A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

A Polar Bear in New Jersey

Short Play, Comedy  /  7w, 3m, 4any gender (adult)

A teenage polar bear sets out on her own...to New Jersey. A play that's a little bit about global warming, but mostly about fitting in when you're different.

A Polar Bear in New Jersey

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    7w, 3m, 4any gender (adult)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Experimental
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences, Teen (Age 14-18)

Details

Summary
A teenage polar bear sets out on her own...to New Jersey. A play that's a little bit about global warming, but mostly about fitting in when you're different. A Polar Bear in New Jersey was presented as part of Keen Teens 2013, a unique and free educational theatre program, run by the Drama Desk and Obie award-winning Keen Company. Keen Teens seeks to improve the quality of plays written for high school students by commissioning scripts from highly regarded playwrights, and gives students the opportunity to work with professional artists in an Off Broadway setting.
History
Presented as part of Keen Teens 2013
ICE FLOE - An ice floe. Our narrator. (M or F)
AVINNAQ - A three year old polar bear. Three in bear years = 16 in human years. (F)
MOM - An adult polar bear. (F)
ROCKY - A raccoon. (M)
ROCCO - A raccoon. (M)
OFFICER FINLEY - An adult black bear. Local police officer. (M)
MRS. FINLEY - An adult black bear. City Councilbear of Bearville, NJ. (F)
JESSICA FINLEY - A three year old black bear. Athlete. (F)
PRINCIPAL GRANGER - An adult black bear. Principal of Bearmont High School. (F or M)
TEACHER - A forgetful adult black bear. (F or M)
SARAH - A three year old black bear. The most popular cub in school. (F)
KELLY - A three year old black bear. Sarah's lackey. (F)
LINDSEY - A three year old black bear. Sarah's lackey. (F)
OTHER STUDENTS - As many as needed. (F or M)

*Note on doubling: There are many doubling possibilities with this script, and groups are encouraged to double as needed. The minimum number of actors needed is 8, with the following doublings: Mom/Teacher/Principal Granger, Rocky/Kelly, Rocco/Sarah, and Mrs. Finley/Lindsey. The maximum number can be as high as 13, with additional actors playing Other Students who can ad-lib lines in the classroom scene. Actor gender is flexible in all of these characters due to the stylized nature of the play.

  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day
  • Setting A bare stage
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

Part of the collection: Keen Teen Volume 1

Music

  • Musical Style N/A (Not a musical)
  • Vocal DemandsN/A (Not a musical)
  • Chorus Size N/A (Not a musical)

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £30 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

Available Formats:

Authors

Anna Moench

Anna Moench's full length plays include Hunger, In Quietness (Ensemble Studio Theatre), Great Eastern, and The Pillow Book (59E59). Other productions of Ms. Moench's work have been seen at the Old Vic, The Flea, Dance Theater Workshop, Dixon Place, The Kraine, The Looking Gla ...
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