Hermia is in love with Lysander and Helena is in love with Demetrius, but Demetrius loves Helena. The curious structure is a surprisingly effective way to illuminate issues of racial disparity and prejudice. Civil war is raging in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Mama Nadi is trying to keep her head above water. The three witches (who can be played by a variety of different actors in different ways). Readers should be warned that the "n-word" is used liberally throughout the novel, which tends to be jarring to many a modern ear. The Hobbit is lighter and more kid-focused, but still addresses important themes. These high-minded grifters fancy themselves businessmen pursuing legitimate free enterprise. Sarah DeLappe's critically acclaimed play about a girls' soccer team is perfect for a drama club As the title character returns from a second tour in Iraq at age 19, he discovers how his trauma parallels that of his father and grandfather. These are remarkable booksbooks that made history, books that challenge societal perceptions of the world, and books that are quite simply interesting and moving. The result is a curious patchwork of sketches and scenes it works best when you accept the unusual form and enjoy the ride. moral, virtuous adj. These stories are immensely powerful. The updated schedule for Saturdays event, which has six This Pulitzer-winning play isnt saccharine or melodramatic, but heartbreakingly honest; anyone who has ever walked (or crawled) through the valley of the shadow will find connection to the emotional story. Summary: This epochal drama of marriage and the individual portrays a controlling husband, Torvald Helmer, and his wife, Nora, a submissive young woman who, when their idealized homelife collapses, comes to the realization that she must finally close the door on her husband, children, and life in a dolls house in order to find and live as her true self. Samuel French The phoneticist Henry Higgins is the Pygmalion figure who believes he can transform Eliza Doolittle, a cockney flower girl, into a duchess at ease in polite society. A clown named Robin, the servant of Wagner (Faustuss servant), for comic misadventures. Critics were greatly offended by Salingers frank discussions of sexual matters and his generally very casual style. Meanwhile, hes also lashing out at Ophelia, daughter of wise-man Polonius. Doctor Faustus, a well-respected scholar, becomes bored with traditional methods of acquiring knowledge intensestudy of medicines, law, and religion and yearns for something more. The award will be loaned to the school by Asner's son Matthew, who hopes the award will inspire the next generation of actors and performers. Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet are in love, but their parents hate each other. Was this read? Roaldson made good on the pair of apples and got the Home Theater Musicals and Plays 51 Contemporary Plays Written After 2000. While certainly not all mental health care was like whats described in the book, nor is it all like that today, audiences of the novel are aghast that any care might even vaguely resemble the horrors discussed. He feels obligated to his family but also burdened by their existence. Playwright Kate Hamill is a wizard when it comes to putting Brit lit onstage, and this breakout hit likely won't be the only one gleefully adopted by high school theater programs. A strange, quirky, and darkly comic portrait of George, a college professor, and Martha, his wife, who entertain a younger couple after and during a night of drinking. A Christmas Peter Pan. While the acclaimed off-Broadway production used 10 actors doubling roles, the play can be expanded to include 17 total performers or contracted to just seven (the costume changes alone would certainly add to the energetic zaniness of the staging). The book adopts a gentle, subtle tone, and yet it is not afraid to delve into very explicit and challenging topics related to the bombings. Whether you prefer manga or ancient, epic poems, reading is great for all sorts of reasons. Summary: Troy Maxson, a former star of the Negro baseball leagues who now works as a garbage man in 1957 Pittsburgh. Best Character: Mercutio (Romeos best friend) for comedic timing, a show-stopping monologue, and swagger. Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1938 drama remains a staple of high school curricula, so a live production will always earn the appreciation of the English department. You might recognize Quiara Alegra Hudes name she wrote the book for the musical In the Heights. Each story explores a different topic about what it means to be an American. Walter Lee, a chauffeur, has other plans: buying a liquor store and being his own man. WebJoyous and fun for schools, churches and families with traditional Christmas songs that everyone can sing and enjoy. The rainbow contains all sorts of symbolism. One Man, Two Guvnors premiered in 2011, but it was originally conceived in 1743. A play thats fascinating to watch and to perform. This unusual and witty play jumps around in time, showcasing four different Watsons (both real and fictional, human and computer) and their Holmes-inspired counterparts. 