Jason Fennell Portfolio
Creative Writing
My greatest strength as a fiction writer is my versatility. My formal education is in Narrative Design & Interactive Storytelling, but I also have a strong background in theatrical works, poetry, and prose. I've selected some examples below which showcase my ability to write for many different mediums and genres. Also included are several videos of my works being performed live.
Medium: Stageplay
Genre: Farcical Comedy
Premiere Date: February 21st, 2025
Venue: Greenhouse Theater Center, Up Main
My most ambitious project to date is a full-length script that I spent several years writing and revising. Johnny Cobweb is about two competing funeral homes that get into an advertising arms race as an unprecedented string of murders rocks their small town. Earlier this year, I was able to direct the first production of the show at a theater in Chicago, IL.​​​ For more information about Johnny Cobweb (including photos, reviews, and script excerpts) please visit the page here.
Medium: Poetry
Genre: High Fantasy
I have a great love for silly, kid-friendly rhymes such as those written by Dr. Seuss. This poem was my attempt to capture that same sense of whimsy and fun in a unique, food-themed fantasy world. You can read the full piece here.
The Song in My Heart
Medium: Performance Art
Genre: Parody
In 2024, I was selected to serve as the Artistic Director and Host of the annual 24-Hour Play Festival, a charity event which raises money for Lurie's Children Hospital. In addition to supervising the rehearsal process and giving feedback to the participants, I performed a small act of my own which spoofed the Golden Age of Broadway.
Medium: Short Story
Genre: Psychological Horror
Unlike most of my work, Two Squares contains minimal dialogue and deals with very serious subject matter. Written during the height of the COVID pandemic, it's a prose piece about a man with debilitating OCD. You can read the full story here.
T0-B1 Through Time
Medium: Video Game
Genre: Sci-Fi
In addition to being a level designer for the game, I wrote and implemented a majority of the cutscenes in my Senior Capstone project. I also wrote a lot of the flavor text and drew up the plot in the GDD. There are a lot of time travel stories out there, so it was an interesting challenge for me to find a new spin on the genre. You can find more information about T0-B1 Through Time here.
The Quinn Monolo Show
Medium: Stageplay
Genre: Comedy
Premiere Date: February 3rd, 2023
Venue: Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
I wrote, directed, and starred in a ten-minute play as part of Blue Demon Theatre's Short & Sweet Theatre festival. As the cold open of the event, I was able to incorporate some semi-improvised interactions with the audience.
My Favorite Sparring Partner
Medium: Poetry
Genre: Romance
I was inspired by the first verse of Zach Sherwin's song Krav Maga to create a poem that plays around with different martial arts in an unexpected but fun way.
Miscellaneous Performance Pieces
Medium: Performance Art
Genre: Satire
In my free time, I enjoy writing and performing original comedic monologues at charity events and other venues. Here are a few examples of my pieces, which satirize art and politics with light-hearted flair.