ISBN 9780-0573-69837-8George BrantDrama10m, 3f -casting may varySimple SetWinner of the 2008 Keene Prize for LiteratureWinner of the 2008 David Mark Cohen National Playwriting AwardElephant’s Graveyard is the true tale of the tragic collision of a struggling circus and a tiny town in Tennessee, which resulted in the only known lynching of an elephant. Set in September of 1916, the play combines historical fact and legend, exploring the deep-seated American craving for spectacle, violence and revenge.This abridged version, which runs about 40 minutes in length, is perfect for high schools looking to perform the play at theatre competitions or for producers looking for a shorter version of the original script. Adapted by the author, it maintains the haunting drama of the award-winning full length play.“The script is, like the best art, microscopically specific with echoes that radiate outward across time. Elephant’s Graveyard buzzes with truth about the consequences of misunderstanding, the invisible but enormous gap between artists and their audiences, and the infernal beauty of vaudeville.” -The Stranger, Seattle“A theatrical masterpiece.” –Columbia City Paper“The most striking production in the (NSDF) festival.” –Times of London“Deeply moving…has the audience in stitches at the open and tears at the close.” –TheSunCoast.comFEE: $35 per performanceCharacter Descriptions: The Circus
RINGMASTER – obsessed with the bottom line
TRAINER – loves his work
BALLET GIRL – a showgirl in control
TOUR MANAGER – bit of a bully
STRONGMAN – a proud muscleman from Europe’s far-off shores
CLOWN – a comedian with an inferiority complex
DRUMMER – keeps the beat
The Town
HUNGRY TOWNSPERSON – African-American, a steel-trap memory
MARSHAL – keeps the peace
MUDDY TOWNSPERSON – a haunted widow
PREACHER – doggedly hopeful
STEAM SHOVEL OPERATOR – looking for escape
YOUNG TOWNSPERSON – excitable dreamer
GUITARIST/HARMONICA PLAYER – sets the rhythm
The Railroad
ENGINEER – confident Time is on his sideAlso available from Samuel French include:
Elephant's Graveyard (Full Length Version)
Elephant's Graveyard (Logo Pack)
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