Rainbows vs. Bunnies: Annihilation

Welcome to our Featured Play Spotlight. Rainbows vs. Bunnies: Annihilation by Bradley Walton is a fun one-act comedy. Fun themes, fun characters... and a super fun title, of course! Aaron is failing History, and his parents are angry. Worried and anxious, he goes to the park, where he meets a bunny…a talking bunny. Then a rainbow appears. It talks, too. Both the rainbow and the bunny are determined to make Aaron happy—and to best one another in doing so—even though they both seriously freak Aaron out. Eventually, Aaron learns the truth…that for centuries, rainbows and bunnies have been locked in a bitter rivalry to make people happy, and now he has been drawn into their struggle. But today, a new revelation will lead to the beginning of the end. This is the day of Rainbows vs. Bunnies: Annihilation! Why did we publish this play?First of all, the title makes me laugh. Always a good start. If it makes you laugh, you'll like the play. Because the title does not lie. There are bunnies. There are rainbows. They are fighting. And there's a teenager in the middle. Even now, writing this, the concept puts a big smile on my face. Titles are important for Theatrefolk plays - we find that folks will read a play they don't know if the title acts as an inviting doorway. The particular door depends on the type of play your'e looking for. If you're looking for something that will be fun for your students to perform and fun for your audience to watch, this piece is for you. Let's hear from the author! 1. Why did you write this play?The title (which was originally just "Rainbows vs. Bunnies") was one of those things that just popped into my head. It amused me and seemed like it had potential, so I wrote a play to go with it. 2. Describe the theme in one or two sentences?There are two themes: The first is that working together is more productive than rivalry. The second is that there's insight to be gained from understanding your or someone else's true motivation for doing something. 3. What's the most important visual for you in this play?Near the end there's a big fight going on and the bunnies and the colors of the rainbow all stand in dramatic action poses, essentially creating a tableau. It's important because a number of things are going on all at once: It's the climax of the play. It's a visual representation of the centuries-long rivalry between the rainbows and the bunnies. It foreshadows the future. It's the "a-ha" moment for Aaron, the character the rainbow and Mr. Hop-Hop the bunny have been trying to make happy. And also, it's funny and should be funny to look at. 4. If you could give one piece of advice for those producing the play, what would it be?If you're having the rainbow performed by more than one person (and especially if you've got an actor for each color, giving you a total of seven performers) it will take time and patience to choreograph and synchronize their movements, but it'll be worth it in the end. 5. Why is this play great for student performers?It's off-the-wall and it provides some great opportunities for choral performance. 6. Who is your favourite character in the play? OR Which character would you be in this play?My favorite character is Mr. Hop-Hop, the bunny trying to make Aaron happy. Mr. Hop-Hop seems friendly and innocent at first, and he thinks he really does want to cheer Aaron up, but his motivations are murky--even to himself. When he finally realizes that he doesn't actually care about Aaron at all, it's a pretty funny moment. 7. What is your favourite line in the play?"I just want to beat your polychromatic pancreas into the dirt."

As we start thinking about ideas for next year's season, why not dive headfirst into the entertaining world of plays featuring animals in their titles? So many creative opportunities and endless possibilities for your student performers to bring these captivating characters to life. These plays are designed to help you unleash the magic that celebrates the wild spirit of storytelling. Perfect options to grace your stage or classroom next year!

Time for a Tfolk Top Ten Plays For….Student Directors. Do you have a student directing class? Do you have students who show a knack for taking charge and establishing vision? Then you need plays that are perfect for student directors to tackle. Think short, think active, think character driven. Think plays that can be accomplished from audition to performance within your class periods. 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! Ten/Two Ten plays for two actors. The plays can be performed individually or all together for a full evening of theatre. Excellent for the classroom or competition. This collection is ideal for student directors because they’re contained. Two actors, a complete story from beginning to end with specific characters. Hamlette Imagine if you will that “Hamlet” was not “Hamlet” at all, but “Hamlette” – a woman! This play is a twisty-turny interpretation of the classic Danish tale. If you have a student director who wants to spread their comedic wings, try this piece. It requires a lot of physical action, so it’s more work than it seems on the page, but your students are up to the challenge, right? Hairball A light vignette play about our obsession with hair. I’d highly recommend this for starting directors. Because it’s short scenes based on a theme, it gives a student director something short to find success. You can divide the play up among a number of directors if you have a large class. Or take one scene and see how your directors tackle it. What are the similarities? What are the difference? Smarty Pants Dallas is a real smarty pants and can’t wait to show off. But he’s in for a shock. His new class is very different. This piece gives students directors a chance to explore both character and physical action. Rainbows vs Bunnies: Annihilation A talking bunny. A talking rainbow. Plus annihilation. This piece would be a lot of fun to direct, The challenge here is taking charge of a couple of large groups and staging. If you have students who need to improve their leadership skills as a director, this is the piece to do it. Will and Whimsy Shakespeare’s Sonnets come alive in this play where modern scenes play hand in hand with the original text. With this piece you have the combination of modern scenes and Shakespeare. If you have a student who wants to tackle the bard, give them this play first. Skid Marks: A play about Driving Your first car. Getting your license, Getting pulled over. The relationship between teen and car makes a great backdrop for this vignette play. Vignette plays are always a great place to start with student directors. Ten Minute Play Series (All Girls, Girls & Guys, Be Challenged) These plays offer everything from broad flat-out comedy to quiet, intimate drama. All the pieces have small casts, have modest set requirements and well defined characters. Your student directors will find something they love in one of these collections. EllenAliceMonaJune (in Malled) Ellen, Alice, Mona, and June share those uncomfortable truths that only close friends can tell each other. A lovely four actor piece that dives deep into character. If you have student directors who need to work on bringing out a three dimensional character in their actors, this is the piece. Anxiety is Orange Join the characters in this vignette play as they navigate the world, each other, and the greens, greys, blues, reds, pinks, yellows, and oranges around them. Give this play to one director or divide the scenes up among group of directors.

