Five Flights

Five Flights by Adam Bock

(4)
Productions (32)
Comedy/Drama
|
85 - 95 minutes
3 W, 3 M, 
Content Notes: Adult language and content
Set: Bare stage

Siblings Ed and Adele inherit an enormous aviary that their late father built for his deceased wife, whose soul, he believed, had transformed into the body of a wren. The grown children are faced with the dilemma of what to do with the crumbling structure -- sister-in-law Jane wants to build tidy new houses; friend Olivia wants to build The Church of the Fifth Day honoring birds and the Fifth Day of creation; Ed wants to let the building fall to the ground. Folded into this debate are issues of religious conviction, fear of commitment, the way Russian ballet resembles a hockey game, and the courtship of Ed by Tom, a gay professional hockey player.

Preview Script Add Script(s) To Cart Apply For Rights Add To Wish List

Pricing Information

Min. Performance Fee* $85
Standard Edition $13.99
Stage Manager Edition $24.99

*The per performance fee begins at $85. Your per performance fee will be provided during the ordering process.

Play Details

Siblings Ed and Adele inherit an enormous aviary that their late father built for his deceased wife, whose soul, he believed, had transformed into the body of a wren. The grown children are faced with the dilemma of what to do with the crumbling structure -- sister-in-law Jane wants to build tidy new houses; friend Olivia wants to build The Church of the Fifth Day honoring birds and the Fifth Day of creation; Ed wants to let the building fall to the ground. Folded into this debate are issues of religious conviction, fear of commitment, the way Russian ballet resembles a hockey game, and the courtship of Ed by Tom, a gay professional hockey player.

  • Comedy/Drama
  • |
  • 85 - 95 minutes
  • 3 W, 3 M, 
  • Content Notes: Adult language and content
  • Set: Bare stage
  • Standard Edition ISBN: 978-1-62384-180-5

Published Reviews

"A rare discovery in a new play -- an intricately constructed comedy about love and grief that is incredibly funny, surprisingly touching and soaring with joyful humanity... The play's skylarking structure combined with Bock's haunting substance makes this a not-to-be-missed theatrical triumph..."

AJ Esta, Back Stage

"Mr. Bock isn't much interested in conventional theater. Instead he mixes effervescent dialogue with incongruous structure until your head is spinning."

Neil Genzlinger, New York Times

"Five Flights soars...it's fresh, howling-with-laughter funny, and deeply touching...this is likely to be the gem of the season."

Barry Wisdom, Backstage West

"A buoyant new comedy... Five Flights has a wonderful, limber lightness. You feel good, lifted up, watching it. Only a sweet regret lingers at the end, when it is time to leave these characters and go home..."

Steve Winn, San Francisco Chronicle

"A serious and seriously funny contemplation of the human condition."

CurtainUp

"Fanciful and gorgeously lyrical...thoroughly enchanting."

American Theater Web

"Provocative and entertaining."

TheaterMania

"The play may concern birds, but it isn't at all feathery."

