Inspirational dramas
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Play Suggestions
Forum Discription: Need help finding a show that's right for your theater? Ask here.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2031
Printed Date: 11/22/24 at 5:04pm
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Topic: Inspirational dramas
Posted By: mikejmurray
Subject: Inspirational dramas
Date Posted: 9/18/06 at 5:22pm
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Hi,
I run a very new theater company. So far we have only done Flowers For Algernon. Our next show will be Harvey. I am currently looking for options for our 3rd production.
Just some info about me. I have Cerebral Palsy. I do not necessarily want 'overcoming a disability' to be the theme of my next show, nor am I looking for a play that has a disabled character in it. But I am looking for some kind of inspirational drama where I can maybe tie in some of my own personal experiences. Ideally I'd want a relatively small cast (no more than 6). I'm also looking for something that would fit a general audience rating (no mature content). If anyone has any ideas please let me know.
Thank you,
- Michael
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Replies:
Posted By: Playwright
Date Posted: 9/18/06 at 9:42pm
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Hi,
One of th most inspirational plays I know is 'The Miracle Worker', the story of Helen Keller & her teacher Annie Sullivan.
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Posted By: mikejmurray
Date Posted: 9/19/06 at 8:42pm
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Yes, I am familiar with that play (I was actually in it in high school). It is a great one. I just don't know if I'm ready for that one yet. Any others you can think of? Thanks.
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Posted By: TonyDi
Date Posted: 9/20/06 at 7:13am
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Well there is always one of my favorites - CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD - however, that DOES have mature content in it - more rough language than anything. But it IS a good script...even with the language (can't get past it though since it's integral to one of the characters personalities - he likes to swear). Alas!!
TonyDi
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"Almost famous"
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Posted By: slicksister
Date Posted: 9/21/06 at 11:05pm
What about The Boys Next Door?
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The Main Thing is to Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing
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Posted By: P&M Sales
Date Posted: 9/22/06 at 10:20am
Hi Mike,
We have a one-act play on our catalog which deals with the issues
surrounding a disabled child growing up, and the stresses that this can
cause to the immediate family.
For The Love Of Sara (4m, 3f) Genre - Drama
Ben is a patient in a psychiatric ward.
As he is being questioned by Carl, a psychiatrist,
the landscape of Ben's family life emerges.
The centre of his life is his love for his
daughter, Sara, who was born brain damaged.
Carl succeeds in getting Ben to describe
those times in his life which have been
both painful and pleasureable, and these
are portrayed through flashback scenes behind
a shadow screen. We never actually get to
see Ben's alter ego, or Jenny, or Sara, or the
other minor characters face-to-face, they
are merely shadows in his mind, as well
as on the stage.
As the years go by, the difficulties of
bringing up a severely disabled child both
medically and socially, whilst trying to
maintain both careers and a semblance of
conventional life, causes a deepening rift
to develop between Ben and Jenny. The culmination
of their plight is the breakdown of their
marriage, then separation and custody hearings.
For Jenny, this is absolutely the right
thing to do; for Ben, it's his worst nightmare.
Carl finally teases out of Ben the horror
in his life that he can't face up to, and
the reason for his incarceration. Ironically
though, it is this same horror that has
the effect of dramatically changing Jenny
and Sara's lives forever.
Visible Actors : (2m)
*Carl
- a psychiatrist
*Ben
- the patient
Actors in the Shadow-play (2m, 3f)
*Ben (#2)
*Jenny
- Ben's wife
Sara - Ben's daughter. Played as various
ages 6-12. Non-speaking role
Midwife
Nurse
Doctor
Judge
NOTES :
1) * denotes a principal role.
2) The Midwife and Nurse, and the Doctor and Judge are shown in
the cast totals as being doubled roles, but they could be separate
actors.
Although you don't ask for this, we also have another one-act play (a comedy) called 'Time For Ben' (the name is a pure coincidence to the above) which
does feature a character who is severely disabled and wheelchair-bound.
It really is a lovingly accurate look at the sacrifices made by Ben's
parents and the blase incomprehension of disability demonstrated
by society at large. The author has written a truly magnificent comedy
around a very sensitive and emotionally-charged subject.
Both of these plays are available individually, or bound together in
the anthology 'Dreams And Delusions, Vol 4'. Our website provides full
details on all the above, where you can buy all rehearsal material and
licences securely online, and also download a preview script. Look
under the menu item 'Plays' 'One'Act'.
best regards
David
http://www.playsandmusicals.co.uk - www.playsandmusicals.co.uk
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Posted By: red diva
Date Posted: 9/26/06 at 10:35am
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How about "Lost in Yonkers"? It is a small cast (3 women, 2 men, 2 boys) with one of the women being mildly mentally/emotionally handicapped (Bella). By the end of the play she has made a move toward asserting her freedom and individuality from her controlling (but secretly loving) mother.
A few words of caution....DON'T do this show unless you have 2 very talented boys (ages about 10-14, with variations being possible). It is also very talky, so good pacing is required. In addition, you need to handle the character of Bella with dignity and love....no caricatures (as was mentioned in another forum about "The Boys Next Door"). In other words, a strong, sensitive director is a necessity.
BUT...it is a Pulitzer winner and, in my opinion, one of Simon's best!
PS - I had the privilege of playing Bella in this lovely show. I have a mentally challenged uncle that I have observed for many years to draw on for my character.
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"I've worked long and hard to earn the right to be called Diva!"
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 9/28/06 at 2:32pm
How about Anne of Green Gables by Sylvia Ashby from Baker Plays (through SF). Very well received, and exceptionally clean. Only bad part is there are 17 characters--but many are female and some can be doubled.
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Posted By: RichardTYoung
Date Posted: 11/01/06 at 12:03am
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Check out a play called Tell Me that you Love me Junie Moon. It's a funky little piece, but has some interesting commentary about being handicapped.
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Live well, be safe
Richard T. Young
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Posted By: falstaff29
Date Posted: 11/01/06 at 12:15am
Scooter Thomas Makes it to the Top of the World is a beautiful,
emotional play about friendship. 2 males. Does have some
profanity, but it has a great theme.
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