Why Maytag Virgin Is a Top Choice for Literary Managers and Artistic Directors
Sweet Home Alabama meets Taming of the Shrew!
In a moment when theaters are tightening belts and programming feels risky, Maytag Virgin keeps rising to the top. This porch-set two-hander has been produced at dozens of theaters—big and small—across the country. When audiences are exhausted and you need a guaranteed win, certain titles quietly carry you through. For many theaters, Maytag Virgin has become that title. Here’s why.
1. It’s a two-hander.
Small cast. Single set. Intimate staging. It’s logistically affordable and artistically satisfying—a director’s dream and a budget’s best friend. Bonus: It’s ideal for real-life acting partners or pods, making rehearsal logistics smoother and safer in COVID-conscious environments.
2. It sells.
Maytag Virgin has sold very well across the country—from Florida Rep to Aurora Theatre to Barter Theatre and beyond. Even on the mainstage. Even in shoulder seasons. It's a crowd-pleaser that doesn't sacrifice depth.
3. Scalable for any venue
Originally designed for intimate settings, Maytag Virgin thrives in smaller spaces—but it’s fully scalable for main stages. With its emotionally expansive storytelling and simple yet flexible design, it can stretch to fill larger houses without losing its soul.
4. It appeals across generations.
With humor, romance, and emotional depth, this is a play your subscribers and first-timers will love. Suitable for audiences 10 and up, it works as a date-night show, a girls’-night-out show, or a thoughtful season closer. Bring your grandparents!
5. Adaptable for a holiday run.
A third of the play occurs at Christmastime. With just a few light design shifts—twinkle lights, a carol on the radio—it can slide seamlessly into a festive slot without ever becoming a "Christmas play."
6. It’s feel-good—but earned.
At its core, this is a story about grief, renewal, and human connection. It doesn’t pander or sugarcoat. The laughs come from truth. The hope feels earned.
7. It programs easily.
The play is seasonally flexible (spring or fall do especially well), doesn’t compete with your big musical, and offers counter-programming to edgier fare. It pairs well with a Southern or literary theme and has excellent options for community engagement.
SYNOPSIS
Set in small-town Alabama, this emotionally charged and darkly funny two-hander delivers Southern charm with Shakespearean tension. Think Sweet Home Alabama meets Taming of the Shrew—a slow-sparking collision between two smart, guarded schoolteachers on neighboring porches. Lizzy Nash, recently widowed and sharp as a tack, meets her quiet match in Jack Key, a steady, soft-spoken newcomer with secrets of his own. What begins as cautious small talk deepens into something richer and riskier: a story of loss, wit, and the quiet danger of being truly seen. Maytag Virgin offers visceral emotional payoff with strong box office appeal—a love story with bite and ballast.
REVIEWS
🏆 Awards & Accolades
Voted “Best Comedy in Atlanta” – The Atlanta Journal Constitution
“One of theater’s most profound love stories… Audrey Cefaly’s unflinchingly honest story is one no one should miss; take your mom and ’dem and don’t miss it!” – DC Metro Theatre Arts
💔 Emotional Depth & Humanity
“Profound… unflinchingly honest.” – DC Metro Theatre Arts
“It plumbs the depths of human emotion.” – Florida Weekly
“A witty and earnest meditation on how people connect... and what it is to move on.” – DC Theatre Scene
✍️ Craft, Character & Voice
“Strikingly beautiful.” – Theatre Bloom
“Closely observed.” – The Washington Post
“Cefaly makes her characters rich and mixed-up enough for us to build some real affection for them... It’s sweet stuff.” – The Washington Post
“An assiduously crafted literary effusion.” – Front Row Center
“A heartwarmer of a play… Cefaly writes with sympathy and a finely-sharpened wit.” – Broadway World
“A multifaceted gem of a story.” – Naples News
FEATURED PRODUCTIONS
Florida Repertory Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, Gulfshore Playhouse, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Barter Theatre, Penobscot Theatre Company, Aurora Theatre (GA), Vermont Stage, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, and Theatre Three (Dallas)—a strong mix of LORT and high-profile regional theaters known for producing contemporary, audience-driven work.
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Why My Rom-Com Maytag Virgin Is a Safe Bet for Theaters in Troubling Times
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Why Maytag Virgin Is a Top Choice for Literary Managers and Artistic Directors
Sweet Home Alabama meets Taming of the Shrew!
