Being heard is so close to being loved.
EllaMental centers on Ella, a Black, twelve-year-old sixth-grader struggling to make sense of her Big Feelings from the pandemic—grief, loss, fear, and anger—in a post-pandemic world. “I wanted to give voice to children with ‘behavior issues’ who often are not asked what they think or feel about the world around them. I was lucky enough to find teachers (or did they find me?) who were able to see me and all of my heartache and offer me a life raft, a place to put all that stuff that was bottled up inside of me.” EllaMental engages students in an accessible, real-time, comforting conversation, one as barrier-free as possible, one that instantly invites students to live inside the play rather than searching for a way in. Instructive without feeling preachy, EllaMental provides a much more chill experience than students in grades 4-6 might expect: one that is natural, aspirational, and even inspirational.
Artwork courtesy of Plan-B Theatre, Salt Lake City Utah • Used by permission
Available for licensing of performances beginning after May 2025. (After the Plan-B Theatre Company School Tour ends its run. Plan your production now!)
PLAY DETAILS:
- 2f
- About 30 minutes
- Contemporary costumes
- Simple Setting
- Created specifically for grades 4-6
- ORDER #3385
CORE STANDARDS & SEL OUTCOMES
Core Standards in English Language Arts, Health Education, Theatre Arts, and Visual Arts are integrated into the script and study guide, alongside Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Outcomes: Manage Your Emotions, Feel & Show Empathy for Others, Establish & Maintain Positive Relationships, and Self-Advocate.
INTENDED LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After experiencing EllaMental and its accompanying study guide, students will:
- understand and empathize with peers who are coping with stress and change.
- discuss and reflect upon current events and their impact on individual lives.
- gain awareness of mental health and related stigma.
- develop skills for coping with difficult emotions.
- understand dramatic texts, including character development and plot.
- use theatre and interactive activities to explore and express emotions.
PERUSAL MATERIALS:
the PDF in the button below contains 1/2 of the script
REVIEW EXCERPT:
“Darby-Duffin’s script moves quickly enough through the classroom encounter that causes problems for Ella. The teacher is convinced that Ella was sleeping at her desk, after discovering that she did not complete the math assignment. Ella is usually a good student and she is disappointed that the teacher will not allow her to stay and watch a film on a nature subject which she already had proudly researched. Brown effectively captures the initial apprehension Ella has when she is in Ms. Aliyah’s office, wondering how much she should share about her current emotions.
The play is as instructive for teachers as it is for students, positioned sensitively in a balance that neither puts the student nor the teacher on defense. Young audience members have good instincts and they evidently appreciated the thoughtful balance in the dialogue and the portrayals which accompanied them, along with the opportunity for some audience interaction.” —
REHEARSAL-PRODUCTION MATERIALS:
- Production Script PDF Rental — ORDER #3385a : $20.00
- 1st Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty (or Only Performance Royalty) — ORDER #3385d : $35.00
- 2nd Performance Amateur/EducationalRoyalty (each additional performance) — ORDER #3385e : $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:
EllaMental
by Dee-Dee Darby-Duffin
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:
“Ella Mental 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 2024 to May 2025