The Village Voice

Production History

NOV 24, 2025 - NOV 24, 2025
Profile Theatre
Portland, OR United States
 Profile Theatre Portland, OR United States
FEB 19, 2025 - FEB 23, 2025
The Theatre School at DePaul University
Chicago, IL United States
 The Theatre School at DePaul University Chicago, IL United States
JAN 24, 2020 - JAN 25, 2020
Kenyon College
Gambier, OH United States
 Kenyon College Gambier, OH United States
APR 12, 2019 - APR 13, 2019
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY United States
 Cornell University Ithaca, NY United States
JUL 20, 2017 - JUL 29, 2017
IAMSHE Productions
Richmond, VA United States
 IAMSHE Productions Richmond, VA United States
SEP 03, 2016 - SEP 17, 2016
The Chelsea
Nyc, NY United States
 The Chelsea Nyc, NY United States
SEP 19, 2014 - OCT 04, 2014
Alliance Repertory Theatre Co.
Edison, NJ United States
 Alliance Repertory Theatre Co. Edison, NJ United States
MAY 03, 2014 - MAY 17, 2014
Swandive Theatre
Minneapolis, MN United States
 Swandive Theatre Minneapolis, MN United States
OCT 16, 2013 - OCT 27, 2013
Louisiana State University Theatre
Baton Rouge, LA United States
 Louisiana State University Theatre Baton Rouge, LA United States
FEB 22, 2013 - MAR 17, 2013
CSU Fullerton
Fullerton, CA United States
 CSU Fullerton Fullerton, CA United States
NOV 15, 2012 - DEC 15, 2012
The New School For Drama
New York, NY United States
 The New School For Drama New York, NY United States
OCT 18, 2012 - OCT 28, 2012
University Of Washington
Seattle, WA United States
 University Of Washington Seattle, WA United States
NOV 10, 2011 - DEC 18, 2011
Immediate Theatre
Chicago, IL United States
 Immediate Theatre Chicago, IL United States
AUG 19, 2011 - SEP 10, 2011
Convergence-Continuum
Cleveland, OH United States
 Convergence-Continuum Cleveland, OH United States
NOV 05, 2010 - NOV 13, 2010
Lehigh University-Dept Of Theatre
Bethlehem, PA United States
 Lehigh University-Dept Of Theatre Bethlehem, PA United States
APR 11, 2010 - APR 12, 2010
Ithaca College Theatre Arts
Ithaca, NY United States
 Ithaca College Theatre Arts Ithaca, NY United States
OCT 01, 2009 - OCT 20, 2009
Mixed Company
Great Barrington, MA United States
 Mixed Company Great Barrington, MA United States
AUG 21, 2009 - AUG 30, 2009
Red Stage Theatre Company
Burlington, VT United States
 Red Stage Theatre Company Burlington, VT United States
JUN 12, 2009 - JUN 28, 2009
Theater Alliance
Washington, DC United States
 Theater Alliance Washington, DC United States
APR 02, 2009 - APR 04, 2009
Philaletheis Society- Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY United States
 Philaletheis Society- Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY United States
MAR 06, 2009 - MAR 28, 2009
Unhinged Productions
Houston, TX United States
 Unhinged Productions Houston, TX United States
SEP 18, 2008 - SEP 20, 2008
Tongue In Cheek Theater Productions
New York, NY United States
 Tongue In Cheek Theater Productions New York, NY United States
FEB 23, 2008 - MAR 02, 2008
Theatre Lab Honors Conservatory Alumni
Washington, DC United States
 Theatre Lab Honors Conservatory Alumni Washington, DC United States
NOV 01, 2007 - NOV 10, 2007
Cornish College Of The Arts Theater Department
Seattle, WA United States
 Cornish College Of The Arts Theater Department Seattle, WA United States
OCT 25, 2007 - OCT 28, 2007
University of Southern Maine Student Performing Artists
Gorham, ME United States
 University of Southern Maine Student Performing Artists Gorham, ME United States
SEP 28, 2005 - OCT 02, 2005
Harper Joy Theatre/Whitman College
Walla Walla, WA United States
 Harper Joy Theatre/Whitman College Walla Walla, WA United States
FEB 24, 2005 - FEB 27, 2005
Bowdoin College Masque And Gown
Brunswick, ME United States
 Bowdoin College Masque And Gown Brunswick, ME United States
JAN 19, 2004 - FEB 29, 2004
Rattlestick Playwrights Theater
New York, NY United States
 Rattlestick Playwrights Theater New York, NY United States
FEB 21, 2003 - MAR 23, 2003
Pisces Moon
Santa Cruz, CA United States
 Pisces Moon Santa Cruz, CA United States
JAN 01, 2002 - JUN 30, 2002
Encore Theatre
San Francisco, CA United States
 Encore Theatre San Francisco, CA United States
JAN 01, 2001 - DEC 31, 2001
Playwrights Horizons (staged reading)
New York, NY United States
 Playwrights Horizons (staged reading) New York, NY United States
JAN 01, 2001 - DEC 31, 2001
Magic Theater (staged reading)
San Francisco, CA United States
 Magic Theater (staged reading) San Francisco, CA United States
NOV 24, 2025 - NOV 24, 2025
Profile Theatre
Portland, OR United States
 Profile Theatre Portland, OR United States
FEB 19, 2025 - FEB 23, 2025
The Theatre School at DePaul University
Chicago, IL United States
 The Theatre School at DePaul University Chicago, IL United States
NOV 24, 2025 - NOV 24, 2025
Profile Theatre
Portland, OR United States
 Profile Theatre Portland, OR United States
JUL 20, 2017 - JUL 29, 2017
IAMSHE Productions
Richmond, VA United States
 IAMSHE Productions Richmond, VA United States
SEP 03, 2016 - SEP 17, 2016
The Chelsea
Nyc, NY United States
 The Chelsea Nyc, NY United States
MAY 03, 2014 - MAY 17, 2014
Swandive Theatre
Minneapolis, MN United States
 Swandive Theatre Minneapolis, MN United States
NOV 10, 2011 - DEC 18, 2011
Immediate Theatre
Chicago, IL United States
 Immediate Theatre Chicago, IL United States
AUG 19, 2011 - SEP 10, 2011
Convergence-Continuum
Cleveland, OH United States
 Convergence-Continuum Cleveland, OH United States
JUN 12, 2009 - JUN 28, 2009
Theater Alliance
Washington, DC United States
 Theater Alliance Washington, DC United States
JAN 19, 2004 - FEB 29, 2004
Rattlestick Playwrights Theater
New York, NY United States
 Rattlestick Playwrights Theater New York, NY United States
FEB 21, 2003 - MAR 23, 2003
Pisces Moon
Santa Cruz, CA United States
 Pisces Moon Santa Cruz, CA United States
JAN 01, 2002 - JUN 30, 2002
Encore Theatre
San Francisco, CA United States
 Encore Theatre San Francisco, CA United States

Awards (2)

Nominated for The American Theatre Critics Award, The Osborn Award, two Bay Area Theatre Critics awards

Winner - The Glickman Award for Best New Play in the Bay Area

Similar Plays / Customers Also Purchased

Swimming in the Shallows

by Adam Bock

The Typographer's Dream

by Adam Bock

Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind (30 plays in 60 minutes)

by Greg Allen

Exit, Pursued by a Bear

by Lauren Gunderson

A Christmas Carol

adapted by Jacqueline Goldfinger

Deadline

by Don Zolidis

Emily of New Moon

adapted by Cynthia Mercati

Angels of Bataan (full-length)

by Tracy Wells

Deadline

by Douglas E. Hughes

Branwell (and the other Brontës): an autobiography by Charlotte Brontë

by Stephen Kaplan

Great Short Comedies: Volume 1

by Adam Bock

Three Guys and a Brenda

by Adam Bock

Funny, Strange, Provocative: Seven Plays from Clubbed Thumb

by Adam Bock

Anon(ymous)

by Naomi Iizuka

Kid-Simple: a radio play in the flesh

by Jordan Harrison

They Promised Her the Moon

by Laurel Ollstein