{"id":8938,"date":"2019-07-17T20:39:56","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T20:39:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/?p=8938"},"modified":"2025-01-16T12:52:22","modified_gmt":"2025-01-16T12:52:22","slug":"digger-%e2%80%a2-a-play","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/?p=8938","title":{"rendered":"Digger \u2022 A Play"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>by <a href=\"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/?p=728\"><strong>Rob Lauer<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>(For production by Professional Groups, College\/University Groups, Community Groups, LDS &amp; Other Church Groups, Youth Groups)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Winner of the 1982 Mayhew award for Drama, &#8220;Digger&#8221; explores the early life of Mormon founder Joseph Smith, his youthful involvement in folk-magic and his evolution into an American frontier prophet. Produced as a Graduate Production at Brigham Young University Department of Theatre in Dec 1982 to sold-out crowds, &#8220;Digger&#8221; was praised by critics as &#8220;ground breaking&#8221; in the genre of Mormon drama. The play was published by Sunstone Magazine in 1988.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>PLAY DETAILS:<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>6M 2F<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>About 2 hours<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Several Simple Locations<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>ORDER #2040<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>REVIEWS<\/strong><\/h2>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cDigger&#8221; is a play about Joseph Smith before he was the prophet Joseph Smith; a play about an ordinary frontier boy who became the extraordinary founder of the Mormon religion; a play that gives a dramatic glimpse of God coming through the fourth wall in modern history. The play gives us a fascinating glimpse into an unlikely prophet and the strange combustion that produced a new American religion.<\/p>\n<p><i>\u2014JANE BARNES, author of \u201cFalling in Love with Joseph Smith,\u201d and co-writer of the 2007 PBS\/Frontline series \u201cThe Mormons<\/i>\u201d(<a title=\"Who is Jane?\" href=\"http:\/\/janebarnesauthor.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jane&#8217;s website<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cDigger: Art as Religious History\u201d<\/strong><br \/>\nBy Scott Dunn<br \/>\n\u201cSunstone Review\u201d March 1983<br \/>\n<em>&#8220;\u2026Mormons have seen and heard much debate over the writing of their history. There have been border disputes over the fine line between certain religious assertions and historical observations, and \u201cthe fertile middle ground\u201d identified by Martin Hill has suddenly become something of a battlefield, exalted by some and excoriated by others.<\/em><br \/>\n<em> In the midst of this \u201cwar of words and tumult of opinions,\u201d has come a new synthesis of Mormonism\u2019s colorful history and spiritual ideals that is\u2014surprisingly\u2014neither history nor apology, but art. In \u201cDigger,\u201d a new play by BYU student Robert Frederick Lauer, we have an impressive attempt to do what neither objective history nor devout apologia can\u2014recreate experiences that are deepest in the Mormon psyche and significant to Mormon historians.<\/em><br \/>\n<em> \u201cDigger,\u201d which won second place in the drama division of the 1982 Vera Hinckley Mayhew Contest, was recently performed as a graduate production in BYU\u2019s Nelke Experimental Theatre. The play is based on early historical accounts of Mormonism, notably the 1826 Bainbridge trial, in which Joseph Smith was convicted of being a \u201cglass-looker\u201d and the 1832 account of the first vision.<\/em><br \/>\n<em> \u201cDigger\u201d focuses on Joseph Smith\u2019s courtship of Emma Hale during the time he was employed as a \u201cmoney digger\u201d\u2026<\/em><br \/>\n<em> \u2026.If this doesn\u2019t sound like the kind of Joseph Smith you heard about in Sunday school, don\u2019t be too quick to judge. For while Lauer\u2019s play definitely shows the human side of Joseph Smith, it also portrays the divine: the recital by Joseph of his first vision is one of the most moving and convincing moments of the play. Lauer\u2019s ability to synthesize the prophetic and human qualities into a consistent, believable character is, for me, one of the play\u2019s greatest strengths.<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Yet the real protagonist in the play is Emma, who develops from hardened skepticism to enlightened discipleship. Emma\u2019s transformation is portrayed not as mere devotion to the young prophet, but to the ideals that his view of life provides. It is through Emma that Mormons\u2014whether converts or \u201clifers\u201d\u2014re-experience their conversions and contemplate the sacrifice it has required.<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Historians may quibble over details, asserting for example, that it was probably a silver mine and not golden treasure that Josiah Stowell sought. But the references to gold in the play serve purposes more important than historical accuracy, both as a symbol of the quest for something precious and as an illusion to the yet-to-be-discovered gold plates: \u201cGod\u2026has chosen me to do his work,\u201d Joseph tells Emma\u2019s father, Isaac, \u201cmaybe because I believed there was buried something golden, just waiting for someone to wake up and claim it.\u201d<\/em><br \/>\n<em> Lauer said the play was intended to be neither pro-Mormon nor anti-Mormon. Nevertheless, for me at least, the play succeeds in conveying a deep spirituality. The dry pump bursting forth with fresh water and the seer stone effectively symbolize the divine power transmitted through Joseph Smith to refresh a parched world\u2026<\/em><br \/>\n<em> The play is a milestone in Mormon drama\u2026Through \u201cDigger,\u201d Lauer has given us what objective retellings and sincere apologetics never can: the re-experiencing of religion\u2019s hardest questions and life\u2019s crucial turning points. But then, that has always been what art does best.