{"id":21176,"date":"2025-01-02T06:25:42","date_gmt":"2025-01-02T06:25:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/?p=21176"},"modified":"2026-08-20T15:03:48","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T15:03:48","slug":"ellamental-tya-play","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/?p=21176","title":{"rendered":"EllaMental \u2022 TYA play"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>by <a href=\"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/?p=21173\"><strong>Dee-Dee Darby-Duffin<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Being heard is so close to being loved.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>EllaMental <\/b>centers on Ella, a Black, twelve-year-old sixth-grader struggling to make sense of her Big Feelings from the pandemic\u2014grief, loss, fear, and anger\u2014in a post-pandemic world.\u00a0&#8220;I wanted to give voice to children with &#8216;behavior issues&#8217; 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\u00a0life raft, a place to put all that stuff that was bottled up inside of me.&#8221; <b>EllaMental\u00a0<\/b>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,\u00a0<b>EllaMental<\/b>\u00a0provides a much more chill experience than students in grades 4-6 might expect: one that is natural, aspirational, and even inspirational.<\/p>\n<p>Artwork courtesy of Plan-B Theatre, Salt Lake City Utah \u2022 Used by permission<\/p>\n<p><strong>Available for licensing!<\/strong>\u00a0<em><strong>Plan your production now!)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-16606 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/PlanBSchoolTourLOGO-e1666775877597-300x84.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"84\" srcset=\"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/PlanBSchoolTourLOGO-e1666775877597-300x84.jpg 300w, https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/PlanBSchoolTourLOGO-e1666775877597.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><b>PLAY DETAILS:<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p1\"><b>2f<\/b><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><b>About 30 minutes<\/b><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><b>Contemporary costumes<\/b><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><b>Simple Setting<\/b><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><b>Created specifically for grades 4-6<\/b><\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\"><b>ORDER #3385<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>CORE STANDARDS &amp; SEL OUTCOMES<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">Core Standards in\u00a0English 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 &amp; Show Empathy for Others, Establish &amp; Maintain Positive Relationships, and Self-Advocate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b>INTENDED LEARNING OBJECTIVES<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">After experiencing\u00a0<b>EllaMental<\/b>\u00a0and its accompanying study guide, students will:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li4\"><span class=\"s2\">understand and empathize with peers who are coping with stress and change.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li4\"><span class=\"s2\">discuss and reflect upon current events and their impact on individual lives.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li4\"><span class=\"s2\">gain awareness of mental health and related stigma.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li4\"><span class=\"s2\">develop skills for coping with difficult emotions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li4\"><span class=\"s2\">understand dramatic texts, including character development and plot.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li4\"><span class=\"s2\">use theatre and interactive activities to explore and express emotions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>PERUSAL MATERIALS:<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>the PDF in the button below contains 1\/2 of the script<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/EllaMental-PERUSAL-1.pdf\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-18790\" src=\"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Perusal-Script-300x94.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"201\" height=\"63\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>REVIEW EXCERPT:<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">&#8220;Darby-Duffin\u2019s 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\u2019s office, wondering how much she should share about her current emotions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">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.&#8221; &#8212;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>REHEARSAL-PRODUCTION MATERIALS:<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong>Production Script PDF Rental<\/strong><\/em> &#8212; <b>ORDER #<strong>3385<\/strong>a : $20.00<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<form action=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/cgi-bin\/webscr\" method=\"post\" target=\"_blank\"><input name=\"cmd\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"_s-xclick\" \/><br \/>\n<input name=\"hosted_button_id\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"K6H48XPSHV3EE\" \/><br \/>\n<input name=\"currency_code\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"USD\" \/><br \/>\n<input title=\"PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!\" alt=\"Add to Cart\" name=\"submit\" src=\"https:\/\/www.paypalobjects.com\/en_US\/i\/btn\/btn_cart_LG.gif\" type=\"image\" \/><\/form>\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong>1st Performance Amateur\/Educational Royalty<\/strong><\/em> (or Only Performance Royalty) &#8212; <b>ORDER #<strong>3385<\/strong>d : $35.00<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<form action=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/cgi-bin\/webscr\" method=\"post\" target=\"_blank\"><input name=\"cmd\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"_s-xclick\" \/><br \/>\n<input name=\"hosted_button_id\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"9YBUFZKMB2EFY\" \/><br \/>\n<input name=\"currency_code\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"USD\" \/><br \/>\n<input title=\"PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!\" alt=\"Add to Cart\" name=\"submit\" src=\"https:\/\/www.paypalobjects.com\/en_US\/i\/btn\/btn_cart_LG.gif\" type=\"image\" \/><\/form>\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong>2nd Performance Amateur\/EducationalRoyalty<\/strong><\/em> (each additional performance) &#8212; <b>ORDER #<strong>3385<\/strong>e : $30.00<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<form action=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/cgi-bin\/webscr\" method=\"post\" target=\"_blank\"><input name=\"cmd\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"_s-xclick\" \/><br \/>\n<input name=\"hosted_button_id\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"2AHT4KU2B6KVL\" \/><br \/>\n<input name=\"currency_code\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"USD\" \/><br \/>\n<input title=\"PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!\" alt=\"Add to Cart\" name=\"submit\" src=\"https:\/\/www.paypalobjects.com\/en_US\/i\/btn\/btn_cart_LG.gif\" type=\"image\" \/><\/form>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>STUDY GUIDE AVAILABLE<\/strong> (prepared by Plan-B Theatre for the original tour), but available only with your licensing of a production. Please <a href=\"mailto:\/\/cmichaelperry53@gmail.com\"><strong>email<\/strong><\/a> us if you are interested.<\/li>\n<li><em><strong>Professional Royalties<\/strong><\/em> quoted on <a href=\"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/?page_id=6558\"><strong>APPLICATION<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>BILLING CREDITS:<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>EllaMental<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>by Dee-Dee Darby-Duffin<\/p>\n<p>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.)<\/p>\n<p>ALSO:<\/p>\n<p>THIS NOTICE MUST APPEAR IN ALL PROGRAMS, ON ALL POSTERS AND PUBLICITY MATERIALS AND INTERNET ADVERTISING\/WEBPAGES FOR THE PLAY:<br \/>\n\u201c<i>Ella Mental <\/i>is presented through special arrangement with Premi\u00e9re Theatrical Licensing on behalf of Leicester Bay Theatricals.\u00a0 All authorized materials are also supplied by LBT, www.leicesterbaytheatricals.com\u201d<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>PRODUCTIONS:<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>PREMIERE by Plan-B Theatre<\/strong> &#8212; Salt Lake City &#8212; Free Elementary School Tour Play-September 2024 to May 2025<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Being heard is so close to being loved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":22127,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4,714,276,712,713,718,248,710,87],"tags":[198,110,425,247,134,218,278],"class_list":["post-21176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-coming-soon","category-elementary-school-theatre","category-family-theatre","category-high-school-theatre","category-junior-high-school-theatre","category-middle-school-theatre","category-plan-b-theatre-company-play","category-professional-theatre","category-tya","tag-audience-involvement","tag-contemporary","tag-drama","tag-plan-b-theatre-company-play","tag-short-plays","tag-strong-female-cast","tag-tya"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6fXeh-5vy","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/ELLAMENTAL_ART_FINAL-1024x1024-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=21176"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21176\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22990,"href":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21176\/revisions\/22990"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/22127"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=21176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=21176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=21176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}