Anonymous

As you start planning for the new school year, why not explore some incredible issue-based plays? These thought-provoking scripts tackle real-world challenges and spark meaningful conversations in your classroom or on stage. These plays are perfect for fostering meaningful discussions and bringing diverse voices to your stage or classroom. Add them to your collection and watch your students engage with drama that truly matters!

Welcome to "Playwright Spotlight" — your exclusive backstage pass to the creative minds crafting the incredible plays featured in our Theatrefolk catalogue. Discover the magic, quirks, and genius of the playwrights who help bring the stage to life. Let's meet one of these exceptional playwrights who offers the chance for your student performers to shine in their spotlight. What inspired you to start writing plays specifically for high school & middle school students?I began writing in high school and wrote about my own experiences. I wrote dialogue between family members telling stories of family funny moments. But it wasn’t until I became a teacher that I wanted to write to include my student’s perspectives. Can you share a bit about your creative process when developing plays that resonate with students?I tend to write relationships … dialogue between friends, siblings (particularly sisters) and then I develop monologues to complete the thoughts of my characters about their important people. Are there any challenges you face when writing for student performers, and how do you overcome them?As I get older, I check with my students a lot more about tone of voice and turn of phrase. Not that I recommend trendy sayings - as language trends change quickly and become dated. What themes or messages do you aim to convey through your plays?Connection. The power of Art. Sharing your important stories with your important people. How do you balance education and fun in your scripts?I tend to use humour to get comfortable and then add in education. As one of my favourite directors Mark Wilson used to say, “open their mouths with laughter and then pour the truth down.” Can you share a memorable experience or feedback from a student performance that left an impact on you?I’m proud of young directors and actors who take on challenging work bravely. There have been controversial moments around my work (2SLGBTQ content) in some places in the world. Students who share my work Anonymous bravely despite those people who are uncomfortable make me terrifically proud. Any advice for teachers or directors looking to choose engaging and age-appropriate plays for their student performers?Theatrefolk’s catalogue allows students to explore. What is your favourite play you've written so far?I’m currently producing a new play that excites me. It’s about sisters, a neurodivergent artist who needs to connect through art. Themes that are similar, but more urgent (and dramatic) than my Anonymous.

If you’re looking for plays and musicals to include in your drama classroom library, look no further — here are 42 plays and musicals featuring LGBTQ+ characters, stories, and themes. Introduce these plays and musicals to your students, read them as a class, and check out performances of them (many have filmed or movie versions). If you’re looking to perform a play with your students, be sure to check out the plays from Theatrefolk listed here — they’re perfect for high school students. And check out the other plays by our Theatrefolk LGBTQ+ authors on our site! Plays from Theatrefolk featuring LGBTQ+ Themes and CharactersFrom our very own Theatrefolk catalogue, these plays are fabulous for high school students to study and perform. Some even come with free classroom study guides. 1. Completely, Absolutely Normal: Vignettes About LGBTQ+ Teens by Bradley Walton (Free Classroom Study Guide available!) Ten interconnected vignettes with LGBTQ+ themes. 2. Red Tee by Lindsay Price (Free Classroom Study Guide available!) A vignette play that examines questions of identity and what happens when someone doesn’t fit in the way they’re expected to. 3. Bungee Jump Bear Trap by Lindsay Price A vignette play about taking risks and figuring it all out. 4. Life, Off Book by Scott Giessler Jeb is Ophelia’s fake boyfriend who is also a closeted gay man. What happens when Jeb and Ophelia have to lose the script and live life off book? 5. Pandemic Pancake by Lindsay Price Characters decide, for good and for ill, how they will respond to this evolving new world. 6. Anonymous by Allison Green The story of every teenager — it’s hard to be an individual when you’re trying to fit in. 7. Baalzebub by Rachel Atkins A group of girls is abandoned at a refugee camp in an unnamed war zone and are forced to survive together. A response to the classic novel Lord of the Flies. 