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THE AATE PLAYWRIGHTS NETWORK
presents
NEW PLAYS BY MEMBER PLAYWRIGHTS
Summer, 2007
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All playwrights who are current members of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education are invited to submit up to four synopses of 75 words each for this listing – a limit of two synopses of plays published in the previous year plus two synopses of unpublished plays-in-progress. Listings may be edited for length and style. The AATE New Plays by Members list will be updated once a year, distributed in hard copy at the annual conference, and posted on the AATE Web site. Please see the following entries for preferred format.
Send new and updated information by June 1, 2008, to
Sandy Asher
sandyasher@earthlink.net
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PUBLISHERS
Accompany Publishing, 1170 15th Avenue SE, Suite #305, Minneapolis, MN 55414, 612-746-1371
Anchorage Press, P.O. Box 2901, Louisville, KY 40201; 502-583-2288
Baker's Plays, P.O. Box 699222, Quincy, MA 02269; 617-745-0805
Dramatists Play Service, Inc. 440 Park Ave. S, NY, NY 10016; 212-683-8960
Dramatic Publishing Co., 311 Washington St., Woodstock, IL 60098; 1-800-HIT-SHOW
Eldridge Publishing, P.O. Box 14367, Tallahasee, FL 32317, 1-800-HI-STAGE
Heuer Publishing, P.O. Box 248, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406, 1-800-950-6529
I.E. Clark, Inc., Box 246, Schulenburg, TX 78956; 409-743-3232
New Plays, Inc., PO Box 5074, Charlottesville, VA 22905; 804-979-2777
Plays for Young Audiences, c/o The Children’s Theatre Company., 2400 Third Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN, 55404, 612-872-5108
Playscripts, Inc., P.O. Box 237060, New York, NY 10023, 1-866-NEW-PLAY
Samuel French, Inc., 45 W. 25th St., New York, NY 10010; 212-206-8990
Theatrefolk, 2873 Dundas St. W. #302, Toronto, ON, Canada, M6P 1Y9 1-866-245-9138
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SYLVIA ASHBY
Sylashby@aol.com
MASTER SKYLARK OF STRATFORD: 90 minutes, 5F-5M minimum, 24 roles, area staging. Nick, a young teen, runs away to see the Players despite his puritanical father. Bonderman Semi-Finalist; winner, AATE Unpublished Play Reading Project. Readers’ comments: "Vivid depiction of Elizabethan world. . . characters well written. . . . relationships clear and compelling." "Each of large cast is well defined, even to smallest roles. . . plot is compelling from very first. . . fast-paced action. . ." Characters include Shakespeare, his daughters, Queen Elizabeth, Thomas Heywood. Contact: playwright.
ANNE OF GREEN GABLES: Musical in 2 acts, 7 youngsters (4F, 3M) and 9 adults (5F, 4M), suggested farmhouse plus area staging. Adapted from author's dramatic version, with hundreds of productions in US (Bakers Plays) and UK (Samuel French Ltd). Music by Mark McCoy. Commissioned by Bakers Plays. Contact: Bakers Plays.
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SANDRA FENICHEL ASHER
sandyasher@earthlink.net
http://usaplays4kids.drury.edu/playwrights/asher
EVERYTHING IS NOT ENOUGH, 2 acts or long 1 act, 5m, 2w, 6m or w, area staging. It’s the summer before Michael’s senior year and his life is all mapped out for him – winters in the suburbs, summers at the beach, the “right” college major, and a career in his dad’s business. But Michael never charted this course; his father did. Eager to discover the real world beyond his parents’ protection, Michael lands a job as a busboy in the seaside resort town where he, his family, and his friends have long been “summer people” – and confrontations with the local “winter people” become painfully real. Contact: Dramatic Publishing.
FREDDY, THE KING OF DETECTIVES, 2 acts or long 1 act, flexible cast of 8m, 4f, 4m or f, fewer or more possible, with or without puppets, area staging. Optional music by Robert Cuccinota. Based on FREDDY THE DETECTIVE by Walter R. Brooks. Freddy the Pig knows all about detective work from reading about Sherlock Holmes and sets out to solve barnyard crimes big and small. Then Simon the Rat frames Freddy’s pal Jinx the Cat on a trumped-up murder charge and its up to Freddy and Mrs. Wiggins, the cow, to set things right and bring the real villains to justice. Contact: playwright.
JOAN OF ARK 5, 2 acts or long 1 act, 4w, 3 m, 3 m or f, extras as desired, l set plus area staging. In this futuristic retelling of the Joan of Arc story, the ARK System has been in control of Earth Enterprise for nearly 100 years, bringing peace, order, and longevity, but costing its citizens their freedom to the point of enslavement. A mysterious “Michael” appears to Joan through her transcommunicator and calls her to lead the Resistance. Further convinced by Margaret and Catherine, Joan leaves the safety of her Life/Work Station to meet her fate -- triumph and martyrdom. Contact: playwright.
TODAY I AM! Five Short Plays about Growing Up Jewish, flexible cast of up to 8m, 14w, doubling possible; area staging. Based on short stories in WITH ALL MY HEART, WITH ALL MY MIND, winner of the National Jewish Book Award, these scripts explore a variety of experiences through the eyes of teenagers, including 13-year-old Barry, who will become a Bar Mitzvah and graduate college on the same day; Cara, a Sephardic Jew who keeps her heritage hidden until she’s forced to take a stand; and Sarah, whose military family are the only Jews ever to live in tiny Buchanan. Contact: Dramatic Publishing.
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FLORA B. ATKIN
matkin1@comcast.net
TWENTY-EIGHT STEPS BELOW, an exciting and timely story from Kibbutzim Hill, 1 act, 3m, 3w who double in minor roles, two sets. A group of Jewish immigrants reluctantly take on a clandestine, harrowing, dangerous job in Palestine during the British mandate (1944-48), under the pretense of being a kibbutz making bread, doing laundry, and growing oranges. Both fact and fiction. Contact: Playwright. Also, LET'S GO TO THE SEA: An adaptation of "Twenty-eight Steps Below" for younger elementary school children. Contact: Playwright.
