Dramatic Publishing

“Writing for me is a freeing and fascinating journey into the multilayered psyche of human beings.”

We are pleased to announce that Dramatic Publishing is now the exclusive source for the complete body of work by Max Bush, whose plays have been widely produced across the country and around the world. Bush has won many awards for his plays, including the Charlotte B. Chorpenning Award bestowed by the American Alliance for Theatre and Education (A.A.T.E.). He has also received three Distinguished Play Awards from A.A.T.E. and was a finalist in the Bonderman Playwriting for Youth National Symposium. We now represent 18 plays by this prolific and highly successful author. Look for Max's brand new play, Snow White: The Queen's Fair Daughter, in our 2011-2012 catalog, in addition to his titles we acquired from Anchorage Press Plays and Patricia Whitton Forrest's New Plays catalog, including The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers and The Ghost of the River House.

New titles for 2011 and Anchorage acquisitions
Complete list of Max's titles

The Bully Plays

Code: BG4

Anthology

Cast: 4 to 25+. This anthology was commissioned in response to the growing epidemic of bullying and the all-too-often tragic results. The anthology includes 24 10-minute plays that can be performed in any combination or length and in a variety of venues. The plays are touching, imaginative, powerful, uplifting and funny... (More)

Snow White: The Queen's Fair Daughter

Code: SP7

Fairy tale

Cast: 4m., 4w., 8 either gender. This version of Snow White is based on the oral story as it was told to the Brothers Grimm in 1808. It contains many of the familiar elements-the seven dwarves, mirror, bodice and apple, the glass coffin-but also differs from the Grimms' later versions in that the stepmother is a mother... (More)

The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers

Code: BF5

Comedy * Fantasy

Cast: 4m., 3w., with doubling, or up to 17 (8m., 3w., 6 either gender). Boy, an innocent teen who becomes a charming hero, begins as a simpleton because he knows no fear of ghosts or graveyards. Banished for lack of understanding, Boy comes upon a haunted castle and accepts the challenge to stay... (More)

Ezigbo: The Spirit Child

Code: E69

Drama * Fantasy

Cast: 1m., 7w., with doubling, or up to 11+ (3m., 8w.). Extras may also be added. Long ago, when human beings and spirits were still close, the wife of a powerful chief longed for a child. The woman could have children, but her womb was possessed by the spirit of an Ogbanje. An Ogbanje (a forever-child) is an invisible spirit-child that lives... (More)

The Ghost of the River House

Code: G94

Drama

Cast: 3m., 2w. Ten-year-old Jenny chases after her father, brother and grandfather, hoping to go fishing with them. But her father says he wants to fish with her brother and leaves Jenny hurt and confused beside the ruin of the old, river house homestead. Grandpa George stays with Jenny, despite her father's protests, and listens as she tearfully shares feelings of being... (More)

Hansel and Gretel: The Little Brother and the Little Sister

Code: HB1

Drama • Fantasy

Cast: 2m., 4w. Hansel and Gretel are playing hide and seek in their yard when they overhear their parents discussing leaving them in the woods to fend for themselves. The impoverished parents can see no hope for feeding their children and carry out their plan. The first time in the woods, the children find their way safely home... (More)

13 Bells of Boglewood

Code: T08

Fairy tale

Cast: 4m., 3w. Casey Smith hires a teenaged Brian to help him dig for gold on a forested site he has just purchased. When Brian eats food left by fairies, he's able to see and talk to them. He learns that they need gold to sustain life and tells Smith he won't help him take away the gold. Smith is determined, though, and turns to the forest's Greedy Bogle, who answers... (More)

The Troll and the Elephant Prince

Code: TN4

Fantasy

Cast: 3m., 2w., with doubling, or up to 7 (4m., 3w.) The citizens of Trolltown obediently pay gold to the intimidating Troll to protect them from the awful, one-eyed, slithering Zanies. One morning Jack arrives, a peasant boy with a toy elephant. He meets Dana, a village girl, who joins him in fantastical, pretend play until the Troll sees something... (More)

The Voyage of the Dragonfly

Code: V40

Fantasy

Cast: 4m., 3w. or 5 minimum (3m., 2w.) with doubling. The castle and lands of Meaghan, a strong young queen, are threatened by an impending ice age. In an ancient manuscript, the queen reads of a mystical flame burning in a cave on the island of Aalmauria. Queen Meaghan summons Captain Taran and his ship, the "Dragonfly," to sail her to the island of Aalmauria to steal the... (More)