8. Finding Jo March by Laramie Dean You should know right away that this is not a traditional adaptation of Little Women. 9. Moonbow Miraculous & Moonbow Miraculous: Competition Length Version by Kirk Shimano If someone has a secret they’ve been clutching to their heart, the moonbow’s glow will give them the courage to share their true selves 10. The Pretty Princess Dollhouse for Pretty Princesses by Emma Fonseca Halverson Gabi is suffering from metaphoric asthma. The walls are closing in and she can’t breathe. 11. Characters Behaving Badly by Lindsay Price This vignette play asks students to look at the concept of what it means to be “good” and “bad.” 12. Passing Period Purgatory by Christian Kiley Sometimes the hardest part of school is getting from one class to the next. 13. Thought Traps by Lindsay Price Ariane and Kate deal with people from their past who invade their head space. Will either be able to set themselves free? 14. 6ft Scenes by Lindsay Price A collection of 15 scenes in which no two characters get within 6ft of each other. As well, be sure to check out these Theatrefolk playwrights: Laramie Dean, Emma Fonseca Halverson, Bradley Hayward, Kirk Shimano and Bradley Walton. Musicals Featuring LGBTQ+ Themes and CharactersComing to you from Broadway and Off-Broadway, these musicals are packed with amazing songs and important themes. 1. Head Over Heels, book by Jeff Whitty, adapted by James Magruder, music and lyrics by The Go-Go’s A kingdom is threatened, unlikely lovers unite, and gender-fluid disguises are donned in a musical that preaches unconditional love and acceptance of everyone, no matter their gender or sexual identity. 2. Fun Home, by Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori, adapted from Alison Bedchel’s memoir Alison, an author and lesbian, reflects on her journey to discover and accept her identity, as well as her relationship with her father (a closeted gay man). 3. The Color Purple, book by Marsha Norman, based on the novel by Alice Walker, music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray Celie, a teenage African-American girl living in Georgia, is given by her abusive stepfather to an even more abusive husband. Over the years, Celie finds ways to cope with life, including finding a potential lover in the fabulous Shug Avery. 4. La Cage aux Folles, book by Harvey Fierstein, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman Georges (owner of the La Cage aux Folles nightclub) and his partner Albin face the hardest challenge of their twenty-year relationship: meeting their son’s fiancee’s ultra-conservative, anti-gay parents. 5. Kinky Boots, book by Harvey Fierstein, music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper Charlie Price teams up with drag queen Lola to save his failing shoe factory, and in the process, discovers that they aren’t so different after all. 6. Hedwig and the Angry Inch, book by John Cameron Mitchell, music and lyrics by Stephen Trask Genderqueer rock singer Hedwig Robinson shares her story — including the tale of her botched gender reassignment surgery — with the audience through monologues and rock songs. 7. Rent, book, music, and lyrics by Jonathan Larson Follows the ups and downs of a year in the life of a group of impoverished, artistic friends living in the East Village of Manhattan in the late 1980s, under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. 8. Bare: A Pop Opera and Bare: The Musical, book by Hartmere and Intrabartolo, music by Damon Intrabartolo, lyrics by Jon Hartmere Peter and Jason, students at a Catholic boarding school, have fallen in love with each other, but Jason — a popular athlete — fears losing his status if he is discovered to be gay. 9. Spring Awakening, book and lyrics by Steven Sater, music by Duncan Sheik, based on the 1891 German play _Spring Awakening _by Frank Wedekind In late 19th century Germany, with only each other for guidance, a group of young men and women travel the rocky path of adolescence, discovering their bodies, their sexuality, their minds, and themselves along the way. 10. The Boy from Oz, book by Nick Enright, revised book by Martin Sherman, music and lyrics by Peter Allen A musical telling of the story of Australian entertainer Peter Allen, from his humble beginnings, to his rise to fame, to his marriage to Liza Minelli, to the crumbling of their marriage due to Allen’s homosexuality, to his final concert before his death from AIDS. 11. The Prom, book by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin, based on an original concept by Jack Viertel, music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin Four struggling Broadway stars team up to help Emma Nolan have the prom of her dreams with her girlfriend, despite the actions of the homophobic PTA. 12. The Louder We Get (previously titled Prom Queen), book by Kent Staines, lyrics by Akiva Romer-Segal, music by Colleen Dauncey Based on the true story of Marc Hall, a gay Canadian teenager whose legal fight to bring a same-sex date to his Catholic high school prom made national and international headlines in 2002. 