Words

Ideas

Pretending

Jacob York, Creative Endeavors


Dave has cancer. It's aggressive. And terrifying.

He looks at his life and all he sees are holes; the moments he won't be able to have, if this cancer is successful. He only sees one way out: Dungeons and Dragons.

Dave has a circle of friends that still play, and as he thinks back on the moments they've experienced in game, he doesn't remember sitting around a table, rolling dice. He remembers every spell cast, every enemy vanquished, and every cataloged item.

So, the new quest: to play through potential “memories” Dave might miss. His three friends, Tyrone, Benny, and Sky, sit down with Dave's girlfriend, Meg (a gaming newbie) and chart out a path to victory. If all goes well, Dave will be able to experience events as important as the birth of his first child and as seemingly minuscule as seeing the ocean for the first time.

But. That's if everything goes well. For, in the game, The Shade lurks...

Initiative received its professional world premiere with Aurora Theatre (Artistic Director, Ann-Carol Pence) on March 26th, 2026. It was directed by Katie Erin Chambers.

Read Initiative on New Play Exchange.

Interested in producing Initiative? Reach out for the pitch deck. Production History:
Professional World Premiere, Aurora Theatre - 2026
University, Oxford College of Emory University - 2026
University Premiere, Northern Kentucky University - 2019

Development:
Digital Reading, Flying V - 2021
Workshop Production, Woven Theatre - 2019
Reading, The Seedling Project - 2016

 Honors:
Finalist - Outstanding World Premiere, Suzi Bass Awards - 2026
Best Small-Stage Play - Nashville Scene - 2020
Winner - The Y.E.S. Festival, Northern Kentucky University - 2019
Semi-Finalist - Playfest, Orlando Shakespeare Theater - 2017

Reviews:
 
“CRITIC'S PICK
Initiative is a celebration of nerddom and friendship that’s relatable, heartrending and a ton of fun. I left (Initiative) feeling stronger, taller and more enchanted with the world around me.”

“York has written a story about the bonds that carry us through the worst moments of our lives (and) taps into a sentimentality that transcends the specific circumstances of the play. (Initiative) is well worth the roll of the dice.”

“For now, we will have to settle for the Zoom version of Initiative, but it would be positively criminal if it weren't eventually staged by a company as multi-talented as (Flying V). Rest assured that once on its feet, (Initiative) will amaze and delight.”

“The script blends heavy themes with humor, action, and genuinely tender moments, creating a story that feels both epic and deeply personal. It’s is more than a play about Dungeons & Dragons. It’s about friendship, mortality, and the stories we tell to survive both. Highly recommended—and definitely worth adding to your quest log.”

Aurora Theatre, Professional World Premiere - Photography by Casey Gardner Ford of Breathe Images.
Actors featured include Cole Ferguson, Michelle Pokopac, Tyshawn Gooden, Avani Lesane and Julio Zaconet Valentin


Recommendations:
“Initiative is a celebration of friendship in its truest form. It speaks to the power of chosen family and the extraordinary ways we show up for one another in life’s most uncertain moments. This play invites audiences to laugh, to remember, and to hold tight to the people around their own tables.”

Ann-Carol Pence - Co-Founder and former Artistic Director, Aurora Theatre


 “Programming (Initiative) was a real boon for our company. It spearheaded our most financially successful season, selling out multiple times and bringing in a demographic that was new to our theatre. I'd enthusiastically support any theatre giving this piece a chance.”

Sam Lowry - Co-Founder, Woven Theatre


 “Initiative brought me to tears. It's an intriguing concept and builds opportunities to be as simple or complex (producing-wise) as possible. There is real heart and emotion here, which speaks to (York’s) ability to tap into genre worlds without alienating people new to them.”

Mike Sablone - Artistic Director, Warehouse Theatre


“Initiative is a beautiful appreciation of friendship, and what we will do for one another. The story of Dave’s struggle with cancer, and the way his friends use a role-playing game to provide him with a lifetime full of memories, is full of loss and laughter. York shows mastery of dialogue, pace, and structure.”

Michael King - Co-Project Director, The Y.E.S. Festival
Woven Theatre, Developmental Production - Photography by Dani Cruz
Actors featured include Jonah Jackson, Sarah Zanotti, JR Robles, Alyssa Borg and Diego Gomez

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