Adapted from Mark Twain by Charles W. Whitman and C. Michael Perry
A stirring adaptation of Twain’s somber and disturbing ode to war. A simple setting of chairs and a podium would be sufficient. Costumes may be worn but unified dress is also workable. This is an actors piece. Talent and creativity will be tested! It is simple to stage and has a dynamic impact. It can be done as a Reader’s Theatre but has worked best when fully memorized. It is the story of a town praying for victory in their war and the Angel who comes to the church to tell them what their prayer will mean to their enemy and to themselves.
Twain favorites, Entertaining Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huck Finn are available from Leicester Bay Theatricals, and The Diary of Adam and Eve is available to be produced separately as short play from Eldridge Plays and Musicals HERE
PLAY DETAILS:
- 4M 4W
- Female 1
- Female 2
- Female 3
- Female 4
- Male 5
- Male 6
- Preacher (Male)
- Angel (Male)
- About 15 minutes
- Non-descript costumes, or costumes representing each era of war among humans
- Order #3330
PERUSAL MATERIALS
No performance rights are granted to anyone in the possession of a Perusal Pages document, nor are you obligated to a performance run by the possession of the document.
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.)
Professional Producers, please fill out the Licensing Application form.
- Script in PDF format — Order #3330a : $15.00 (from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)
- First Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3329d : $30
- Second Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3329e : $25
- 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.
PRODUCTIONS:
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- Salamanca High School 2002
- Pin Oak Middle School 2002
- Cline School 2002
- Mountain View High School 2002
- New Union UMC Praise and Worship 2001
- Kanab High School 2000
- Alhambra Theatre (15 perfs) Pleasant Grove, Utah 1979
- PREMIERE: BYU Summer Youth Theatre 1976
BILLING CREDITS
The following is how the credits should read in all programs, posters, fliers, handbills and other promotional advertising for the show:
The War Prayer
by Mark Twain
Adapted by
Charles W. Whitman, C. Michael Perry
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:
“The War Prayer is presented through special arrangement with Leicester Bay Theatricals. All authorized materials are also supplied by LBT, www.leicesterbaytheatricals.com”
from the catalog of