The Adventure of Treasure Island

Code: A35

Drama * Literary Classic

Cast: 8m., 2w. Jim Hawkins, sweeping the floor of the Admiral Benbow Inn, longs for adventure and dreams of sailing. When the old sea dog Captain appears with his tales and treasure map, Jim is thrust into the intrigue and begins to live his dreams. Old Kate, a salty, rough woman of the sea, appears... (More)

The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers

Code: BF5

Comedy * Fantasy

The Bully Plays

Code: BG4

Anthology

The Chest of Dreams

Code: C72

Drama

Cast: 3m., 4w. Grandmother leaves Lily a large chest containing all her friends can imagine; without imagination, the chest appears empty. Karkino, a ghostly hypnotist, threatens their creative spirit by planting self-defeating messages in their minds; however, he only lives as long as his debilitating messages stick. Lily makes allies of the audience... (More)

Classroom Scenes and Monologues

Code: CC2

Textbook • Anthology

Classroom Scenes and Monologues features over 80 challenging roles for middle-school and high-school actors. Funny and serious, diverse in theme and style, this anthology will motivate actors to create provocative and intriguing characterizations. Designed as a companion to Scenes and Monologues for Young Actors, the material... (More)

The Emerald Circle

Code: E37

Drama

Cast: 3m., 2w. While shooting baskets in his driveway, Dave, 14, continues to face the emotional and psychological effects of a violent attack. The trauma occurred with Sandy, Dave's girlfriend, in the Emerald Circle, a secluded, romantic section of an old cemetery surrounded by large pine trees. Dave's mother, Maggie, presses him to retell the incident... (More)

Ezigbo: The Spirit Child

Code: E69

Drama * Fantasy

Folkwood

Code: FA7

Fantasy

Cast: 4m., 10w., extras possible. Thirteen-year-old Carly, dragging her 10-year-old sister behind, ventures into the forbidden forest of the Other Folks. There she finds far more than she was looking for-riddles, games, dangers, challenges. You can enjoy Folkwood for its fun and chases and captures, but it also yields rich rewards for those willing to explore its images... (More)

The Frog Prince

Code: FB1

Comedy * Fantasy

Cast: 6m., 5w., many extras. Princess Luana plays with her golden ball near a well in the deep forest. There she meets the Hag, whose hand is stuck in a tree. Although she tries, Luana is unable to help her. Pantera, a wounded, adolescent panther, runs in, begging for her mother's (the Hag's) help. Prince Erik has wounded her and pursues her. After the prince threatens to throw Luana... (More)

From Every Mountainside

Code: FA4

Comedy * Drama

Cast: 4m., 7w. All characters but one are 17 to 19 years old. Matt's school work and personal life are deteriorating. His friends Doug and Carol attempt to engage him in school activities and dating, but he doesn't respond well. Someone else notices Matt isolating himself: Susan, the new girl recently arrived from China. Susan takes a strong interest in Matt, watching him in school, studying... (More)

The Ghost of the River House

Code: G94

Drama

Hansel and Gretel: The Little Brother and the Little Sister

Code: HB1

Drama • Fantasy

Kara in Black

Code: K32

Drama

Cast: 7 to 9m., 10 to 13w. (Fifteen of these characters are between the ages of 16 and 19.) Kara in Black takes place January through March of 2003, beginning prior to the invasion of Iraq and finishing three days after the invasion. Eighteen-year-old Kara's older sister, Della, is leaving to join her Army unit and travel to Kuwait to prepare for the possible invasion of Iraq. While Della is proud to serve... (More)

Looking Through You

Code: LC6

Drama

Cast: 5m., 8w. (1 to 3 singers and 1 to 2 musicians [acoutstic guitar] are gender flexible. All characters but one are 16-17 years old.) As Kara, Sue Ellen, Juanita, Lucas and Joel gather on the beach to make plans to go to an amusement park, Lucas plays a compilation tape of songs from the 60s made for him by Christy Bekken, one of "The Crowd" at school. The music on... (More)

Puss in Boots

Code: PD3

Fairy tale

Cast: 10m., 2w., gender flexibility permitted. With doubling, 6 actors. Can a poor miller's son with nothing on his mind except his next meal win a fortune, a title, and the hand of a beautiful princess? With the help of a bold, enterprising cat, a pair of boots, and a clever, imaginative playwright, the answer is yes! Funny and fast-paced, this Puss in Boots remains faithful to the qualities that... (More)

