Theatre for Youth
A Personal Note: I’ve enjoyed working in Theatre for Youth since 1988, and consider my own children and students as essential collaborators. As always, the research process is a joy– whether it be writing plays, designing curricula, or leading workshops. I have created classroom study and activity guides to accompany most of these scripts.
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Heart of the Nation
Originally commissioned and performed by Atlanta's Academy Theatre for Yourth, this script on the Cherokee Removal had a 1988-89 tour throughout the Southeast.
It requires four character (2m, 2f). The lead actor in the ensemble, playing Swimmer, is the now well-known Hollywood actor, Gary Anthony Williams.
My Bed is a Boat:
The Adventures of Robert Louis Stevenson
This one-man script toured for years (1988-2002) and would love to hit the road again for a new generation. It was staged with a an Individual Grant from the Georgia Council for the Arts and originally featured John Forrest Ferguson in the title role, as directed by John Stephens of Theatre Gael and The Academy Theatre. Other performers over the years have included Lee Look, Bryan Mercer, and Hugh Adams.
John Forrest Ferguson as R. L. Stevenson
Cakewalk composer Bryan Mercer toured in Austin’s My Bed is a Boat, which “Isn’t your run-of-the-mill children’s play, deftly shifting between humor and drama, performed with dexterous grace,”
-Lynne Heffley, Los Angeles Times (3/18/99)
Sir Wonderooms
Dealing with the 16th century's often befuddled encounter with the New World, this script was commissioned in 1992 by the High Museum of Art in conjunction with their exhibition The Age of the Marvelous, which focused on the beginnings of natural history museums. The marvelous Randy Taylor (Create) performed it in an open-ended tour. The script is much fun in the classroom, and perhaps more relevant today than ever, as it deals with often comic, often tragic, cultural misconceptions.
Over the Garden Wall:
Beatrix Potter and Friends
Beverly was awarded another Georgia Council for the Arts Individual Artist Grant to produce this play, originally with Worldsong Children's Theatre. Actress Holly Stevenson has toured this show around the Southeast, other countries, and enjoyed a sold-out two-week run at Mill Mountain Theatre in Roanoke, Virginia. From the production's inception in 1992, Holly has charmed thousands of children and families. She continues to do so today, as young people always encourage Ms. Potter to be adventurous, find a home of her own, and venture over the garden wall. To book this show, contact Holly at 1funnybone@mindspring.com.
Dreamcatcher
Beverly worked with Atlanta's Alliance Theatre and ten- thousand-dollar grant from the Metropolitan Life Foundation. This project was formed from workshop writings with children about their dreams. These sessions were conducted in Atlanta Public Schools, Grades K-2. The results were edited and shaped by Beverly into a transformational script, which was rehearsed and performed by high-school students at the North Atlanta School for Performing Arts. All of this was under the direction of Marion Bolton and Beverly. The resulting production won first place at the AAA Georgia High School Theatre Competition.
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The Haunting of Edgar Allan Poe
This play was commissioned in 2001 by Gwinnett County, Georgia's Aurora Theatre. It was produced with a grant from the Harland Foundation. The script features one male actor and one female actor, along with a percussionist in some stagings. The Haunting of Edgar Allan Poe played for all Gwinnett County Public School Eighth Graders every October from 2001-2004 at Aurora.
Invincible Louisa
"Louisa," of course, is the popular author of Little Women and much more. This play was crafted in 2001 for Theatre Gael and Young Audiences. With Holly Stevenson in the title role, it toured from 2002-2005. With its emphasis on a brave woman, we would like to see it venture forth again.
Hans on Christmas
and
Light up the Season
Another one-person script, Light up the Season is also for young children. It's a multicultural exploration of why so many belief systems celebrate light at the same time each year, along with the beautiful ways in which they do so.
These two seasonal works were commissioned for Young Audiences of Atlanta, before their demise, in 2013. Hans on Christmas focuses on the holiday stories of Hans Christian Anderson. With a cast of one, male or female, it will appeal to those young children who have more recently viewed, and re-viewed Frozen. Please let it go to a good theatre.
Classroom Study and Activity Guides
These are samples of classroom study and activity guides created to accompany most of these scripts:
