Central Bucks High School West

SUMMARY

A father, mother and two of their three surviving children drive from Newark, New Jersey to Camden to visit their married daughter, who has recently lost her baby in childbirth. Their journey is punctuated by talk, laughter, memories (some mundane, some happy, some painful) and appreciation of the Now – ham and eggs, flowers, family, sunsets and the joy of being alive. In this family drama, nothing much happens, yet everything important happens. As Ma Kirby says, “There's nothin' like bein' liked by your family.”

CAST OF CHARACTERS  

THE STAGE MANAGER
MA – Mrs. Kate Kirby
ARTHUR – 13, her son
CAROLINE – 15, her daughter
PA
BEULAH – 22, the Kirbys' married daughter who lives in Camden, New Jersey

SUMMARY

In 1944, four young women take newly-available jobs at one of the largest munitions factories in the United States: the Badger Ordnance Works. Facing dangerous work with highly flammable powder as well as insidious sexism, the women form an unlikely friendship through joy and heartbreak. A vibrant ensemble brings the factory to life as each of the women confronts not only the challenges of entering the workforce in the darkest days of World War II, but also who she is and what she truly values. Unforgettable human stories make the era immediate in this captivating ensemble drama.

CAST OF CHARACTERS  

ROSE: 18, nervous

BARBARA: 23, a young mother determined to earn her own money

IRENE JACOBS: 21, a strong, forceful woman. (can be gender non-conforming, but not required)

GRACE: 19, a free spirit, unattached, a bit of a hellraiser

CHORUS-comprised of other men and women. The Chorus plays workers, dancers, and soldiers at various times in the play.

BURT, an older worker, a sexist jerk. 

TIMOTHY, 18, walks with a serious limp, from polio at a young age. (one of the Chorus members)

CHESTER, 40s, the supervisor (one of the Chorus members)

JOHN, mid 20s, Barbara’s husband. (one of the Chorus members) 

JOE, a man in a training video (one of the Chorus members)

BOB, a man in a training video (one of the Chorus members)

GLADYS, a woman ordnance worker (one of the Chorus members)

MARY, a woman ordnance worker (one of the Chorus members) 

BEN, 30s, a worker at the plant (one of the Chorus members)

NEWSREEL VOICE

SUMMARY

From the Tony® and Grammy® award-winning creators of Spring Awakening, Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik, and co-written by Jessie Nelson (Waitress), Alice by Heart is a touching musical inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.  

In the rubble of the London Blitz of World War II, Alice Spencer’s budding teen life is turned upside down, and she and her dear friend Alfred are forced to take shelter in an underground tube station. When the ailing Alfred is quarantined, Alice encourages him to escape with her into their cherished book and journey down the rabbit hole to Wonderland.

As they travel through the tale, Alice by Heart explores the poignancy of first love, coming to terms with loss, and finding the courage to move forward. This world premiere musical encourages us all to celebrate the transformational power of the imagination, even in the harshest of times.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

ALICE SPENCER / ALICE

ALFRED HALLAM / WHITE RABBIT / MARCH HARE

RED CROSS NURSE / QUEEN OF HEARTS

HAROLD PUDDING / MAD HATTER 

TABATHA / CHESHIRE CAT

DODGY / DUCHESS 

CLARISSA/ QUEEN OF DIAMONDS

NIGEL / DORMOUSE 

ANGUS / CATERPILLAR / KNAVE OF HEARTS

DR. BUTRIDGE / JABBERWOCKY 

FLEXIBLE ENSEMBLE ROLES (CAN BE PLAYED BY ABOVE CAST OR BY ADDITIONAL 5-7 ENSEMBLE MEMBERS) 

KNAVE OF CLUBS, MOCK TURTLES, CATERPILLAR 2 
KNAVE OF SPADES, KING OF HEARTS