SHOORIK AND POUFCHIK A puppet show commissioned by the JCCGW, 4 puppeteer/players, 2m, 2w. A Jewish Russian immigrant boy and his dog face bewildering surprises when they arrive in the U.S. Contact: Playwright.
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RIC AVERILL
raverill@sunflower.com
http://usaplays4kids.drury.edu/playwrights/averill
FRANKENSTEIN, adapted from the book by Mary Shelley, 4m, 2w, 1 hour. A mysterious laboratory, a dark cemetery and a university classroom provide the setting for Victor Frankenstein and his students, who dabble in the mystical science of regeneration. But Victor’s work backfires when he brings to life a superhuman, monstrous creation he cannot control Huge and haunted by memories of a dark past, the Creature breaks out of the lab and is met with horror from everyone he meets, except for Victor’s blind professor, who feels sympathy for the Creature. Contact: Dramatic Publishing.
LOS ZAPATOS MAGICOS; PEDRO'S MAGIC SHOES, 1 act, 3m. 1 w. with doubling or 4 m., 1f., 5 m or f, without. Two sets; rich and poor houses separated by a cactus and the fiery top of the Mountain of El Diablo. To feed his family, save the valley and recover his Abuelo's (Grandfather's) heritage, Pedro must prove he is the greatest Trickster of all times. Based in part on Latino trickster tales, this story is told using about 15% Spanish. English speaking students will learn Spanish and Spanish speakers will find their own culture celebrated in this flavorful romp through America's Southwest. Contact: Playwright.
RELIABLE JUNK, based on the life of Harvey Scheetz. 3m, 2w, 1m or w, 2 int. sets, 1 hour. Eighth-grader Michael has a lot on his mind: his grandfather has just been diagnosed with cancer. Michael spends time in science class trying to come up with a Science Fair project that might help. His teacher suggests that he visit Harvey Scheetz, who operates the Cosmic Connections Museum at the Off the Deep End Flea Market next door to Reliable Junk. There, Michael stumbles upon a “flying machine” made out of junk and meant for Turk, a young friend of Harvey’s with terminal cancer. Contact: Dramatic Publishing.
TRUNS, 1 act, 3 adult m., 2 adult f., 3 pre-teen f., 1 pre-teen m. + additional pre-teen f. ballet students. Unit set. TURNS is about a girl who reconnects with her father through dance. After her mother dies, Marta throws herself into her dance and escapes into the classical music she plays through her iPod. When her father, Timo, returns home with his partner, Mark, he has to face not only Marta's resentment about his absence, but also her difficult passage through adolescence including her fights with friends and disappointment at not getting a lead role in the local dance/drama. Contact: Playwright.
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LANI BROCKMAN, playwright
SUSAN BARDSLEY, composer
susanbardsley@verizon.net
GOLDILOCKS & THE THREE BEARS, musical for young audiences. 55 minutes. 4F (Adult) Storybook set. Singers need to be able to hold harmony. Baby Bear’s bratty behavior drives the bear family out for a walk. Goldie, whose own bratty behavior has caused her to run away, meets up with the Bear family. After a disastrous/hilarious first meeting, the two young ones eventually make friends by learning to compromise and listen to each other. Full of laughs and audience participation.
Contact: Composer.
THE THREE LITTLE PIGS, musical for young audiences. 55 minutes. 3F, 1M (Adult) Storybook set. Singers need to be able to hold harmony. The idyllic life of the 3 Pigs is shattered by the news that the farmer is planning to sell them to be eaten. They run away and meet up with the Wolf – who knocks at their door and woos them with the song: homeporker.com! Fun music, with lots of audience participation, the audience leaves singing “Piggy Power!” Contact: Composer.
THE UGLY DUCKLING, musical for young audiences. 55 minutes. 4F, 1M (Adult), Storybook set. Singers need to be able to hold harmony. UD (Ugly Duckling) is loved by her mother but mocked by her sisters. They sing about her (and tango) in the fun “She Is Not!!” Hurt, UD leaves the barnyard, and wanders in search of a place to fit in. (“Where Do I Go From Here?”) She meets up with the Cat and the Hen, and then eventually finds a friend in the Farmer’s Daughter. This sweet piece will delight children and their families. Winner of the 2006 AATE Unpublished Plays contest. Contact: Composer.
A LITTLE MERMAID, musical for young audiences. 50 minutes. 4F, 1M (Adult) Storybook set. Singers need to be able to hold harmony. Serena yearns to be human and despite warnings, she finds the hysterical two-headed sea slug who can change mermaids into humans…for a price. Serena trades her tail and voice for legs, allowing her to meet and befriend the Prince of her dreams. Her wishes are shattered when the Prince falls in love with another. Serena keeps her bargain, expecting to die, but her sisters, and the audience, facilitate her return to life below the sea. Contact: Composer.
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AMIE BROCKWAY-HENSONTHE HOBO JUNGLE, one act, 5 or 6 m, 2 or 3 w, area staging. Based on oral histories of former young hobos traveling the United States during the Great Depression, looking for work, food, and homes. Nineteen-year-old Curly and his eighteen-year-old wife Norma set up camp for the night near--but not too near--a railway station in Nebraska. Harry, their thirteen-year old nephew has been sent to town for provisions and comes back with two young friends and a story to tell. Running time is approximately 20 minutes. Contact: Playwright.
THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH, full-length 1-act or 3 acts, approx. 90 min., 5 m, 5 w, 3 m or w. Adapted from Charles Dicken’s “fairy tale of home in three chirps.” Flexible staging. A fanciful celebration of winter and good cheer with such loveable and improbable characters as a musical Kettle, a wise and winning Boxer Dog, Dot and John Peerybingle and their “very doll of a baby” precariously cared for by nursemaid Tilly Slowboy, a toymaker and his blind daughter, a harsh taskmaster, a beautiful young girl and her peevish mother, a mysterious stranger, and the chirping Cricket itself. Contact: Playwright.
