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Charlotte's Web

Charlotte's Web

Adapted by Joseph Robinette. Based on the book by E.B. White.

Product Code: C58000

  • Full-length Play
  • Drama
  • Cast size: 5 to 7m., 7 to 9w., flexible ensemble group.

    Livestream and Record & Stream Rights Available

  • Awards: The Charlotte B. Chorpenning Playwright Award

Rights and availability
This title can be licensed and sold throughout Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States.

Please note this title may be restricted in your area and may require additional processing time.

* Please note the royalty rate listed is the minimum royalty rate per performance. The actual royalty rate will be determined upon completion of a royalty application.

$12.95 /script

Min. Royalty Rate: $115/perf

In stock

Synopsis

The Children's Literature Association named this "the best American children's book of the past two hundred years," and Joseph Robinette, working with the advice of E.B. White, has created a play that captures this work in a thrilling and utterly practical theatrical presentation. The costumes and unit set may be simple or as colorful and elaborate as you wish; it's the story and relationships that make the show. All the enchanting characters are here: Wilbur, the irresistible young pig who desperately wants to avoid the butcher; Fern, a girl who understands what animals say to each other; Templeton, the gluttonous rat who can occasionally be talked into a good deed; the Zuckerman family; the Arables; and, most of all, the extraordinary spider, Charlotte, who proves to be “a true friend and a good writer.” Determined to save Wilbur, Charlotte begins her campaign with the "miracle" of her web in which she writes, "Some pig." It's the beginning of a victorious campaign which ultimately ends with the now-safe Wilbur doing what is most important to Charlotte. This is a beautiful, knowing play about friendship that will give your actors a great opportunity and your audience an evening of enchantment. 

Notes

Livestream and Record & Stream Rights Available

To review some frequently asked questions about streaming, please click here.

To apply for livestream or record & stream rights, please complete this form.



NOW AVAILABLE!
Director's Script and Logo Pack
Our 8.5x11 Director’s Script and downloadable Logo Pack will make producing your show a breeze!
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Details

  • Status

    In stock

  • Type of Show Full-length Play
  • Product Code C58000
  • Cast Size 12
  • Min. Royalty Rate $115/perf
  • Cost $12.95
  • Approx. Run Time 95 min

Categories

  • Target Audience Young Audiences | Middle School | Family (all ages)
  • Performing Group Middle School | High School | College Theatre | Community Theatre | Professional Theatre | TYA
  • Genre Drama
  • ISBN(13) 9780871292438
* Please note the royalty rate listed is the minimum royalty rate per performance. The actual royalty rate will be determined upon completion of a royalty application.

