Play Suggestions: "Serious" lit-based plays for youth audiences?

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"Serious" lit-based plays for youth audiences?

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Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Play Suggestions
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URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3230
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Topic: "Serious" lit-based plays for youth audiences?

Posted By: JenniferLP
Subject: "Serious" lit-based plays for youth audiences?
Date Posted: 6/11/08 at 12:34pm

We are looking for literature-based plays that are more serious or have a social message. Something along the lines of "The Hundred Dresses," which was a wonderful experience for us. Target audience is 3rd and 4th graders (maybe mature 2nd graders). We have looked at Hana's Suitcase already. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Jennifer

Replies:

Posted By: Nanette
Date Posted: 6/11/08 at 3:14pm

from Children's Theatre Plays ... A Thousand Cranes, Trail of Tears, We Are the Dream, Welcome Home

Emporer's New Clothes (many variations)

from Plays for Young Audiences ... Boundless Grace, Boxcar Children, Little Match Girl, Midwife's Apprentice, Velveteen Rabbit

Hope these help.

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In a world of margarine, be butter!

Posted By: JenniferLP
Date Posted: 6/11/08 at 3:41pm

Thanks for the ideas. Some were new to me. I checked them out but not all were literature-based, which is one of our criteria. I liked Afternoon of the Elves and Number the Stars, but I'm still looking...

Jennifer

Posted By: mary051756
Date Posted: 6/12/08 at 8:58am

What about Oliver!

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“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” EMERSON

Posted By: Lazy Bee
Date Posted: 6/12/08 at 10:19am

Jennifer,
Please can you expand a little more on the requirements:-
Firstly, the "audience" are kids. What about the performing company? Is this adults performing to kids or kids performing to their peers?
Secondly, what's your definition of Literature? (Anything that previously existed in book form? - Aesop's fables? Andersen/Grimm tales? - or "high art" literature?)

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Stuart
Lazy Bee Scripts
http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk - http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk read complete play scripts on-line

Posted By: JenniferLP
Date Posted: 6/12/08 at 11:06am

Good questions, Stuart.

Our performers are mainly kids/teens, working with adult mentor-actors, but we are a training company so I humbly say we tackle material typically played by adults. For example, we cast teens in PYA's Bunnicula (FYI James Sie has a nice adaptation as well) and the audience seemed to think they were college students/adults.

"Literature" means anything in book form, BUT we do have a preference for quality literature. This past season we produced The Hundred Dresses (Bill Williams' adaptation, which is wonderful), Mr. Popper's Penguins (now in public domain!), Mouse a Cookie, and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.

For this particular search for a "serious" play, I have a preference for historic fiction or realistic fiction, just because we have some animal fantasies already lined up.

I hope this makes it more clear, and I acknowledge that the task is not easy. I am a researcher professionally and I keep looking. I am brand new to this forum and figured this was a good way to jump in,

Jennifer

Posted By: Lazy Bee
Date Posted: 6/12/08 at 4:28pm

Lazy Bee Scripts has http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/cgi-bin/Search_Results.asp?iAR=4&iC%2813%29=1&iC%2820%29=1&sTh=Shakespeare - various Shakespeare adaptations which could fit the bill. There are a few Chekhov adaptiations, and Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice - which would fit your performing company, but not - in my opinion - the target audience. There's an adaptation of Frank Stockton's short story, The http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/cgi-bin/Search_Results.asp?iSc=312 - Lady or the Tiger , which I like, and possibly http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/cgi-bin/Search_Results.asp?iSc=530 - The Raven - though that is a "spin-off" from Poe's poem, rather than an adaptation (and it is certainly not a serious play!)

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Stuart
Lazy Bee Scripts
http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk - http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk read complete play scripts on-line