True crime is having a moment, but this one hits a little closer to home and a lot deeper.
Desert Foothills Theater is closing out its 50th anniversary season with “STUNG!,” a bold, one-woman biodrama that pulls from a real Arizona story packed with ambition, controversy, and reinvention. Running April 16–19 at The Holland Center in Scottsdale, the production dives into the layered life of Sue Ellen Allen, a woman who refuses to be defined by a single narrative.
Written by Zoni Award-winning playwright Andrea Markowitz and performed by actor Pat Drapac, “STUNG!” unfolds as a posthumous tell-all that blurs the line between confession and performance. Sue Ellen emerges from Perryville Prison not quietly, but with something to say, challenging audiences to question what they think they know about guilt, innocence, and who gets to tell the story in the end.
“Darkly funny and full of surprises, ‘STUNG!’ is a stunning posthumous tell-all from a woman who lived more than one life,” says Markowitz.
And “more than one life” might be an understatement. Before her conviction on 33 counts of securities fraud, Sue Ellen was a well-connected businesswoman whose custom jewelry reached figures like Barbara Bush and Margaret Thatcher. She was named the Phoenix Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners’ Woman Business Owner of the Year in 1992. After serving six years and nine months in prison, she pivoted again, launching nonprofits, advocating for incarcerated women, and even helping pass legislation to improve hygiene conditions for female inmates in Arizona.
It’s that tension, between who she was, what she did, and what she became, that gives “STUNG!” its edge. The show leans into the gray areas, inviting audiences to sit with discomfort, curiosity, and maybe even a little admiration.
The format keeps things intimate and immediate. A single performer. A single voice. A story that unfolds like testimony, with moments that feel as much like a reckoning as they do a performance. For those opting into the opening night VIP experience on April 16, the immersion goes a step further with a post-show talk-back featuring both Markowitz and Drapac.
As Playwright in Residence at Desert Foothills Theater, Markowitz has built a reputation for character-driven storytelling with emotional depth and bite. “STUNG!” feels like a natural extension of that voice, pulling audiences into a story that is as provocative as it is personal.
Because in the end, this isn’t just about a con woman. It’s about reinvention, resilience, and the messy, complicated truth that rarely fits into a headline.
Insider Takeaways
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“STUNG!” runs April 16–19 at The Holland Center in Scottsdale. The one-woman show is based on the real-life story of Sue Ellen Allen.
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Sue Ellen served six years and nine months in Perryville Prison and later became a prison reform advocate.
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The production blends true crime, theater, and social commentary into an immersive experience.
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VIP opening night includes a post-show talk-back with the playwright and performer.
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The show marks the finale of Desert Foothills Theater’s 50th anniversary season.
To learn more, visit dftheater.org.