Customer Reviews

"This was a highly popular and successful production for our school. The adaptation is very faithful to the original book that so many love. There is also a lot of opportunity for creativity. The cast can also be expanded to include as many as you want/need! It's very family friendly and our students and our audiences loved it!"
Review by Matthew Frick, Lutheran High School, Indianapolis, Ind.
"This play was a "crowd pleaser" for our organization. The flexible script allowed us to to engage many of our young performers. I highly recommend this production."
Review by David Malinowski, The Fine Arts Association, Willoughby, Ohio
"This title is the PERFECT script for a children's theater. The story is superb, the writing and thru line are easy to direct and learn, making for a wonderful end product. "
Review by Mary Jensen, Treasure Valley Children's Theatre, Meridian, Idaho
"This was a great show for our school. The students loved the story and getting to play animals. The audiences could really connect with the story they knew from childhood."
Review by Curtis Fischer-Oelschlaeger, Rockridge High School, Taylor Ridge, Ill.
"This adaptation is true to the plot and heart of E.B. White's novel. Excellent options in the script for actors, design team and director to explore."
Review by Vicki Gage, SUNY Fredonia, Fredonia, N.Y.
"Charlotte's Web was radiant! This children's classic delighted audience members young and old. Besides having a beautifully flowing story, it was a load of fun."
Review by Maranda Knepp, Wayside Christian School, Bucyrus, Ohio
"This was a great production! We cast mostly teens and children, with a few adults mixed in. What a success! It was the most profitable production we have ever done, and this is a 50-year-old theatre troupe!"
Review by Mary Ortwein, Rome Little Theatre, Inc., Rome, Ga.
"Fantastic."
Review by Matt Thompson, North Coast Repertory Theatre, Solana Beach, Calif.
"This production was produced with and by 40 children who filled roles on and back stage. We broke attendance records of past shows and received more compliments than we could stand (almost)!"
Review by Del Thatcher, Wylie Acting Group for Children, Wylie, Texas
"One of THE most successful shows we have ever done."
Review by Molly Grasso, Papillion-LaVista High School, Papillion, Neb.
"Fantastic for young audiences! Easy to incorporate modern/non-traditional elements with classic story."
Review by A.J. Prawitz, St. James High School, St. James, Mo.
"Fabulous, flexible enough to make casting easy, story flows nicely. We included our younger kids by adding goslings, and farm kids in the crowd scenes. Set design was easy, turned out beautiful. We've had a blast putting it together; we had a cast of 30!"
Review by Gina Hawkins, Blue Ridge Community Theater, Blue Ridge, Ga.
"This production went very well. It gave us ample options for casting and technical assignments. The pacing proved to be excellent, and my students found this tons of fun."
Review by Robyn Fowler, Northside High School, Fort Smith, Ark.
"Simple staging was an asset. Very true to original story. The chorus is an ingenious device for bringing in the poetic lyricism of E. B. White. Excellent production notes in script."
Review by Larayne Watts, Willapa Players, Raymond, WA
"The children involved loved the play. The children in the audience loved the play. There is a reason the classic tales live on for years -- characters that are understandable; a story that speaks to the audience; and a positive message to learn."
Review by Grace Sayers, Theatre Centre, Inc., DeLand, FL
"It was well scripted -- stayed very close to the book -- and was well received by audiences. It sold out every show."
Review by Kara Kemp, Actors Co-Op, Knoxville, TN
"Great show for middle school kids -- has challenging roles along with great secondary characters. Easy for the kids to follow story line."
Review by Dawn Lipker, La Crescent Public Schools, La Crescent, MN
"Charlotte's Web, the straight play, has been a delight to produce! It is true to its original novel, with all of the timeless characters and scenes included. It's Some Play!"
Review by Wendi Edwards, Twin Oaks Elementary, Leesburg, GA
"One of the best stage adaptations I have ever read. The production charmed audiences, children and adults alike."
Review by Mark Carter, DS Productions, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
"Charlotte's Web is an ideal children's show. Staged with only a barnyard scene, the play moves easily to the county fair. The children loved it and the cast created wonderful silly characters that delighted all."
Review by June E. Dill, Sturgis High School, Sturgis, S.D.
"I loved this show! Charlotte's Web was easy to stage and was a real treat for those in the cast and also in the audience. A great show for kids!"
Review by Amber Peters, Seneca Valley Senior High School, Harmony, Pa.
"Had standing room for each night. We should have run it for six nights. I found it an ideal play for summer, and for young actors. I liked the idea of a chorus, having produced Our Town and The Fantasticks. I would recommend this play for any school production."
Review by Bill Bennett, Peachland Players, Westbank, British Columbia, Canada
"A remarkable, touching story, revealing through inspired webs and the charming characters, themes of friendship on earth, affection and protection, adventure and miracle, life and death, trust and treachery, pleasure and pain, and the passing of time and innocence forgotten."
Review by Pam Swanto, Silver Sands Middle School, Port Orange, Fla.
"This version of the classic E. B. White story is a magnificent choice for young and more experienced actors alike. The genre of the play allows the actors to explore, and create these classic characters, due largely to this great adaptation by Joseph Robinette. A story for all agesÑour audiences enjoyed not only the humorous aspects of the play but the more emotional moments as well. Charlotte's Web offers a great platform for story theatre narrative work, physicality on stage, and a developed plot that enables the actors to create characters with dimension."
Review by Maureen Bernstein, Desert Pines High School, Las Vegas, Nev. (Nevada Thespian Board Member)
"Our most successful production in many years. The community was delighted with a family-appropriate show. We used children for the baby spiders."
Review by Kathleen R. Harris, Deering High School, Portland, Maine
"This show was a hit with both the cast and the audience. We had a cast of 37 children ranging in age from 3 to 13 and every one of them got a speaking part and their moment in the spotlight! A great message for young audiences, too!"
Review by Carol-Ann Black, ShowBiz Kidz, Allen Park, Mich.
"This was our school's first mutiple-grade-level play in many years. Charlotte's Web was an excellent vehicle to show the advantages of different ages. The classic story was enjoyed by young and old alike."
Review by Susan Williams, Berean Academy, Elbing, Kan.
"This is a great play to cast in a youth program. The story is moving in a youthful style that doesn't dumb down for adults. Grandparents brought grandchildren to introduce them to such a wonderful story."
Review by Walter Williams, Master Arts Theatre, Grand Rapids, Mich.
"The script gives a fine blueprint for a successful staging of this very popular story. It was the best attended show in my college's history."
Review by Dawson Moore, Prince William Sound Community College, Valdez, Alaska

