Open Forum

Hey all. I'm looking for something dramatic that is either based in history or literature. I've already done Dracula, Jekyll and Hyde, Diary of Anne Frank, a couple of Sherlock Holmes, Frankenstein, Jack the Ripper, and an Agatha Christie. 

I'm looking at Lizzie Borden but I don't know if my admin will okay it. I have a good mix of males and females and am looking for something with a lot of depth but that doesn't push the line too much. Ideas?

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Shira Schwartz
Chandler Unified School District
Chandler AZ
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There is a great script for 1984 available on Dramatic Publishing that we did last year. The kids had a lot of fun with it!

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Christopher Hamilton
Drama Teacher
Kennewick WA
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I adore Northanger Abbey, and there are a few versions to choose from!

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Rosemary Bucher
Licensing Representative, Educational Theatre
Samuel French
New York NY
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-03-2017 16:19
From: Christopher Hamilton
Subject: Favorite historical or literary drama?

There is a great script for 1984 available on Dramatic Publishing that we did last year. The kids had a lot of fun with it!

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Christopher Hamilton
Drama Teacher
Kennewick WA
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If you're looking to stay dark with your content, perhaps Patrick Hamilton's Rope based broadly on the Leopold and Loeb murders? (Leopold and Loeb have a ton of plays written about them, including John Logan's extraordinary Never the Sinner.) Patrick Hamilton also wrote Angel Street, which was eventually turned into the film Gaslight, and feels . . . somewhat timely.

I've also read about a few high schools doing Marat/Sade now, which blows my mind in the best way possible.

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Victoria Chatfield
Executive Director
National Theatre for Student Artists
www.nationalstudenttheatre.org
vchatfield@nationalstudenttheatre.org
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------Original Message------

Hey all. I'm looking for something dramatic that is either based in history or literature. I've already done Dracula, Jekyll and Hyde, Diary of Anne Frank, a couple of Sherlock Holmes, Frankenstein, Jack the Ripper, and an Agatha Christie. 

I'm looking at Lizzie Borden but I don't know if my admin will okay it. I have a good mix of males and females and am looking for something with a lot of depth but that doesn't push the line too much. Ideas?

------------------------------
Shira Schwartz
Chandler Unified School District
Chandler AZ
------------------------------

Radium Girls is a good one. Those who worked making watch dials phosphorescent were told it was safe. Nope. Great opportunities for stage makeup, too, as their faces deteriorate. (This led to the creation of OSHA, though that's not mentioned in the play).

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Douglas Rome
Director of Theatre Arts
Fairfax County Public Schools
Burke VA
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We did a theatre in the round production of 12 Angry Men, no intermissions - 85 minutes straight through last fall. It was a great challenge for my students & everyone who saw it loved it.

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Melissa Purdy
Westminster High School
Westminster MD
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I've done Raisin in the Sun, and The Miracle Worker.  Also on my list to do: The Great Gatsby, any Shakespeare, and MASH (not literary but historical). A friend of mine is doing Anne of Green Gables. - The Crucible is always a relevent classic too. You got me thinking - Great question!

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Marla Blasko
Director/Teacher Theatre Arts
Long Reach High School
Columbia, MD
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------Original Message------

Hey all. I'm looking for something dramatic that is either based in history or literature. I've already done Dracula, Jekyll and Hyde, Diary of Anne Frank, a couple of Sherlock Holmes, Frankenstein, Jack the Ripper, and an Agatha Christie. 

I'm looking at Lizzie Borden but I don't know if my admin will okay it. I have a good mix of males and females and am looking for something with a lot of depth but that doesn't push the line too much. Ideas?

------------------------------
Shira Schwartz
Chandler Unified School District
Chandler AZ
------------------------------

THE MIRACLE WORKER was one of my absolute favorites. From literature also, Christina Calvit’s A ROOM WITH A VIEW, Willis Hall’s JANE EYRE, and don’t forget TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. A ROOM WITH A VIEW is a wonderful little romance that can be staged very theatrically that high school audiences really loved. It has some great comedic moments. For the skinny dipping section, we put the guys in one piece long johns.

