Leaving Ikea

Written with Monica Flory from an idea by Lauren Singeman

Small cast 4M, 2W / Large cast 6M, 4W (chorus size is flexible) · 120 mins

A coming out gone wrong, an angry gnome, and two hundred pounds of Swedish meatballs: welcome to IKEA, friends. As two couples venture through their local Swedish superstore, they become trapped in a blue and yellow purgatory; unable to escape until they solve the problems in their ailing relationships. Will they be able to put all of the parts together without any instructions? Will they ever get home? Join two ordinary couples as they take an extraordinary journey to find the arrows that will lead them out of the relationship inferno that is IKEA.

Commissioned, developed, and produced by the Artful Conspirators, Brooklyn, NY.

Script and rights available by contacting Dano here.

Character Descriptions

Canto I by Dano Madden

MARCUS, from the Midwest. Or the West. 35

ROY, Marcus’ boyfriend, 38

HATTIE, traditional, 68

BILL, quiet, 72

LUCY, a veteran IKEA employee, 26

HANK, a rookie IKEA employee, 34

Canto II by Monica Flory

BETHANY and DAN, a 30-something couple

CHORUS (including EDITH, MOSCA, ZITA, CECINA, and others), trapped in IKEA purgatory

GNOME with a gray beard