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http://usaplays4kids.drury.edu/playwrights/bush
FROM EVERY MOUNTAINSIDE, 8f, 4m, unit set, 2 acts, 1 hr. 40 min. 17 year old Matt’s school work and personal life are deteriorating. Susan (17), the half-American, half Chinese girl recently arrived from China, takes a strong interest in Matt, watching him in school, studying his drawings, and attempting to talk with him. Almost against his will he’s drawn to Susan and begins to re-awaken. But their relationship is threatened by the juggernauts of international politics, eroding social liberties (both in America and China), growing global megabusiness, and a sense of personal responsibility. Contact: Playwright.
KARA IN BLACK 9-10 f, 6-7 m, 2 acts, unit set. Kara’s older sister Della is leaving to join her Army unit and travel to Kuwait to prepare for the possible invasion of Iraq. While Della is proud to be a woman in the Army and believes in the policies of the administration, Kara, after thinking about such things for the first time in her life, begins to oppose the impending war. As questions multiply, a rising chorus of voices oppose Kara, who struggles with isolation, frustration, fear, ignorance and helplessness to find the courage to express herself publicly on matters important to her. Contact: Dramatic Publishing.
SNOW WHITE, 3f, 4m, 7 dwarves, multiple locations, 55 minutes. This adaptation is based on the tale first written down by the Brothers Grimm when they were told the story in 1810. The handwritten manuscript version was lost until it was discovered in a monastery in Alsace in 1920 and contains many of the central elements of the later versions, as well as some surprising differences. Contact: Playwright.
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DREW CHAPPELL
drew.chap@mindspring.com
THE BREEZE AT DAWN, 2m, 2f, 1m or f, 2 puppets, 30 minutes, minimal set. Why do some people like getting up in the morning and some not? What is special about the beginning of the day? This play follows two groups- three children and three adults- as they try to understand "life's biggest questions" early in the morning. As they encounter the story of a sleepy monk who went through his own struggles, they realize the boundaries of time and space may be blurrier than they thought. Conceived as a touring show for students K-2, w/ opportunities for creative design and direction. Contact: playwright.
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FRUMI COHEN
frumic@comcast.net
http://www.frumicohen.com
WESLANDIA, the Musical, 1 hr. Cast of 6-15. Unit set. Includes performance soundtrack CD. You’re a kid in 6th grade. You don’t like pizza or soda, video games or sleepovers. You invent things and worry about global warming. You have no friends, only tormentors. Even your parents try to bribe you to get a Mohawk haircut. One day you decide to plant a staple crop and see if you can start your own civilization like the ancient Greeks did, which makes everyone think you’re weirder than ever. You’re Wesley Woods, the main character in a popular picture book and now a new musical. Contact: Playwright.
THE MAGIC FLUTE: RELOADED -Rap/ Pop Musical with performance soundtrack CD. Large cast of middle or high school actors, 1hr long. When Merton Mercudio is suspended from school for an anger management problem, we enter his imagination, the whimsical land of Droon. While seeking his princess, he learns to control his anger from the bizarre King Meltdown, “new age” Queen Lady Notsofast, a two-headed insult-slinging monster who feeds on anger out of control, and the cowardly but loveable Grumbo the Grindylow. Contact: Anchorage Press.
THE POWER OF ONE, musical, cast of 8-26, 1 hr. 15 minutes. With performance soundtracd CD.
Set in the imaginary town of Branchwood, PA, this script tells the story of a young girl’s struggle against acts of ethnic intimidation. When Caroline takes a stand against acts of intolerance towards her best friend David, a Jewish boy, she faces an even greater struggle, the struggle against indifference. The story touches on the power of friendship and explores the idea that one person can make a difference. The Power of One is based on a real news event out of Billings Montana in 1993. Contact: Playwright.
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ROB COHEN
rob.classplays@yahoo.com
www.classplays.com
WALKING TO VENUS Musical for grades 2-8 . On a whimsical journey to Venus, four travelers encounter several alien tribal groups, each with distinctive personalities and a peculiar manner of problem solving. The travelers ultimately learn to think for themselves and discover the “joy of the journey”. Cast size 20-50. 40 mins. CD available. Hear samples at website. Contact: Playwright.
THE NO-RULES CLUB Musical for grades 2-8. Students annoyed by rules at home and at school decide to form a No-Rules Club. Elections for president are held with each of the 5 candidates singing a campaign speech. However, the club soon realizes that some rules are necessary to keep order. The children summarize their experience in democracy in the rousing finale, “We Are Today”. Casts size 20-50. 40 mins. CD available. Hear samples at website. Contact: Playwright.
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DIANE CREWS
dgc@syracuse.net
THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE OF JONATHAN TOOMEY, adapted from the book by Susan Wojciechowski. 2 acts, 1 hr., 45 min. 27 characters --- 6m, 6w/teens, 8 girls, 7 boys. Jonathan is the best carpenter in the valley, but lives like a hermit ... until Widow McDowell and her son Thomas come to town. By Christmas Jonathan has undergone a change that makes him unrecognizable to everyone! Contact: Playwright.
SLEEPING BEAUTY. 2 acts, 1 hr., 40 min., 33 characters – 4m, 4 teen males, 3 boys, 5w, 9 teen females, 7 girls, 1 frog. The traditional story is told, plus a good deal more. We meet the seven fairies personally and discover both their strengths and weaknesses. The folks from the future, including the Prince and his page, are clearly from another time. The fun that ensues during their search for the Princess’s castle is not even hinted at in the original story. Fergus Frog, who foretells the birth of the Princess and helps us jump through the years, is the most charming amphibian you will ever meet. Contact: Playwright.
