WORKS BY MINDA STEPHENS:

SCREENPLAYS:

 HANDS OF THE POTTER - HANDS ACROSS TIME  - ©MindaA.Stephens 2008/2009
11Minute short film 
Hands of the Potter, a film documenting the archaeological process through the eyes of a young archeologist. Film also includes the story of the Central Florida Society of the Archaeological Institute of America, the mission and membership.


DOLPHINS – Contemporary family comedy
©MindaA.Stephens 2004/2006, 
When their grandmother must have heart surgery, children move from Detroit, Michigan to stay with an eccentric aunt on Florida’s Gulf Coast. During their visit, they meet locals and wildlife, and learn about animal conservation for the dolphins who befriend them. 

THEODORA –  Historic Drama
©MindaA.Stephens2005 
The life and times of Empress Theodora of Byzantium are depicted in this 6th century biopic script  about her rise from street actress in the Hippodrome district of Constantinople to become the empress of the most influential empire of her day. 

A PLACE FOR ELIJAH –  Comedy-Drama
©MindaA.Stephens 2004 
An intellectual fugitive writer who has penned a religiously controversial book, escapes a death sentence from religious leaders and enters the wilds of a trailer park in Lake Destiny, Florida  - See also Stage plays

AUTOMATON –- Comedy
©MindaA.Stephens 1992-1993
A technology genius working at a Florida theme park creates an android that is the perfect man.  He knows because he used the advice from the women with whom he works to model the guy.


STAGE PLAYS:

DOTTIE'S LAST HAND A Science Fiction Comedy 2014
copyright - Minda A. Stephens 2014
Dottie McDaniel, a 93-year-old retired surgical nurse, resides at the Pfister Brain Research Clinic and Assisted Living Facility.   Her nurse's assistant, Amber Dean, is a 23 year-old career criminal.  This play asks the question:  Are brain transplants on the horizon of the human experience? 

THE TRIAL OF PHRYNE (BEFORE THE AEROPAGUS) –-  Historic Drama
©MindaA.Stephens 2009/2010.  Reading: Minneapolis Playwrights' Center, August 21, 2013.
True story of a courtesan from Athens who was put on trial for impiety for reenacting the bathing rituals of the goddess Aphrodite.


MY LAST DUCHESS – Historical Drama
©MindaA.Stephens 2008 -  Reading Playwrights' Center Minneapolis 2014.
From the Robert Browning poem, “My Last Duchess,” playwright, Minda Stephens, has crafted a tale of murder and social intrigue in Renaissance Italy. Based on themes and actual historical characters portrayed in the Browning poem, this play explores control and revenge, ascendance and dissipation in the exalted courts of 16th century Europe during the age of art and exploration. 


PINK STREETS –– Contemporary Comedy - Presented by Stageworks, Tampa May 7 2014 First Reading: Minneapolis Playwrights' Center, July 23, 2013.  ©MindaA.Stephens 2008  - 
Here come the fathers of the bride!  Pink Streets is a comedy play about two men (Win and Jamie) and their daughter (Eden).  It takes place in St. Petersburg, Florida in a neighborhood called Pink Streets. The play covers twenty-four years of their life together (1990’s to present) including the challenges of raising their daughter, Eden, from a street-smart tween Goth to an engaged medical student. 


 SATURNALIA –(5 songs) – Historical Drama/Comedy
©MindaA.Stephens 2002-2003
Stageworks, Tampa, Anna Brennen, Producer
1st century C. E. - A Jewish street entertainer living in Caesarea Maritima experiences travel adventure, and turmoil in the Roman world. Moving from the coast of ancient Roman Palestine to Pompeii, the adventure culminates after the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE. 

DOLPHINS  - ©MindaA.Stephens 1994 –Stageworks, Tampa
See also screenplay of the same work. 

CABANA CLUB MYSTERY (2 songs) –Midwestern Radio Theatre 
(See also radio scripts) ©MindaA.Stephens 1994
A café on the Gulf of Mexico sees a WWII era murder mystery unfold, as the characters take sides in the last stateside battle for world domination. 

COCKROACH BAY –– Production Theatre Americana, Altadena, California 
©MindaA.Stephens 1993
A young woman must deal with betrayal and displacement as she is forced to the facts of life that her husband has run off with a lady from the bank and sold her family property out from under her. Enter a six-foot Shakespeare quoting cockroach that helps her recoup and reclaim her own reality. 

LEONA’S WAKE –– Staged reading, Stageworks, Tampa
©MindaA.Stephens 1991-1992
Taking place in the Florida Panhandle, three siblings must face their resentments and come to terms with who loved them after the death of their eccentric step-mom who was a compulsive hoarder. 

MURDER IN RIJOS (2 songs) ––©MindaA.Stephens 1991-1992 
Production, JJ’s Diner Theatre
In a South American Nation called Rijos, a murder mystery unfolds cabaret style, when there are diamonds, and dangerous dames at stake. 

A PLACE FOR ELIJAH AT LAKE DESTINY ESTATES – ©MindaA.Stephens 1995/2003 – 
See also screenplays


 ONE ACT and SHORT PLAYS:
MATANZAS:  A SURVIVOR’S STORY –  2004 & 2005 Tour, Productions: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009,   2010, 2011, 2012, 2013-   Length: one hour -  Ten years of productions throughout Florida  and the Southeast U.S.A.  ©MindaA.Stephens 2004, 2005
The true story of a young musician who survived the massacre of the French Huguenots in 1565, and signaled the British fleet of the location of the Spanish settlement of St. Augustine twenty years later.  He tells his poignant story of horror, imprisonment, escape and rescue. 
NEH and FL Humanities Council Conference performances, Teaching History Grant performances, Bluferton N.C. 

