Playwriting

Member of Playwrights Guild of Canada & CAEA

The Fox by Daniela Vlaskalic

One Act, 70 minutes. Drama. 2 females, 1 male.

In 1918, in Southern Ontario, two woman, Jill and Nellie purchase a farm hoping for freedom and independence. The work is much harder than anticipated and they are plagued by many hardships, including a sneaky fox, that threatens the farm. Henry, returning from the war and hoping to reunite with his estranged grandfather is surprised to discover the women. Henry’s arrival provokes mixed feelings in the women. He quickly develops feelings for Nellie, while Jill begins to feel threatened by his presence. In the end Nellie must choose between Henry or her friendship, freedom and independence with Jill.

Adapted from the short story by D.H. Lawrence

World Premiere

Here for Now Theatre 2023 Season

Sleight of Mind by Daniela Vlaskalic

Act 1, 50 minutes. Act 2, 55 min. Drama, Thriller. 2 females, 2 males

Based on the controversial true story of Rudi Schneider, an Austrian Medium from the 1920’s that became the highest paid Medium in the world. During his rise to fame a power struggle emerges between; the man who discovered him, Dr. Harry Price, his spirt guide Lola Montez, and Mitzi, his fiancé. Torn between his desire to contribute to science, his commitment to his fiancé and his obsession with Lola, Rudi makes a choice resulting in devastating consequences. The play examines our obsession of fame, legacy and the power of love.

World Premiere

Western Canada Theatre 2022/2023 Season

DORA MAAR: The Wicked One by Daniela Vlaskalic & Beth Graham

One Act, 75 minutes. Drama. 1 female

In 1935, the brilliant photographer and artist, Dora Maar, meets Pablo Picasso at a cafe in Paris. Thus begins her relationship with the most famous artist in the world. A play about love, obsession and surrealism. 

World Premiere

GAL Productions/Hit & Myth @ One Yellow Rabbits, High Performance Rodeo

Production History:

Workshop West Playwrights Theatre 2022/23 Season

Mules by Daniela Vlaskalic & Beth Graham

One Act, 90 minutes. Dark comedy. 2 Females/1 Male

Holed up in a washroom in Vancouver’s International Airport, Cindy and Crystal are fighting for their lives. Crystal has a belly full of cocaine and a limited time to get it out of her system, while Cindy is trying to keep her violent drug smuggling boyfriend at bay. When a janitor interrupts them, the crisis escalates and their lives are changed forever.

World Premiere

Theatrefront & Hit & Myth, Toronto February 2019

Comrades by Daniela Vlaskalic & Beth Graham

One Act, 90 minutes, Historical/Drama, 2 males or 2 females

Comrades tells the story of Bartolomeo Vanzetti and Nicola Sacco, two Italian, immigrant anarchists wrongfully arrested, imprisoned and electrocuted in Boston, Massachusetts in 1927. Based on actual events, Comrades brings to life their seven- year imprisonment, and explores the struggles and agonies of two men, tried not for what they did but for who they were.

Comrades published by: Canada Playwrights Press

Production History:

Waterford Old Town Hall, Ontario, November 2014
Kill Your Television Theatre, Edmonton 2005/2006

Original version of ‘Comrades’ premiered at the 2000
Edmonton Fringe Festival

The Last Train by Daniela Vlaskalic & Beth Graham

Two Acts, 120 minutes, Historical/Drama, 5 females, 1 male

In the chaos surrounding the last days of the Second World War, a train full of looted artwork, stolen by the Nazis, flees Paris. Aboard the train, five famous muses, labeled ‘degenerate’ by their captors, await an uncertain fate. The Last Train is a play about identity, self worth and the value of art. Full of theatrical imagery, strong female characters, and lyrical language, The Last Train is both mystery and social critique.

Production History:

Shadow Theatre, Edmonton 2003-2004 Season
Workshop reading at 2003 Springboards New Play Festival, Workshop West Theatre

Works in Progress

Lost and Found by Daniela Vlaskalic

Adapted from the Novel Our Lady of the Lost and Found by Diane Schoemperlen

On a Monday morning in April, a middle-aged, mid-career, reclusive fiction writer finds herself between books, stumped for an idea to start a new novel. While dealing with writer’s block, she discovers odd things begin to happen around her home, the sink stops leaking, the toaster is fixed, a squirrel with a white tail begins to appear at her window every morning, the fig tree in her kitchen seems to have started sighing. She takes little notice until a woman appears in her kitchen dressed in white sneakers, a blue trench coat, carrying a small suitcase. She announces that she is the Virgin Mary. Surprised but oddly not afraid, she invites Mary to stay for lunch. Mary explains that after two thousand years of petition, adoration, and traveling she is tired and needs some R&R, so could she stay for a while?  Unable to refuse, the writer agrees.

The Captain’s Doll by Daniela Vlaskalic

Short Plays

A Foolish Boy by Beth Graham and Daniela Vlaskalic -premiered at 2004 Sprouts, Children’s New Play Festival, Concrete Theatre, Edmonton AB
-presented by Red Deer College’s Theatre and Creation Program, 2011
-Playwrights Canada Press, 2010, “A Foolish Boy,” included in: ‘Sprouts! The Concrete Theatre Festival Anthology.”

For Ever, For Always by Beth Graham and Daniela Vlaskalic
-developed during Artist-in-Residency at Catalyst Theatre 2005/2006
-workshop presentation at the 2006 Springboards New Play Festival, Workshop West Theatre

By her Side by Beth Graham and Daniela Vlaskalic
-premiered as part of Fight Show 2, Edmonton Fringe Festival 2004

Next Exit by Beth Graham and Daniela Vlaskalic
-premiered as part of Panties in Shorts, presented by Panties Productions, Edmonton AB, 2003

Corked by Beth Graham and Daniela Vlaskalic
-part of Fusion 2001: Let There be Light, presented by Catalyst Theatre, Edmonton AB.
Preformed at Spotlight Alberta presented by Alberta Theatre Projects, Calgary AB, 2001

Awards and Nominations

The Drowning Girls

-nominated for two Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards (Edmonton)
-nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award for best touring production (Toronto
-received four Betty Mitchell Awards including “Outstanding New Play” (Calgary)
-received three SATA awards (Saskatoon and Area Theatre Awards)
-received Gwen Pharis Ringwood Award (2009 Alberta Literary Award)
-shortlisted for the Carol Bolt Award for Drama, 2009 (Canada)

The Drowning Girls (Fringe Version)
-received four Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards, including:
Outstanding New Fringe Play, 1999 (Edmonton)

Comrades (Fringe Version)
-nominated for four Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards including : Outstanding New Fringe Play, 2000 (Edmonton)

The Last Train
-received Best Play for the Alberta Playwright Network’s Playwriting Competition, 2003

Mules (Fringe Version)
-nominated for four Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards including: Outstanding New Fringe Play, 2006