Daniel Guyton



The Darker Places Trilogy





On this page, you will find information about Daniel Guyton's play "The Darker Places Trilogy", which is really a collection of three one-act plays about a troubled character. First, you will see poster art and photos from the show. Below that, you will see details about the whole play. Below that, you will hear a radio interview about the play. Finally, you can see details about the individual play "Attic", which is the first part of this trilogy. Please scroll through each section for more information.



The Darker Places Trilogy



A collection of three one-act plays about William, a troubled teenager, boy and man, who descends into madness. The plays include: ATTIC, BASEMENT and CRAWLSPACE. (See below for information on ATTIC.)

  • ATTIC won the Kennedy Center/ACTF New Play Award, 2020
  • Nominated for "Scariest Play" Award from BroadwayWorld, 2020

"Expertly crafted, terrifying, it goes deep into you to make you question your own vision of the world around you. Guyton's words are full of meaning as they move along this chronicle of a murderer's life through three short plays. ATTIC is a poetic ode to the internal battle a man must wage between its good and bad side, while BASEMENT is a exhilarating horror study of a man and his demons. And it's finished by CRAWLSPACE a short but vital character study that ends this trilogy. Doing horror on stage can be hard, but Guyton makes it look easy." (Nelson Diaz-Marcano, New Play Exchange, 2017)


"If you like psychological thrillers, you REALLY need to see THE DARKER PLACES TRILOGY. With a tight script by Daniel Guyton, spectacular direction by David Crowe, and an amazing, talented cast. I was blown away." (Rachel Jones, The Alliance Theatre, 2012)


"Come see Daniel Guyton's DARKER PLACES TRILOGY... David Crowe's direction is brilliant - Daniel's script is intensely, beautifully written, and [the] cast [is] outstanding." (Lory Cox, Impulse Repertory Company, 2012)


"I saw THE DARKER PLACES TRILOGY tonight at opening for the first time. Holy cow, is it good! You gotta see what the amazing David Crowe has done with Daniel Guyton's poetic, twisted mommy issues!" (Kara Cantrell, Impulse Repertory Company, 2012)


"Saw the premiere tonight - it will stick with me for a long time. Those who know me will know that I don't praise a piece if I don't like it... But I can't say enough about what the Circle Ensemble has done with Dan's trilogy." (Jerry Jobe, Rosewater Theatre, 2011)


"I absolutely adore this trilogy... I am enthralled by this script and am keeping it in mind for the future." (Jessica Swank, Coercion Theater Company, 2016)


"The idea behind this arrangement of plays by rooms -- and dark ones at that -- is provocative and vivid... The BASEMENT play is powerful and nasty." (Dr. Stanley Longman, University of Georgia, 2011)


"I never say this, but [ATTIC] was the most innovative, original play I've ever seen from a college student." (Gary Garrison, executive director of the Dramatists Guild, 2004)


"CRAWLSPACE adds a beautifully tragic climax to the show." (L Marcus Williams, A Fly on the Fourth Wall Productions, 2012)


"It's been fascinating, disturbing, upsetting, and funny. In the best possible way... It's very rare to have such dark material treated with humor... I think it rings the most true, because there's humor in everything." (Kathleen Hogan, Circle Ensemble Theatre, 2011)


"The Black Swan meets Seinfeld." (Lisa Mende, The Circle Ensemble Theatre, 2011)


"THE DARKER PLACES TRILOGY—three plays which center around one man's descent into madness, all taking place in "the darker places" of his mind and of his home." (Rick Rose, Flagpole Magazine, 2011


"Poetry, sheer poetry." (Peg Thon, actress, 2012)


"Riveting, dark... presentation of the inside of a schizoid head. I like the structure of it." (Nick Boretz, Playwright's Binge, 2012)


"As a professional actress with 30 years of experience I was lucky enough to perform in the world premiere of BASEMENT. The character was masterfully crafted, the play a gem." (Lisa Mende, Circle Ensemble Theatre, 2012)​


THE DARKER PLACES TRILOGY:

  • Produced by the Circle Ensemble Theatre Company in Athens, GA, 2011
  • Scenes were performed on WUGA radio in Athens, GA, 2011
  • Produced by the Impulse Repertory Company at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, GA, 2012

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Interview with Robb Holmes of NPR about "The Darker Places Trilogy"



2012



Attic





Here is information about the one-act play "Attic" by Daniel Guyton. This play can stand on its own, or be produced as part of the larger play "The Darker Places Trilogy". First, you will see poster art and images from the play. Below that, you will find reviews and other details.

To purchase a copy of this play, please click the first image.



Attic



3M,1F. One-Act (35 min). A dark, poetic journey into the mind of a troubled teenager. It combines poetry, audience interaction, and dark humor in a unique storytelling environment, inspired by Edgar Allan Poe and Alfred Hitchcock. Part One of The Darker Places Trilogy, a series of one-act plays centering around 3 different rooms within a troubled man's home.

