The Super Non-Heroes

Welcome to "Playwright Spotlight" — your exclusive backstage pass to the creative minds crafting the incredible plays featured in our Theatrefolk catalogue. Discover the magic, quirks, and genius of the playwrights who help bring the stage to life. Let's meet one of these exceptional playwrights who offers the chance for your student performers to shine in their spotlight. What inspired you to start writing plays specifically for high school & middle school students?I was working as a counselor at a theater summer camp. We needed more scripts with humor and depth that showcased the talents of all of our campers. Can you share a bit about your creative process when developing plays that resonate with students?I fell in love with theater through acting, so my approach to writing a script was to create a story I would care about as an actor, and to develop characters that would be super fun for young performers to bring to life on stage. One of the biggest struggles I remember facing as a kid was wanting desperately to fit in, while trying to decide how much I was willing to change myself to do so. I see kids today wrestling with this same dilemma. So my plays explore this tension between who someone is on the inside, and how they are seen by those around them. My misfit superheroes are a prime example of this. At the same time, middle and high school kids are some of the goofiest, most creative people you will meet. I wanted to give the cast and crew a chance to laugh together and show off their silly side by injecting plenty of humor and freedom into the script, too. So, for example, I gave my superheroes bizarre powers that landed them in plenty of ridiculous situations. Are there any challenges you face when writing for student performers, and how do you overcome them?The biggest challenge I face writing for student performers is how quickly their slang goes out of fashion. Kids are eager to use the newest trendy phrases, but then they are passé in a year (or less!). In order to make the characters sound like real, authentic kids I tried to write using their slang, but now I read over scenes from years ago and that language has become dated. To try to fix this I am super flexible with directors and actors changing my scripts to fit their needs, so I am hoping today’s actors update the lines to reflect the way they speak now. For example, in several scenes I leaned hard into the hashtag trend. Adults still think that’s funny, but kids moved on from that years ago. What themes or messages do you aim to convey through your plays?One theme that resonates throughout my plays is that you shouldn’t judge someone until you get to know them. We can be quick to make snap judgments about the people around us, but if we take the time to get to know their stories we may see them in a whole different light. Another theme that threads through my work is to stand up for what is right, and to help those who struggle to stand up for themselves. Gertie Greene, one of my main characters, is seen as a bully by the whole school. But eventually we learn that she earned that reputation by defending students who were too scared to stand up for themselves. How do you balance education and fun in your scripts?Kids learn by doing. So my scripts keep them busy. Nearly everyone is on stage for most of the show, listening and reacting to the experiences of the other characters. I swing back and forth between humor and teachable moments often during my shows. Laughter opens us up to learning, and we are much more receptive to tender or earnest moments if we’ve laughed together first. Can you share a memorable experience or feedback from a student performance that left an impact on you?I had the privilege of seeing a performance of The Redemption of Gertie Greene that moved me to tears. At the end of the show, the cast and crew came onstage with posters on which they had written cruel words that had been said to them, that they had heard, or even that they had said to someone else. Several students read a statement they had prepared about choosing to use our words to help and heal rather than hurt those around us, and then they all turned their posters over. On the other side were words of kindness, support and encouragement. It was beautiful! The students came up with this idea themselves. It was poignant to see them take the essence of the play from the stage into their own lives. Any advice for teachers or directors looking to choose engaging and age-appropriate plays for their student performers?I think one important thing for directors to keep in mind is that kids are astonishingly profound one minute and complete goofballs the next. A show that blends the two will bring out the best in your performers. Also, every actor in the cast deserves a chance to shine. Everyone needs a character they can connect to and make their own. And if your crew believes in the story, too, they will go above and beyond to make it amazing. What is your favourite play you've written so far?The Redemption of Gertie Greene will always hold a special place in my heart. Her transformation from outcast to celebrated classmate moves me every time. Anything else you'd like students and/or directors to know about you as a playwright?First, I want to give credit to my original campers who performed these shows before they were published. They breathed life into my scripts and improved them immensely! Many of the best one-liners and the most ingenious ideas came from them. Second, my goal is to facilitate a fun and meaningful experience for your cast, crew and audience. Having worked at a theater camp I know that flexibility is key. If you need to change names, genders, lines, etc. to better reflect your own actors’ experiences, or make cuts for time I am very open to that. As long as your changes are in line with the spirit of the script, you can adapt what you need so the show fits your team.

