Plays

The Delays

90 mins, 3W, 3M

In an airport, where everyone is busy going somewhere, THE DELAYS focuses on a group going nowhere. A play about the complexity of arrivals, departures, unexpected layovers, and the small moments that connect us.

“Accuardi’s play is both new and a masterpiece… It takes regret and satisfaction, pain and joy, and fuses them together to create a tapestry of spectacularly honest stories and characterizations.”
– Bennett Campbell Ferguson, Willamette Week

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Production History

[2024] Production, Doane University (Crete, NE) dir. Jax Stander

[2021] Production, Ball State University, dir. Grace Wagner

[2021] Finalist, Angus Bowmer Award in Drama, Oregon Book Awards

[2020] Finalist, 21st Century Voices New Play Festival

[2020] Semi-Finalist, SPACE on Ryder Farm

[2019] Winner, Drammy Award for Outstanding Original Script

[2019] Production, Theatre Vertigo (Portland, OR) dir. Tamara Carroll

Theatre Vertigo

Theatre Vertigo

Theatre Vertigo

Doane University

Doane University

Doane University

Doane University

Press & Reviews

NPR

NPR on THE DELAYS at Doane University

The Willamette Week

The Willamette Week Fertile Ground’s Highlights

“Accuardi’s play is both new and a masterpiece… It takes regret and satisfaction, pain and joy, and fuses them together to create a tapestry of spectacularly honest stories and characterizations.”
– Bennett Campbell Ferguson, Willamette Week

The Willamette Week WW’s List of Portland’s Top 10 Plays of 2019

“Set in a single airport on three separate New Year’s Eves, Sara Jean Accuardi’s masterpiece journeys backward through time and deep into the souls of its flawed and beautiful characters.”
– Bennett Campbell Ferguson, Willamette Week

The Willamette Week Here Are the Finalists for This Year’s Oregon Book Awards

The Willamette Week Productions We’re Most Excited About Through March 2019

Broadway World

Broadway World Life’s Layovers Become Permanent in THE DELAYS, at Theatre Vertigo

“It’s a moving, well-crafted play that shows how easy it is to get trapped… I enjoyed THE DELAYS immensely. Accuardi’s writing is sharp, and I love her decision to reveal the characters’ lives in reverse. Somehow, knowing the end makes the journey even more poignant.”
– Krista Garver, Broadway World

Oregon ArtsWatch

Oregon ArtsWatch DramaWatch: Drammys for all

“It was heartening to see … Sara Jean Accuardi’s emotionally astute and smartly constructed THE DELAYS honored as Outstanding Original Script.”
– Marty Hughley, Oregon ArtsWatch

The Oregonian

The Oregonian Here are the 35 finalists for the 2021 Oregon Book Awards

The Oregonian 7 Portland Theater Shows That’ll Keep Off the Chill This Winter

Broadway World

Broadway World 10 Things to See at Fertile Ground 2019