Phone/Fax 502-583-2288
E-Mail applays@bellsouth.net

Office: 617 Baxter Ave.
Louisville KY 40204 -1105
Office hours: M-F 11am - 4pm EST

   
   
 

DESCRIPTION
AUDIENCE MATURITY: C=Child, Y=Youth, T=Teen, YA=Young Adult

Descriptions of plays sorted by title alphabetically. CLICK letter below.
To SEARCH by categories CLICK SEARCH PLAYS on the left.

Title: A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  R  S  T  U  V  W  Y

I BELIEVE IN MAKE BELIEVE (Musical)

Books $7.00
Royalty $50.00
Printed Music Score (piano/vocal) $50.00
45 pages text
C Y T

Book and lyrics by Carol Lynn Pearson. Music by JAC Redford. Commissioned by Robert Redford's celebrated Sundance Theatre, and acclaimed as "a play destined to become family theatre's favorite around the country," here is a charming musical version of best-loved fairy tales. Twelve (or more) singer-actors.

I BELIEVE IN MAKE BELIEVE delightfully presents five world favorite fairy tales by the brothers Grimm in an irresistible musical setting. Beginning and ending with the story of the princess who wouldn't laugh, we experience the adventures of the shoemaker and the elves, the Bremen Town musicians, the seven soldiers, and that lovable dunce, Simpleton. Chock-full of audience participation opportunities (options), and with plenty of excitement for children and plenty of wit for the grownups, this is a fresh musical show not to be missed.


ICHABOD, a musical adaptation of
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Books $7.00
Royalty $50.00/$40.00
Printed Music Score (piano/vocal/instrumental) $50.00
49 pages text
Y T

By Charles Jones and Johathan Cole. Beware! The horseman rides through a hallow that is anything but sleepy in this nimble new musical. Space staging. 6 males, 4 females, but flexible and may be larger.

Imaginative traditional costumes.The classic tale of Washington Irving emerges transformed by the theatrical genius of Jones and the musical talent of Cole. We are challenged to look our fears squarely in the face - - or hoof, as the case may be. Schoolmaster Ichabod offers a new twist in teaching as his students sing of their unbridled love for math, history, and geography in a show filled with surprise, novelty, and glorious music.


I DIDN'T KNOW THAT!

Books $7.00
Royalty $40.00
27 pages text
C Y T

By Johnny Saldana, Louis Moloney, Joyce Selber, Rachel Winfree. A light hearted revue of first facts, selected oddities and world records. 2 men, 2 women, 1 narrator.

Bare stage, ensemble costuming, assorted percussive instruments for accompaniment. Music included.The GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS, the most popular reference book for young people, is now incorporated in this creative and exciting new comedy for children. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT! taps the "trivia" craze sweeping the nation by presenting over 50 startling facts in a 35-minute revue. Audiences have "oohed" and "ahhed" in amazement to learn such fascinating facts as the first policewoman, the origins of superstitions, and the world records for leapfrogging, sneezing, egg-laying. Rapidfire sketches and songs plus total reliance on ensemble acting make this revue both simple and challenging to stage -- and a world winner with young audiences.


THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

Books $7.00
Royalty $40.00
26 pages text
T YA

Adapted by Aurand Harris from the play by Oscar Wilde. This superb adaptation is ideal for high school one-act play contests, classroom studies, and mini-productions. 5 men, 4 women.

Costumes of fashionable England, 1895.A masterpiece of high comedy. All of the high lights of the play are retained in this short adaptation -- the plot's unexpected farcical twists, the characters, and the dialogue -- sparkling with provocative observations. Wilde called his play "A Trivial Comedy for Serious People." He commented that the first act is "ingenious," the second act "beautiful," and the third "Abominably clever." Audiences and critics alike applaud the play as a celebration of wit.


THE INDIAN CAPTIVE

Books $7.00
Royalty $40.00
28 pages text
Y T

Developed from history by Charlotte B. Chorpenning. A dramatic incident taken from the actual history of the Seneca Indians. 3 women, 3 men, 5 children. Two sets. Pioneer and Indian costumes.

A little pioneer girl is captured by Indians, and taken to their camp by Chief Cornplanter. At the Indian camp, she is regarded with distrust, and there is a gripping and dramatic scene where her courage is tested by fire. When her spirit proves firm, she is adopted with high ceremony into the Seneca tribe. The Senecas teach her their ways and customs, and grow to love her -- so much, that when Eleanor's mother comes to seek her, they disguise Eleanor, and threaten to kill her mother if the child makes any sign of recognition. There is a tense scene, where Eleanor keeps faith with the Indians, while longing to make some sign of love to her mother. Cornplanter finally realizes that her happiness lies with her own people, and with a heavy heart he lets her go.


IN MY GRANDMOTHER'S PURSE

Books $7.00
Royalty $40.00
21 pages text
C Y T

By Eric Bass. A young boy and his mother play a game in which each has to remember lists of things that they both imagine to be in "Grandmother's purse" and fantasy takes over, 1 boy, 2 women, and among fantasy characters, are 1 woman, 2 men and/or a number of puppets.Locale: anyplace. Costumes: contemporary to fantastic.

The game that is played centers on "Grandmother." As they play the things imagined suggest two different versions of "Grandma". For the boy she is an adventuress, a fighter of Knights and Tigers. For the mother, she is the parent who did not care enough for her family. Grandma's appearance only makes matters worse, as all three try to balance the joy of fantasy with the need to feel safe and secure. Themes of memory and death run in all as well as beauty and meaning for a child.