13. Falsettos, book by William Finn and James Lapine, music and lyrics by William Finn In 1970s New York, Marvin and Trina’s perfect family is broken apart when Marvin leaves Trina for a man named Whizzer. 14. Witness Uganda (previously titled Invisible Thread), book, music, and lyrics by Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews Based on the true story of Griffin Matthews. Matthews travels to Uganda for mission work after being kicked out of his church choir when the pastor discovered he was gay. 15. A Man of No Importance, book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens Alfie and his amateur theatre group are determined to stage a controversial play at their local church. In the process of fighting for the play, Alfie is forced to confront his own homosexuality and share his true self with those around him. 16. Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, book by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott, music and lyrics by various artists Drag queens Tick and Adam and transgender woman Bernadette travel across Australia in their bus named Priscilla. 17. Zanna, Don’t! by Tim Acito, additional lyrics and material by Alexander Dinelaris Set in Heartsville, USA, a city where homosexuality is the norm and heterosexuality is taboo. At Heartsville High, Zanna plays matchmaker and brings happy couples together, but heterophobia strikes when a pair of opposite-sex high schoolers discover their feelings for each other. 18. Jagged Little Pill, book by Diablo Cody, music by Alanis Morissette and Glen Ballard, lyrics by Alanis Morissette, with additional music by Michael Farrell and Guy Sigsworth The seemingly-perfect Healy family, including parents MJ and Steve and teenage children Frankie and Nick, struggles with challenges including addiction, sexual identity, and the pressure to keep up appearances. 19. My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding, book by David Hein and Irene Sankoff, music by David Hein From the creators of Come From Away and based on Hein’s real family, David reflects on his mother coming out when he was 13, after divorcing David’s father, discovering Judaism, and falling in love with a woman who practices Wicca. Plays Featuring LGBTQ+ Themes and CharactersDramas, comedies, award-winners, and more. 1. She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen After the death of her sister Tilly and discovery of Tilly’s game scenario notebook, Agnes Evans delves into the world of Dungeons & Dragons to understand and grieve her sister. 2. The Laramie Project by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project In 1998, university student Matthew Shepard was tortured, robbed, and murdered for being gay. The murder was deemed a hate crime. In the aftermath, the Tectonic Theater Project travelled to Laramie, Wyoming and interviewed hundreds of subjects both directly and indirectly related to the case. 3. Almost, Maine by John Cariani On one cold and magical midwinter night, the citizens of Almost, Maine experience love, loss, and the life-altering power of the human heart. One of the most produced plays in North American high schools. 4. Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes by Tony Kushner A two-part, seven-hour, Tony-winning epic play primarily focusing on a gay couple from New York, with other intersecting storylines. 5. The Boys in the Band by Mart Crowley A group of gay men gather at Michael’s home to celebrate their friend Harold’s birthday. Michael’s friend from college, Alan, unexpectedly arrives, who has no idea that Michael or any of his friends are gay. 6. HIR by Taylor Mac After a dishonorable discharge from the military, Isaac returns home to discover his father has suffered a stroke, his sibling Max has come out as transgender, and his mother is ready to educate Isaac about the new post-gender world (while unknowingly appropriating Max’s experience). 7. The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer Passionate and confrontational activist Ned Weeks campaigns for awareness about an unidentified disease (HIV/AIDS) that is killing gay men in New York City, while tending to friends and lovers who are dying all around him. 8. As Is by William M. Hoffman Released shortly before The Normal Heart, Rich decides to return to his ex-partner, Saul, after contracting AIDS from his new lover. Seeking care, Rich reveals how doctors, family members, and friends reacted to people with AIDS. 9. The Shadow Box by Michael Cristofer Three different people, all dying of cancer, live out their final days in homey hospice cottages, and are interviewed by a psychiatrist for a psychological project.