&#8221;<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Available to ALL producing groups.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>PERUSAL MATERIALS<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The Perusal pages PDF file is available below. It contains the first half of the script.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/DiggerPERUSAL.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=\"211\" height=\"66\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>PRODUCTION MATERIALS AVAILABLE:<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Script<\/strong> in PDF format &#8212; Order #<strong>2040a<\/strong> : <em><strong>$20.00<\/strong><\/em> (from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)<br \/>\n<form action=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/cgi-bin\/webscr\" method=\"post\" target=\"paypal\"><input name=\"cmd\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"_s-xclick\" \/><br \/>\n<input name=\"hosted_button_id\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"FJ4FFR5P3SC96\" \/><br \/>\n<input alt=\"PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!\" name=\"submit\" src=\"https:\/\/www.paypalobjects.com\/en_US\/i\/btn\/btn_cart_LG.gif\" type=\"image\" \/><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.paypalobjects.com\/en_US\/i\/scr\/pixel.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/><\/form>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>First Performance Ward\/Stake\/Amateur\/Educational Royalty<\/strong> &#8212; Order #<strong>2040d<\/strong> : <strong>$75<\/strong><br \/>\n<form action=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/cgi-bin\/webscr\" method=\"post\" target=\"paypal\"><input name=\"cmd\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"_s-xclick\" \/><br \/>\n<input name=\"hosted_button_id\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"S6GXRGYCTYQJU\" \/><br \/>\n<input alt=\"PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!\" name=\"submit\" src=\"https:\/\/www.paypalobjects.com\/en_US\/i\/btn\/btn_cart_LG.gif\" type=\"image\" \/><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.paypalobjects.com\/en_US\/i\/scr\/pixel.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/><\/form>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Second Performance Ward\/Stake\/Amateur\/Educational Royalty<\/strong> &#8212; Order #<strong>2040e : $65<\/strong><br \/>\n<form action=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/cgi-bin\/webscr\" method=\"post\" target=\"paypal\"><input name=\"cmd\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"_s-xclick\" \/><br \/>\n<input name=\"hosted_button_id\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"ML8VBMLMHC94J\" \/><br \/>\n<input alt=\"PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!\" name=\"submit\" src=\"https:\/\/www.paypalobjects.com\/en_US\/i\/btn\/btn_cart_LG.gif\" type=\"image\" \/><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.paypalobjects.com\/en_US\/i\/scr\/pixel.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" \/><\/form>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Professional Performance License<\/strong> can be granted by filling out the <a href=\"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/?page_id=8530\"><strong>Performance License Application: <\/strong><\/a>No production rights can be granted until this application is filled out and sent to us. This is a filler form that after you click &#8220;SUBMIT&#8221; will send directly to our email address. Response averages 2-3 business days.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>PRODUCTIONS<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Earl Hamner Jr. Theatre in Charlottesville,VA &#8212; AUGUST 2013 (A very successful production)<\/li>\n<li>Greg Prince Theatre Group, Washington DC &#8212; OCTOBER 2013<\/li>\n<li>Premiere at Brigham Young University<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">From the catalog of<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Zion-Theatricals-Logo-2-Tall.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1128 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Zion-Theatricals-Logo-2-Tall-153x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"153\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Zion-Theatricals-Logo-2-Tall-153x300.jpg 153w, https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Zion-Theatricals-Logo-2-Tall.jpg 307w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 153px) 100vw, 153px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by Rob Lauer (For production by Professional Groups, College\/University Groups, Community Groups, LDS &amp; Other Church Groups, Youth Groups) Winner of the<\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a class=\"myButt \" href=\"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/?p=8938\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":8940,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[715,711,709,276,710,316],"tags":[390,394,386,378],"class_list":["post-8938","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-church-theatre","category-college-university-theatre","category-community-theatre","category-family-theatre","category-professional-theatre","category-religious-titles","tag-joseph-smith","tag-zt-zion-theatricals","tag-zt-dc-hist","tag-zt-plays"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/DIGGERlogo-e1666783908790.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6fXeh-2ka","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8938","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=8938"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8938\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21549,"href":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8938\/revisions\/21549"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8940"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8938"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8938"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leicesterbaytheatricals.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8938"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}