Circus Olympus
by Lindsay Price
The Greek Geek Circus has come to town with a ton of myths to share. A gleeful celebration with a large cast expansion, parts for all and a choice of length.
Average Producer Rating:
About 70 minutes
Act 1: 40 minutes, Act 2: 30 minutes
Times given are approximate and do not include intermissions/scene changes/breaks
15
6 M | 9 W, Easily Expandable
Simple Set
63 pages
Reviews from Past Producers
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.
Click here to read production tips for this play.
Awards and Accolades
- Lakewood Ranch High School received a superior ranking at the District 6 Florida Thespian Festival
- Great Article about a recent production.
Characters
15
6 Men, 9 Women, 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
[W]
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
[W]
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
[W]
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/6w) for the full version or 7 (3m/4w) 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.
- Subgenres
- Fantasy Fables/Folktales Adaptation Movement-based Fairy tales
- Settings
- Present day Greek
- Dress
- Fantasy costumes Period costumes
- Audience
- All audiences Children Pre-teen Teen
- Features
- Mime Variable Cast Size Tableau Movement-based Physical comedy Variable length Sound & Lighting Design Dance Music
- Set
- Simple set
- Cautions
- Onstage murder Physical violence
- Themes
- Love Relationships Jealousy Theatre Parenting/Family Quests
- Cross-Curricular Uses
- Greek
- Other uses
- Competition Class work
- Awards & Accolades
- Plays with Awards & Accolades
Prop List
All props used for the show are brought out
banners, whistles, tambourines, top hat with papers
Demeter Versus the Underworld
flowers, flower hat, chair, newspaper, bell
Perseus and Medusa
sword, shield, winged shoes, satchel, Eye of the Grae sisters, bell
The Mythapalooza Slam Jam
timer, bell, tambourines
Athena and Arachne
bell
King Midas
tray, gold coins, bell, stone, toast, gold mask
Pandora’s Box
foam bat, squirting flower, wheelbarrow, snake in a can, whistle, slinky, bouquet of flowers, large box (large enough for actors to jump out of), tambourines
Production Photos
Related Titles
Customer Comments
I have thoroughly enjoyed directing my last three shows - The Canterbury Tales, Will and Whimsy, and Circus Olympus. They are excellent adaptations, creatively conceived and written and classically based, all characteristics I look for in a high school show.
I am retiring this year after directing 63 high school shows over 38 years, but I will encourage my successor to check out your cataglogue of plays.
We just finished our run of Circus Olympus. It was a huge success--the audience loved it. As the director, I especially appreciated the wide range of characters for all acting abilities. We used 31 kids. I'll be looking for another play like this for the future.
Purchase Orders accepted from US and Canadian Schools.
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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.
Circus Olympus
by Lindsay Price
About 70 minutes
Act 1: 40 minutes, Act 2: 30 minutes
Times given are approximate and do not include intermissions/scene changes/breaks
15
6 M | 9 W, Easily Expandable
Simple Set
63 pages