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LINDA DAUGHERTY
lmdaugherty@earthlink.net
www.lindadaugherty.com
THE SECRET LIFE OF GIRLS, 10w (9w, with doubling); one hour; area staging; In this realistic and unflinching dramatization of teen girl angst, a window is opened into the tumultuous and destructive world of girls' bullying. “This play is not about real life. It is real life ... what many say the theater should be - a moment for reflection about what’s true and, in this case, dangerously hidden.” People Newspapers, Dallas, Texas. “... totally sold out ... packs quite a shock” The Dallas Morning News. Contact: Dramatic Publishing.
THE SURPRISING STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS, 18 w/m (13 with doubling); one hour; “Sheer charm ...” The Dallas Morning News. The Three Little Pigs, The Three Billy Goats Gruff and Goldilocks and the Three Bears, assisted by The Voice (struggling to narrate the changing stories) and three Stagehands (desperately trying to juggle sets to keep the stories straight), join forces to rewrite their stories and rid themselves of their respective villains by exchanging them. Contact: Dramatic Publishing.
EAT (IT’S NOT ABOUT FOOD), 5 adults, 6 youth; one hour; area staging; Premiering at Dallas Children’s Theater in April, 2008, EAT examines the dangerous and baffling world of eating disorders. Using interwoven vignettes, ranging from realistic to satirical to humorous, EAT candidly explores causes and warning signs, takes a hard look at the influences of society and the media and tells individual stories of young people struggling with this epidemic and too often tragic problem. Contact: Playwright.
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RAMON ESQUIVEL
ramon.esquivel@gmail.com
DULCE - 3f, 1m, 1 act, unit set. A little boy named Memo learns that Abuelita, his beloved grandmother, has died after a long illness. Wanting to hold on to her memory, he tries to recover Abuelita's dulce, the stash of forbidden candy hidden in her bedroom. With Memo's mother burying herself in work and his sister aggressively reclaiming the bedroom for herself, Memo turns to an unexpected ally: Abuelita herself! Dulce weaves magical realism, physical comedy, music and dance into a story of a family that learns how difficult -- and necessary -- it is to say goodbye to a loved one. Contact: Playwright.
NOCTURNAL - 3m, 1f, with doubling, one act, area staging. Cisco, Ryker and Rolly regularly sneak out at night and roam their neighborhood streets in search of adventure and mischief. When one of their pranks goes too far, the trio finds itself sharply divided, leading to an increasingly dangerous game of one-upmanship. How far will these teens go to be on top of the pecking order? With mobile set pieces, simple props and hand-held light sources, this play is designed to be performed in unusual spaces with full, limited or no theatrical lighting. Contact: Playwright.
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ILANA EYDUS & VICTOR EYDUS
ilana@SoloOnSax.org; victor@eydus.net
www.SoloOnSax.org
SOLO ON SAX Rock ballet in 2 acts or long 1 act. 4 dancing girls and 2 boys, extra dancers welcome. Rock and roll with Jewish, Mexican, Austrian and Indian accent. A little girl named Paula lives in Santa Colbasina, California. She is sick and tired of going to school and doing her chores. She wants to retire and have a life of fun and parties. She dreams of making a million to buy a condo at the beach, and retire. Suddenly, thanks to Governor Arnold, her dream comes true. Contact: Playwright.
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CASS FOSTER
Cass@att.net
HANSEL AND GRETEL: AY, CARAMBA!, Some Spanish if desired. 60-75 minutes. 6-9 actors. Minimum 2F. Area staging. H&G are Mexican. Papa in U.S. and no word. H&G seek food. Experience dehydration, wolves, Border Patrol, Witch. Not abandoned by parents. No one killed. Resolved by Border Patrol arresting witch. All return home and dad has skills so all can live in Mexico. Critic: "I wish my grandchildren were old enough to see…lots of surprises and humor." Contact: Playwright.
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FIRST TO THE LINE, 60 minutes, 18 M/F minimum, 25 roles, 5 songs, area staging. Loss and despair seem to be in store for Athens fans at the 84th Olympic Games. Coach Philo is faced with a long losing streak and an old nemesis who wants to kick him out of Athens forever. At the nearby Hera festival, where women athletes are allowed to race, he learns of one woman faster than all his male runners. Does he dare try the forbidden? In a society where winning is all that matters, one man makes a decision to change the face of sport forever. Contact: Accompany Publishing.
1607: DISAPPEARANCE AT JAMESTOWN 50 minutes, 18M/F minimum, 25 roles, 5 songs, area staging. When one hundred and five colonists first arrived in the new world they expected to find piles of gold. Instead, they found piles of dirt. Then the real problems began. Natives were trying to fight the colonists. There was a food shortage causing illness. There was no returning home. Now the colonists are disappearing. Amidst hardship, John Smith comes forward to save the colony. In a story about big dreams and survival, the colonists of Jamestown never give up…even as they continue to disappear. Will they make it to the first winter? Or will Jamestown disappear? Contact: Accompany Publishing.
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KEITH GREGOR and LOIS VEENHOVEN GUDERIAN
L-Guderian@northwestern.edu
LoVeeMusic@Hotmail.com
CLEVER GRETHEL, Musical in 1 act, grades 1-4; 35-40 minutes, 2G, 1B, 4 either G or B, additional narrator parts. Grethel, a proud cook, is requested by her master to prepare two chickens for a special dinner -- an important guest is arriving. When the guest is delayed, Grethel decides that to avoid overcooking, "tis better to gobble them up” -- and she does! The hungry guest arrives and Grethel is in big trouble unless she manages to come up with something very clever, very quickly! Music for piano and /or guitar. Practice/performance cassette/CD included. Adapted from Grimm. Contact: Playwrights.