March 8th is International Women’s Day – and what better time to highlight some amazing women within the Theatrefolk community. Join us in celebrating these phenomenal playwrights and authors and their incredible contributions to the world of student theatre. Plus, keep reading to see our Top 10 Plays for Female Casts at the end of the post! Rachel Atkins • Baalzebub (and One Act Version)

Time for a Tfolk Top Ten Plays About….Empathy. Based on the idea that empathy is the act understanding and sharing another person’s experience, these plays open the door to looking out to others rather than looking in. Use these plays to spark to an empathy discussion. Click the link and you’ll be taken to the webpage for each play. There you’ll get the details and read sample pages. Hand this list over to your student directors and see what they think. All the best with your search!

Time for a Tfolk Top Ten Plays For….Gender Flexible Roles. Sometimes you have more girls than guys. Once in a while you have more guys than girls. And sometimes you have students who want to choose their own path. You want to give all your students an opportunity to take the stage but how do you account for your ever changing mix? Click the link and you’ll be taken to the webpage for each play. There you’ll get the details and read sample pages. Every play gives you gender-fluid options. All the best with your search! Smarty Pants (8E) All the characters in this play can be played by the gender of your choice. Name options included. Dallas is a real smarty pants but there’s more Play-doh than Plato and more colouring than Van Gogh in this advanced placement class. Will Dallas figure out Kindergarten High or flunk? Apostrophe’s (13E) Playwright Bradley Hayward knows how important it is to offer casting options. (He also wrote the above Smarty Pants) All the characters can be played by the gender of your choice. Are you sometime’s amazed at how many apostrophe’s s’ome people manage to fi’t into s’entence’s? Then you’re not the only one. That’s just the problem that needs to be solved in this outrageous comedy. The Absolutely Insidious and Utterly Terrifying Truth About Cat Hair (8E + ensemble) You can fit as many students as you need into this play. Cat Hair is infinite after all. No matter how much hair you brush off of a cat, there will always be more. Always. It is the secret driving force behind business and politics, and is plotting the downfall of humanity even as we speak. This play has a number of object personified roles as well which can be a great challenge for character development. They Eat Sunshine, Not Zebras (11E) Nothing stands in the way of the field’s orderly life. Until they wake up one morning to see a yellow dandelion in their midst. A dandelion will turn their orderly way of life upside-down. A dandelion must be destroyed. Isn’t that what you do when something is different? All characters can be played by either gender. Shuddersome: Tales of Poe (4M/5W/25E; Doubling possible, gender flexible) Specters, ghosts and ghouls come alive in this vivid theatrical adaptation of some of Edgar Allen Poe’s best-known works. The main characters in “The Tell Tale Heart” are specifically identified as “Young” and “Old” to make them as flexible as possible. And that’s just one story, feel free to change the genders in all the stories. Clowns With Guns (A Vaudeville) (16E) A theatrical and absurd look at the repeated and seemingly endless cycle of school violence. It happens, everyone is terribly upset, things continue on as normal, it happens again. All characters can be played by either gender. Inanimate (2W/16E) This play plays with personification and thus gives you a lot of gender flexibility. Life is a little different for Ani. She talks to her coffee pot and alarm clock. She even talks to her toaster. Is she living in a happy, carefree kids’ show or is it something more serious? What if you talk to inanimate objects and they talk back? What if they write hate texts to your friends? Try to control you? Make you stay inside with the blinds drawn and the lights turned down low? What if Ani’s life is not happy at all? Anonymous (1M/3W/15E) Anonymous is a story of every teenager: the new kid trying to fit in, the best friends, the love interests, the kid in the corner with their secret, the group of individuals each trying to belong. The teenagers of Anonymous have no names because they are “Me” and “You.” They are everyone. The Perils of Modern Education (3M/19E) The Perils of Modern Education are many! From standardized theatre tests that call for an exact number of steps in a scene, to trying to eat green in the cafeteria, to dealing with caffeine withdrawal, to giving Shakespeare advice on his college application essay. A comedic romp through the stresses and struggles of making it through the school day. Gender flexible casting, doubling possibilities, and easy to stage. The Baloney, the Pickle, the Zombies, and Other Things I Hide From My Mother (1M/7W; Doubling possible) Together with his living baloney-minon, Meyer, Trevor is about to embark on a night in which he will face an angry neighbor, be questioned by police, bring a pickle to life, and discover that his food may actually be smarter than he is… all while trying to keep everything secret from his mother and little sister. Planning on performing one of these or another Theatrefolk play? Let us know all about it with pictures and highlights – we might even feature you on our site! Click here to submit your story.

