Beth Kander Knihy

Full-Length Play | One apartment. Two different eras. Each creating unlikely friendships. In 2015, reluctant coworkers Hal and Cassie are investigating a sad hoarder mess, sifting through the belongings of an elderly and mysterious "Jane Doe." In 1955, two strangers from different worlds, Esther and Lynley, spark an uneasy friendship, exploring their blossoming connection against all odds. Developed through the Ashland New Play Festival and the Headwaters New Play Festival, Hazardous Materials digs deep into truths long buried under decades of emotional detritus. How much do we bury in a place, and within ourselves? (2F, 1M, 1F or NB)

The story follows a woman who, in a bid to escape her chaotic reality, conjures a golem to craft a rom-com narrative around her life. Blending dark humor with unexpected sweetness, the novel explores themes of self-deception and the longing for a fairy-tale existence amid personal turmoil. As her creation navigates the complexities of human emotions, both the golem and its creator confront the absurdity of their situations, leading to poignant revelations about love and identity.