Circus Olympus by Lindsay Price - Theatrefolk

Circus Olympus
High Schools
Middle Schools
Elementary Schools

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

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Pricing Info

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Comedy Classical Adaptation Movement-based

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

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.

Nicholas DeLucia, Hancock Central School

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.

Diane Sullivan, Director, Sauk Prairie Middle School, Sauk City, Wisconsin

Purchase Orders accepted from US and Canadian Schools.
Info for your purchasing department.

All others must pay at the time of ordering.

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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

Free Sample Pages

Add to Cart

Pricing Info

What do I need to order?