THE HISTORY LESSON, Musical in 1 act, grades 3-5; 40-45 minutes, flexible cast of 21 characters, many may be B or G. On a class field trip, three friends miss the bus and find themselves locked inside a museum after hours, unable to find a way out. Advice comes from surprising and distinguished visitors -- a lesson in history they will never forget! Musical numbers written for piano and/or guitar. Choreography and blocking suggestions for the songs are included as well as a practice/performance accompaniment cassette/CD. Contact: Playwrights.
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BRIAN GUEHRING
bguehring@aol.com
www.brianguehring.com
BRAVE LITTLE TAILOR, 2m/2w, can be expanded, 1 act, 3 sets (can be toured). When a meek tailor kills seven flies in one blow, the village gossips and exaggerates until the king thinks the tailor can kill giants. The little tailor then has to find his own courage (with the help of the princess) to battle a rampaging unicorn, troublesome giants, and a fierce dragon in this new adaptation of the classic Grimms fairy tale. Contact: Playwright.
THE BULLY SHOW, 2m/1w or 1m, 2w, 1 act, minimal set for touring. This interactive play has the audience at the live taping of a new game show about bullying. As the game progresses, Johnny, the host, begins to bully Frederico in order to entertain the crowd and the game show contestants as Carole refuses to interfere. Eventually Johnny pushes too far, and the game show grinds to a halt as Carole, Frederico and the audience confront Johnny about his views on bullying. Contact: Dramatic Publishing.
KING CHEMO, 2m,2w or 1m,3w, flexible staging. Ten year old Kevin is convinced his cancer doesn’t actually exist, but is rather a plot by the “Powers That Be” to control all children. He tries to convince Melissa about the “truth” by taking her on imaginative adventures into a mad scientist lab, an alien planet, and a vampire lair. Meanwhile, Melissa tries to convince Kevin that the doctors aren’t evil. By the end, both learn new strategies to fight their leukemia. Contact: Dramatic Publishing.
OLD YELLER, a minimum of 3m/2w, 1 act, 1 set. New adaptation of this popular Newberry Honor Book by Fred Gibson about 14-year-old Travis and a mangy, one-eared thieving mutt (portrayed by a puppet). Old Yeller wins Travis’s heart by helping his family on the wild Texas frontier. When Old Yeller catches rabies, Travis is faced with the most difficult duty of his young life. Contact: Playwright.
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CLAUDIA HAAS
Mattkirs@msn.com
http://theatreink.tripod.com
BY CANDLELIGHT, flexible cast of 8f, 2m, 5m or f; 11 m or f, 1 hour. Unit set of abstract playing areas denoting the 1960's and 2001. By Candlelight commemorates goodness in times of hate and peace in times of conflict. In a changed world after 9/11, young people from all over the country came together with acts of compassion and healing. Woven throughout the play is a past friendship between a Jewish girl and a Catholic girl. Lighting a candle in the darkness, these two girls form a bond of tenderness that will echo through future generations. Contact: Playwright.
CASTING JULIET, 3f; 1 set, 25 minutes. Things are seldom what they seem in the world of theatre. On the morning of a (maybe) life-altering audition, three (maybe) actresses come early to scope out the theatre and figure out what the (maybe) director wants. As the actresses vie for the chance of a lifetime, secrets are revealed and plans unravel and nothing is as it should be. A companion one-act, BEST FRIENDS which deals with a call-back is included. (15 minutes) Contact: Eldridge Publishing.
SHATTERED GLASS, flexible cast of 3f, 1m, 7m or w (5 w/doubling), unit set, 50 minutes.. In 1993 a brick was hurled through the bedroom of a young boy in Billings, Montana, because there was a decal of a menorah pasted on his bedroom window. The police advised the mother to take down all signs of Hanukkah in order to be safe. Not content with that advice, the mother took her story to the press and the town responded by putting pictures of menorahs on their own windows. The actions of the townspeople spurred the "Not in Our Town" movement that is active today. Contact: Playwright.
THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES Cast: 20-24 (6-7m, 14-17f) A throne room and "The Land of the Muses." One hour. King Oakley returns home from his travels with a new servant - the diabolical Fiorello. Conditions have grown lax and the King devises a strict regimen for his daughters and no longer lets them leave the castle grounds. In despair, the princesses long to break free and go dancing. Fiorello is only too happy to oblige the princesses. By helping them fulfill their wish, he will achieve his dream of taking over the castle. A tale of longing, dreams and letting go. Contact: Heuer Publishing.
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JENNIFER FELL HAYES
FellHayes@aol.com
http://usaplays4kids.drury.edu/playwrights/hayes
ENDURANCE 2 acts, 8 m , 2 w, w/doubling, extras as desired for chorus, simple staging. To survive the painful, lengthy medical procedure he has to go through twice a week to keep his older brother, Ray, alive, Fithian travels in his mind to the South Pole with Sir Ernest Shackleton, his hero. He feels trapped and resentful, and hostilities develop between the very different brothers, one, artistic and possibly gay, the other athletic and heterosexual. Finally the treatment stops working. Fithian is able to see Ray’s courage and acceptance of death, and understand his brother is now part of him. Contact: Playwright.
FLOWERFACE, 2 acts, 3m, 6w, 2-6 m/w, simple staging. Gwynneth is grappling with her parents' divorce and her father's pending remarriage when her Welsh cousin, Rhys, comes to stay, bringing the gift of a small stone owl. When it gets broken, forces of old magic are unleashed, and an ancient Welsh legend touches contemporary New York life. A chorus of owls represent Gwynneth's feelings of misery and rage, and she must face them before she can become reconciled to her situation Contact: Playwright.
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DOROTHY HERSHMAN and DAVID HERSHMAN
hershdor@berkeleyprep.org
THE STARS ASSEMBLED, a play with music, full-length, flexible cast of 20 – 60+, area staging. An Intergalactic Circus does an emergency landing on Earth in order to retrieve the Circus Master’s errant pet nibis who beamed himself down out of curiosity. Atticus, a ten year old boy staying with his grandparents in West Texas for the summer, finds the nibis and , after several adventures, receives the reward of a private showing of the Circus when he returns the pet. There is a robot chorus, fairafly dancers with hypnotic powers, wild pygerons and more. Recorded music and video CD available. Contact: Playwright.