Welcome to our Featured Play Spotlight. Anonymous by Allison Green is the story of every teenager: trying to fit in, trying to belong, trying to fall in love. It’s hard to be an individual when you’re trying to survive. We all have our stories. “New and old, complete and untold.” Anonymous is a story of every teenager: the new kid trying to fit in, the best friends, the love interests, the kid in the corner with their secret, the group of individuals each trying to belong. The teenagers of Anonymous have no names because they are “Me” and “You.” They are everyone. Why did we publish this play? When you write an issue play it’s easy to become trapped beneath the issue. It’s easy to let the issue overwhelm the play. Audiences don’t want to be overwhelmed. Yes, they want to learn something about the issue. But they also want to be engaged. Anonymous is a play that does just that. The issue here is something every high school student goes through: the feeling of being alone, anonymous to the point that their name doesn’t even matter. There are few things more difficult than standing out as an individual in high school, or fearing that if you told your secret you’d be shunned. Anonymous engages an audience with this issue. The characters are trying to work the issue out, they are not overwhelmed. They struggle, yes. But they also fight. That’s what an audience needs to see. This is a play that shows hope at the end of the tunnel. It doesn’t lay out a “happiness for all” ending, but it does provide a light. For some students that’s all they need. Let’s hear from the author!1. Why did you write this play? I wanted to capture the feeling of the isolated/anonymous feeling that teenagers feel as they struggle to connect with others. 2. Describe the theme in one or two sentences. Identity. Artistic Expression. Finding out who you are. 3 What’s the most important visual for you in this play? Riding a teeter totter. 4. If you could give one piece of advice for those producing the play, what would it be? Allow the student actors to find their own sense of anonymity. How can they all be the same (colour, mask etc) with their own individual style. 5. Why is this play great for student performers? Students can find their own voices. The student who is searching to connect. Hates gym class. Struggles to express themselves. Remembers kindergarten embarrassments. Loves a kid in their class. Finds it hard to talk to the guidance counselor. This play is about about every teenager. It’s about Me and You.

Trying to find your place in the world as a teenager can be tough. We all have our stories. “New and old, complete and untold.” The high school drama, Anonymous, is a story of every teenager: trying to fit in, trying to belong, trying to fall in love. The teenagers of Anonymous have no names because they are “Me” and “You.” They are everyone. It’s hard to be an individual when you’re trying to survive. The students at Almaguin Highlands Secondary School in South River, Ontario put on a special performance to mark International Day Against Homophobia for their school board. They were in an incredibly fortunate position to be directed by teacher and playwright, Allison Green , who definitely has a special connection to this play! Photo credit: Noah Looby

Time for a Tfolk Top Ten Plays For….High School. We’re a company that focuses on high school performers so the majority of our scripts are high school plays. But we know the score: you want a play that is just right for your students. You want work that is specific to your students, and yet is something that can sink their teeth into. And you don’t want to search forever and a day for that play. We’ve got a great list of 10 to get you started. Comedies, Dramas, unique formats. A little bit of everything! Click the link and you’ll be taken to the webpage for each play. There you’ll get the details and read sample pages. All the best with your search! Sixteen in 10 Minutes or Less The lives of seven teenagers become intertwined in this humorous and oftentimes bittersweet collection of ten minute plays. They plays can be performed individually or together. Split Teenagers navigate the winding road of divorce in this honest and theatrical look at the day to day reality of growing up in a family that’s been torn apart. The ending always makes me cry. Anonymous Anonymous is the story of every teenager: the new kid trying to fit in, the best friends, the love interests, the kid in the corner with their secret, individuals trying to belong. The characters are You, Me and Them. They are all of us. Look Me in the Eye Teenagers in the future are obedient, polite, and respectful. Everything about their life is black and white, right or wrong. This is due in large part to the government-required “Observation Sessions.” But there is a dark underside to this utopian vision. Sometimes life is grey. Ashland Falls The students of Herbert Hoover High are too wrapped up in miscues, awful accents, and stolen boyfriends to notice strange things happening around them. Revenge is coming. Each actor must play two vastly different roles in this spine-tingling comedy thriller. This easy to stage and intense theatrical experience will keep your audience on their edge of their seats. And the twist ending will make them question everything they’ve witnessed… Puzzle Pieces This play explores teen issues through a series of monologues. The characters speak frankly about their fears, their futures, and how to embrace the day to day. Somewhere, Nowhere A small town is a place to leave for some, a place to call home for others. The teenagers in Somewhere, Nowhere face a dilemma: Do they stay close to home at the end of high school, or do they get as far away as possible? What if they want to do both at the same time? What then? The Art of Rejection Two plays that look at being alone – whether it’s the only letter in a sea of numbers, or alone in making the right decision to sit or stand. A combination of humanity and the avant-garde the two together make for a great competition piece. The Perils of Modern Education The Perils of Modern Education are many! A comedic romp through the stresses and struggles of making it through the average, or not so average, school day. Gender flexible casting, doubling possibilities, and easy to stage. neeT Teen Teen life – backwards, forwards and inside-out. In every form from kitchen sink, to absurd, to movement, to audience participation, to song, to adding your own scene.

