A real-life story of crime, controversy and redemption will take center stage in North Scottsdale this month as Desert Foothills Theater closes its season with a bold, character-driven production.
The theater will present STUNG!, a one-woman biodrama based on the life of convicted con artist Sue Ellen Allen, April 16–19 at The Holland Center.
Written by award-winning playwright Andrea Markowitz and performed by actor Pat Drapac, the full-length production traces Allen’s life before, during and after her time in prison — while raising lingering questions about truth, accountability and reinvention.
The play unfolds as Allen, recently released from Perryville Prison, tells her story directly to the audience, insisting on her innocence even as she confronts her past and the justice system she later worked to reform.
“Darkly funny and full of surprises, STUNG! is a stunning posthumous tell-all from a woman who lived more than one life,” Markowitz said.
Allen’s story is one of sharp contrasts.
Once a successful businesswoman whose custom jewelry reached high-profile figures like First Lady Barbara Bush and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, she was later convicted on 33 counts of securities fraud and sentenced to nearly seven years in prison.
While incarcerated at Perryville, Allen founded a leadership program for women that continues today.
After her release, she launched nonprofits supporting incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and successfully advocated for improved hygiene conditions for female inmates in Arizona prisons.
Despite her conviction, Allen maintained her innocence — a tension that forms the emotional core of STUNG!.
The production leans into that ambiguity, blurring the line between performance and personal testimony as audiences are left to decide for themselves what to believe.
Told entirely through a single performer, STUNG! relies on Drapac’s portrayal of Allen to carry the narrative.
The one-woman format allows for an intimate, direct connection with the audience, drawing them into Allen’s world as she recounts a life marked by ambition, downfall and reinvention.
The play explores themes of guilt, redemption and narrative ownership — asking who ultimately controls a person’s story.
For audiences, STUNG! offers a chance to grapple with a story that refuses easy answers, told by a woman who, even after her conviction, never stopped telling her own version of the truth.
The production serves as the finale of Desert Foothills Theater’s 50th anniversary season, capping a year of performances with a work that blends local history, true crime and social commentary.
Markowitz, who serves as the theater’s playwright in residence, is known for her character-driven storytelling and has earned recognition including a Zoni Award for original script.
Performances will be held at The Holland Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale, at 7 p.m. April 16-17, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. April 18; and 2 p.m. April 19.
VIP tickets are $50 and include a post-show discussion with the playwright and lead actor. General admission tickets are $30.
Information: dftheater.org.