A Play by Shirlee Hurst Shields
(For production by Professional, Amateur, Educational, College/University, High School groups)
Adult and Family Audiences.
No matter who you are, where you are, or what you are doing, there are two things ever present in your life that you cannot control: aging and the passage of time.
This is a symbolic play within a play. Time and age are represented, respectively, by a large grandfather clock (FATHER TIME) and a young actress who portrays the dual role of Julie/ MOTHER AGE. The story follows Joan and Jerry from their marriage to retirement. Mothers-in-law, pregnancy, mid-life crisis, empty nest syndrome, life, love and sex after 60 bring a thoughtful humor to this play. The aging process is controlled by MOTHER AGE while time passes with the aid of FATHER TIME. The characters are very conscious that it is only a play, and comment frequently on their involvement in it. At first Judy thinks she is auditioning for a play about teenagers and their ‘coming of age.’ But she finds that ‘coming of age’ is not limited to teens and applies to every age of our lives. The Stage Manager also has a fun and important role to play: he or she gives directions to follow the script much the same as God gives us directions in the scriptures to follow in our lives. This is not a religious play, per se, but it speaks to many of those things that touch our humanity.
DETAILS:
- One Interior
- Period Costumes: 1948-1988
- 6m 2w
- About 2 hours
- Order # 3075
Available for ALL producing groups.
PERUSAL MATERIALS
- The PERUSAL PAGES file for Coming of Age are available by clicking ComingOfAgePERUSAL. The PDF file is the first act of the play and all other pertinent information about the play.
- 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.
PURCHASE 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 #3075a : $25.00 (from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)
- First Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3075d : $75
- Second Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3075e : $60
- Professional Royalties will be quoted upon application
PRODUCTIONS
- 1999 Playwright’s Circle Winner — Palm Canyon Theatre in Palm Springs, CA (March 8, 1999)
- PREMIERE at Babcock Performing Readers, University of Utah — 1995
BILLING CREDITS
The following is how the credits should read in all programs, posters, fliers, handbills and other promotional advertising for the show:
Coming of Age
a play by
Shirlee Hurst Shields
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:
“Coming of Age is presented through special arrangement with Leicester Bay Theatricals. All authorized materials are also supplied by LBT, www.leicesterbaytheatricals.com”
From the Catalog of