Time for a Tfolk Top Ten Plays About…Competition Pieces. You want winning plays. You want plays that fit competition rules. You want something that’s going to be easy to stage if you’re performing away from home. You want to give your students an interesting piece to take to competition, regardless of whether they win or not. All of these plays fit the bill. Easy to stage in an unfamiliar space. Many have won multiple competitions. And if they haven’t they’ll give your students an awesome experience. Take them to your next competition with pride. Click the link and you’ll be taken to the webpage for each play. There you’ll get the details and read sample pages. All the best with your search! Competition One-ActsAmong Friends and Clutter This play has won state competitions, been given superior production awards, and won first place in the 2013 Southeastern Theatre Conference High School Festival. The production that won SETC did the play with just a few cubes. It can be done with seven actors but it’s easily expandable. The scenes explore the most important relationships in life: friends, family and love. Anonymous A recent production of Anonymous won at the Arkansas State Thespian Festival and was chosen as a Chapter Select for the 2017 International Thespian Festival. Anonymous is the story of every teenager: the new kid trying to fit in, the best friends, the love interests, the kid in the corner with their secret, individuals trying to belong. Emotional Baggage A multi-award winning piece. It’s reached the All-Ontario level of the Sears Drama Festival, the State Level of Florida Thespians, it’s won straight superiors, critics choice and best play. And there’s a reason it captures attention. There’s no dialogue. The play is based solely on non-verbal storytelling through mask and movement. Seven strangers meet in a train station. Instead of luggage, they all carry their own “emotional baggage.” The Blue and the Grey This play is so imagistic, and so aurally stunning, it’s amazing the set isn’t more involved than it is. A small platform downstage, one upstage, and some chairs. It’s haunting, exhilarating and theatrical. And it’s not a surprise it’s won at competition. First place in the Rappahannock River Conference, first place in the 1A East Region, and an Outstanding Actress Award at the state level. A Deep Poetic Journey into Something There are excellent movement opportunities here and a fantastic main character for a senior girl. Jane wants to break out of her box, she wants a deep poetic journey. The problem is she has no idea where to start and maybe that box isn’t such a bad idea. This play received section 1A honours in Minnesota and advanced to the State One Act Festival. The Hope and Heartache Diner – One Act You want your students to dive deep into character development. You want ensemble opportunities for them. Check out The Hope and Heartache Diner. This play received outstanding production at the Kentucky State Thespian Festival and was chosen as a Chapter Select for the 2016 International Thespian Festival. The Butterfly Queen Beautiful ensemble piece that looks at the nature of sacrifice and putting others first. So easy to stage where a sweatshirt becomes a vehicle for protection. Gender flexible cast and doubling options available. Choose this play and have a transformative experience with your students. One Hundred Lies In this poignant comedy Liz presents her life as a competition, complete with scoreboard and time clock. The goal of the game: to dramatize 100 lies told by and to Liz. But what about the lies she tells to herself? I’ve seen this done with a person playing the scoreboard and clock and it works perfectly. Easy to stage with lovely three-dimensional characters. Mmmbeth I have seen this play so many times in competition and it’s been a blast every time. So much fun to do as it takes a twisty turning and gender bending look at the Scottish play. A great piece to teach comic timing to your students. Numerous outstanding productions! Stressed Another piece I’ve seen in multiple competitions. This is a small cast actor showcase. It has no set and relies totally on the character communication. The play is called a symphony of sound and character and that’s a perfect description. It takes rhythm, timing, and the cast working as one. A winning combination.

