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Circus Olympus by Lindsay Price play script cover

Circus Olympus

by Lindsay Price

The circus has come to town! Well… sort of. There's no elephant on a bicycle but there are the Greek Geeks and have they got a story or two to tell. More specifically, a myth or two: Pandora's Box, Persephone and the Underworld, King Midas, Athena and Arachne, and don't forget the Mythapalooza Slam Jam!

A gleeful celebration with excellent large cast expansion and parts for all abilities. Circus elements are optional and are suggested for each myth.

THREE different lengths are included: Two Acts, One Act, or a 20 minute Competition Piece.

Comedy Classical Adaptation Movement-based

Average Producer Rating:

Recommended for High Schools and Middle Schools

At a Glance

Running Time
About 70 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
15 Characters
6 M9 F, Easily Expandable
Set
Simple Set
Length
63 pages
Production Tips
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Free Excerpt
Classroom Study Guide
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Performance Royalty Fees

Royalty fees apply to all performances whether or not admission is charged. Any performance in front of an audience (e.g. an invited dress rehearsal) is considered a performance for royalty purposes.

Exemption details for scenes and monologues for competition.

15 Characters

6 M, 9 F, Easily Expandable

Characters in this play are currently identified as male or female. Directors are welcome to assign any gender (binary or non-binary) to any character and modify pronouns accordingly.

Greek Geek Ringleaders
Merve [M] 25 / 46 / 110 lines
Narrator. The guy in charge. Fun. 20 minute version: 25 lines 1 act version: 46 lines 2 act version: 110 lines
Ishy [F] 6 / 36 / 61 lines
Narrator. Responsible, but not restrictive. 20 minute version: 6 lines 1 act version: 36 lines 2 act version: 61 lines
Manso [M] 12 / 20 / 42 lines
Gets easily rattled. Definitely nerdy looking. 20 minute version: 12 lines 1 act version: 20 lines 2 act version: 42 lines
Osina [F] 10 / 17 / 28 lines
Nothing rattles her. Sultry and strong. 20 minute version: 10 lines 1 act version: 17 lines 2 act version: 28 lines
Vigit [F] 9 / 18 / 50 lines
The youngest. Green, but not a pushover. 20 minute version: 9 lines 1 act version: 18 lines 2 act version: 50 lines
Ensemble
There are roles for 12 males and 20 females in the ensemble. You will need a minimum ensemble of 10 (4m/6f) for the full version or 7 (3m/4f) for the one act version.
Demeter Versus the Underworld:
Zeus 60 lines
Father of the gods. A schemer who sets the play in action.
Demeter 48 lines
Goddess of fertility. A real earth-mama type.
Persephone 38 lines
Demeter’s daffy daughter. Like: flowers, meadows, and mysterious strangers.
Hades 60 lines
Zeus’ hopelessly nerdy brother, and God of the Underworld. Nursing a serious crush.
Helios 10 lines
The sun, herself. Sees all.
Echo One 4 lines
Helios’ booming voice.
Echo Two 4 lines
Helios’ booming voice.
Hera 22 lines
Mother of the Gods.
Athena 15 lines
Goddess of Wisdom
Aphrodite 11 lines
Goddess of Love.
Perseus and Medusa:
Medusa 2 lines
Snake-haired monster of the piece.
Polydectes 17 lines
A slimy, scheming king.
Perseus 43 lines
A dopey hero whose rhymes need some work.
Danae 7 lines
Perseus’ faithful and long-suffering mother.
Athena 5 lines
Goddess of Wisdom. Bringer of a gift.
Hermes 3 lines
Messenger of the Gods. Bringer of a gift.
Enyo 32 lines
Grae sister. Horror.
Deino 29 lines
Grae sister. Dread.
Pemphredo 28 lines
Grae sister. Alarm.
The Mythapalooza Slam Jam:
Team One A 25 lines
Team One B 21 lines
Team Two A 54 lines
Team Two B 53 lines lines
Athena and Arachne:
Athena 22 lines
Goddess of wisdom and battle, with an emphasis on battle in this story.
Arachne 35 lines
A vain weaver who spurns the gods. What doom looms over her loom?
Townsperson One 6 lines
Wants an autograph.
Townsperson Two 7 lines
Excited to see the contest.
Townsperson Three 6 lines
Initiates the loom-off.
Damara 6 lines
A young girl who reminds Arachne to be humble.
Ibron 15 lines
Arachne’s mother. Protective of her daughter.
Demeter 4 lines
Goddess of fertility. A voice of reason.
Hera 4 lines
Mother of the gods. Quick to recommend harsh punishment.
Aphrodite 5 lines
Goddess of love. Flighty and easily distracted.
King Midas:
Midas 40 lines
A wise king who makes a terrible wish and gets the original gilt-trip.
Penelope 13 lines
King Midas’ daughter, who doesn’t understand the ramifications of her father’s curse.
Guard One 4 lines
One of Midas’ guards. Gets to call someone a canker sore.
Guard Two 3 lines
A second guard of Midas’ castle. Gets to call someone a pile of refuse.
Silenus 12 lines
Dionysus’ loyal servant.
Pandora’s Box:
Zeus 0 lines
Father of the gods. Out to punish Prometheus and Epimetheus one way or another. No lines. Mimed.
Prometheus 0 lines
A forward-thinking brother. Keeps his guard up. No lines. Mimed
Epimetheus 0 lines
An absentminded brother. Lets his heart get the best of him. No lines. Mimed
Pandora 0 lines
A curious girl with an even-more-curious box. No lines. Mimed
Doorbell 3 lines
This doorbell both dings and dongs.
Door 4 lines
A multi-talented role – must creak open, and slam shut.
Hope 3 lines
The final figure to spring from Pandora’s ill-fated box.

Praise for Circus Olympus

Martha Hearn Kelly
Hand Middle School
The students loved doing this show! We had a lot of fun finding ways to incorporate their own "circus" skills into our production. We performed this with our 6th grade drama students, and the one act version was perfect. Plenty of parts for everyone!
Jon Burnett
San Francisco Friends School
This play is a great fun play for middle school actors to grow on! Students tend to know many of the myths very well from various sources including “Percy Jackson“ etc. They love the circus arts elements as well and enjoy the playful humor and silliness all around. So many great parts! So many great ensemble big group opportunities as well!
Jennifer Taschereau
Wellan Montessori School
The students had so much fun with these stories. We went for a low budget, trunk show type feel to add to the circus theme and they took ownership in creating the props. The script lends itself to big physical exploration which was perfect for challenging my actors who are already comfortable in their bodies while giving my more reserved actors a chance to stretch their comfort with movement. The students also learned a lot about the power of comedy when the actor takes it seriously (with a mix of fun!) and knows how to reign it in so as not to overwhelm the audience.

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