penned & produced
on the stage
the morphine diaries
April's play The Morphine Diaries was featured at the DC Capital Fringe Festival. It received five-star, must-see reviews from the DC Theater Scene, MD Theater Guide, and the Washington City Paper.
plot:
A young woman battling chronic illness comes to terms with the demons ravaging her, internally and externally, while becoming dangerously addicted to the drug that saves her.
praise for the morphine diaries
" "
- MD Theater Guide
"The Morphine Diaries dares to present masked truth of addiction, and is successful in doing so. Whether or not you have been affected yourself, you will leave the show with empathy for those who have. With abuse in every form becoming more rampant, The Morphine Diaries is a MUST-SEE."
- Washington City Paper
"The morphine diaries is a difficult show to watch because it is uncomfortably, terrifyingly honest, but it is also a MUST-SEE for those reasons."
- MD Theater Guide
"In an intimate setting, patrons are confronted with primal emotions... this is one you should not miss."
- DC Theater Scene
nine original plays written and produced in the Washington, DC, area with:
capital fringe festival | george mason university | mason players | theater of the first amendment | active cultures theater
additional theater work:
playwright | director | dramaturg | scenic designer | technical director
on the screen
April is the writer and producer of the five-time internationally-awarded short film i was a stranger with stars from orange is the new black, ozark & hightown. April and her director are currently developing into a feature film.
plot:
A woman fleeing domestic violence finds refuge on the road in a community of boondockers. Their innate knowledge of the terms of her exile is esoteric, as they know all too well: everyone is running from something. When her cruel captor tracks her down, these strangers become unceasing allies, no matter the cost. Inspired by true events.
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The Swiss Army Romance
April wrote this pilot which was awarded as a Quarterfinalist in the Final Draft Big Break Competition, a Semi-Finalist at the ScreenCraft Fellowship Competition 2022, and soared to #11 in thriller television pilots on Coverfly's Red List, in the top 7% of all 102,857 projects on the site.
plot:
In a one-horse, two-Superfund Site town, an enigmatic teenage girl and her misfit friends band together to evade harsh realities; when their restless curiosity leads them to discover the body of a missing classmate, their quest for justice against a venomous enemy may be the last thing they ever do.
photo by justine kurland
praise for the swiss army romance
"The strongest aspect of your script is without a doubt your voice. Through Sarah's voiceovers and your scene description, you are able to paint incredibly detailed scenes with little words. The central conflict line is gripping. You're able to utilize tropic high school drama in new ways, while also weaving in a massive conspiracy. I wasn't ready for this script to end and would absolutely watch the next episode."
- ScreenCraft Judges
wrote and developed four original television series with:
archie comics | two shakes entertainment | lucid road | tornante
cbs studios | abc studios | warner bros. studios | team downey
freelance writer | showrunner's assistant | producer's assistant | intern
on the page
Darling, Let's Run
April is currently seeking representation for her debut middle grade novel, Darling, Let's Run.
This is book one of a trilogy, rooted in realism and naturalism, filled with tragedy, beauty, love, loss, and hope.
Avril's manuscript, complete at 47,870 words, is available upon request.
photo by seph lawless
photo by justine kurland