Episode 185: ** A play from two perspectives: Student-director & Playwright** At Theatrefolk we have a play by a playwright who for many years chose to be anonymous. When a student director (after winning his state festival!) asked to be put in touch with the playwright, it started the ball rolling to this podcast. We have the student director talking about the play Anonymous and what it’s like to be a student director. And the playwright, a teacher, revealing her identity. Listen in for these two different perspectives.

Time for a Tfolk Top Ten Plays For…Ensembles! It’s not about the leads and the chorus, it’s about the ensemble. The definition of the word ensemble is to have parts that come together as a whole and are only considered in relation to the whole. It’s all about working together to make a great production. Here are 10 plays that explore the concept of the ensemble. Click the link and you’ll be taken to the webpage for each play. There you’ll get the details and read sample pages. All the best with your search! The Blue and the Grey This play starts with the sound of drumming and the words of Walt Whitman. This sets the tone of the play and lets us know what to expect. This is the work of the ensemble. In this play of ghosts, the past, and those left behind – The ensemble creates the aural world in The Blue and the Grey – haunting, necessary. Finishing Sentences Sometimes an ensemble is needed to populate the world of the play. In Finishing Sentences Kendra finds herself surrounded by camp life – that’s what the ensemble provides. And besides, you can’t have a colour war without them! (even if the blue team can’t get their chant together) Storied Quite often, the world of the play is, well, out of this world. It’s built in the imagination of the playwright, and in order for the audience to buy in, they need to see characters who also buy into the world. Storied takes place in a magical dimension inhabited by characters from fiction. Everyone from Javert to Santa Claus to Elizabeth Bennett lives there. The ensemble is crucial to the audience leaving the real world behind as they watch the play. The Happiness Shop In this play an ensemble of “Roppets” – robot puppets litter the stage. They are on stage for the entire play. They visual demonstrate “happiness.” They smile, they laugh, they hi-five all the time. It isn’t creepy at all. Aren’t middle schoolers happy all the time? They’re too young to have problems…. The Scarlet Heart The Scarlet Heart is a commedia dell’arte piece which can be played as scripted or off of scenarios. To play off a scenario means a group really has to know each other, listen to each other, improv often together. They’ll have to become a true ensemble. Being Bianca: The Semi Complete Guide Being Bianca has a huge cast – it can include up to 50 actors. And that means everyone has to be on the same page and working toward the same goal. Bianca has to do some community service. She decides the best service is to teach the world what it’s like to be her. Who wouldn’t want to be Bianca? Ariadne’s Thread: The Adventures of Theseus and the Minotaur Ariadne’s Thread has an ensemble in the classical sense of the word – a greek chorus. Again it’s all about creating the world of the play and in this tale of Minotaur’s and mazes the greek chorus observes and comments. They are the voice of the audience and they share that voice in perfect unison. Stupid is Just 4 2day We can’t avoid stupidity. It happens. To everyone! But it’s just temporary. The characters in this vignette play are all named after orchestra instruments. And that’s because all the transition pieces are performed like music rather than theatre. Everyone speaks, and gestures in unison. Win the Best Ensemble award! Chemo Girl Camille is given a video game system from her mom as a form of recovery therapy for cancer. The ensemble creates the video game for Camille as she is drawn into the world and takes on the name “Chemo Girl.” Think video games can’t be done in the theatre? The ensemble makes it happen. Anonymous In Anonymous everyone is just trying to get along, get by, make themselves heard. It’s hard when you don’t have a face or a voice. The teens in this play have no names because they’re everyone. The ensemble brings this theme to life.