3 Adna and No. Playwright: Heidi SchreckLicensing: Concord Theatricals. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though.. With a cast of just three, Blackbird is intimate and intense. Peter and the Starcatcher. Unsurprisingly, audiences and critics had a mixed reaction to the protracted Chekhovian theatrical experience (the first act alone clocked in at nearly 2 hours), but the strong writing won out; Baker came away with the 2014 Pulitzer. These are the best contemporary plays from the best contemporary playwrights of our time. Its a mix of the famous fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm. He disregards this warning. Its a fascinating and engaging tale that offers a slightly lighter, yet still tragic, perspective. WebEverything You Always Wanted to Know about Middle School (but were too busy being stuffed in a locker to ask)Werner Trieschmann. All are written for kids to perform. First off, lets all be clear: as some will already know, Frankenstein is not a monster. Thank you! In one of the most famous scenes in theatre, Brutus stabs Caesar on the floor of the Senate on the 15th of March the Ides of March. Everyman for character journey and endless options for character development. It combines Spanish, Mexican, and Native American influences, showing openly the ways in which these forces within the protagonists life come into conflict. Gaining some understanding of this horrific genocide is crucial to students. The Great Gatsby follows the quest of a wealthy young man to win back the love of his life by extravagant displays of riches and social connections. He throws on the run well and shows good touch on Even if you can't read all of them, picking a few would not be a bad place to start. 365 Days/365 Plays isnt a single modern play as you might guess from the name, its a collection of 365 plays. Playwright: John CarianiLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. Best Character: Edmund for intelligence, grace, and personal struggle with family. SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. After killing her father (a prominent Nazi) with a rolling pin, von Mahlsdorf went on to survive some of the most difficult decades in recent history. Best Characters: Mary Warren and Abigail Williams for fatal shenanigans. 5. Beneatha for bravery, intelligence, and outspokenness. Honey and Nick, two drunkenly unaware, unassuming, and unprepared 20-somethings. Best Character: The middle sister, Masha, for wit, intelligence, and a biting sense of humor. Choose from one of the choices below. several murders. 1. Playwright: Rajiv JosephLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. 21 Lesser-Known Musicals: How Many Do You Know? Playwrights: Theresa Rebeck, Alexandra Gersten-VassilarosLicensing: Concord Theatricals. When Ernest (Jack) tells everyone at the country estate that his brother Ernest in the city has died, confusion takes over and the farce deepens. Blink is an intimate, quirky little romantic comedy dont worry, its not too sweet. Playwright: Tracy Letts Licensing: Dramatists Play Service 5. Brothers Lincoln and Booth yes, the names are intentional are just trying to stay afloat after a challenging upbringing. Playwright: Jez ButterworthLicensing: Nick Hern Books. To Kill a Mockingbird rose to prominence during the Civil Rights Movement and remains as potent today as it ever was. This madcap adaptation of Jane Austen's story about sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood can easily be tailored to fit the needs of your drama club: Dramatist Play Service (which handles the rights) advertises the cast as being "3-8 men, 4-9 women." Brutus experiences a moral dilemma, torn between killing his friend and allowing Caesar to take the throne and possibly harm the people of Rome. The protagonist, Esther, a stand-in for Plath herself, is a college student exploring her talents, interests, and sexuality as she descends into an unsettling spiral of mental instability. Web110 Minutes. An email redemption code has been sent to the receiver. Oberon and his faithful servant, Puck, cause trouble when Puck accidentally makes Lysander andDemetrius fall in love withHelenaand Titania fall in love with a boastful actor named Bottom who Puck turns into a donkey. There are ready-made costumes for the famous characters that they can order online. George and Marthas relationship quickly reveals a deep animosity they hold toward each other stemming from a hidden truth that has festered for too long. Playwright: Bruce NorrisLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. Ken (a man from Nebraska, of course) deals with a spiritual crisis in Tracy Letts play. Plus, you'll understand more of the references that crop up all the time in pop culture. Laus went to ask aid of the oracle of Delphi, but was slain mysteriously on the road. Summary: This play is the basis for My Fair Lady. Her son, Edmund, develops the symptoms of tuberculosis, and Edmunds brother Jaime and father Tyrone must deal with the addictions and illnesses of their family members while bickering between themselves. Mary tells her grandmother the lie, swearing it to be true, and when her grandmother calls the other girls parents, the lie spins so out of control that it destroys the lives of the two women forever. Brutus sides with Cassius and the other betrayers. Summary: Probably the wittiest comedy in the English language. These issues seem too big for his six-year-old mind, and yet he grapples with them valiantly through the end of the novel. The themes of friendship, identity, and parental expectations are bound to resonate with teenage performers. A summer tea party on the brink of doom is how one production of Escaped Alone described the play. There are 20 schools across the county that need to do better according to Ofsted. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. In this book, Orwell tells a story that warns readers about the possible consequences of complacency in the face of rising dictators (think Hitler and Stalin) and burgeoning technology ripe for misuse. Playwright Michael Frayn has created a masterpiece of controlled chaos in which everything that can go wrong, does. Letts infuses the script with subtle, brilliant insights a few scenes in, your laughter will be tinged with heartbreak. Bootycandy explores what its like to grow up as a Black gay man. Slaughterhouse-Five is a fictional account of events in some ways very similar to what the author himself experienced as a prisoner of war in WWII. In one of the most famous scenes in theatre, Brutus stabs Caesar on the floor of the Senate on the 15th of March the Ides of March. Then theres the thematic material, which includes obedience, fate, and rash decisions, among others. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points, How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer, Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests. Summary: The Prozorov sisters, Olga, Masha, and Irina, dream of freedom, sex, romance and Moscow. It took Sam Hubbard less than 5 seconds Sunday night to describe his career-defining fumble return for a touchdown. Walter Lee, a chauffeur, has other plans: buying a liquor store and being his own man. Through a series of tragic soul-searching revelations of the life he has lived with his wife, his sons, and his business associates, we discover how his quest for the American Dream kept him blind to the people who truly loved him. Samuel French Troy for conflict between his son and his unrealized dream of pro ball. 7. You might start with those that simply sound the most interesting to you, or you could look for themes in the books that relate to what you're learning in school. Blues for Mister Charlie. The play runs for less than an hour, which is just the right length; it provides enough time to absorb the jarring content, but not enough for viewers and readers to tire of the conceit. Okonkwo is the protagonist, and he goes through a number of difficulties that put him in the position of making distasteful decisions. Ken Kesey documents in this work the darkest side of mental health care as it existed in the 1960s. Play #2: Burlington nails buzzer beater against South Burlington. When the parents meet, purportedly to resolve the issue, the discussion devolves into madness. Summary: Set in the summer home of the Tyrone family during 1912. This is a tale of sibling rivalry the kind that comes with devastating consequences. When Juliet finds out she has to marry a guy she doesnt really know, she takes a sleeping potion, making her family think shes dead. Though neither parent had graduated high school, and test prep was out of the question, she scored in the 99th percentile on both the SAT and ACT, taking each test only once. Dee Brown covers a lot of historical ground in this book. A bittersweet comedy about a stuttering teenage boy who retreats from his fear of people into a world of magical illusions. Meanwhile, hes also lashing out at Ophelia, daughter of wise-man Polonius. In particular, Huxley balances utopian and dystopian interpretations of a world that is highly controlled, easily manipulated, and extremely dysfunctional, ready to fall apart at any provocation. Yes, you read that correctly. If youre in search of comedic contemporary plays, Clybourne Park fits the bill it racked up Tony, Olivier, and Pulitzer awards. 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