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
PR for DEAD GIVEAWAY at Lionheart Theatre by Gwinnett Daily Post (2023)
Review of Company Shorts by Samantha Simmonds-Ronceros of NohoArtsDistrict.com (2018)
PR for DEAD GIVEAWAY at Clamour Theatre Company on Clay Today (2018)
Review of DEAD GIVEAWAY by Karina Bryer of Weekend Notes (2018)
Review of DEAD GIVEAWAY at Short+Sweet Sydney by Rocio Belinda Mendez of Alt Media City Hub (2017)
PR for DEAD GIVEAWAY at Short+Sweet Sydney by Geoff Sirmai of J-Wire (2017)
Video of director Darwin Empeno accepting the Audience Favorite Award for DEAD GIVEAWAY at Short+Sweet Philippines (2016)
PR for DEAD GIVEAWAY at Short+Sweet Philippines by WazzupPilipinas.com (2016)
PR for Awards Night at Short+Sweet Philippines by WazzupPilipinas.com (2016)
Review of DEAD GIVEAWAY at Onstage Atlanta by Playgoer of TheaterReview.com (2016)
TV News Article about DEAD GIVEAWAY on Twoja Telewizja (2015)