Plum

Overview

Plum is a one-act satirical play set in an exclusive speakeasy restaurant. Together we attend dinner service following a server, chef and their guests through a night of unpredictable interactions. Will someone’s heart get broken? When will the 2 top arrive and who will have the audacity? We’ll find out over drinks maybe.

This play is a love letter to the hospitality industry—a financial lifeline for countless creatives, students, and visionaries exploring their disciplines. With an immersive set and character-driven costume design, we invite the audience to become guests, swept into the rise and fall of a familiar tale unfolding at the hottest restaurant in town—Plum. It’s a story of dreams, missteps, and the pursuit of something greater, where the stakes are high and the chances of getting a table are low.

About the Artist

Shay Overstone grounds her work in the psychology of belonging, guided by Maslows belief that love and connection are essential to well-being. She sees theater as a space where people unite around a shared purpose.

Her interest grew from personal experiences of immigration and deepened through formal study. In 2020, amid a period of widespread upheaval, she became increasingly focused on how we cultivate a sense of togetherness during uncertain times. After discovering the science behind laughters role in social bonding, Overstone began writing plays using humor to uplift everyday narratives that bind us.

Drawing on principles of positive psychology, she builds a strong sense of community among cast and crew, most of whom have little or no theater experience. Overstone has written, directed, and produced two sold-out plays and is premiering her third, Plum, with Cannonball at the 2025 Philly Fringe Festival. Before turning to theater, she explored themes of isolation and hope through photography, video, and writing, with work shown both nationally and internationally.

Credits