New Plays from A. C. T. 's Young Conservatory, Vol. 5

A.C.T.s Young Conservatory . . . the source of intelligent new scripts.DRAMATICS MAGAZINEAnnouncing the fifth volume in the acclaimed series of new plays for young actors from the internationally celebrated Young Conservatory at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater. The long-awaited next volume offers an amazing seven plays, including two that were specifically written for middle-school aged actors by A.C.T. Artistic Director and playwright, Carey Perloff and Melanie Case, resident playwright and director in the Young Conservatory. These plays, by stellar, award-winning playwrights, offer a diversity of themes and styles from a story set on the Earth's Moon to the trenches of Petersburg, Virginia, during the American Civil War. Plays include:Moontel Six by Constance Congdon Set on the Earth's moon in a not-so-distant future, a group of genetically-altered teens have been pursued into hiding by the residents of Moonstead Estates, a new gated community which hates having adolescents with questionable genes near their perfect children.War Daddy by Jim Grimsley From the writer of A Bird of Prey, this hard-hitting drama focuses on two groups of teens struggling to survive in an unnamed war-torn country. The wars have gone on for so long, the young people can't remember a time when there was no conflict Anatomy of Gray by Jim Leonard Set in the American heartland, before men loved machines, Anatomy of Gray tells the story of a town without a doctor who forges a special relationship with a young doctor in the midst of a crisis.Broken Hallelujah by Sharman Macdonald Set in the smoky hollows of war-torn Petersburg, Virginia, where two girls have a life-altering encounter with one Confederate and two Union soldiers, Broken Hallelujah explores the effects of the failing American Civil War on young soldiers.Copies by Brad Slaight From the writer of Class Action, this is a story right out of tomorrow's headlines. Not good at math? Have a clone of yourself made from your own DNA, but gifted in math to do your problems for you. Copies explores the heart and soul of clones, bred specifically to do all those things you don't want to do.PLUS TWO ONE-ACT PLAYS FOR YOUNGER ACTORS (AGES 11-13)The Rhinoceros with Wings by Carey Perloff When the bullies at the local public elementary school don't believe that Billy has actually seen a rhinoceros with wings on the computer, they set out to prove him wrong.7th Grade Freaks by Melanie Case Charged with using their knowledge and imagination to create a short play that dramatizes what they would do if they had the opportunity to help the world become a better place, five 7th grade girls, each uniquely individual, must come up with the play in thirty minutes.CRAIG SLAIGHT is an Associate Artist and the Director of the Young Conservatory at American Conservatory Theater. During his time at A.C.T. Craig has taught in all of the Conservatory programs, served as a resident director on the Geary Theater main stage and is a member of the artistic team of the company. Slaight began the Young Conservatory's New Plays Program in 1989 and in August of 1994, he received the President's Award from The Educational Theater Association for Outstanding Contributions to Youth Theater.Slaight, Craig is the author of 'New Plays from A. C. T. 's Young Conservatory, Vol. 5', published 2009 under ISBN 9781575255767 and ISBN 1575255766.