March 8th is International Women’s Day – and what better time to highlight some amazing women within the Theatrefolk community. Join us in celebrating these phenomenal playwrights and authors and their incredible contributions to the world of student theatre. Plus, keep reading to see our Top 10 Plays for Female Casts at the end of the post! Rachel Atkins • Baalzebub (and One Act Version)

The Super Non-Heroes by Taryn Temple is a fantastic middle school play that looks at friendship, acceptance and discovering yourself. Have you ever felt like you don’t belong? Powerless Charlie sticks out like a sore thumb in a school full of superheroes. Smellinator can’t control her powers and forgot to do her Villain 101 homework. Golden Boy won’t follow protocol. And Toxic Sludge is, well, toxic sludge. When a supervillain attacks the school Charlie must dig deep within herself. She may not be a superhero but she discovers her unique talents to save the day. Have you ever wanted to be a superhero? Patrick Derksen and the dedicated drama group at Border Valley School in Reinland, MB did – and they did a super job sharing their super selves in their production: “Just wanted to thank Taryn Temple and Theatrefolk for a great play! Border Valley School in Manitoba performed “The Super Non-Heroes” last week and we had a blast. The kids loved their roles so much; we had a lot of fun figuring out superhero backstories and character traits. We also enjoyed creating costumes, hair, and makeup for the different superheroes. I heard many positive comments from teachers that even younger students understood the plot and positive messages, and they appreciated the strong roles for girls.”

Have you ever wanted to be a superhero? Taryn Temple’s The Super Non-Heroes is a fantastic middle-school play that with an important message: Be kind to people, especially those that are different from you. We are stronger together than we are by ourselves. Have you ever felt like you don’t belong? Powerless Charlie sticks out like a sore thumb in a school full of superheroes. Smellinator can’t control her powers and forgot to do her Villain 101 homework. Golden Boy won’t follow protocol. And Toxic Sludge is, well, toxic sludge. When a supervillain attacks the school Charlie must dig deep within herself. She may not be a superhero but she discovers her unique talents to save the day. A fabulous middle school play that looks at friendship, acceptance and discovering yourself. Who doesn’t want to be a superhero? The fantastic group of drama students at Cherokee Community Schools in Cherokee, Iowa were super excited to transform themselves into a team of super heroes – and non-heroes – complete with fun and flashy costumes that really set the tone. Directed by Jason Wood , the students brought their “larger than life” characters to the stage, demonstrating to everyone present that there truly is strength – and success – in numbers.

Who doesn’t want to be a superhero? The Super Non-Heroes by Taryn Temple is a fabulous middle school play that looks at friendship, acceptance and discovering yourself. Have you ever felt like you don’t belong? Powerless Charlie sticks out like a sore thumb in a school full of superheroes. Smellinator can’t control her powers and forgot to do her Villain 101 homework. Golden Boy won’t follow protocol. And Toxic Sludge is, well, toxic sludge. When a supervillain attacks the school Charlie must dig deep within herself. She may not be a superhero but she discovers her unique talents to save the day. The super talented student performers at Chapin Middle School in Chapin, SC recently channeled their inner superheroes, bringing their own unique super powers to their performances. Director Shannon Boatwright was excited to share their success: “This is such a perfect play for middle school! From the super fun super heroes, to the subject matter and message – audiences loved it and the students loved it. As a director, there are many options with this play – you can go big with it or depending on your stage options, you can go smaller, but still have a blast. I took the opportunity to go bigger by doing a green screen video that opened the show and introduced the characters. This gave me the chance to teach some on-camera acting and allow the students the opportunity to get on the big screen. Of course the students and parents loved it, and it allowed the audience to have a better understanding of each character. My advice would be to find ways to add your own special touch and feature any special, unique talents of your students. With a super hero theme, the sky’s the limit and depending on your resources and tech abilities at your school, there are a lot of cool things you can do with this play! I’d highly recommend this play to any middle school! What fun!”

