Erin Malone Turner Wins First Undermain New Play Grant for Two-Actor Epic

Erin Malone Turner’s new romantic drama, for the rest of our lives, opened last weekend at Undermain. Turner is the first Dallas playwright to receive the Katherine Owens/Undermain Fund for New Work since the grant program began in 2022. The fund supports theater artists who write new stories for the stage.

The professional premiere features a two-actor cast portraying eight characters across different time periods. The narrative explores the concept of soulmates and love that persists over multiple lifetimes. Two initial characters start a chain reaction, and later versions of those characters consistently find one another.

The production avoids the saccharine quality often associated with romantic comedies. Instead, the play presents complex characters within a straightforward story. The two leads are Zariyah Perry, who plays the female roles, and Nathaniel Wooley III, who plays the male roles.

Perry’s characters display a strong sense of self and agency throughout the performance. Wooley’s characters challenge those roles with tender actions. The pairing finds a balance in each other across the various eras depicted in the script.

Vickie Washington directed the production with a focus on avoiding standard romantic tropes in both dialogue and staging. This approach gave the characters a relatable appeal for the audience. Perry’s delivery maintained a keen likeability for each role, while Wooley’s portrayals were described as endearing and earnest.

The show continues performances through Nov. 22.