In a moment when theaters are tightening belts and programming feels risky, Maytag Virgin keeps rising to the top. This porch-set two-hander has been produced at dozens of theaters—big and small—across the country. When audiences are exhausted and you need a guaranteed win, certain titles quietly carry you through. For many theaters, Maytag Virgin has become that title. Here’s why.
1. It’s a two-hander.
Small cast. Single set. Intimate staging. It’s logistically affordable and artistically satisfying—a director’s dream and a budget’s best friend. Bonus: It’s ideal for real-life acting partners or pods, making rehearsal logistics smoother and safer in COVID-conscious environments.
2. It sells.
Maytag Virgin has sold very well across the country—from Florida Rep to Aurora Theatre to Barter Theatre and beyond. Even on the mainstage. Even in shoulder seasons. It's a crowd-pleaser that doesn't sacrifice depth.
3. Scalable for any venue
Originally designed for intimate settings, Maytag Virgin thrives in smaller spaces—but it’s fully scalable for main stages. With its emotionally expansive storytelling and simple yet flexible design, it can stretch to fill larger houses without losing its soul.
4. It appeals across generations.
With humor, romance, and emotional depth, this is a play your subscribers and first-timers will love. Suitable for audiences 10 and up, it works as a date-night show, a girls’-night-out show, or a thoughtful season closer. Bring your grandparents!
5. Adaptable for a holiday run.
A third of the play occurs at Christmastime. With just a few light design shifts—twinkle lights, a carol on the radio—it can slide seamlessly into a festive slot without ever becoming a "Christmas play."
6. It’s feel-good—but earned.
At its core, this is a story about grief, renewal, and human connection. It doesn’t pander or sugarcoat. The laughs come from truth. The hope feels earned.
7. It programs easily.
The play is seasonally flexible (spring or fall do especially well), doesn’t compete with your big musical, and offers counter-programming to edgier fare. It pairs well with a Southern or literary theme and has excellent options for community engagement.
SYNOPSIS
Set in small-town Alabama, this emotionally charged and darkly funny two-hander delivers Southern charm with Shakespearean tension. Think Sweet Home Alabama meets Taming of the Shrew—a slow-sparking collision between two smart, guarded schoolteachers on neighboring porches. Lizzy Nash, recently widowed and sharp as a tack, meets her quiet match in Jack Key, a steady, soft-spoken newcomer with secrets of his own. What begins as cautious small talk deepens into something richer and riskier: a story of loss, wit, and the quiet danger of being truly seen. Maytag Virgin offers visceral emotional payoff with strong box office appeal—a love story with bite and ballast.
REVIEWS
🏆 Awards & Accolades
Voted “Best Comedy in Atlanta” – The Atlanta Journal Constitution
“One of theater’s most profound love stories… Audrey Cefaly’s unflinchingly honest story is one no one should miss; take your mom and ’dem and don’t miss it!” – DC Metro Theatre Arts
💔 Emotional Depth & Humanity
“Profound… unflinchingly honest.” – DC Metro Theatre Arts
“It plumbs the depths of human emotion.” – Florida Weekly
“A witty and earnest meditation on how people connect... and what it is to move on.” – DC Theatre Scene
✍️ Craft, Character & Voice
“Strikingly beautiful.” – Theatre Bloom
“Closely observed.” – The Washington Post
“Cefaly makes her characters rich and mixed-up enough for us to build some real affection for them... It’s sweet stuff.” – The Washington Post
“An assiduously crafted literary effusion.” – Front Row Center
“A heartwarmer of a play… Cefaly writes with sympathy and a finely-sharpened wit.” – Broadway World
“A multifaceted gem of a story.” – Naples News
FEATURED PRODUCTIONS
Florida Repertory Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, Gulfshore Playhouse, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Barter Theatre, Penobscot Theatre Company, Aurora Theatre (GA), Vermont Stage, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, and Theatre Three (Dallas)—a strong mix of LORT and high-profile regional theaters known for producing contemporary, audience-driven work.
Ready to program your next sure-thing?
Read more about the play: audreycefaly.com/maytag-virgin-new-play
License it through Concord: Concord Theatricals – Maytag Virgin
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I’m always happy to share materials or talk through how Maytag Virgin can serve your audiences.
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