Welcome to our Featured Play Spotlight. Have you ever wanted to be a super hero? The Super Non-Heroes by Taryn Temple is a fabulous middle school play that looks at friendship, acceptance and discovering yourself. Have you ever felt like you don’t belong? Powerless Charlie sticks out like a sore thumb in a school full of superheroes. Smellinator can’t control her powers and forgot to do her Villain 101 homework. Golden Boy won’t follow protocol. And Toxic Sludge is, well, toxic sludge. When a supervillain attacks the school Charlie must dig deep within herself. She may not be a superhero but she discovers her unique talents to save the day. P.S. Also available in a fun competition-length version too! Why did we publish this play? This play is an absolute gem. Not only is the writing smart and funny, not only are the characters amazingly vivid (who wouldn’t want to play a super-hero?) but there’s a message about friendship, finding your true self, and acceptance that is played perfectly. I highly recommend this script. Let’s hear from the author! 1. Why did you write this play? At some point we all feel like if we were different somehow life would be easier. We would fit in better, we could easily do something we struggle at, etc. That feeling is universal. So I wanted to show that even people that the rest of us would perceive as “super” can have those feelings, too. Having special talents or abilities doesn’t guarantee that everything is super all the time. 2. Describe the theme in one or two sentences. Be kind to people, especially those that are different from you. And we are stronger together than we are by ourselves. 3. What’s the most important visual for you in this play? When Charlie asks to sit with different groups of people but they all turn her away so she sits by herself. Then Reflector and her group of friends walk across the stage in front of everyone and sit with her so she’s not alone. 4. If you could give one piece of advice for those producing the play, what would it be? Have fun and play with the “superhero” stereotype (go big, lots of bright colors, super music, epic battles, big gestures, larger-than-life personalities, etc.) but also find and highlight the moments that show these characters as “normal” kids struggling with their everyday lives. 5. Why is this play great for student performers? First of all, it’s fun! Your students will get to play unique characters with quirky super powers and wear bright, colorful, superhero costumes. Secondly, your students will be able to connect with the characters. I think often middle school kids can feel lonely, like no one understands what they are struggling with. Despite having super powers, the characters in this play are battling many of the difficulties your students face day to day, things like fitting in socially, succeeding or failing at school, the culture of popularity, standing up to bullying, and trying to work as a team with people you don’t always get along with. The conversations that can happen as you bring this show to life will help students realize they aren’t alone, and that others are fighting these battles daily, too.

Time for a Tfolk Top Ten Plays About….Friendship. Bonds are important. Community is important. Having someone to rely on is important, so is being that person for someone else. What does it mean to be a good friend? We’re talking support, empathy, and thinking about someone other than yourself. There’s no better way to start that conversation than with a play. 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!

