PLAYS
Tales From the Daily Tabloid Leonard Milgram is fired by his advertising firm and forced to take a job writing for The National Enquire in his old hometown. There he gathers stories from neighbors he always thought of as weird, including Leroy, whose thumb has been bleeding for three years, and Mrs. Truax, who sees angels. When Leonard falls in love with the waitress at Edna 's Cafe, he learns the strange logic of the spiritual world, which has little to do with money and power. 6 characters can be played by 4 men and 3 women. Reviews: Powerful lyrical passages. --The Guardian
Reminiscent of Thornton Wilder’s work. . . . a plea for reality informed by the heart. Much magic. --Time Out
Developing and producing organizations include The Man in The Moon Theatre, London, England; The Gloucester Stage, Boston, MA; Source Theatre, Washington, DC
Tales from the Daily Tabloid is available for purchase online at Amazon.com and at the Dramatic Publishing Company The Chosen Daughter After her premier at Carnegie Hall, Dawn Seitz realizes that more than she loves the violin, she hates it. It was not her choice, but her mother 's. Dawn was selected to bear the gift. Throwing over her role as the chosen, she begins trying to rid herself of her musician ancestors, a struggle which nearly destroys her. 12 characters. 8 are speaking parts (6 women and 2 men) plus 4 non-speaking parts. Excellent for university and high school theatre departments. Review: A unique script with fresh ideas, which examines the role of a parent in determining the future of a child and how the past affects us all.
--The Chicago Sun Times
Commissioned, developed and produced by The Arena Theater, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL. Other producing organizations: Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX; Dordt College, Sioux Center, Iowa; Hedgerow Theatre.
The Chosen Daughter was published by Encore Performance Publishing, and is now out of print. For a script, contact Jeanne Murray Walker Rowing into Light on Lake Adley It is 1904 and the only person in Parkers Prairie Josephine Johnson can stand is the drifter who lives by the junkyard. From him she learns how to get to New York. From her he learns that the man who killed his father is living in town. She escapes to become an actress in New York while he stays to avenge his father 's death.When Josephine returns as a failure, she finds him healed and ready to take her on a strange journey. 9 characters can be played by 3 women and 2 men. Reviews: Clearly a match made in heaven.
--The Philadelphia City Paper.
Evocative and lyrical. A compelling evening of theatre.
--The Wilmington News Journal
Rowing won a Stage Time Award from The Minneapolis Playwrights Center, The William and Arlene Lewis Playwriting Award, and The Virginia Duvall Mann New Play Award. For a script contact Jeanne Murray Walker
Inventing Montana M ontana Winfield seems to have everything-charisma, fame, and a Chair in Dickens studies at a fine University. But he is so driven, that the wife he adores leaves him. When a stranger comes with a lost Dickens manuscript, she brings a secret about herself. Reading the Dickens story and talking with the young woman changes Montana forever. The Montana narrative alternates with scenes from the Dickens novel (invented by the playwright). 14 characters can be played by 3 women and 3 men. Inventing Montana is a great choice for the Christmas slot.
Review: "Full of playful humor." --The Newark Star-Gazette
The play within the play has all the pathos, humor, and vitality of a real Dickens novel. . . . Comedy is her forte.
--The Daily Record
Inventing Montana won the William P. and Arlene R. Lewis Playwrighting Award Inventing Montana is available for purchase from The Dramatic Publishing Company
The Tillie Project It's the 1950's in a small college town and Margaret is hired to teach local history. When she begins digging into the town's long kept secret, the ghost of Tillie Smith returns, urging Margaret to investigate how she was murdered in 1887. In the face of the Academic Affairs Committee which meets to investigate and fire Margaret, the young professor discovers how the wrong man was indicted, found guilty, and finally exonerated as the town was building a gallows to hang him. Tillie's murderer was never found and the ghost of Tillie still walks in Hackettstown, New Jersey. This script is based on history and was developed in collaboration with The Centenary Stage and the people of Hackettstown. When it was produced, it broke box office records. 22 characters can be played by 4 men and 4 women.
Reviews:
A creepy ghost story for a chilly October night. . . . right from the eerie opening scene. --The Daily Record
The strength of the play lies in its character development.
--The Star-Gazette For a script contact Jeanne Murray Walker
The Queen, The Earl, and The Waiting Woman
Elizabeth 's young Waiting Woman, Helen, a brilliant astronomer. eventually ascends to the position of the Queen 's chief confidante. Helen is forbidden by the Queen she loves to practice the new science. She is soon caught between Elizabeth and The Earl of Essex, the Queen 's magnetic lover, for whom Helen herself cares deeply. When Essex moves to take Elizabeth 's throne, Helen is forced to choose between them. This play imagines Spanish Philip tightening the noose, civil war threatening, and the sweet love for Essex that nearly prevents Helen from escaping the court alive. 12 characters can be played by 3 men and 3 women.
The Queen, The Earl and the Waiting Woman was a finalist in the Eugene O 'Neill Competition and winner of the CITA Competition, 2000. It was developed at The Utah Shakespeare Festival and during The New Play Network Showcase in Philadelphia. It has not been professionally produced. The Queen, The Earl, and The Waiting Woman is available for purchase from CITA
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