  • Winner of the Kennedy Center/ACTF Region II One-Act Playwriting Award, 2001

"Expertly crafted, terrifying, it goes deep into you to make you question your own vision of the world around you... ATTIC is a poetic ode to the internal battle a man must wage between its good and bad side... Doing horror on stage can be hard, but Guyton makes it look easy." (Nelson Diaz-Marcano, New Play Exchange, 2017)


"I never say this, but [ATTIC] was the most innovative, original play I've ever seen." (Gary Garrison, executive director of the Dramatists Guild, 2004)


"ATTIC is a haunting journey into psychosis. The dialogue is like a woven tapestry and the rhythm is hypnotic. Guyton’s play captures the experience of balancing on the tightrope between sanity and insanity and leaves one unsettled." (Peter Turner, New Play Exchange, 2021)


"It's been fascinating, disturbing, upsetting, and funny. In the best possible way... It's very rare to have such dark material treated with humor... I think it rings the most true, because there's humor in everything." (Kathleen Hogan, Circle Ensemble Theatre, 2011)


"Poetry, sheer poetry." (Peg Thon, actress, 2012)


"I was so excited to direct your beautiful play ATTIC. It is a show that resonates very deeply with my spirit. I suffer from Bipolar 2 and have dealt with psychosis, as well as suicidal and violent ideations in the past. When I read the play, part of me finally felt understood in a way that I have never been before. It also represents mental illness in a stunning and incredibly accurate way... Thank you for everything you have created." (Name withheld for privacy, College Student, 2020)


"We performed ATTIC two weeks ago to great success! So much wonderful feedback on the evocative nature of the language and story... It was such a joy to get to work on this piece, it is so deeply and subtly beautiful and thoughtful." (Juliet Coe, Interlochen Center for the Arts, 2020)


"Riveting, dark... presentation of the inside of a schizoid head. I like the structure of it." (Nick Boretz, Playwright's Binge, 2012)


"Darkly funny and emotionally raw... Directing [ATTIC] was one of the highlights of my theatrical career. This is a dark, yet moving play that can be taken in many interesting directions by an intelligent and creative cast. It's deep, with a lot of facets, so have fun with it!" (Greg Campbell, Incumbo Theatre Company, 2012)


"ATTIC is a blend between Symbolism and Realism. It's hauntingly theatrical view of recovery and remorse. There's a feeling that we need to pack some part of ourselves away in a box, with old toys, spiders on the walls, and the hope that our daily rituals will clear the cobwebs from our minds while keeping those parts of us that may be deemed dangerous hidden from view, buried in a room we rarely visit. Guyton's atmospheric one-act play is perfect for colleges and theatres looking to produce one-act plays with style and considerable substance." (John Patrick Bray, New Play Exchange, 2018)


"[ATTIC] was daring, unorthodox and wonderful. The actors did a fine job with it and gave it all their talents which were enormous." (Liam Mitchell, Winner of the Sue Nims Distinguished Playwright Award, 2012)


"A riveting portrait of a schizophrenic boy, ATTIC has received wide critical acclaim." (Rikin Shah, The Red and Black, 2012)


"[ATTIC is] quirky, funny, dark, and overall interesting." (Nichole Hamilton, actress, 2015)


"We enjoyed ATTIC. The writing was good and the rhythm of the disclosures worked really well." (Karin Fazio Littlefield, playwright, 2012)


"It was beautifully done. Mesmerizing. Scotty Gannon was FANTASTIC as the alter ego character. Spooky story, spookily told." (Judith Beasley, Working Title Playwrights, 2012)


"[ATTIC] is exceptional theatre... It is a beautifully written, highly dramatic and actable piece. I highly recommend it." (Joelle Re' Arp Dunham, Circle Ensemble Theatre, 2012)

  1. Staged Reading at Kennedy Center/ACTF Region IV Festival in Birmingham, AL, 2004
  2. Produced by Incumbo Theater Company in Manhattan, NY, 2004
  3. Produced at TSI/Play-Time in Manhattan, NY, 2007
  4. Produced at The University of Georgia in Athens, GA, 2007
  5. Produced by Circle Ensemble Theatre Company in Athens, GA, 2011
  6. Produced by Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TX, 2012
  7. Produced at Atlanta Fringe Festival in Atlanta, GA, 2012
  8. Produced at Midtown International Theatre Festival in Manhattan, NY, 2012
  9. Produced by Impulse Repertory Company at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, GA, 2012
  10. Produced at Columbus State University in Columbus, GA, 2014
  11. Produced by Interlochen Center for the Arts in Interlochen, MI, 2020
  12. Produced by Towson University in Baltimore, MD, 2025​​

Article on ATTIC at Atlanta Fringe Festival by Rikin Shah of The Red and Black (2012)

Interview about ATTIC at Kennedy Center/ACTF by Wayne Ford of Athens Banner-Herald (2004)

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Daniel Guyton