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Plays by Dr. David Crawford
Artesia
A full-length drama, single interior set cast of 4 men, 3 women,
7 minor.
Eileen Songbird Taylor shop-owner and spiritual
leader for her people, barely maintains her small store for the
tiny Acoma Pueblo reservation. She finds support and friendship
with her two young romantically entangled assistants Jesse and
Lanea as well as her mentor Yellowfeather, a craftsman in buffalo
dung carvings, which he hopes to sell to white tourists. His
fascination with dung as a craft material is fostered by the
small herd of buffalo kept in a corral outside. Tom, a past Spirit
guide who confronted hypoglycemia and lost, meanders about the
store keeping the secret of the most holy of tribal relics, the
lost necklace, worn only by those with the true “calling”.
Eileen’s faith is tested when Peter Diaz, a wealthy acquaintance
offers financial salvation with an offer to bring the “rez” into
the 21st. century and the world of American Indian gaming. Meanwhile,
the politically powerful Navajo reservation demands access to the
only wealth her people claim, her artesian wells. The fear of the
larger reservation is punctuated when a “gang” of young
Navajo men becomes openly hostile and threatens Jesse, Eileen’s
choice to take her place as “holy one” for her people.
To further complicate her life is the arrival
of an extremely carsick Jan Jones, a “white-wannabe” novelist who chooses
this setting as her next project. As Spirit Guide, or the “Holy
One” for her people, Eileen must choose between the world’s
modern ways or preserving holy customs and traditions for future
generations.
“Award Winning, Entry in the Texas Educational Theatre Association
Play Writhing Contest”.
TANGLED
GARDEN
A full length psychological drama. Single
exterior set.
Cast of eight (5 M, 3 F)
Galveston, 1912. Nicholas is the only surviving
son of August Sonntheneil, an old Civil War veteran. Nicholas is
reluctant to enter the family's sea freight and cargo business.
He is also an alcoholic recluse. In addition of feeling guilty over
the death of his mother, he must also deal with the fact that August
loved Nicholas' deceased brother, David, far more than the surviving
son.
As August begins a rapid mental declines daughter
Virginia returns home to tie up all loose ends and assume the position
as leader of the family. Although resenting her presence for a time,
Nicholas soon realizes where his strengths lie and how to deal with
his failures and weaknesses. He delves into his pain and resentment
and discovers a new found maturity and an ability to accept responsibilities.
He also finds a way to reconcile with his father.
"A magnificent and powerful theatrical treat."
Players Press
*Award winning entry at Texas Playwrighting Festival , Houston,
TX.
BORROWED PLUMAGE
A poignant and disturbing one act drama.
Single exterior set.
Cast of six. (2 M, 1 F, 1 B, 2 G)
Sarah and Ned had been content and happy with
their life on a southern farm until the sexual molestation of their
daughter Mary. The parents, in their deep affection for their only
child and in an effort to help her, attempt to act like nothing
happened. They avoid the subject and keep the family secrets from
friends and neighbors.
Until recently, Mary had been engaged to young
Joe. The relationship was broken up by Ned because of his severe
dislike of Joe and because of his daughter's traumatic experience.
Unable to stay away, Joe sneaks onto the farm.
Mary spills out a story of her attack... but she accuses her father
of being the perpetrator and her mother being the accomplice!
"Doctor Crawford has spun together a convoluted
collection of
emotions and characters. A powerful dramatic entertainment."
Players Press
*Produced at the "Province Town Playhouse, New York.
MOMENTS
Sixteen original and highly compelling
duet scenes, for men and women.
Excellent for professional auditions, classroom
scene study, workshops, acting laboratories or production These
scenes were caret Ülly selected and developed to provide a
complete moment of dramatic action with a strong emphasis on character
relations.
Each scene is prefaced by a brief synopses of
the play with scene and character descriptions to help the performer
pteçrare the scene for presentation. The scenes also minimize
trappings and maximize acting they can be presented simply and easily.
"High quality scenes offering a good selection
of comedic and dramatic moments."
-Players Press
HARVEST
A High Plains Trilogy
Consists of three one-act plays, “Barren Fields”, “Squaring”, and “End of the Row”. Each play can stand alone as a complete work or be presented together.
Each play is written in “real” time without breaks in the action. Although the characters age between each play, the time is set in the present to avoid focusing on the historic period and to suggest that this story happens somewhere everyday. The passage of years is merely for reference.