Rapunzel

Code: R87

Fairy tale

Cast: 3m., 3w. It's a rare playwright who can take a fairy tale and simply let its stark and powerful dramatic events speak for themselves. In Rapunzel, Max Bush does just that, giving this play the strength of a pure fairy tale, purely told. The strong narrative leads from the longing of a man and his wife for a child to their harsh bargain with a witch who takes the child away to an enchanted... (More)

Sarah

Code: SE8

Drama

Cast: 4m., 7w. Sarah is a vulnerable, dreamy, creative teen who has experienced more than her share of tragedies. One of these was the death of her sister Molly. As she struggles, like any teen, to figure out who she is and what's important to her, Sarah runs into conflicts with her family, friends, teachers and parts of herself. Her mother is especially concerned as the anniversary of... (More)

Scenes and Monologues for Young Actors

Code: SE3

Textbook * Anthology

This contemporary anthology contains over 125 challenging and entertaining roles written for young actors of middle and high school age. The book is geared to the classroom environment, allowing drama teachers to assign work of varying complexity to advanced as well as beginning students. Of particular interest are several... (More)

Snow White: The Queen's Fair Daughter

Code: SP7

Fairy tale

13 Bells of Boglewood

Code: T08

Fairy tale

The Three Musketeers

Code: TD2

Romance

Cast: 25m., 10w. (15m., 5w. with doubling. Many small roles and extras possible.) "Do not hesitate to act, or you may lose the chance that Fortune, in her wisdom, offers you." With this advice from his father, and to fulfill his dream of becoming a musketeer, d'Artagnan heads for Paris and into a world of romance, intrigue and action. En route he meets Milady, the alluring agent... (More)

The Three Musketeers (youth theatre version)

Code: TD3

Romance

Cast: 15m., 6w. (10m., 4w. with doubling. Many small roles and extras possible.) To fulfull his dream of becoming a musketeer, young d'Artagnan heads for Paris and into a world of romance, intrigue and action. On the way he meets Milady, the alluring agent of Cardinal Richelieu, and confronts a mysterious swordsman... (More)

The Troll and the Elephant Prince

Code: TN4

Fantasy

Voices From the Shore

Code: V33

Drama

Cast: 6m., 8w. (All characters are 17 to 18 years old.) Joel and his best friend of many years, Lucas, are awaiting friends to attend a senior-year, spring-break, beach party. Joel seems abnormally tense as he and Lucas discuss their fears and hopes for the future. When Trisha, Holly, Rick, Laura and Joel's girlfriend, Beth, arrive, it's clear that friendship, dreams, and... (More)

The Voyage of the Dragonfly

Code: V40

Fantasy

Wildboy

Code: W92

Drama

Cast: 5-6m., 7-8w. During a backyard football game with his kid brother, 15-year-old Jamie starts recalling fragments of the dream he had the night before. As he relates what he can remember, his singer/songwriter mother and his older hippie-chick sister, Mona, are fascinated and try to interpret it. As Jamie continues his recollection, the characters in his dream... (More)

Now featuring the complete works of Max Bush

Code: BG4

Anthology

Code: SP7

Fairy tale

Code: BF5

Comedy * Fantasy

Code: E69

Drama * Fantasy

Code: G94

Drama

Code: HB1

Drama • Fantasy

Code: T08

Fairy tale

Code: TN4

Fantasy

Code: V40

Fantasy

Code: A35

Drama * Literary Classic

Code: BF5

Comedy * Fantasy

Code: BG4

Anthology

Code: C72

Drama

Code: CC2

Textbook • Anthology

Code: E37

Drama

Code: E69

Drama * Fantasy

Code: FA7

Fantasy

Code: FB1

Comedy * Fantasy

Code: FA4

Comedy * Drama

Code: G94

Drama

Code: HB1

Drama • Fantasy

Code: K32

Drama

Code: LC6

Drama

Code: PD3

Fairy tale

Code: R87

Fairy tale

Code: SE8

Drama

Code: SE3

Textbook * Anthology

Code: SP7

Fairy tale

Code: T08

Fairy tale

Code: TD2

Romance

Code: TD3

Romance

Code: TN4

Fantasy

Code: V33

Drama

Code: V40

Fantasy

Code: W92

Drama