Our website lists all of our plays with social issue themes but it struck me that they’re only lumped as “issue plays” without a good guide to sorting out which title addresses which issue. So I’ve categorized them for you to hopefully give you a helping hand in your quest to find the perfect script for your school. Check them out. As usual, all of the titles have extensive free sample pages for you to read. I think you’ll find the writing honest, fresh, and believable – three qualities sadly lacking from a lot of “teen-issue” plays out there in the world. Alienation / Feeling Alone in the World• Anonymous by Allison Green • The Art of Rejection: Two One Act Plays by Christian Kiley • A Box of Puppies by Billy Houck • Constantly, Incessantly, All The Time by Billy Houck • Huge Hands by Billy Houck Body Image• Body Body by Lindsay Price • The Four Hags of the Apocalypse Eat Salad at their General Meeting by Lindsay Price • The Battle of Image vs. Girl by Johanna Skoreyko • Hoodie by Lindsay Price • Breathless by Wendy-Marie Martin Censorship• Censorbleep by Lindsay Price Human Rights• Look Me in the Eye by Lindsay Price • Sweep Under Rug by Lindsay Price Racism• Flaky Lips by Lindsay Price • With Liberty and Justice For All by Jeyna Lynn Gonzales • Not Going Anywhere by Emma Fonseca Halverson • The Burgundy Letter by Kirk Shimano • Let Me In by Sholeh Wolpe *** Rumours and Lies• Have You Heard? by Krista Boehnert • The Redemption of Gertie Greene by Taryn Temple Individuality• Hoodie by Lindsay Price • Virtual Family by Christian Kiley • The Happiness Shop by Lindsay Price • A Deep, Poetic Journey Into Something by Forrest Musselman • Carrying the Calf by Shirley Barrie • Monster Problems by Lindsay Price • Stereotype High by Jeffrey Harr • Sixteen in 10 Minutes or Less by Bradley Hayward • Nice Girl by Amanda Murray Cutalo • Pressure by Lindsay Price • They Eat Sunshine, Not Zebras by Dara Murphy • The Super Non-Heroes by Taryn Temple • Smarty Pants by Bradley Hayward Identity• Box by Lindsay Price • Labeled by Lindsay Price • We Are Masks by Lindsay Price • Stressed by Alan Haehnel • Anonymous by Allison Green • Constantly, Incessantly, All The Time by Billy Houck • The Super Non-Heroes by Taryn Temple School Violence• Huge Hands by Billy Houck • Power Play by Lindsay Price • Clowns with Guns (A Vaudeville) by Christopher Evans • The Butterfly Queen by Christian Kiley • Life and Death in an Empty Hallway by Christopher Evans • Water. Gun. Argument. by Alan Haehnel Sexual Abuse• The Waking Moment by Bradley Hayward • Breathless by Wendy-Marie Martin Substance (alcohol & drug) Abuse• Bottle Baby by Lindsay Price • Floating on a Don’t Care Cloud by Lindsay Price • One Beer Too Many by Billy Houck Suicide• The Bright Blue Mailbox Suicide Note by Lindsay Price • Chicken. Road. by Lindsay Price • The Butterfly Queen by Christian Kiley Teen Pregnancy• The Pregnancy Project by Lindsay Price • Among Friends and Clutter (one scene) by Lindsay Price Illness/Health• Chemo Girl by Christian Kiley • The Other Room by Christian Kiley • Red Rover by Christian Kiley • Waiting Room by Christian Kiley • Breathless by Wendy-Marie Martin • Shreds and Patches by Robert Wing • Inanimate by Christian Kiley • Constantly, Incessantly, All The Time by Billy Houck Depression/Anxiety• darklight by Lindsay Price • Fidget by Bradley Hayward • Among Friends and Clutter (one scene) by Lindsay Price • Constantly, Incessantly, All The Time by Billy Houck • who are we, who we are by Forrest Musselman Bullying• Finishing Sentences by Scott Giessler • Funhouse by Lindsay Price • Power Play by Lindsay Price • The Redemption of Gertie Greene by Taryn Temple • Sixteen in 10 Minutes or Less by Bradley Hayward • Carrying the Calf by Shirley Barrie Divorce• Split by Bradley Hayward Gender• Life, Off Book by Scott Giessler • Anonymous by Allison Green • Baalzebub by Rachel Atkins (Baalzebub – One-Act Version here) • Completely, Absolutely Normal: Vignettes About LGBTQ+ Teens by Bradley Walton • Finding Jo March by Laramie Dean • Thought Traps by Lindsay Price Empathy• Discovering Rogue by Christian Kiley • Boat by Lindsay Price • We Are Masks by Lindsay Price • The Butterfly Queen by Christian Kiley Dependence on Technology• Virtual Family by Christian Kiley • Inanimate by Christian Kiley