“Barren Fields” (2M, 1F)
After several years of crop failure, twenty five year old high plains cotton farmer Rick Childress meets another disaster of nature by caving in to Toni’s pleadings to sell the farm. His wife for five years, Toni finds it harder and harder to find the strength to live the farmer’s life. She has labored to fulfill her husband’s expectations, but the reality of this life has ground away all the hopes and dreams she had at graduation from college. A glimmer of hope presents itself when Rick agrees to sell after flooding shatters his hopes for this year’s crop. But now, the morning after shows the promise of sunshine and Rick realizes he can’t abandon the land and the life that is his heritage and legacy. To leave the farm would be to turn his back on his family, his home, and everything that defines who his is. What the two young people are left with is a choice neither wants to make. Rick sees the affect of the farm on his wife, yet his eternal optimism hopes for another crop that will clear their indebtedness and finally give his wife a life more comfortable than she’s had to date. Toni, an outsider to his long relationship to the land, is more desperate to escape the constant doubt, toil, and stress of this type of life. The question they face together is larger than life on the farm, but life without each other.
"Powerful, authentic drama by a popular Texas playwright that will challenge and move audiences everywhere!"
-
Players Press
“Squaring” (2M, 1F)
Now in his mid-forties, Rick Childress has become a legend in his farming community as a crusty loner with a seemingly bottomless knowledge of cotton and the land. His farm is the epitome of success and his sole purpose now is to give his total attention to her. Resolute, determined-to-a-fault, proud, and a self-made hermit, Rick’s only companion in life is Rafael, a periodic hired hand. This is the life he’s made peace with until the new County extension agent arrives for a visit in the guise of Aggy Taylor, a transplant from the Kansas wheat fields. She is as forward and extroverted as he is reclusive and the legendary stories of the neighboring farmers about the hermit farmer intrigue her. Her presence and her curiosity act as fingernails on a chalkboard to Rick who seeks the fastest and most expedient method to rid the farm of her. His quandary is magnified when she discovers his personal collection of writings, poetry he has composed in an effort to deal with the ghosts of his past. Through his anger and resentment about her intrusion, much less his distaste for county extension agents, he discovers she, too, has a painful past life on a farm. His interest piqued, he must decide if there is enough room for anyone else to share his love of the farm.
“End of the Row” (2M, 2F)
Rick Childress, pushing seventy, faces his most daunting decision that will affect the farm and his future. His daughter, Maggie, expecting the farmer’s first grandchild, wants him to retire and sell the farm before his love for the land kills him. After several sudden developments, there are buyers for the farm, putting pressure on the old man to sell. Adding to this, Maggie discovers Rick’s health is not good, which increases her desire to get rid of the farm and have him move in with her. In the midst of this ever-developing problem, Rick receives a visitor to his rural Texas farm. Toni Childress, his first wife, enters the picture. Unheard from in forty years, she appears, anxious to dispel ancient ghosts. She has sought out Rick to join her on a journey through their past. His problems unknown to her, Toni becomes a harbor in a storm. She helps Rick through the difficult ordeal of deciding what a man must do when he has outlived his dreams. Dr. Crawford.
*Winner of 2005 Texas Educational Theater Associational Playwriting Contest.
"Timeless"
32 fresh, fascinating, monologues for male female performers taken from Dr. Crawford award-winning and critically acclaimed plays. Exciting and original choices to revitalize the class or casting experience for actors, teachers, directors and producers alike, tired of seeing the same material again and again and again.
Every scene is provided with a play overview and a brief introduction, setting the piece in context. There is a broad range of selections for male and female performers, a further selection suitable for each, and instructions for tailoring any of the works for the actor’s personality and gender as well as connecting pieces to increase the performance time. In addition, there is valuable and sensible advice on how to use this book to prepare for you audition as a whole, not just to read your scene.
"Gallery"
27 engrossing audition monologues for male or female performers. Fresh and original choices to revitalize the casting experience for actors, directors and producers alike, jaded by the same repeated selections at call after call.
Every scene is provided with a brief and memorable introduction, setting the piece in context, and tailoring the work to the individual and gender of the performer They rely on no props or frappings but can be readily presented in any performing environment.
All
above titles are available through
Players Press, Inc.
P.O. Box 1132
Studio City, California 91614-0132 USA
Phone: 818-789-4980
Web Site: www.ppeps.com
External Web Resources: Some of the above links will lead you beyond the domain of Tyler Junior College. The College, therefore, has no control over content.
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