Synopsis
In 1937 Kansas, 11-year-old Jack Clark faces many challenges: local bullies, his father’s desperate attempts to keep his family intact, an older sister getting sicker by the day, and a little sister with an eye for trouble. But he’s also facing the epic disaster of the Dust Bowl—which means families disappearing overnight, tempers flaring in his small town, and the steady spread of the mysterious illness “Dust Dementia.” So can Jack even trust his own eyes when he makes a terrifying discovery in the abandoned barn next door? Is the sinister shadow with a face like rain—a creature with a plan to deprive humans of water forever—real? This uniquely American fable uses haunting music and startling imagery to ask: When everyone says you’re too small to be the hero of any story, where do you find the strength to save your family … and the world?
Notes
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Details
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Status
In stock
- Type of Show Full-length Play
- Product Code S4D000
- Cast Size 7
- Min. Royalty Rate $90/perf
- Cost $10.95
- Approx. Run Time 60 min
Categories
- Target Audience Young Audiences | Middle School | Family (all ages)
- Performing Group Middle School | High School | College Theatre | Community Theatre | Professional Theatre | TYA | Touring Group
- Genre Drama
- ISBN(13) 9781619592162
Customer Reviews
- "Wonderful show! Our middle school students loved bringing the Dust Bowl to life. The script has enough mystery and stage magic to keep audiences on the edge of their seats."
- Review by Ethan McBee, Rockford Lutheran School, Rockford, Ill.
- "This is a great script for competitions. We advanced to the state UIL One Act Play competition with it. It provides wonderful roles for actors and an avenue for creativity. We loved the added element of live music onstage."
- Review by Beth Dill, Slidell High School, Slidell, Texas
- "I cannot rave about this show enough. The music, the story, the characters are all intertwined in this beautiful story. This show is perfect for Middle/high school students."
- Review by Natalie Manriquez, New Diana Middle School, Diana, Texas
- "My middle school students really enjoyed having ownership in the production by creating music and playing it live on stage. It was a performance that was well received by families!"
- Review by April Zavala, Gene Pike Middle School, Justin, Texas
Media Reviews
“Blends history and fantasy into a quintessentially American fairy tale.”—The Oregonian
“Balances darkness and danger with an optimistic spirit and a clear moral.” —The Oregonian
“A magical, storybook world straight out of 1930s Kansas.” —BroadwayWorld.com
“In a land where it never rains, it's hard to trust what you see with your own eyes, and harder still to take heart and be a hero when the time comes.”—BroadwayWorld.com
“A sensory delight.”—Portland Monthly
Productions
| Location | City | State | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cypress Lake High School | Fort Myers | Florida | 9/19/2024 | 10/5/2024 |
| Western Christian High School | Hull | Iowa | 11/14/2024 | 11/16/2024 |
| Waxahachie High School Performing Arts Center | Waxahachie | Texas | 10/24/2024 | 10/27/2024 |
| Seguin High School | Seguin | Texas | 11/9/2024 | 1/25/2025 |
Downloads
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Gallery
Oregon Children’s Theatre, Portland, Ore.
Boise Contemporary Theater, Boise, Idaho
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