Center Stage: One-Act Plays for Teenage Readers and Actors

ISBN 10: 0606011056 ISBN 13: 9780606011051

Publisher: Demco Media, 1991

Synopsis

A collection of ten one-act plays for teenage actors.

About this title

About the Author:

Although he almost always had a lead role in elementary school plays as well as church pageants, Don Gallo's dramatic interests ended abruptly one Easter Sunday when he was unable to recall a single word from a memorized passage he was attempting to recite at the morning church service. Any theatrical talents he may possess have since been utilized only in English classroom and lecture halls.

Dr. Gallo, who has been a junior high school English teacher and reading specialist, is a professor of English at Central Connecticut State University, where he supervises student teachers and teaches courses in writing and in literature for young adults. He lives in West Hartford, Connecticut.

He has edited three collections of short stories written by Famous writers of books for young adults; Sixteen, Visions, and Connections; and he has written a critical biography of author Richard Peck. His most recent book is a collection of autobiographies of notable young adult authors called Speaking for Ourselves.

From School Library Journal:

A fine idea generates exceptional results in this collection of ten one-act plays. Among the contributors are Alden Carter, Susan Beth Pfeffer, Ouida Sebestyen, Walter Dean Myers, and Robin Brancato. The plays will appeal to students whether they're in drama, in English or social studies class, or in the library at lunch time. Teachers can use them in numerous ways, and certainly drama coaches can generate some excitement with them. For humor, try Carter's "Driver's Test," in which Ben bungles his second attempt to become licensed before getting out of the parking lot. There is pathos in Forshay-Lunsford's "Riding Out the Storm," as siblings and friends coming to terms with a boy's attempted suicide, and in Pfeffer's "World Affairs" that takes Terry through the discovery of her mother's affair. Myers' "Cages" is a powerful allegory in which the characters' fear of life's uncertainties prompts them to build imaginary cages in which they hide from life. All of the plays focus on teens' courage, conviction, resourcefulness, and compassion. This collection will nicely complement Wendy Lamb's Meeting the Winter Bike Rider (1986) and Sparks in the Park (1989, both Dell), both of which are collections of plays written by young adults. --Ellen Ramsay, Amphitheater High School, Tucson, AZ
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Demco Media
• Publication date: 1991
• ISBN 10: 0606011056
• ISBN 13: 9780606011051
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 361
• Editor: Gallo Donald R.