index

Mary W. Shelley's Frankenstein

Mary W. Shelley's Frankenstein is an adaptation for the stage of Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein. Mary W. Shelley's Frankenstein is a melodrama with major roles for six (four actors/two actresses).

Mary W. Shelley's Frankenstein

IRS vs. Menaechmi

Long lost identical twin brothers...identical twin sisters, one married to one brother...mistaken identity!...love!...marriage!...tax policy!... IRS vs. Menaechmi is a full-length comedy with major roles for seven (four actors/three actresses).

IRS vs. Menaechmi

Guise of Gals and Guys

Ambitious socialite's "A-list" party guests recruited from middle class neighbors -- in disguise -- under the direction of screwball image consultant...and falling in love puts to flunking test the agreement of three friends to give up partying and women to devote themselves for a time to higher things in life. Guise of Guys and Gals is a full-length comedy with major roles for eight (five actors/three actresses).

Guise of Guys and Gals

Running Back, Running Back

All-star running back quits college team on eve of big bowl game and leaves for parts unknown...followed by reporter for gossipzine determined to get the real story -- by not giving herself away as a reporter -- and athletic department flunky determined to bring him back for the big game...rebellion, deception and love on the road in the American South. Running Back, Running Back is a full-length comedy with major roles for six (four actors/two actresses).

Running Back, Running Back

Performance Pieces/Short Plays

-- COMING SOON -- This Living on the Road is One True Story This Living on the Road is One True Story is the book and lyrics for a Country & Western musical revue.

-- COMING SOON --   Flight into Safety   Flight into Safety, about a man, a woman and a newborn fleeing murderous persecution, is a medium-length play for an actor and an actress (and a baby, or facsimile thereof).

Big Thicket   Big Thicket, which is drawn from a true story, is a short play for two actors, one black, one white.

Acting Class   A director and an actor and actress work on a play about Adam and Eve.  Acting Class is a short play for three.

Pearly Gates   "Taking the call" from up above prompts a last-ditch effort to negotiate a way so you can take it with you.  Pearly Gates is a very short, comic sketch-piece for one actor or actress.

X-1   A man goes to work in the morning.  X-1 is a long performance poem for a single actor.

This Living on the Road is One True Story

The purpose of this site is to present my works for the theater to those who may be interested in staging them.

In addition, I cordially invite you and all lovers-of-the-theater, to visit -- and make up your own mind about my work.

My plays should most interest those intent on creating an experience at the theater that includes the dimension that only poetry performed can convey.

My plays should also interest all who share the conviction that acting and poetry, in our time's global idiom, English, can thrive together onstage.

Their many roles for youthful characters, along with the challenge of grappling with contemporary dramatic poetry, make some of these plays particularly apt for use in school and university theater/performing arts programs.

Each script is presented here in a single .htm file. Synopsis, cast breakdown, statement of production requirements, contact information, etc. preface each script. Links to .mp3 files of brief excerpts are embedded here and there in some scripts for those interested in hearing what this poetry might sound like onstage.

Some of these scripts are also available in Amazon Kindlebook format at amazon.com/Books-Kindle [Incidentally, if you should buy one of these whizzbang paperless reading devices -- when, in time, they become as ordinary as cellphones, many trees will be thankful -- using the following link, I get a small percentage: Amazon Kindlebook Reader.]

Inquiries are most welcome from all theater-makers -- professional, student and amateur -- everywhere on the globe, particularly those that work in English and are interested in experimenting with contemporary dramatic poetry. I can be reached by e-mail at willow_nts@hotmail.com -- willow_nts@hotmail.com.

I am a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, and professional productions must adhere to Dramatists Guild standards relating to respect for intellectual property rights, payment of royalties, etc. (see the Dramatist Guild's Author's Bill of Rights for a concise summary of the matter).

Downloading these works implies acknowledging that the works posted on this site are the property of their author (see copyright boilerplate for a version of such an acknowledgment/agreement) [the small print of which authorizes general, personal uses (your poetry-sounding pleasure, alone or together, etc.), and the following specific, public uses of excerpts: by actors and actresses who, individually or in small groups, use excerpts for self-presentation purposes on their websites or use excerpts as audition material, and by teachers and students who use excerpts in theater education/training settings. In all instances of such uses, the particular work, the playwright and this website must be appropriately, publicly acknowledged.]

I last updated this site Monday 25 May 2009.

Thank you. I am much obliged to you for whatever time and attention you give my work.

Sincerely, Will Owen