COUCH TOMB
A One Act Play; 60 Minutes
By Maggie Smith
Couch Tomb
Couch Tomb
Based on true events, Laura, Phoebe, 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.
On October 27th, 2023, Couch Tomb received its first staged reading with the Municipal Hole Company at Wilson Abbey, 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.
COUCH TOMB was directed by Grey Smith. It featured Jenn Hessel, Simon Stringer, Sophie Duque, Rose Ley Hayek, Levi Welch, Elsa Roeber, and Will Colley
Poster by Grey Smith
Watch the full play!
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