IN A ROOM SOMEWHERE (Musical)
AWARDS: ASSITEJ/USA Outstanding Play Award

Books $7.00
Royalty $50.00
Printed Music Score (piano/vocal) $50.00
60 pages text
T YA

By Suzan L. Zeder in collaboration with Metro Theatre Circus. 3 men, 2 women. Single set. Modern Costumes. Tours beautifully.

Suddenly, five adults find themselves in a room somewhere; a room with no windows, no doors, and only the vastness of space where the ceiling ought to be. When they begin to find relics from their own childhoods, they discover that the only way out of the room is to journey through their own pasts. This powerful play of great humor, warmth, and emotional intensity is the result of a three year collaboration between this award winning playwright and the gifted Metro Theatre Circus ensemble. It breaks new ground in the theatre for young audiences.


IN ONE BASKET

Books $7.00
Royalty $40.00
45 pages text
C Y T

By Shirley Pugh. A collection of little-known folk and fairy-tales, designed for "story-theatre-type" use. 3 women, 3 men. Unit set. Basic costumes.

This is a series of twelve relatively obscure old tales, dramatized with artful simplicity, for production in the story-theatre style. This collection offers the Producer a wide variety of material, allowing him a generous choice to comprise a full-length entertainment. Each play may be used singly, in which case royalty may be adjusted, upon application.


IN OTHER WORDS

Books $7.00
Royalty $40.00
31 pages text
C Y T

By Sharon Elizabeth Doyle. A new form of play proven in professional and amateur performance. Designed to stimulate the creative actor and delight the child in all of us with human cartoons. 6 or more actors. Simple set, ensemble costumes, maximum imagination. A miniature play.

Join Professor Fleetfoot and his madcap friends on a zany exploration of communication. The acting ensemble transforms itself from the alphabet to geese honking southward to a string quartet. Baby discovers her First word, and Gunkymuck, head caveperson, discovers words in the first place. Finally, Adolphs Ignatius Fentwhistle, who only talks, and Sylvia Syllabub, who only dances, find out what real communication is when they begin to pay attention to each other. Ideal for either in-school or theatre performance.


THE INVISIBLE PEOPLE, A Musical Play
AWARDS: AATE/UPRP Award

Books $7.00
Royalty $50.00
Printed Music Score (piano/vocal) $40.00
75 pages text
C Y

By William Lavender. A troup of colorful characters, the Invisible People exist only in the imagination of a little girl named Cindy. A lively romp filled with songs and healthful fantasy. Girls 2, Boys 3, Men 4, flexible number of Male and Female Villagers. Present time.

Cindy's two special invisible friends are a fun-loving pair named Nubbins and Mr. Glopp and they keep her entertained. But when they take her to the Invisible Village, home of all Invisible People, she meets trouble in the form of pompous, power-hungry General Grumpdump and his weasly sidekick, Wince. Thanks to Cindy's big brother, Jimmy, she is rescued from Grumpdump, and all ends happily after exciting adventure.


I SINCERELY DOUBT THAT THIS OLD HOUSE IS VERY HAUNTED (Musical)

Books $7.00
Royalty $50.00/$40.00
Printed Music Score (piano/vocal) $40.00
45 pages text

Y T

By Paul Crabtree. Original musical comedy about ghosts and people. 9 women, 8 men, additional ghosts and spirits as desired. Two sets. Modern costumes.

Unknown to the Exex family, their house is occupied by a whole company of ghosts. Very lively ghosts they are too, who only tolerate the people of the house as intruders, and turn the human conversation on or off, at will. The Head Ghost has declared that a new recruit must be initiated into their society before their fiscal year expires at midnight - - and when Wilma Exex's young man smashes his car into a tree, the Head sizes on this happy event, and signs Billy Joe into the organization before he is even dead. But this is illegal - - and the whole plan is foiled when Billy Joe decides not to die.


IVAN AND THE FIREBIRD

Books $7.00
Royalty $50.00/$40.00
59 pages text
Y T

Based on the Russian Folk Tale by the English author David Foxton. A tale of a thrilling and amusing chase to catch the fabulous Firebird and release her from the wicked Czar. Cast of 4 women and 15 men (with doubling) plus opportunity for extras. Costumes: Russian Folk style. Setting: three specific sets plus a common area to all.

A puppeteer and his assistant begin their performance of "Ivan and the Firebird" but switch to using the full stage when it becomes apparent that the puppets are too small for the audience to appreciate. Czar Vyslav, nagged incessantly by his wife over their country's shortcomings, is overjoyed when his gardener, Simeon, produces an apple tree bearing golden fruit. Before he can use this "miracle" to his country's good the golden apples are stolen by the Firebird. Vyslav's three sons undertake to retrieve the apples, and the victor is promised that he will be heir to the throne. Their adventures are chronicled by the puppeteer, who controls the action of the play throughout, frequently "freezing" the performers to change the course of the storyline. An action-filled play with considerable opportunities for audience involvement and participation.

 


SEARCH PLAYS BY

Title
Author
Description
Cast Size LARGE
Cast Size SMALL
Audience CHILDREN
- Audience MIDDLE SCHOOL
- Audience HIGH SCHOOL
Roles for TEENS
Tourable
Most Productions
Plays of FAITH
(Adult and Youth audience)
Production Gallery

BOOKS & ANTHOLOGIES

Title