PROJECT
    13in13 Project: University Club of Winter Park 2013
    • SOLOS
    13in13 Project: Lowndes Shakespeare Center Dec 2013 £
    • 13in13 Project
    13 creative events 2013 
    • IF I HAD MY WAY
    Theater Row Studios NYC 2012
    • A LITTLE CRAZY
    House Theater Project May 2012
    • Reading, Jazz On Edge 2011
    • IF I HAD MY WAY
    Winter Park Playhouse 2009 ¤
    • Readings, Atlantic Center for the Arts
    2007
    2000
    1997
    • WEST FARMS
    VisionTV, Orlando 2008
    • 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
    2006
    2005
    • Reading w/David Amram, Stardust Video 2005
    • SOLOS
    Orlando Fringe Festival May 2004
    • WHAT JAMES LEARNED ON THE INTERNET w/Brian Groder
    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
    • THE PLANETS ALIGN IN THEIR SINISTER DESIGN
    Reading w/David Amram, Chapters on Park 2004
    • 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, workshop
    "Playing by the Lake" Script Writing Festival 2003
    • THE PLANETS ALIGN IN THEIR SINISTER DESIGN, Reading 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

CONTACT ME

playwright

55 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 Hayes Project of interconnected plays.

freelance writer

Five-time Florida Magazine Association Award winning food writer and Orlando restaurant critic. 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 from Central Florida. Founder, WordPlay series of language-based performance, Timucua Arts Foundation.