A DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE TITLE

Darker the Night, Brighter the Stars

Full-Length Play, Dramatic Comedy  /  4 any gender (adult)

John Cariani

In a small town in Northern Maine, young people wish on shooting stars and wonder about what’s to come. A hopeful, funny, sad and poignant play composed of multiple vignettes about love, loss, and learning that there’s light even when it’s really, really dark.

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Darker the Night, Brighter the Stars

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4 any gender (adult)
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult

Details

Summary

In a small town in far Northern Maine near the Canadian border, the Perseid Meteor Shower has begun. Shooting stars are streaking across the vast northern night sky, and some young Northern Mainers are wishing on them and wondering about what’s to come. Hopeful, funny, sad, and true, Darker the Night, Brighter the Stars is an interconnected collection of vignettes about love, loss, making wishes and learning that there’s light even when it’s really, really dark.

History

Darker the Night, Brighter the Stars premiered in Portland, ME at Portland Stage on 2 April 2025. Directed by Sally Wood, the production featured Hannah Daly, Shawn Denegre-Vaught, Emily Verla and Aidan J. Lawrence. It subsequently premiered in Ellenville, NY at Shadowland Stages on 29 August 2025, directed by John Cariani himself.

Performing Groups

“Prologue”
SHAY – 21, who is a little lost.
TEDDY – 18, the state park employee who finds her.

Scene One: “It’s Official”
CARLY – 18, who is heading off to war.
JARED – 18, who desperately wants her to come back in one piece.

Scene Two: “Better”
SCOTT – 19, a confident guy who used to date Marty.
MARTY – 19, a less confident guy who used to date Scott.

Scene Three: “Light”
SAM – 16-18, who is wondering about some things.
CASEY – 16-18, who is also wondering about some things.

“Interlogues”
SHAY and TEDDY from the “Prologue.”

Scene Four: “Seeing”
TIFFANY – 22-23, who is ready to move on with her life.
MARC – 22-23, who is also ready to move on with his life.

Scene Five: “Happy”
LILY – 20, who has something big to tell her big brother.
DEREK – 23, who isn’t quite ready for what his sister is about to tell him.

Scene Six: “Beauties”
RENÉE – 17, who loves Gwen and the universe.
GWEN – 18, who really loves Renée.

Epilogue
SHAY and TEDDY from the “Prologue” and “Interlogues.”

Darker the Night, Brighter the Stars is a play for as few as four and as many as fourteen actors. Any kind of human being – actors of all shapes, sizes, colors, backgrounds, abilities and genders – can act in this play. Anyone who is comfortable playing the gender of the characters can play any of the roles.

Most of the people in this play don’t have access to the best words, but they have big thoughts and ideas. And they still express themselves well. Figure out how that works – expressing well without having access to the perfect words.

Darker the Night, Brighter the Stars is a play for as few as four and as many as fourteen actors. Any kind of human being – actors of all shapes, sizes, colors, backgrounds, abilities and genders – can act in this play. Anyone who is comfortable playing the gender of the characters can play any of the roles.

Most of the people in this play don’t have access to the best words, but they have big thoughts and ideas. And they still express themselves well. Figure out how that works – expressing well without having access to the perfect words.

  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)

Media

“Brightens the stage.” – Metroland Now

“A smart play, with sharp dialogue and complex relationships, some of which are happy, others not so much. It’s real life, and it’s enthralling.” – Sullivan County Democrat

“Whether on the page or onstage, [Cariani’s] characters tend to be slightly awkward, slightly adrift, but always yearning – for connection, for recognition, for the mysterious thing that makes two people see each other clearly. If Almost, Maine caught the bittersweet humor of falling in love, Darker the Night/Brighter the Stars asks: What happens when we look up and wonder if the universe is paying attention?” – Chronogram

“Brightens the stage [with] a change of pace that I greatly appreciated… [the play] shows a more serious intent on the author to go deeper and darker into the psychology of his young rural Mainers. The characters are deeper and richer. The stakes have been raised markedly, and all are facing greater challenges and real-life consequences.” – Metroland Now

Videos

  • Darker the Night, Brighter the Stars – John Cariani Interview youtube thumbnail

    Darker the Night, Brighter the Stars – John Cariani Interview

  • Darker the Night, Brighter the Stars – Meet the Cast at Shadowland Stages youtube thumbnail

    Darker the Night, Brighter the Stars – Meet the Cast at Shadowland Stages

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Authors

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