by Tito Livas
Understanding is paramount in living, working and learning together.
Squeak’s brain moves at warp speed. Sometimes that makes it hard to connect with other kids. And sometimes it’s hard for grown-ups to understand. A journey across the spectrum created specifically for grades K-3, complete with dinosaurs, Dragon Breaths, and a new friend. “My hope is that students, teachers, administrators, and parents – anyone and everyone who watches SQUEAK – will come away with a little more patience and a lot more understanding of what goes on inside the minds of kids whose brains work a little differently.” – Playwright Tito Livas. Read on for details on Core Standards and Intended Learning Outcomes.
CORE STANDARDS & SEL OUTCOMES:
- Health Education Core Standards and SEL Outcomes are integrated into the script alongside Fine Arts Core Standards.
- The study guide provides low-prep, pre-and-post-assembly classroom activities that integrate additional Fine Arts Core Standards, as well as those in Language Arts, Health Education, and Library Media.
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES:
After experiencing SQUEAK students will:
- develop a vocabulary for talking about neuro-diversity, understanding that not everyone’s brain works the same way.
- appreciate differences and treat others with dignity and respect.
- learn breathing exercises to calm stressful moments.
- communicate effectively to resolve conflict.
ARTWORK by Aaron Asano Swenson, courtesy of Plan-B Theatre. Used by permission.
Available for production beginning January 1, 2025
PLAY DETAILS
- 1m 1f
- 25 minutes
- Simple setting
- Contemporary costumes
- ORDER #3384
PERUSAL MATERIALS:
the PDF below contains 1/2 of the script
REVIEW
“As exceptional as its offerings of plays for adult and mature audiences have consistently been, Plan-B Theatre also has carved out an equally distinguished series of short plays for young audiences. This year, Squeak by Tito Livas is the main attraction for the 11th annual Free Elementary School Tour (FEST), which is produced by Plan-B Theatre. For Squeak, Livas turned to an experience that was very fresh in his mind about neurodiversity and the challenges that one of his sons faced when he was in kindergarten and who had been just diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Some of his son’s experiences are recreated in the 25-minute play, Meanwhile, the actors — Alec Kalled as Squeak and Taylor Wallace in various roles including Squeak’s parent and teacher as well as classmates Squish and Squawk — tapped effectively into their inner child experiences to make the characters approachable and believable to a discriminating audience filled with youngsters. Kalled’s energy was infectious and the naturalness of his movements and spoken lines belied the fact that he was an adult portraying a young character. Likewise, Wallace transitioned effortlessly between the voices of young characters and those of the adults, without a scintilla of awkwardness or lapse of believability.” — for The Utah Review
REHEARSAL-PRODUCTION MATERIALS:
- Production Script PDF Rental — ORDER #3384a : $20.00
- 1st Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty (or Only Performance Royalty) — ORDER #3384d : $35.00
- 2nd Performance Amateur/EducationalRoyalty (each additional performance) — ORDER #3384e : $30.00
- STUDY GUIDE AVAILABLE (prepared by Plan-B Theatre for the original tour), but available only with your licensing of a production. Please email us if you are interested.
- Professional Royalties quoted on APPLICATION
BILLING CREDITS:
SQUEAK
by Tito Livas
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:
“SQUEAK is presented through special arrangement with Premiére Theatrical Licensing on behalf of Leicester Bay Theatricals. All authorized materials are also supplied by LBT, www.leicesterbaytheatricals.com”
PRODUCTIONS:
- PREMIERE by Plan-B Theatre — Salt Lake City — Free Elementary School Tour Play-September to May 2023
- PHOTOS from the original Plan-b Production: