THE FINAL MEETING OF THE UNNAMED CHILDREN'S PROTECTION LEAGUE OF ADOLESCENT VIGILANTES
A One Act Play; 60 Minutes
The Final Meeting
of the Unnamed
Children's Protection League
of Adolescent Vigilantes
Based on true events, Laura, Elmer, Nellie, Alice, Ida, and Edgar embark on an all-night journey in order to protect the city they love from vampires. Despite their young ages and constant adult supervision, the six Chicago children are determined to prove their neighbor's disappearance is related to the supernatural, though their excursion may prove to reveal a more sinister reason.
This story is a fictional retelling of the real children who devoted themselves to catching the vampires they were positive lived among them in the 1880s. From accidentally stumbling over their story while taking a haunted tour of Lincoln Park, to diving into the history of Chicago's famous Couch Tomb, this play allowed for me to hold an even deeper love and understanding of the city I live in.
Poster by Grey Smith
On October 27th, 2023, THE FINAL MEETING OF THE UNNAMED CHILDREN'S PROTECTION LEAGUE OF ADOLESCENT VIGILANTES received its first staged reading with the Municipal Hole Company at Wilson Abbey (titled as COUCH TOMB), as a part of their one-night-only event, WAMPYRRE. The event featured both COUCH TOMB and Grey Smith's THE CONSUMPTION OF MERCY BROWN.
THE FINAL MEETING OF THE UNNAMED CHILDREN'S PROTECTION LEAGUE OF ADOLESCENT VIGILANTES was directed by Grey Smith. It featured Jenn Hessel (Laura), Simon Stringer (Phoebe), Sophie Duque (Alice), Rose Ley Hayek (Nellie), Levi Welch (Edgar), Elsa Roeber (Ida), and Will Colley (Frank).
Watch the staged reading!
In 2025, THE FINAL MEETING OF THE UNNAMED CHILDREN'S PROTECTION LEAGUE OF ADOLESCENT VIGILANTES was adapted as a part of Fox and Spade Ensemble's "Where There's Smoke" (titled as COUCH TOMB), a double-bill performance at the Chicago Dramatists, which also featured Gwen Docter's ABEONA. The play was performed from
April 3rd to April 5th, 2025.
It was directed by Kyle Dexler and Scout Cloud. It was performed by Emma Parsons (Laura), Cas Lam (Elmer), Daria Koon (Alice), Elizabeth Avery (Nellie), Zoe Maxwell (Edgar), Rocky Nguyen (Ida) and Peyton Hooks (Frank).
Poster by Fox and Spade Ensemble
Watch the full play!
Check out the production photos!
REVIEWS
"Smith brings to light a little known incident from Chicago history - the true story of kid vampire hunters. How much fun it would be to see a production of this play on location at the Couch Tomb in Lincoln Park. Great roles for tweens, particularly girls. If I were 13 years old, I’d die to be in this play. A fresh subject with a fresh approach I truly enjoyed. Not your average TYA play!"
— Kelly McBurnette-Andronicos, New Play Exchange