Jill Campbell
State College Area High School
ARTsmART(Learning Enrichment/Gifted Support)
Director State High Thespian Troupe 5029
jkc11@scasd.org

------Original Message------

Hey all. I'm looking for something dramatic that is either based in history or literature. I've already done Dracula, Jekyll and Hyde, Diary of Anne Frank, a couple of Sherlock Holmes, Frankenstein, Jack the Ripper, and an Agatha Christie. 

I'm looking at Lizzie Borden but I don't know if my admin will okay it. I have a good mix of males and females and am looking for something with a lot of depth but that doesn't push the line too much. Ideas?

------------------------------
Shira Schwartz
Chandler Unified School District
Chandler AZ
------------------------------

You guys are awesome - I love all these ideas!

- Arden

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Arden Thomas
Teaching Artist, Theater
Sequoyah High School
Pasadena CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-04-2017 17:43
From: Jill Campbell
Subject: Favorite historical or literary drama?

THE MIRACLE WORKER was one of my absolute favorites. From literature also, Christina Calvit's A ROOM WITH A VIEW, Willis Hall's JANE EYRE, and don't forget TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. A ROOM WITH A VIEW is a wonderful little romance that can be staged very theatrically that high school audiences really loved. It has some great comedic moments. For the skinny dipping section, we put the guys in one piece long johns.

Jill Campbell
State College Area High School
ARTsmART(Learning Enrichment/Gifted Support)
Director State High Thespian Troupe 5029
jkc11@scasd.org


Original Message------

Hey all. I'm looking for something dramatic that is either based in history or literature. I've already done Dracula, Jekyll and Hyde, Diary of Anne Frank, a couple of Sherlock Holmes, Frankenstein, Jack the Ripper, and an Agatha Christie.

I'm looking at Lizzie Borden but I don't know if my admin will okay it. I have a good mix of males and females and am looking for something with a lot of depth but that doesn't push the line too much. Ideas?

------------------------------
Shira Schwartz
Chandler Unified School District
Chandler AZ
------------------------------

Mad Forest by Caryl Churchill!

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Arden Thomas
Teaching Artist, Theater
Sequoyah High School
Pasadena CA
------------------------------

Some of my favorites:

The Outsiders
Rumblefish
Bury the Dead by Irwin Shaw
The Effect of Gamma Rays On Man-in the Moon Marigolds
Farenheight 451 by Ray Bradbury (adaptation is weak but it can work with a little creativity. Excellent opportunity for staging, costumes, props, soundtrack etc.) - Sadly, kind of timely again

Best,

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Donnie Bryan
Department Chair for Visual and Performing Arts
Nashville TN
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A Piece of My Heart is a beautiful historical play - and there are veterans still around who can discuss their experiences with your students.  The cast can be expanded and I would recommend using more than 1 man; I thought it was disconcerting when a soldier died and then walked off.  When I directed it, I had enough men that all bodies were carried off.

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Marilynn Zeljeznjak
Blacksburg VA
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​We do a lot of historical here. I recommend Triangle or These Shining Lives. Both are meaty and challenging without being TOO mature for high school actors or audiences. Nice women-centric historical connections to events that not everyone knows about.

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Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
Theatre Department Coordinator
Fishersville VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-05-2017 15:33
From: Marilynn Zeljeznjak
Subject: Favorite historical or literary drama?

A Piece of My Heart is a beautiful historical play - and there are veterans still around who can discuss their experiences with your students.  The cast can be expanded and I would recommend using more than 1 man; I thought it was disconcerting when a soldier died and then walked off.  When I directed it, I had enough men that all bodies were carried off.

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Marilynn Zeljeznjak
Blacksburg VA
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Thanks everyone and keep them coming. I probably should have mentioned that I tried to get approval for Inherit The Wind a few years ago and was told I wasn't allowed to do it...

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Shira Schwartz
Chandler Unified School District
Chandler AZ
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-06-2017 07:37
From: Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
Subject: Favorite historical or literary drama?

​We do a lot of historical here. I recommend Triangle or These Shining Lives. Both are meaty and challenging without being TOO mature for high school actors or audiences. Nice women-centric historical connections to events that not everyone knows about.

------------------------------
Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
Theatre Department Coordinator
Fishersville VA
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 11-05-2017 15:33
From: Marilynn Zeljeznjak
Subject: Favorite historical or literary drama?

