(Under license from Prospero Arts and Media)
The Fielding family’s Mormon values conflict with their tenant’s Sam Forrest’s atheistic beliefs. Can mutual tolerance be found, or will tragedy ruin their chances for finding common ground? This award-winning family drama explores the beliefs that divide some of us and the humanity that unites all of us as we all search for meaning, acceptance, and love in our lives.
GENRES: Drama, Religious, Latter-day Saints/Mormon
PLAY DETAILS
- CAST SIZE: 9 (6 f, 3 m)
- Maxwell Fielding, father 40s (M)
- Daisy Fielding, mother 40s (F)
- Naomi Fielding 20s (F)
- Joel Fielding, 20s (M)
- Abish Fielding, 15-16 (F)
- Sam Forest, 20s (F)
- Ashera Grover, 20s (F)
- Tyrell Howard, 20s (M) African-American
- Jenny Pond, 15-17 (F)
- RUN TIME: 1 hour and 45 minutes
- SETS: on interior living room
- COSTUMES: contemporary
- ORDER # 2123
AWARDS
-
Best Drama, Association for Mormon Letters, 2012
REVIEWS
“As to be expected with a Mahonri Stewart play, the title A Roof Overhead is thematically telling. What happens under the roof of this home full of loving but flawed people is what draws us into their lives. Most, but not all, of the interaction between family members and friends is pleasant and happy, but even when the characters steer us into uncomfortable areas that still challenge many members of the Church today (like, for instance, Blacks and the Priesthood), we are presented with multiple sides of those issues in a fair and balanced manner. No one seeing this play would consider it unbalanced. The father Maxwell Fielding is fond of saying throughout the play, ‘It’s about being fair.’ A Roof Overheard is nothing if not fair. “Stewart’s skill at dialogue and characterization, mingled with just the right amount of humor, drama, and pathos, anchors us to the play—we become more than mere observers. We become members of the diverse set of characters and we, characters and audience alike, share this roof overheard. What this play says to Mormons is, ‘We are not alone in the world. We need to learn to get along with others of different, or sometimes, no faith.’” —Excerpt from the AML Award Citation for Drama, 2012
“Stewart’s characters are all strong, all opinionated, and all delightfully quirky in ways that help the audience suspend disbelief. An audience member could come to the play over several performances and glean new insights to his various themes of diversity, family bonds, and the dimensions of maternal influence.” —Margaret Blair Young, Dawning of a Brighter Day
”I’m getting more and more impatient to see great Mormon literature before I die! Thanks to Mahonri Stewart, we’re coming closer . . . I loved his A Roof Overhead . . . Hooray for quality! It’s coming!” —Marilyn Brown, Association for Mormon Letters
PERUSAL MATERIALS:
- A copy of the PERUSAL SCRIPT (in PDF format) which contains Act One of the script of the play is available, (it also has an extensive Author’s Note.): Roof Overhead PERUSAL
- The PRINT VERSION of A ROOF OVERHEAD is published by ZARAHEMLA BOOKS in the volume A ROOF OVERHEAD AND OTHER PLAYS and is available on Amazon . A great way to peruse the entire script for $12.00 HERE
PRODUCTION/REHEARSAL MATERIALS:
(Any PDF purchased will be emailed to your email address — if you need to provide that to us (not the one on your PayPal account?), email us. CDs will be mailed to a snail mail address. Do not purchase rehearsal materials or pay for royalties until you have performance clearance.)
- Script in PDF format — Order #2123a : $40.00 (from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)
- First Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #2123d : $90
- Second Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #2123e : $80
- Professional Royalties will be quoted upon application
- EMAIL us for rights and information. Be sure to give us anticipated performance dates and the address of your group and, if different, your theatre. Please also include a contact name and phone number.
BILLING CREDITS
The following is how the credits should read in all programs, posters, fliers, handbills and other promotional advertising for the show:
A Roof Overhead
by
Mahonri Stewart
NOTE: The names of the Playwright(s), Composer, Lyricist, and Bookwriter shall be equal in size, type, coloring, boldness, and prominence. No billing shall appear in type larger or more prominent than the billing to the Authors except for the title of the play. (In a press release all type, will of course, be the same size.)
ALSO:
THIS NOTICE MUST APPEAR IN ALL PROGRAMS, ON ALL POSTERS AND PUBLICITY MATERIALS AND INTERNET ADVERTISING/WEBPAGES FOR THE PLAY:
“A ROOF OVERHEAD is presented through special arrangement with Zion Theatricals. All authorized materials are also supplied by ZT, www.leicesterbaytheatricals.com”
PRODUCTIONS
- Arizona State University’s Binary Theater Company, 2012
- PREMIERE: Little Brown Theater/Zion Theatre Company, 2012
in association with
