Day Room Window
Teen-age Girls in an Adult Prison
Based on a True Story
by Bonnie Cohen
12F / 2M
Playing Time: Approximately 90 minutes
Nine teenage girls, incarcerated in a state women’s prison, are locked in a room for 18 hours a day with nothing to do but play cards, listen to the radio or watch TV. When Naomi, a counselor, ventures in to try to make a difference, Da Cell, a powerful and charismatic sixteen year old girl, blocks her at every turn while Caroline White, a rigid prison bureaucrat, leaves no room for flexibility or compromise. After Da Cell commits an offense that lands her in solitary, the kids open up to Naomi, revealing their past and their pain. She discovers that, like all teenagers, they are vulnerable and unique. When Da Cell returns, she and Naomi grapple with and confront the issues of race and power, issues critical to Da Cell’s survival. As the other girls excitedly prepare for a talent show, an activity that gives their lives some meaning, Caroline fires Naomi, leaving the girls with no advocate. In the end, the girls’ rekindled hope collides with the harsh realities that have held them captive since the day they were born. Day Room Window is based on the true life experience of playwright Bonnie Cohen.
$60.00 Royalty per Performance
$20.00 Single-Use Copyright Fees