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LENORE BLANK KELNER
Lenore@interactstory.com
www.interactstory.com
THE SHIRT OF HAPPINESS 1 w, 1 m w/doubling. 1 act (approx. 50 minutes) Based on Armenian and Italian folk tales. A sad prince goes on a quest to find the true meaning of happiness. He is told that if he can find a truly happy man and put on his shirt, then he too will be happy. He seeks out the rich and famous, but quickly learns that fame and fortune don’t always bring happiness. Finally he finds a happy, loving peasant couple who have only one torn and tattered shirt between them. He believes that this shirt will magically make him joyful. Contact: playwright.
THE SECRET SCROLL 1 w, 1 m w/doubling. 1 act (approx. 50 minutes). Based on a Chinese folk tale. The Emperor’s palace is filled with discord; the royal children simply will not behave. The Emperor is constantly in a rage. He brings wise ones from all over the world, and travels across China searching for a secret that will bring peace and harmony to his palace. He finally finds his answer in the home of a simple man, Tsao Wang, who understands the profound power of kindness. Contact: playwright.
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BARRY KORNHAUSER
BKornhauser@thefulton.org
REELING 11m, 4f (plus all the “cops” you can handle). Without a single spoken word, REELING tells the story of the Little Fellow, a character based on the silent film persona of Buster Keaton. His proposal turned down by Beloved, our hero heads to the big city to make something of himself, and winds up in a movie studio. Comic mayhem ensues with an impossibly happy ending – the Little Fellow and his girl escaping into the silver screen. Winner of the 2006 Ivey Award for Playwriting. Contact: Plays For Young Audiences.
CYRANO suggested 15 m, 3 f (easily expanded and somewhat gender flexible). Cyrano! The enormity of his talent, wit, and passion is matched only by the enormity of his, well, nose. The uniquely endowed protagonist of Cyrano de Bergeracis given a fresh face in this poignant and playful verse adaptation of Edmond Rostand’s paean to panache, written in rhyming couplets. Winner of the 2005 Helen Hayes “Outstanding Play” Award. Contact: Dramatic Publishing for full-length version; playwright for an abridged rendering.
PEER GYNT suggested 14 m, 10f (but expandable or compactable with use of puppets). This adaptation of Ibsen’s “impossible” play takes us along on its anti-hero’s wild ride, seeking to discover his own identity and the meaning of an authentic life. All along the way we are led to understand what Peer does not, that the search for self itself is what makes us truly, richly human. Developed with the support of an NEA grant. Contact: Playwright.
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CAROL KORTY
carol@carolkorty.com
http://usaplays4kids.drury.edu/playwrights/korty
http://www.carolkorty.com
PRECIOUS JADE Based on a Chinese tale recorded in southern China in the 19th century. Precious Jade is a spirited girl determined to make life interesting and bearable despite having been married into a dysfunctional family. Through her wits and recollection of advice from a dearly loved grandmother, she is able to gradually win over the members of her new family. Her final success lies in gaining the heart and support of her reluctant husband. And in the bargain, she outsmarts a condescending trader and an arrogant magistrate. Original music for the 19 songs by Shu Hui Chen. Contact: Playwright.
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SECRETS, 4w, 1m, unit set with levels. A taut tangle of emotions in which an 8th grader's comfortable life is shattered by a phone call and a voice that says, "I'm your mother." A complex view of adoption in which one secret leads to another. First Place Winner of the Beverly Hills Theatre Guild Marilyn Hall Awards for Youth Theatre. Professional premiere, Flint Youth Theatre, April, 2007. Contact: New Plays.
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JOE LAUDERDALE
joeclois@cox.net
THE SUMMER OF THE SWANS 2 acts, 3g, 1b, 1f, unit set. Adapted from the book by Betsy Byars. Sara’s 14th summer has been the worst in her life. Her Aunt Willie is always on her case, her older sister is beautiful and popular, and their father has abandoned his family. Then there’s her younger brother Charlie, who is mentally challenged. Sara loves him dearly, but she’s getting tired of taking care of him. Sara wishes she could fly away like the swans on the lake. That night Charlie leaves home to go see the swans, and gets lost. Betsy Byars’ comment: “I wish you’d written the TV movie. Contact: Playwright.
CUT 1 act, 7g, 1f, unit set. Adapted from the book by Patricia McCormick. 15-year-old Callie is a patient at a residential treatment facility. She refuses to speak to anyone. When her psychiatrist asks questions, Callie responds, but only in her head. Then Amanda arrives – like Amanda, Callie is a “cutter.” Callie reluctantly becomes involved with the girls in her group as they share stories of anorexia, other weight issues, drugs, and alcohol, and eventually she confronts the trauma that triggered her destructive behavior. A 90 minute 1 act and a 2 act version, both with more characters, are available. Contact: Playwright.
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JOEY MADIA
Jamadiajr@aol.com
A FITNESS CAROL, cast of 25, 1 act. At City Gym, Angus Arms & the Fitizens are promoting their fitness show: “Get Fit NOW!” Ebenezer Scrooge doesn't care about fitness. He cancels the show and announces the sale of City Gym to candy moguls. Their evil plan involves handing out candy and video games to every kid in town. Will City Gym get saved? Contact: Accompany Publishing,
SCENES FROM A DEEP DREAM RIVER, cast of 3 adults, 2m, 1f, 1 act. Set in feudal times, the play is a hero journey for middle and high school audiences that follows a young man on his path from farmer to soldier to knight to king. Drawing on classical mythologies, especially Eastern and Celtic, the play explores maleness, war, initiation, and the growing problem of absentee fathers. Contact: Playwright.