A Piece of My Heart is a beautiful historical play - and there are veterans still around who can discuss their experiences with your students.  The cast can be expanded and I would recommend using more than 1 man; I thought it was disconcerting when a soldier died and then walked off.  When I directed it, I had enough men that all bodies were carried off.

------------------------------
Marilynn Zeljeznjak
Blacksburg VA

I've always wanted to produce that play if I had strong males.  Shame on your district for not letting you do it.

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Janette Clark
Drama Teacher
Minneapolis KS
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-06-2017 10:10
From: Shira Schwartz
Subject: Favorite historical or literary drama?

Thanks everyone and keep them coming. I probably should have mentioned that I tried to get approval for Inherit The Wind a few years ago and was told I wasn't allowed to do it...

------------------------------
Shira Schwartz
Chandler Unified School District
Chandler AZ
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 11-06-2017 07:37
From: Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
Subject: Favorite historical or literary drama?

​We do a lot of historical here. I recommend Triangle or These Shining Lives. Both are meaty and challenging without being TOO mature for high school actors or audiences. Nice women-centric historical connections to events that not everyone knows about.

------------------------------
Cassy Maxton-Whitacre
Theatre Department Coordinator
Fishersville VA


Original Message:
Sent: 11-05-2017 15:33
From: Marilynn Zeljeznjak
Subject: Favorite historical or literary drama?

A Piece of My Heart is a beautiful historical play - and there are veterans still around who can discuss their experiences with your students.  The cast can be expanded and I would recommend using more than 1 man; I thought it was disconcerting when a soldier died and then walked off.  When I directed it, I had enough men that all bodies were carried off.

------------------------------
Marilynn Zeljeznjak
Blacksburg VA

All the Way or parts of/the whole shebang of Kentucky Cycle. Great writing, the former based on LBJ of course, and the Kentucky Cycle following the path of a family over several generations in US history. Definitely dark enough for you, though some content might push it over a little bit. 

Amadeus is always a fun prospect. 

My new favorite is 'Is He Dead?', a David Ives adaptation of a (I think never performed originally) Mark Twain play. Very, very funny and approximately close enough to farce, but that doesn't quite fit your list. It does fit the literary/history angle, though...

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Phillip Goodchild
Theatre Arts Instructor

Etobicoke ON
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I'm looking at doing The Elephant Man next year. Beautiful period play based on actual events. You can probably reuse a lot of your Dracula, Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper costumes as it's the same time period. You need to deal with Mrs. Kendal baring her breasts to Merrick in a pivotal scene but I've always seen it done with the actress' back to the audience and her simply opening her blouse (Presumably wearing a body-stocking or leotard underneath). The cast can be expanded from 10 to 20 or more depending on doubling.  The play is by David Pomerantz and it's published by Samuel French

You seem fond of literary thrillers and ghost stories so check out The Haunting of Hill House, adapted by Andrew Leslie from the novel by Shirley Jackson (Dramatists Play Service). You might also check out The Innocents by Archibald MacLeish, adapted from Henry James' The Turn of the Screw (also Samuel French) although the cast is small and mostly female. 

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John Monteverde
Drama Teacher
Pittsfield High School
Pittsfield, MA
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And Then They Came for Me.
Teenage life of 2 survivors with actors playing their complete families interacting with excerpts of interviews of the survivors in late 90s.  Helmuth Silverberg (Hello from the Diaries) who was Anne Frank's 1st boyfriend and Eva Geringer, who was Anne's girlfriend and who's family was betrayed too.

65 minutes...15 characters...incredibly moving...


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David Kramer
Mt Sinai NY
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------Original Message------

Hey all. I'm looking for something dramatic that is either based in history or literature. I've already done Dracula, Jekyll and Hyde, Diary of Anne Frank, a couple of Sherlock Holmes, Frankenstein, Jack the Ripper, and an Agatha Christie. 

I'm looking at Lizzie Borden but I don't know if my admin will okay it. I have a good mix of males and females and am looking for something with a lot of depth but that doesn't push the line too much. Ideas?

------------------------------
Shira Schwartz
Chandler Unified School District
Chandler AZ
------------------------------

Sent from my iPad

------Original Message------

Creating my list of plays to read as we speak.
Thank you for this thread.

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Kelly McCain
Addison TX
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