Aaron blames homework for ruining his life but still he plugs away, ever hopeful that today will be the day he gets all his assignments done on time, makes his parents happy, and maybe even finds a girlfriend. Zeta cheats. A little. Loaded up with AP and Honors classes, she reasons that no sensible person would write every English paper from scratch or neglect to bring a cheat sheet to a French exam. The only class she enjoys is art—how could anyone not love the smell of clay? Will, on the other hand, could breeze through school if he chose to. And he always goes to class when there’s a good reason. But usually there’s not, so he’s flunking out. Ordinarily, these three students would never talk to each other, but when a group project for French class brings them together, they’re forced to confront their stereotypes and their anxieties—and even more troubling, their wishes and dreams.
One Act
When Briseis Met Chryseis
When Briseis meets Chryseis, it’s the tenth year of the Trojan War and both women are “war prizes” held captive by the besieging Greek army. At first their friendship helps them make the best of things and even to feel glad they are still alive, but as plague threatens the Greek camp and the women’s friendship deepens into love, it threatens their survival.
The Story
In the beginning there was Eve who gave birth to Adam. Like all children, Adam is curious about how he came to be born, and like any good mother, Eve tells him a story. But Adam remembers things differently. As he grows older, he constructs a new version of events – involving a snake, an apple, and paradise lost.
Persephone Underground
What would you do if your daughter ran away with the boyfriend from hell? Literally. If you are Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, you have the power to hold the whole earth hostage. One afternoon, Demeter’s daughter Persephone is gathering flowers in a field with her mortal friends when she hears an otherworldly melody emanating from a cave. That evening, returning alone to seek the source of the music, she meets a mysterious young demigod who proves to be the nameless son of Hades, the lord of the dead. Drawn to his tales of a world of endless adventures, she follows him. Meanwhile, Demeter hears rumors that her beloved daughter has been abducted by Hades. She comes in search of her and demands that she return home, now or never. But when Persephone refuses, Demeter likewise refuses to keep the seasons turning, threatening to destroy the mortal world with drought and famine…
The Minotaur
Princess Ariadne is heir to the throne of Crete and sister to The Minotaur. She promises her brother that she will not let anyone hurt him. But now, beneath the palace, an elaborate maze is under construction. It will serve as the prison for the fourteen youths and maidens sent every nine years from Athens to Crete as a sacrifice. It is said that in the center of the maze, a terrible monster awaits, half-man, half-bull, and thirsty for human blood. Hearing these rumors, The Minotaur wants to run away—and he wants Ariadne to come with him. She counsels patience, and then it is too late. The ship from Athens has arrived; on board is the hero Theseus who hopes to slay The Minotaur and free his country from bondage. If Ariadne is to save her brother, she must devise a way to lead him and his would-be slayer out of the maze, and she must convince Theseus that the creature he has come to kill is only a young man like him and not a monster who feasts on human flesh.
Medusa’s Tale
Countless would-be-heroes have tried to slay Medusa, the famous monster with snakes for hair, but every one has turned to stone, simply by meeting her gaze. The young Perseus is different, though. The Goddess Athena has given him a sword and shield and told him to beware of Medusa’s tricks. But Perseus finds himself suddenly unprepared when Medusa’s weapon of choice is a bedtime story—the story of her life. Will Perseus stay true to his course and slay the monster, or will the humanity of Medusa’s tale slay the hero?
Available from YouthPLAYS
Also available as an audio play: Medusa’s Tale (Radio Edition)
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