Dan O'Brien
@bydanobrien.bsky.social
1.4K followers 590 following 320 posts
Plays, poems, prose http://danobrien.org
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bydanobrien.bsky.social
CW: suicide. Here’s a personal essay about my brother’s death in 2023. It’s meant to reject the shame and denial bound up with suicide, and to advocate for early therapeutic intervention. My thanks to Esquire & to editor Ryan D’Agostino for his support and insight 🙏🏻 www.esquire.com/lifestyle/a6...
"Dear Family...": The Story Behind My Brother's Suicide Note
I did not love him in spite of his suffering; I loved him more deeply because of it.
www.esquire.com
Reposted by Dan O'Brien
bydanobrien.bsky.social
Thank you @cincinnatireview.bsky.social for this chat with christopher oscar peña about my ‘True Story: A Trilogy’ @dalkeyarchive.bsky.social and chris‘s ‘Three Plays’ @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social — & thank you @markarmstrong4.bsky.social @scavengerjunta.bsky.social @lisaampleman.bsky.social 🙏🏻
Reposted by Dan O'Brien
cincinnatireview.bsky.social
Playwrights (and CR contribs!) @bydanobrien.bsky.social and christopher oscar peña in conversation with director and producer @markarmstrong4.bsky.social about the two's recently published play trilogies and more. Link in first comment:
A white quote shape on a red background. Black text on it: "Featured Interview, 'The plays I like, like chris's plays, and the kind of plays I try to write, make people feel contradictory things." Below is a picture of Dan O"Brien, a white man with dark hair, a beard, and blue eyes, wearing a blue shirt. A white quote shape on a red background. Black text on it says "Featured Interview, 'Part of me misses the whimsical theatricality of my earlier plays. But I just want to be more honest now, you know?'" Below is a picture of christopher oscar peña, a Latinx man wearing a red jacket over dark button-down shirt and resting his hand on his forehead as he leans over and smiles.
bydanobrien.bsky.social
Thank you @cincinnatireview.bsky.social for this chat with christopher oscar peña about my ‘True Story: A Trilogy’ @dalkeyarchive.bsky.social and chris‘s ‘Three Plays’ @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social — & thank you @markarmstrong4.bsky.social @scavengerjunta.bsky.social @lisaampleman.bsky.social 🙏🏻
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irishlittimes.bsky.social
Nothing happens. Nobody comes, nobody goes. It's awful.
luxalptraum.com
TFW you paid $1400 to see Beckett’s most famous work without knowing anything about it
One Star Review of Waiting for Godot on Broadway
I recently attended Waiting for Godot on Broadway and spent over $1,400 for two Row C seats (103 and 104). I'm a longtime admirer of Broadway productions and even hold a season pass for Shea's Performing Arts Theatre, so I came in with genuine enthusiasm and high expectations. Unfortunately, this show was unlike anything ! have ever experienced —and not in a good way.
What I encountered was not the artistry, music, or emotional storytelling I usually associate with Broadway, but instead what felt like an endless cycle of nonsensical conversation between characters who seemed trapped in their own madness. I tried-truly tried-to find meaning, symbolism, or even a thread of emotional resonance. I stayed through the first half hoping the second would offer clarity. But by intermission, it was clear: this was a waste of both time and money.
Keanu Reeves is an actor I respect greatly, but I cannot fathom why he would agree to participate in such a disjointed, inaccessible production. His talent was lost in a performance that defied reason rather than provoked insight.
To anyone considering attending: unless you are drawn to highly abstract, nearly incomprehensible theater, I strongly caution you against this show. For the average, educated, thoughtful theatergoer, it is far more frustrating than fulfilling. In my opinion, this was the single most disappointing Broadway experience I've ever had - an unfortunate waste of money and, more importantly, of time.
Reposted by Dan O'Brien
meganabbott.bsky.social
From the great novelist Sherwood Anderson, a letter to his son.
Reposted by Dan O'Brien
Reposted by Dan O'Brien
bydanobrien.bsky.social
The start of my poem for my brother in the latest @southernreview.bsky.social — very grateful to editor Jessica Faust 🙏🏻
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acrebooks.bsky.social
New work from Acre #poet @bydanobrien.bsky.social in @southernreview.bsky.social! 🎉🎉🎉
bydanobrien.bsky.social
The start of my poem for my brother in the latest @southernreview.bsky.social — very grateful to editor Jessica Faust 🙏🏻
bydanobrien.bsky.social
The start of my poem for my brother in the latest @southernreview.bsky.social — very grateful to editor Jessica Faust 🙏🏻
Reposted by Dan O'Brien
bydanobrien.bsky.social
Here’s the start of a longer poem of mine in the new issue of @zyzzyvamag.bsky.social, a journal I love — very grateful to poetry editor @andrewdavidking.bsky.social and editor @ovillalon.bsky.social 🙏🏻 www.zyzzyva.org/2025/09/10/i...
bydanobrien.bsky.social
Here’s the start of a longer poem of mine in the new issue of @zyzzyvamag.bsky.social, a journal I love — very grateful to poetry editor @andrewdavidking.bsky.social and editor @ovillalon.bsky.social 🙏🏻 www.zyzzyva.org/2025/09/10/i...
bydanobrien.bsky.social
Likewise, Caridad! Looking forward to reading your newest
Reposted by Dan O'Brien
Reposted by Dan O'Brien
govpritzker.illinois.gov
People of Illinois, we need your help.

Get your cell phones out – record what you see. Put it on social media. Peacefully ask for badge numbers and identification. Speak up for your neighbors.

We need to let the world know this is happening – and that we won’t stand for it.
bydanobrien.bsky.social
Not sure — she’s still writing it!
bydanobrien.bsky.social
Well she’s written her own sketch shows, co-created and co-written TV shows, co-written an audio book, co-written screenplays and more than a few TV pilots along the way . . . but, drumroll please, this is my wife’s first proper book and it sold at auction in the spring ✨
Reposted by Dan O'Brien
sewaneewriters.bsky.social
Come live and write with us in Sewanee! The Department of English & Creative Writing's is seeking applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Poetry position! Apply by Nov. 3.
Reposted by Dan O'Brien
zyzzyvamag.bsky.social
Our Fall Issue is here! Explore new stories, essays, poems, conversation, and art from a dazzling breadth of interests and styles.

Read Issue 130 (or subscribe) at zyzzyva.org
Reposted by Dan O'Brien
sternbergh.bsky.social
The moment demanded something expert and eloquent. Jimmy Kimmel met it, and then some [gift link]

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/o...
Opinion | Jimmy Kimmel Rose to the Occasion
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Dan O'Brien
zyzzyvamag.bsky.social
Join us Monday to celebrate our new Issue 130! We’ll be @citylightsbooks.bsky.social with pizza, wine, and a reading from Issue 130 contributor @keenanthewriter.bsky.social