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Drum Taps

Drum Taps

adapted by Lindsay Price from Walt Whitman

The poems in Drum Taps represent Walt Whitman's firsthand account of the Civil War. See the words, the emotion, the blood come to life in this theatrical adaptation. This is not your traditional readers theatre or poetry recital. This is flesh and bone words breathed to their fullest humanity. This is struggle and pain. This is confusion and contradiction. This is war.

Drama Choral Work Classical Adaptation Experimental Form Issue-Based Movement-based

Recommended for High Schools

About 35 minutes
Times given are approximate and do not include intermissions/scene changes/breaks
Simple Set
66 pages
Classroom Study Guide
Download a free Classroom Study Guide for this play

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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.

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.

The Poet [F] 5 lines
The Child [F] 10 lines
The One-Year Wife [F] 12 lines
The Lunatic [F] 18 lines
The School Teacher [F] 20 lines
The Factory Girl [F] 13 lines
The Beautiful Sister [F] 14 lines
The Widow [F] 20 lines
The Nurse [F] 13 lines
The Seamstress [F] 10 lines
The Night Watch-man’s Daughter [F] 14 lines
The Immigrant [F] 15 lines
The Pioneer [F] 14 lines
The Actress [F] 16 lines
The Soldier [M] 18 lines
The Farmer [M] 18 lines
The Clerk [M] 18 lines
The Tramp [M] 18 lines
The Grave Digger [M] 11 lines
The Lawyer [M] 14 lines
Extra Characters
The Sailor, The Carpenter, The Blacksmith, The Deacon, The Fare-Collector, The Printer, The Prisoner, The Gentleman, The Artist, The Innkeeper, The Father, The Camerado, The Mother, The Spinning Girl, The Maid, The Bride, The Young Sister, The Spinster, The Lady, The Governess, Mother of All, The Matron, The Peddler
Short Version:
LIZBETH [F] 63 lines
ALICE [F] 61 lines
MEG [F] 66 lines
THOMAS [M] 53 lines
HENRY [M] 47 lines

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Theatrefolk Featured Play – Drum Taps by Lindsay Price

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Theatrefolk’s Top 10: Classical Adaptations

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Theatrefolk Podcast: Using Theatre in China

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Theatrefolk Podcast: Directing the Non-Traditional Play

Spread the Love: Drum Taps – adapted by Lindsay Price from Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

Spread the Love: Drum Taps – adapted by Lindsay Price from Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

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Theatrefolk Featured Play: Drum Taps, adapted by Lindsay Price from Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

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