SIX REASONS TO SAY NO, 4m, 2f, all young adults, except for one 12-year-old boy, 1 act. Set in a rehabilitation center, this play features 6 monologues and several short scenes detailing the drug and alcohol experiences of a divergent group of young people. The consequences of their actions, family dynamics, struggles with getting clean, peer pressures, the nature of addiction and other aspects of their lives are presented in a straightforward and realistic manner. Contact: Playwright.
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MAURICE J. MORAN JR.
mjmoran@comcast.net
METHOD IN HIS MADNESS 2 acts; running time 90 minutes. Stories and poems reflect the universe of Edgar Allan Poe: his popular poems interpreted in choral reading and dance; his horror tales such as "The Black Cat"; his detective fiction "The Purloined Letter" and a few rare pieces representing his strange sense of humor. The scenes can be performed by as few as 6 or 8 actors – or by as many as 34 actors and one or two dancers. Simple set – curtains or a few walls to outline the performance space; a few pieces of furniture or boxes/crates that can be re-used in successive scenes. Contact: Playwright.
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JOHN NEWMAN
john.newman@SLC.K12.UT.US
AWAKENING GALATIA, 8F, 1M, 90 minutes, in verse. Pygmalion, a young sculptor, falls in
love with Galatia, his statue of a perfect woman. Venus and the seven Muses lead Pygmalion on a journey that brings the sculpture to life and renders the sculptor capable of genuine affection. Seeking a third production. Contact: Playwright.
CROWNS AND COMMONERS, 7F, 3M, 75 minutes, in verse. Seven maidens are summoned to serve the King's seven daughters. When they hear that the King is slain, the seven commoners masquarade as the princesses they resemble and must hold their own against the conspirators who surround them. Seeking a premiere production. Contact: Playwright.
THE SECRET SCHOOL, 7F, 4M, 75 minutes. Adapted from the novel by Avi. Students in an alternative classroom enact the story of their enigmatic instructor. As a fourteen year old girl, Ida Bidson assumed the role of teacher in her one-room school house and had to prepare for her high school entrance exam while teaching her peers in secret. Contact: Dramatic Publishing.
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MATT OMASTA
contact@mattomasta.com
GATHERING BLUE 2 acts, 5m, 5f, 2+ ensemble (m/f). Adapted from Lois Lowry's companion novel to The Giver. In a world where humanity has established a repressive authoritarian regime not through politicized suspension of civil rights and diminished human experience, but through overt and brutal tribalism, three young artists discover the true nature of their society and their own mysterious abilities to shape the future. Contact: Playwright.
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MARY ELIZABETH PETERS
BethPetersBoston@msn.com
UP UP UP : THE MYSTERY OF BALLOONS. 1 act, 2m, 2w, 3 chorus (or more). Eight year-old Peter Haskins, his friends Laura and Curtis, and their Balloon Catchers Club embark on a journey of imagination when Curtis lets go of Peter's prized possession, his red balloon. Their precocious imaginations carry them to the circus, ice cream parlor, beach and outer space. Through their journey, they explore the loss of their friend Jamie, and realize that in order to let a balloon be free, you have to let it go. Contact: playwright.
RAPUNZEL! 1 act, 3 m, 3w. This playful and musical re-telling of the classic fairytale begins with the early love of a young couple as their dreams of starting a family are eclipsed by an evil townsperson, Matilda Meanerwolf, and her cat cunning cat, Wolfie. When John and Sara finally start a family, their baby Rapunzel is stolen from them, and they must use magic, mischief and even love to get her back before she is married to the Evil Prince . . . but is this what Rapunzel wants? Contact: Playwright.
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LINDSAY PRICE
lindsay@theatrefolk.com
www.theatrefolk.com
THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW,1 act, 5M/7W+Chorus. Simple Set. A new adaptation of the Washington Irving classic. Icabod Crane arrives in Sleepy Hollow and is instantly captivated by the beauty of Katrina Van Tassel and her father's land. Katrina's former suitor Brom Bones is none toohappy about it! Add a ghostly legend to the mix and you've got a story filled with twists and turns. Do you believe in the headless horseman? Perfect for large cast middle school production. Contact: playwright.
SCHOOL DAZE, 1 act, minimum 13 actors, unlimited maximum. Simple set. The first day of middle school can be a funhouse or a hall of horrors. Will I fit in or be left behind? Will I wear the right clothes? Will I find the right class? It's a balancing act between wanting to grow up and wanting to stay a kid. This vignette play was written specifically for middle school students. Easy to stage, strong vibrant characters and flexible casting. Contact: Theatrefolk.
SWEEP UNDER RUG, 1 act, 3W 2M. Simple set. SWEEP UNDER RUG envisions a future where struggling families are placed in the "Bobby Sue" Program. A "Bobby Sue" is put every home that needs one, someone who warns against missteps and tells people the right thing to do. But what happens when people want to think for themselves? Contact: Theatrefolk.
TEN/TWO, 80 minutes, 3M/7W. Simple set. A collection of ten plays for two actors. They can be performed all together for a full evening of theatre, or separately for competition. Meet the girl who wants to question Santa about Labour relations, the guy who must suck up to the company cat, The teacher with the big lie and the children's entertainer who won't admit the end is near. Vivid characters, a wide variety of
subject matter and emotional tone. Contact: playwright.
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F. SCOTT REGAN
FSREGAN@bgnet.bgsu.edu
A MOTHER FOR THE PRINCE, 8 scenes. 12 m, 12 f plus extras. Based on an ancient Chinese story. Fourteen year old Marisa has a baby thrust upon her by the Queen retreating in haste from an advancing army. Marisa’s romantic notions about being a mother are quickly destroyed, but she slowly learns to love and care for the Prince. When the Queen is back in power she wants the Prince returned to her, but Marisa thinks of herself as the mother by now. Who deserves to be called the mother? Contact: playwright.
THE SUN AND THE MOON, flexible cast of 6 -18. Three stories about how the sun got in the sky, two stories about the moon and one story about the sun and the moon. These myths were collected from African, Polynesian, Native American, and Chinese sources. They reflect different cultural perspectives while being unified by the universal curiosity about this primary elements of our world. Suitable for touring. Contact: playwright.
