SAINT LOUISE, PRAY FOR US
A Full-Length Play; Two Hours
Saint Louise,
Pray for Us
By Maggie Smith
Saint Louise, Pray for Us
In the wake of their youngest sister's death, two young women take the logical next step in deciding to canonize her as a saint. In diving into the details of her life, however, the two learn much more about her than they bargained for.
SAINT LOUISE, PRAY FOR US received its first reading with the Loyola University Chicago Second Stage Program, and was performed in the Loyola University Chicago Underground Theatre. The performance featured Rose Ley Hayek (Gen), Maegan Pate (Toni), Elaine Peterson (Louise), Mia Maccarella (Mary), Levi Welch (Riley/Tyler), Drew Clemens (Fr. Thompson), Claire Peters-Seymour (Emma), and Elise Mitchell (Stage Directions). The piece was stage managed by Megan Crane, and mentored by Dr. Kelly Howe.
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As the project lead on SAINT LOUISE, PRAY FOR US, I worked with the performers during two nights of rehearsals to solidify the final version of the script, as well as answered any questions performers had that later became clarified through rewriting lines or scenes. The project concluded with a talkback, where audience members spoke on moments that connected with them. The project itself was an absolute success, and resulted in a powerful script about loss, coping, and family.
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Also, my parents loved it.
REVIEWS
“This play feels like a hug."
— Grace Mealey, audience response
“A plot summary would not to justice to this compelling meditation on the distorting qualities of grief and the vagaries of memory. The plot is certainly gripping, full of twists and revelations, but it is most powerful in the way it explores the true nature of unconditional love. The complex and fully human characters undergo a journey that is full of surprises, difficult truths, and, ultimately, reconciliation."
— Paul Donnelly, New Play Exchange