Hints, Tips, and Tricks

"If you're producing this play with young actors, be aware that there is a lot of down time for most of your actors, and no down time for Wilbur. The animals at the farm are offstage for most of act 2, and the ensemble are on stage for just a few scenes throughout the play. Since there's so much down time between scenes, it was sometimes difficult for actors to remember their cues. If you have very young actors, make sure there's a stage manager or adult backstage to help them with cues."
Tip by Jana Wilhite, Grantsville Junior High School, Grantsville, Utah
"Using lighting effects (we used a gelled gobo rotator) and background music can make the writing in the web moments seem even more magical."
Tip by Christine Gregoire, Liberty Middle School, Liberty, Mo.
"We used spider puppets for the "members" - it was a hit with audiences! "
Tip by Mary Jensen, Treasure Valley Children's Theatre, Meridian, Idaho
"We put a chase scene through the the audience when Uncle Homer and Lurvy try to capture Wilbur. Fun, fun."
Tip by Bill Fegan, Santa Fe Trail School for the Arts, Raton, N.M.
"The use of the traveler curtain, as suggested in the production notes, was very effective."
Tip by Sam Teres, COLS-EP San Diego, Calif.
"Get costumes done early! We had problems with our spider costumes!"
Tip by Amber Peters, Seneca Valley Senior High School, Harmony, Pa.
"Use a simple set. I kept the chorus in full view of audience all the time dressed in Pierrot costume so they were apart from the cast. Animals dressed as humans with animal masks."
Tip by Bill Bennett, Peachland Players, Westbank, British Columbia, Canada
"We built a large barn set and did the fair scenes downstage with only a stall and some hay bales. In the barn, we built a loft for Charlotte that allowed us to create a large yarn web."
Tip by Tom Kirk, Hart Middle School, Hart, Mich.
"We had Charlotte enter the stage lowered, as a spider descends. The audience loved this move."
Tip by Mike Brooks, St. John Theatre, Laplace, La.

