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Changing Hats is a ten-minute play set during a college graduation at Indiana Polytechnic University. The play follows Barney, a longtime custodian who has just earned his degree through a work-to-learn program, as a small request to restock toilet paper triggers a larger unraveling about identity, respect, and what his achievement actually means.

As Barney’s frustration builds, he confronts the emotional weight of spending decades in a job that often feels invisible, even while pursuing education to change his future. His wife, Barbara, challenges his belief that his work and accomplishments go unseen, pushing him to reconsider how he defines success and worth.

The play blends humor and tension to explore labor, dignity, and the roles people are expected to play, ultimately asking what it means to be recognized for who you are becoming.