Time for a Tfolk Top Ten Plays For…Beginning Actors. Everybody has to start somewhere. Every drama student has to be in their first play. So here’s 10 to choose from! Every one of these scripts is a great place to start and a great first play for your beginning actors. 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! Circus Olympus A gleeful celebration of greek myth with excellent large cast expansion and parts for all abilities. Circus elements are optional and are suggested for each myth. Start here to introduce your students not only to greek myths but unique characters that are well within their wheelhouse. Rainbows vs Bunnies: Annihilation Aaron is failing history. Worse than that he’s been drawn into the epic battle between rainbows and bunnies. For centuries rainbows and bunnies have been locked into a bitter rivalry to make people happy. Easy to stage and costume so all your beginning actors have to focus on is the characters. Yes your students can play rainbows…. And bunnies. ths phne 2.0: the next generation Vignette plays are perfect for beginning actors. These plays are compiled of short scenes on a theme, so everyone can get their scene just right. What’s the theme? Communication has come a long way, baby. Are you 21st century savvy? We Open Tomorrow Night?! We Open Tomorrow Night?! is a scripted talent show where you are the stars. Each production can insert their own acts (dance, comedy, singing – the choice is yours) for an hilarious and entertaining evening for all. This type of script makes for a great transition to scripted stage work for beginning actors. Much Ado About High School Don’t just introduce your students to acting, throw in some Shakespeare too! What if Much Ado About Nothing took place at a high school dance? Mayhem ensues at Much Ado High School. Student Council president Don Pedro schemes to set up new student Claudio with Hero. Hero schemes to set up Beatrice with Benedick. And Don John schemes to mess up everything! An enjoyable introduction to this Shakespearean tale with lightning-fast pace, hilarious characters, and witty dialogue. Letters Readers Theatre is one way to introduce beginning actors to the stage. They have to bring a character to life, but they don’t need to worry about memorization or blocking. For many wars, letters home were the only form of communication between soldiers and their loved ones. Letters is thought-provoking and character-driven. It’s not hard to visualize these characters reaching out with pen and paper. Anne-Arky One of the best ways to get beginning actors started is to give them characters their own age. In Anne-Arky, a high school drama club prepares for opening night. Things start out normally but anarchy quickly ensues. Wigs fall off, ankles are sprained, and the stage manager sets fire to the prompt script. The Fried Kobassa Inspector Kapusta will leave no stone unturned to find the camp cook’s missing kobassa. Okay, maybe he’ll leave a couple of stones unturned. Okay, maybe he’s a pretty bad detective but that just makes the play all the more hilarious. A light-hearted romp with the funniest of all the red meats at its centre: FRIED KOBASSA! Hairball Another vignette play with a topic every person, let alone every student, can relate to – hair. Good hair makes your day. Bad hair gets you dumped. Good hair gets you to the prom. Bad hair makes you look like an eggplant. Good hair means you’re popular. Bad hair means hat head for the rest of your life. Christmas in July This collection of two one acts give beginning actors something smaller to work on. Lots of small parts where students put their best foot forward. In Christmas in July the calendar gets all mixed up so the holidays are not where they’re supposed to be. In What do you do when the Elves have the flu, Christmas could come to an screeching halt with elves out of commission with Elven Flu.

Episode 123: Teaching Life Skills Through DramaHas anyone ever said to you “It’s just drama. It’s just theatre. It’s not important.” All drama teachers know the importance of their program. The drama classroom is one of the few places where real world life skills are still taught: communication, self-confidence, self-evaluation, creative thinking. These are skills all teens beyond the classroom, beyond school, and Shandra Gallant, Artistic Director of the Langdon Theatre Association thinks so too.