by JUNE RACHELSON-OSPA and DANIEL NEIDEN
Based on the short story “STUPID WIG”
by SHIRLEY SPURGEON
What happens when STAR WARS helps a 4th Grader fight her WAR against Leukemia?
Our heroic ten year old starfighter, Shirley, battles against monsters more terrifying than Darth Vader: Leukemia! Fear! Alienation! And a very scaaary, eeevil, STUPID WIG. Responding “as Princess Leia would,” Shirley is armed only with her out-of-this-galaxy imagination, and her boundless love for her grandfather. “My Han Solo. My Tata.” A true love story for any galaxy.
Shirley K. Larkin-Spurgeon’s story of Leukemia Survival
I was born on August 20, 1970 in San Fernando, California. My parents divorced when I was five and we moved to the Antelope Valley in 1977 where I was raised by my Hispanic mother and grandparents. In 1979, I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The doctors at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles told my family I had three months left. Obviously, I didn’t die but did relapse ten years later in 1989 and again in 1992. Children’s transferred me to City of Hope where I survived a bone marrow transplant.
Eventually I graduated from The Master’s College with a bachelor’s degree in 1994 and teaching credential in 1997. I taught elementary school for several years in conjunction with piano which I had studied since the age of eight. I currently teach piano and am pursuing a career as an author of children’s stories.
As a child, my Tata (grandfather) would tell me stories of when he was a boy in Bisbee, Arizona during the Great Depression. His great story telling often cheered me up when I was sick. I always wanted to document his stories and that is what inspired me to write.
“Stupid Wig” is about my trials as a child with cancer. It is based on actual events that transpired during my illness. It’s main focus is my coming to terms with losing my hair and having to wear a wig. It’s educational, humorous and encouraging. The story has been published as part of an anthology titled “It’s Tough Growing Up: Children’s Stories of Courage” compiled by Marilyn Dalrymple and Joan Foor.
PLAY DETAILS:
- 3f 1m 4either
- SHIRLEY ………Age ten
- DENISE……………Shirley’s Older Sister
- GENNY……………Shirley’s mom
- TATA…….Shirley’s Grandfather
- ONE PLAYER PLAYS THE FOLLOWING:
- DR. ARMSTRONG, ANNOUNCER AT COSTUME BALL, LICE NURSE
- THREE PLAYERS PLAY THE FOLLOWING:
- KIDS
- BEST FRIEND RHONDA; MARY, another friend; CHANIN, another friend
- ANDROID EVE, ADAM, KIDS IN SCHOOL YARD, KIDS IN PARK
- MRS. WILLIAMS, The Teacher
- ALIEN NURSE CHORUS
- NURSE JANE, NURSE NICOLE, NURSE WANDA
- MOM’S FRIENDS
- MRS. JONES, MRS. MASON, MRS. VASQUEZ
- KIDS
- Several simple settings
- Contemporary costumes
- About an Hour
- ORDER #3347
REVIEWS:
“The hard subject of Leukemia made beautiful and accessible for the whole family.” –– Peter Filichia, Broadway Radio
PERUSAL MATERIALS
STUPID WIG SONGS AND SCENES
- MUSICAL #1 — Prelude
- SCENE 1: Shirley’s Living Room/Shirley’s School
- MUSICAL #2 — SHIRLEY STAY STILL … Shirley, Mom, Make-up Artist, Costumer, Denise, Tata
- MUSICAL #2a — SHIRLEY STAY STILL (reprise) … Shirley, Williams, Kids
- SCENE 2: The Emergency Room/Shirley’s Alien Fantasy
- MUSICAL #3 — TESTED … Shirley, Aliens
- SCENE 3: Shirley’s Hospital Room
- MUSICAL #4 — FINE CHINA … Dr. Armstrong, Shirley, Mom
- SCENE 3a: Outside Shirley’s Hospital Room
- MUSICAL #5 — SHOCK (I’M NOT DOING THIS AGAIN)…Mom
- SCENE 3b: Shirley’s Hospital Room
- MUSICAL #6 — STUPID WIG… Shirley, Tata and Nurses
- SCENE 4: Shirley’s Home Valentine’s Day—The Kitchen/The Living Room
- MUSICAL #7 — DEAR PRINCESS LEIA … Chanin, Mary, Rhonda, Shirley, Geeky Kid
- SCENE 5: Shirley’s Living Room
- MUSICAL #8 — STUPID WIG REPRISE … Shirley
- MUSICAL #9 — GREEN … Shirley, Troopers, Mom, Tata
- MUSICAL #9a — Scene Change
- SCENE 6: The Park
- MUSICAL #10 — THIS WIG IS WIGGIN’ ME OUT”… Shirley, Tata and Kids
- SCENE 7: The Car
- SCENE 7b: Springtime / Street outside Dr’s office
- MUSICAL #11a — Underscore
- MUSICAL #11b — MIJA … Tata
- SCENE 8: Doctor’s Office
- SCENE 9: School Playground
- MUSICAL #12 —MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DOO … Shirley and Kids
- SCENE 10: Shirley’s Kitchen/The Fantasy Classroom
- MUSICAL #13 —LICE PATROL … Shirley, Nurse, and Kids
- SCENE 11: The Classroom
- MUSICAL #13a — Underscore
- SCENE 12: Shirley’s Living Room / Schoolyard
- MUSICAL #14a — SHIRLEY STAY STILL (reprise) … Mom
- MUSICAL #14b — STUPID WIG (reprise) … Shirley
- MUSICAL #14c — MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DOO (reprise) … Shirley and Friends
- MUSICAL #15 — FACE THE DAY (FINALE) … Company
- MUSICAL #16 — Curtain Call … Company
SONG SAMPLES : Composer Vocal Demos
REHEARSAL-PRODUCTION MATERIALS:
- Production Script PDF Rental — ORDER #3347a : $20.00
- Production Vocal Book PDF Rental — ORDER #3347b : $20.00
- Production Piano-Vocal Score PDF Rental — ORDER #3347c : $25.00
- 1st Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty (or Only Performance Royalty) — ORDER #3347d : $65.00
- 2nd Performance Amateur/EducationalRoyalty — ORDER #3347e : $55.00
- Performance-Trak Digital Orchestra Files Rental — ORDER #3347j : TBA
BUTTON COMING SOON
- Professional Royalties quoted on APPLICATION
BILLING CREDITS:
Stupid Wig
Book and Lyrics by June Rachelson-Ospa
Music by Daniel Neiden
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:
“Stupid Wig is presented through special arrangement with Leicester Bay Theatricals. All authorized materials are also supplied by LBT, www.leicesterbaytheatricals.com”
PRODUCTION HISTORY:
- KidsActive Theatre Company, Essex, UK — 2022 Tours
- PREMIERE: E.L.F.S. Touring Troupe, Bulverde S.T.A.G.E, San Antonio — June 2013
