IF I DIE BEFORE I WAKE
A Two-Act Play
If I Die Before
I Wake
By Maggie Smith

If I Die Before I Wake
Based on the Faustus myth, a young woman sells her soul to the Devil in order to spark creativity. Told through poetry and this play focuses on what to make of a limited time left on earth, asking the question of if it is better to be known well or well-known.
This piece started being written the day that many universities throughout the United States announced their closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marking a series of six months that allowed Maggie as much time as possible to write. While she has always had an interest in adaptation, Marlowe's Doctor Faustus had captured her interest the moment she had read it. She believes now even more than ever there is a concern of how much time we as humans have left on earth, and found this play to be the medium to explore it.