A GOOD HARVEST – ©MindaA.Stephens 2007/2008 
A young woman soldier reads a letter from home and answers it, but will the folks ever read it? 
Length: 10 minutes


HOW I MET BUD –– ©MindaA.Stephens 1997 (see awards)
A young woman runs out of her house, during Thanksgiving celebration with her in-laws to buy some forgotten whipped cream for their pumpkin pie, and strikes up a friendship with a lone stranger who is sitting outside a grocery store. Length:  10 minutes

PSYCHIC RELIEF: THE ADVENTURES OF PSYCHIC MAMA –
©MindaA.Stephens 1995
A Rado talk show psychic takes to the air waves with her wit and wisdom of a Cajon accented “psychic” and wise-cracker.  
5 episodes – 5 minutes each


CHANGE FOR A FIVE –– PSA, Winter Park – Equity Workshop 
©MindaA.Stephens 1995
A woman is washing clothes in a launder mat in the heart of a Florida night; a young man walks in and asks for change for a five, then threatens to kill her. Length:  10 minutes

SILENCE AND THE WHIPPOORWILL –– Production (Non-Professional) Stageworks, Tampa ©MindaA.Stephens 1994
The tale of a man who leaves the noise of the city to experience the “quiet” of country life.
Length:  10 minutes

WATERSMITH – ©MindaA.Stephens1993-1994 – 
A former circus carnie reconnects with is conservative son and daughter-in-law.
Length:  10 minutes

PAINTING OF A SUNFLOWER – ©MindaA.Stephens 1993-1994 –
A painting of a sunflower survives a world war and the greed of a old woman’s heirs.
Length:  15 minutes

THE RECITAL –– Production, Stageworks, Tampa, Anna Brennen, Producer (813)251-8984 ©MindaA.Stephens 1993-1994
Children discuss the preparations for a piano recital in the front yard of a Florida home while the music plays, they use a knife for the first time to cut oranges.
Length 10 minutes


THE DEAD CANNOT CRY –––  ©MindaA.Stephens1992 - Orlando, FL 
ne man show which includes the history of the Black Death as it is documented by the last survivor of an monastery in Kilkenny, Ireland
Length:  20 minutes


RADIO PLAYS:
HEARSAY – ©MindaA.Stephens 1999-2000 – 

CABANA CLUB MYSTERY (2 original songs) – 1997-1998 – Production Midwestern Radio Theatre


OPERA TRANSLATION:

 A COUNTRY ROMANCE – ©MindaA.Stephens 1987 -Translation and restaging of Mozart’s Opera,  Bastien und Bastienne-  Florida Lyric Opera –Workshop Production 
Length 80  minutes

 TELEVISION SERIES TREATMENTS 
DAYTONA BEAT – ©MindaA.Stephens 2004-

CAR GUYS – ©MindaA.Stephens 2001 

 BOOK
FRANÇOISE AND THE REVOLUTION – ©MindaA.Stephens 2011.  200 pages -  Historical Romance - Steamy   - This book depicts the life and times of Françoise Dubois from her childhood in the farmland of France, to the court of Louis XVI, to the streets of Paris and during the French Revolution.  

 SHORT STORIES

​CHRISTMAS OF THE AVENGING SANTA - 5 Episodes Amazon Kindle Vella Published 2023 (14K + words)
THE ADAVIST -  Contemporary issues short story - 2023
THE DAY AFTER VALENTINE’S DAY-  1385  words
THE SNOWS OF SOUTH MIAMI BEACH – 1663 words
THE WITCH’S STATEMENT – 1000 Words
THE TRIAL OF PHRYNE BEFORE THE AROPAEGUS – 3518 words
TEMPEST IN A TEA KETTLE – 1098 Words  SEE PROSE FOR ROUND-ROBIN WRITING PROJECT
MADRIGAL KNIGHTS (PARTS I, II, & III) – 1500 words each


SHORT SORT STORIES
ODE TO THE FIREFLIES - 521 words
TWO SOLDIERS  - 471 words


 CONTEMPORARY CULTURE WRITINGS

THE AVAVIST: 2023 

WHAT MAKES A MAN ON A MOTORCYCLE SEXY?  - 536 words -2010

DATING IN THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD  –  2010
            30 Articles (500 words each) and 60 Blogs (125 words each)

LIGHTING FOR COMMERCIAL USE  2008
             20 Articles (500 words each) and 40 Blogs (125 words each)

CIGAR MARKETING - 2008
             20 Articles (500 words each) and 40 Blogs (125 words each)
        INCLUDING - DOES SANTA SMOKE A CIGAR OR A PIPE? 459 Words

HomeWorksHistoricalProse & ContemporaryContacts & Awards

HOMEWORKSHISTORICAL WORKSPROSE & CONTEMPORARYCONTACT & AWARDS
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Minda Stephens
minda.stephens@gmail.com
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THEODORA 
MATANZAS:  A SURVIVOR’S STORY
MY LAST DUCHESS
FRANÇOISE AND THE REVOLUTION
SATURNALIA