Dead Giveaway by Daniel Guyton

1M,1F. One-Act (10 min), Robert buys his wife an unconventional gift for Valentine's Day, which leads to an awkward conversation about love after death.

Winner of the Short+Sweet Sydney Festival Judges Choice Award, 2017
Winner of the Short+Sweet Sydney Festival People's Choice Award, 2017
Winner of the Short+Sweet Manila Festival Audience Choice Award, 2016
Winner of the Almost Random Theatre's Valentine's Day Playwriting Competition, 2015
Winner of the End of the Road New Play Festival Judges Choice Award, 2015
Semi-Finalist in the Minnesota Shorts Festival of Plays, 2015
Honorable Mention in the Storefront Theatre's Playwriting Competition, 2015
Translated into Arabic for Masrahona Newspaper in Egypt, 2016

"I am the bearer of great news. The independent assessor of the plays has decided [DEAD GIVEAWAY] was the BEST play of all the plays (over 70) submitted. The play was rehearsed yesterday and the actors concerned (as we piloted 8 plays) ALSO decided it was the best play. What this means is that it WILL be performed. There is still one more judging process - the audience - but the likelihood [is that] yours will be the overall winner." (Margaret Taylor, Almost Random Theatre, 2015)

"Excuse me for gushing forth, but that was a dynamite piece you brought in - a laugh-a-minute piece of entertainment... You are amazingly talented." (Hank Kimmel, Working Title Playwrights, 2015)

"That was one of the best Shorts I have ever seen." (Mary Marshall, Working Title Playwrights, 2015)

"Very clever. Expresses what so many couples think, but never express." (Elly Rakowitz-Helfeld, Playwrights' Binge, 2016)

"On Valentine’s Day, Denise (Elisabeth Cooper) is presented with funeral arrangements as a gift by husband Robert (Charlie Miller). Their light-hearted discussion about their mortality leads to the hypothetical romantic future of each possible surviving spouse. It’s pleasant and cute." (Playgoer, TheaterReview.com, 2015)

"DEAD GIVEAWAY was performed four times in Poland last week. The last one was in front of 100 people at a play festival." (Chris Sivewright, Almost Random Theatre, 2015)

"Those who are committed or married gotta talk about it - y'know, the big D - Death - and funeral arrangement, burial etc - and what better day to do that than on Valentine's Day? Not. What's wrong with Daniel Guyton? A lot, and thankfully it continually results in some twisted plays. From the head of this wonderfully morbid writer comes a Valentine's Day play like no other. If you're a producer or director thinking about including a Valentine's Day play in your February showcase on love, choose this play." (Asher Wyndham, New Play Exchange, 2017)

"This is a modern take of Until Death Us Do Part. An excellent play. Well-written, and well- performed." (Audience member, Almost Random Theatre, 2015)

"Fantastic writing. Brilliant winner of the competition." (Audience member, Almost Random Theatre, 2015)

"This play was the funniest of the lot. No one dies." (by Mark Douglass, Drama in the Hood, 2017)

"In DEAD GIVEAWAY, a man buys his wife an unconventional Valentine’s Day gift which leads to an awkward conversation about love after death… Felicity Burke directs herself with Duncan Armitage in the delightful play by US writer Daniel Guyton." (Geoff Sirmai, J-Wire, 2016)

"DEAD GIVEAWAY is the winner of week one, and showcases an interesting love story. Robert buys his wife an unconventional gift for Valentine’s Day – a double burial plot, which leads to an awkward conversation about love after death. This comedy celebrates laughter and seeing the absurdity in a seemingly innocent situation, poking fun at everyday circumstances in relationships. A creative and interesting story that touches on serious topics all the while keeping it light, and relatable. You can have a good quality fun comedy in 10 minutes, a satisfying audience experience. It’s lighthearted and it’s meant to be taken that way, explained co-director and cast member Felicity Burke." (Rocio Belinda Mendez, Alt Media/City Hub, 2017)

"I saw your two shorts at Lionheart this weekend and they were fabulous! You are so funny!" (Danon Dastague, Lionheart Theatre, 2023)

Produced by Almost Random Theatre in Oxford, UK, 2015
Produced by Almost Random Theatre in London, UK, 2015
Produced by Almost Random Theatre in Warsaw, Poland, 2015
Produced by Onstage Atlanta in Atlanta, GA, 2015
Produced by South Baldwin Community Theatre in Gulf Shores, AL, 2015
Staged Reading at Decatur Arts Festival in Atlanta, GA, 2015
Produced at Ashland Brethren in Christ Church in Ashland, OH, 2015
Produced at ACME Theatre in Maynard, MA, 2016
Staged Reading at Storefront Theatre in Waxhaw, NC, 2016
Produced at Short+Sweet Festival in Manila, Philippines, 2016
Produced by Westfield Theatre Group in Westfield, MA, 2017
Produced at Short+Sweet Festival in Sydney, Australia, 2017
Produced by Cohasset Dramatic Club in Cohasset, MA, 2017
Produced as part of Grief Dialogues in Seattle, WA, 2017
Produced by Warren Hills High School in Washington, NJ, 2017
Produced by University of Memphis in Memphis, TN, 2017
Produced by Metro Arts Theatre in Brisbane, Australia, 2018
Produced by Staged Right Theatre in Lilburn, GA, 2018
Produced as part of Grief Dialogues in Seattle, WA, 2018
Produced as part of Grief Dialogues in Las Vegas, NV, 2018
Produced by Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks, CA, 2018
Staged Reading by Clamour Theatre Company in Fleming Island, FL, 2018
Produced as part of Grief Dialogues for Association of Death Education and Counseling Annual Conference in Pittsburgh, PA, 2018
Produced as part of Grief Dialogues at Dramatists Guild Foundation Annual Conference in Manhattan, NY, 2018
Produced by Director's Cut Theatre Company in London, UK, 2018
Produced at Short+Sweet Dubai Festival in Dubai, UAE, 2019
Produced at Blake School in Minneapolis, MN, 2019
Produced by Pinewood Players in Munds Park, AZ, 2019
Produced by Bob Jones High School in Madison, AL, 2019
Produced by Union University in Jackson, TN, 2020
Produced at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle, WA, 2020
Produced at Honoring Choices Conference in Seattle, WA, 2020
Produced by Aux Dog Theatre in Albuquerque, NM, 2020
Produced at Funeral Consumers Alliance Conference in Austin, TX, 2020
Produced by Baxter Perkinson Center for Arts and Education in Richmond, VA, 2020
Produced by Malverne Community Theatre in Malverne, NY, 2020
Produced by Woodside Priory School in Portola Valley, CA, 2021
Produced by Philly Flava Productions in Philadelphia, PA, 2021
Produced by Wellesley High School in Wellesley, MA, 2021
Produced by Lionheart Theatre in Norcross, GA, 2023
Produced by Kettlerock Brewing Company in Norcross, GA, 2023
Produced by Staples High School in Westport, CT, 2023
Produced by Cambridge Rindge and Latin School in Cambridge, MA, 2023
Produced by Pelham High School in Pelham, GA, 2023
Produced by Austin Catholic High School in Chesterfield, MI, 2023
Produced by HART Theatre in Waynesville, NC, 2024
Produced by Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua, NY, 2025
Produced by Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, CT, 2025
Produced by Acting Factory, Inc. in New South Wales, Australia, 2025