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ABOUT THE SHOW:
Burning Mom follows, Melanie, a self-proclaimed funny woman, who, as a late-night comedy show writer, literally pens the jokes. But, just so you know, her mom just died, and her funny has not been as fast-flowing, of late.
Burning Mom follows Mel through the biggest gig of her comedy career…her mother’s death. Dealing with the public pressures of grieving, while navigating our own unique parental relationships. Created by Casey Ross, who critics say “has the potential to become one of the leading voices in American theatre,” Burning Mom promises to be a wry analysis of mothers, daughters, and death.
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT:
Casey Ross is an Indianapolis-based theatre producer and playwright, most known for her Fringe festival one-act plays. An alumna of Hanover College, Ross also works as a theatrical director and designer. Her most notable Indianapolis directing credits inculde: Starmites (2023), A Streetcar Named Desire (2023), Taming of the Shrew (2017), Sam Shepard’s Tooth of Crime (2017), Coriolanus (2016), Equus (2016), and The Diviners (2016).
As a student, Ross earned notice at Hanover College’s President Honors the Arts Awards for her accomplishments in playwrighting, inculding the selection of her play, Here’s To…, as part of Louisville’s site-specific theatre company, Specific Gravity’s Elevator Plays Project (More Info). She was also a receipient of the Dr. Tom Evans Emerging Artist Grant, allowing her to produce her first IndyFringe play, Gallery. Shortly after graduation, Ross was invited to return to Hanover’s Campus for the premire of her full-length play, Slaying the Dragon – a trip made possible through a generous sponsorship from one of Ross’s favorite playwright’s, fellow Hanover graduate, Jim Leonard, Jr.
Recently, Ross has enjoyed critical acclaim for her play, Bat in the Wind (Or A Recent Study on Depression & Addiction). Bat in the Wind first premiered at the 2023 IndyFringe Festival, and later returned, in 2024, at the IF Theatre, as an extended 90-minute version. “It’s a performance that I will long remember for its honesty in portraying characters keenly fleshed out by homegrown Ross, who has the potential to become one of the leading voices in the American Theatre.”, wrote ‘On the Asile’s,’ Tom Alvarez. Ross has also been spending time as a speaker, activties director, and panelist for a wide variety of organizations inculding: The Indiana Drama Club, Indiana Playwright’s Circle, The Shawnee Summer Theatre’s Children’s Theatre Camp, The Orchard School, and more.
Other plays by Ross inculde her Geeky Press published trilogy of plays – The Gallery Trilogy, Copyright/Safe, The Tortillo! Trilogy, and Hell’s 4th Ring [The Mall Musical] – a musical-comedy penned with Catalyst Repertory co-founder, Dave Pelsue.
CREATIVE TEAM:
SARAH HOBACK ROGERS (MELANIE)
BIO