Production Map

Location City State Opens Closes
South Carolina Children's Theatre GREENVILLE South Carolina 9/22/2023 10/8/2023
Carriageworks Leeds 11/8/2023 11/11/2023
Rose Theater Omaha Nebraska 4/19/2024 5/5/2024
Florissant Preforming Arts Center Florissant Missouri 5/17/2024 5/26/2024
Muncie Civic Theatre Muncie Indiana 3/4/2024 3/15/2024
The Academy of Children's Theatre Richland Washington 3/22/2024 3/30/2024
Sunset Players, Inc. Cincinnati Ohio 12/1/2023 12/10/2023
Kingsland Station KINGSLAND Georgia 4/19/2024 4/28/2024
North Mountain Church Phoenix Arizona 10/19/2023 10/28/2023
Theatre Coppell Coppell Texas 4/5/2024 4/21/2024
The Forum Theater Jonesboro Arkansas 1/25/2024 1/29/2024
Montgomery Central High School Cunningham Tennessee 11/16/2023 11/17/2023
Maple View Middle School Kent Washington 11/16/2023 11/18/2023
St. Mary’s Academy Fayetteville Georgia 10/20/2023 10/22/2023
Santa Maria Civic Theater Santa Maria California 1/12/2024 1/28/2024
Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School Jackson Wisconsin 10/24/2023 10/28/2023
St. Charles High School Waldorf Maryland 12/8/2023 12/10/2023
West Shore Community College Scottville Michigan 11/9/2023 11/12/2023
North Scott High School Performing Arts Auditorium Eldridge Iowa 1/25/2024 1/28/2024
Pearl High School Pearl Mississippi 9/28/2023 10/1/2023
Watertower Theatre Addison Texas 9/29/2023 10/8/2023
Naperville North High School Naperville Illinois 12/1/2023 12/3/2023
Paramus High School Paramus New Jersey 12/8/2023 12/9/2023
Buffalo Grove High School Buffalo Grove Illinois 11/10/2023 11/11/2023
Spokane Falls Community College Spartan Theater Spokane Washington 3/8/2024 3/17/2024
Flowing Wells High School Tucson Arizona 10/5/2023 10/6/2023
Cedar Street Playhouse Rolla Missouri 10/5/2023 10/7/2023
Airport Baptist Church Greer South Carolina 3/14/2024 3/15/2024
Patrick Henry High School Ashland Virginia 1/25/2024 1/27/2024
Mount Vernon Township High School Mount Vernon Illinois 10/12/2023 10/13/2023
Artisan Center Theater Hurst Texas 5/9/2024 6/1/2024
Star Performance Academy Gahanna Ohio 12/1/2023 12/10/2023
Jane Tasch Performing Arts Theatre Pinckney Michigan 4/13/2024 4/21/2024
Playcrafters Barn Theatre Moline Illinois 7/19/2024 7/28/2024
Miller High School - 01 Miller South Dakota 9/29/2023 10/1/2023
Opelika Center for the Performing Arts Opelika Alabama 9/23/2023 10/1/2023
Pope High School Marietta Georgia 12/1/2023 12/2/2023
St. Bridget Church Seattle Washington 11/16/2023 11/19/2023
Portage Park Elementary School Chicago Illinois 12/7/2023 12/8/2023
Ottumwa High School Ottumwa Iowa 10/27/2023 10/29/2023
Washington Community Theater, Inc. Washington Iowa 3/15/2024 3/24/2024
Leeds Arts Council Leeds Alabama 10/27/2023 10/28/2023
Har-ber High School - Dr. Marsha Jones Performing Arts Center Springdale Arkansas 10/13/2023 10/14/2023
Marysville High School Auditorium Marysville Kansas 10/7/2023 10/8/2023
The Meadows School Las Vegas Nevada 12/8/2023 12/9/2023
Westbrook School Westbrook Texas 11/1/2023 11/5/2023
North Texas Performing Arts Plano Texas 2/22/2024 2/25/2024
Wabasso ISD 640 Wabasso Minnesota 11/10/2023 11/12/2023
The Donoho School Anniston Alabama 11/9/2023 11/10/2023
Smith Intermediate School Forney Texas 11/2/2023 11/2/2023
West-Mont Christian Academy Pottstown Pennsylvania 11/11/2023 11/11/2023
Harold L. Richards High School Oak Lawn Illinois 10/19/2023 10/21/2023
Magnolia West High School Magnolia Texas 9/28/2023 9/30/2023
San Francisco Friends School San Francisco California 11/9/2023 11/11/2023
Graham Kapowsin High School Graham Washington 10/27/2023 11/4/2023
Honeoye Falls-lima Senior High School Honeoye Falls New York 11/10/2023 11/11/2023
Pine Cobble School Williamstown Massachusetts 12/13/2023 12/14/2023
Bigelow Middle Newton Massachusetts 11/16/2023 11/18/2023
Kingsway Christian School Orrville Ohio 11/10/2023 11/12/2023
Cascade Christian School Puyallup Washington 2/8/2024 2/10/2024
Waconia Middle School Waconia Minnesota 10/26/2023 10/28/2023
Town Hall Theatre Company Lafayette California 4/22/2024 4/25/2024
Aspermont High School Aspermont Texas 11/16/2023 11/16/2023
Spotlight Players Matawan New Jersey 1/26/2024 1/28/2024

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