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R.N. SANDBERG
rsand@princeton.edu
THE BODY OF CHRISTOPHER CREED. Two acts. 5-7M/5-7F (Extras as desired.) A group of high school students search for and try to come to terms with the disappearance of an eccentric classmate. Adapted from an award winning young adult mystery novel. Workshopped with the Chicago Theatre for Young Audiences. Contact: Playwright.
CONVIVENCIA. Two acts. 4-5M/2F plus a number of soldiers, many of whom have lines. 1492. The lives of three young people (Muslim, Jew, Christian) are turned upside down as the Spanish army re-conquers Granada from the Muslims. Music, dance, and poetry heighten the forceful dramatic struggle of these three trying to survive the dangers of war and persecution as they find a way to live together. Contact: Playwright.
IN BETWEEN. 45 minutes. 2M/2F. When new student Cue finds herself choosing between friendships with popular Tad and ridiculed Barrett, she winds up in the middle of a volatile situation. In a world of social pressure and peer disrespect, the three struggle to find peace in school and within themselves. “The students were spellbound!" - Teacher. “The feedback from schools has ranged from very positive to rave!” – Seattle Public Theatre. Contact: Playscripts, Inc.
A LITTLE PRINCESS. 40 minutes. 2-4M/7-9F (Extras as desired). A generous, imaginative girl is orphaned at a Victorian boarding school and magically rescued by an imaginary benefactor. From Francis Hodgson Burnett’s story, premiered at Seattle Children’s Theatre as the full length SARA CREWE. “A wonderful lesson in compassion and the power to change your world.” – Teacher. Contact: Dramatic Publishing.
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ROXANNE SCHROEDER-ARCE
rarce@csufresno.edu
SENORA TORTUGA, 1 act, 3w, 1m, 1-3 either. Pedro and his family live on the Mexican border in a barn transformed into a home. Pedro complains of having nothing, and brings his mother many headaches. His mother invites a woman to dinner to teach him a lesson about giving, a woman whom they later learn is of another world. She shares stories that lead to lesson-filled dreams. Pedro meets the enchanted Serpent and Cucuy, a famous Mexican legend. Later we learn why Pedro’s mother had been so concerned with Pedro’s desire to dream, and of Señora Tortuga’s true identity. Contact: Anchorage.
THE LEGEND OF THE POINSETTIA A Mexican American Christmas story in which Estrella (Star), age 14, seeks to find harmony as she struggles with the cultures that surround and pull at her. The traditional story of the poinsettia helps her find her way. Contact: Playwright.
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CHARMAINE SPENCER
char.spencer@sbcglobal.net
FIREFLIES: 80 minutes, 3F 3F, Unit set. Based on the experiences of the young artists of Terezin Concentration Camp, 1944. As international inspectors, oblivious of the camp’s real horrors, attend a children’s opera performance, sixteen year-old Leo tries to reach them. He fails, but after the war, the children’’s drawings are discovered and the truth is told. Produced 2007, Resilience of the Spirit Human Rights Festival, San Diego. Contact: Playwright.
HIGGLEDY PIGGLEDY MOTHER GOOSE: 60 minutes 4 M 3F, Unit set, Audience Participation, can tour. The Crooked Old Man has hijacked the Mother Goose book. Simple Simon, Mary Contrary and the others must get back in before they forget their rhymes. With help from the audience, a game of “Simon Says” teaches the Old Man about sharing, while the audience learns how to deal with a bully. Three productions in the Chicago area. Contact: Playwright.
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EDITH TARBESCU
tarbescu@comcast.net
www.home.earthlink.net/~tarbescu
ANNUSHKA’S VOYAGE: 1 act, 3w/2m, doubling, 1 set. Adapted from playwright’s picture book. Anya and Tanya live with their father and grandparents on a farm in Russia. When their father announces he is going to America in search of a better life for his family, he promises to send for them. After a year, the girls’ father sends them steamship tickets to join him. After a harrowing journey, the girls finally arrive at Ellis Island. But their father isn’t there to meet them. Will they finally be reunited? Workshopped at The Little Theatre, Albuquerque, N.M. Contact Playwright.
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DAVID WOOD
david.woodplays@virgin.net
www.davidwood.org.uk
DANNY THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD This new adaptation of Roald Dahl's celebrated book is currently on a very successful two-year UK tour, and will play at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London for Christmas 2007/8. Can be played by a cast of 7 or 8 (or more!). "... ingenious adaptation ... the rapture shown by Dad and Danny when they succeed is lovely to behold" (The Times). Interesting moral dilemmas involving poaching, shooting for sport and land ownership. Contact: Samuel French.
THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER'S LUNCH 40 minute musical adaptation of popular UK book by Ronda & David Armitage. The lighthouse keeper's wife send sandwiches from her cottage to her husband in the lighthouse, using a rope and pulley. Seagulls get wise to this and start scavenging the sandwiches! What's to do? ..... Written for 2 adults (or older children) and 60 or more children (actors, choir, narrators, puppeteers, dancers). Contact: Published by Josef Weinberger, complete with CDs of music for rehearsal and performance, www.josef-weinberger.com.
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JAMES ZAGER
zager@uiuc.edu
http://usaplays4kids.drury.edu/playwrights/zager
HOMER’S THE ODYSSEY. 1 act, ensemble cast (5-20 actors), single set, running time: 50 minutes. Based on books 9-11 of the Odyssey know as The Wonderings of Odysseus the play includes: The Island of the Lotus-Eaters, The Cyclops, The Bag of Wind, The Laestrogonians, Circe’s Spells, The Land of the Dead, Circe’s Warnings, The Sirens’ Song, Scylla & Charybdis, The Island of the Sun-God, and Calypso’s Cave. Written for middle school audiences. Contact: Playwright.