COMPOSITE PACKET: THE WORLD OF MISS BRILL by Katherine Mansfield and others; THE ENCHANTED CHAIR by Charles Dickens - This packet demonstrates how a composite program can be organized with its various literary materials placed in a dramatic context. Located in a park with Mansfield’s brilliant story as the centerpiece, it is intercut with Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s “The World is a Beautiful Place,” and Miss Brill’s readings interpolated with poems by Blake, Browning, Shakespeare and Edna St. Vincent Millay. The performance style is Chamber Theatre. To explore a contrasting pertormance style we have added Charles Dickens’ delightful ghost story, THE ENCHANTED CHAIR, arranged for Staged Readers Theatre. Both scripts can be performed separately or together linked by the subject of “Life Viewed from Bench & Chair.” Cast; 4 each. Time 25 & 17 mins. $14.95

Poetry Packet: “THE ARTIST” by William Carlos Williams and “THE WORLD IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE,” from A Coney Island of the Mind, by Lawrence Ferlinghetti - Poems by two significant modern poets are arranged for RT: “Artist” in four styles (Simple, Staged, Chamber, and Story Theatre), “World” in two styles (Staged and Chamber Theatre). An innovative way to study RT approaches to modern poetry. Cast: 4-8 or more. $9.95

THE BALLAD OF THE OYSTERMAN by Oliver Wendell Holmes, in four styles (Simple, Staged, Chamber, Story Theatre) - A humorous satire on heroic poetry in which a young man swims a river to visit his love. An innovative way to study RT approaches and traditional poetry. Cast: 6. $9.95

THE CHORUS GIRL and ANYUTA by Chekhov - Anton Chekhov has been called “supreme among short story writers.” These two classics give vivid portrayals of the treatment “fallen women” have traditionally received. The author’s understanding and compassion without moralizing make these stories useful for groups interested in raising consciousness about roles society has assigned to men and women. Cast: 5 & 4. $8.95

Bilingual Packet: THE CITY MOUSE & THE COUNTRY MOUSE and THE TORTOISE & THE HARE by Aesop. Available in Spanish-English, French-English, or German-English versions - Foreign language students of any age will enjoy this script of moderate difficulty. These popular fables are retold in a modern style and arranged for various bilingual approaches. The scripts can be performed entirely in English. Specify foreign language you wish. Cast: flexible. $10.95

COUNT DRACULA and MR. BIG by Woody Allen - Two uproarious and typical stories are presented from Woody Allen’s widely popular book, Getting Even. “Mr. Big” is given in two Readers Theatre versions to explore the material’s potential for performance in presentational and representational styles. The first story treats the Dracula legend in a lighthearted way; the second story is a savagely irreverent satire on religion and philosophy, with a private eye undertaking a search for God because a student at Vassar has a philosophy paper due. The latter work has content that may be objectionable. RECOMMENDED FOR MATURE AUDIENCES. Casts: 6 & 5. 8 & 16 min. $11.95

COWBOY! A Composite of Literature, History & Legend - This script is based on the Freeway Production toured for several years by the Institute for Readers Theatre to great acclaim. 3 cowboys and a cowgirl, with optional musicians, cover the romantic saga of the Old West by presenting facts mixed with songs, poems, stories and anecdotes about the American Cowboy. This funny, engrossing, sometimes moving series of pictures has delighted audiences of all ages. Cowboy! can easily be shortened or expanded to a full-length performance. Cast: variable; 30 min. $12.95

THE ELEPHANT’S CHILD by Rudyard Kipling - Classic adventure of a young elephant whose curiosity wins him a trunk from the crocodile. Kipling’s masterful writing style and our special RT treatment make this script of interest to adult performers. Cast: 9. $7.95

FEATHERTOP by Nathaniel Hawthorne - An enchanting story by one of America’s greatest 19th century authors. A New England witch turns a scarecrow into a fashionable gentleman, and sends him into town to wreak vengeance on a Judge. Feathertop discovers what it is to be human, and is presented with a terrible choice about whether or not to live in an imperfect world. This script is given in full with suggested cuts for a shorter version. Cast: 5. 30 min. -- 1 hour. $13.95

THE GIFT OF THE MAGI and THE LAST LEAF by O. Henry (W.S. Porter) - Two of O. Henry’s best-loved stories with surprise endings. Cast: 7 each. $10.95

JOHNNY PYE AND THE FOOL-KILLER, by Stephen Vincent Benét -
This great story of Americana follows Johnny Pye from boyhood to old age through a series of adventures that cover many professions (including business, entertainment, military and politics) as he tries to escape the Fool-Killer -- death. A rich mixture of humor, satire and folk wisdom form a timeless saga for all ages and times in our exciting 35 minute version. Complete text is provided as a supplement for full-evening treatment. Cast: 7. $11.95

THE LITTLE GIRL & THE WOLF and THE UNICORN IN THE GARDEN by James Thurber - We are proud to offer two fables by one of America’s most enduring comic writers. These popular classics are undiminished in their humor, and the satire is more telling now in this time of heightened consciousness about men and women’s roles in life than when the stories were written. A real treat for cast and audience. Cast: 4 each. $10.95

THE LIVING CELL by Anthony Leigh Adams -- Science-Dance Packet: - This script presents the latest scientific knowledge in a rich and evocative text that combines narration and mime to dramatize the amazing unseen universe of the cell -- the basic building block of life. Music, projections, dance, and other multimedia ingredients may be used as they were at the National Workshops in London and Honolulu and various West Coast productions. Applicable to theatre and dance groups as well as the science and literature classrooms. Cast: flexible. $9.95

LONG WALK TO FOREVER by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. - A story from the best-selling author called “one of the best living American writers.” Taken from the collection, Welcome to the Monkey House, it tells of a young soldier who goes AWOL to win back his girl who has become engaged to another man -- a rare example of Vonnegut in a romantic mood. Cast: 4. 12 min. $9.95

Bilingual Packet: THE NECKLACE by Guy de Maupassant, French-English; French of moderate difficulty. -
The story of a woman whose vanity brings her disaster by one of the masters of the short story, arranged to be presented in various bilingual approaches. The script can be performed entirely in English. Cast: 4-8. $9.95

THE OPEN WINDOW and LAURA by Saki (H.H. Munro) - Two of this English master’s wittiest, most humorous stories with surprise endings. Cast: 5 each. $8.95

PROLOGUE TO READERS THEATRE -- II - Three versions (Simple, Staged, Chamber Theatre) of this popular introduction as performed by the Institute throughout the world. Cast: 9. $9.95

RINSE THE BLOOD OFF MY TOGA by Wayne & Shuster -- Shakespeare Packet I - A hilarious spoof on the assassination of Julius Caesar as told by a Mickey Spillane-like private eye written by the brilliant CBC comedy team who first became popular through their recordings and appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show. This wildly funny satire is especially useful to motivate students who are studying Shakespeare’s play. Our arrangement has been highly successful in performances by the Institute for Readers Theatre Tour Group. Cast: 5. $10.95

SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS and RUMPELSTILTSKIN, from Transformations by Anne Sexton -
These two engrossing narrative poems by Pulitzer Prize winner Anne Sexton are a remarkable blend of Grimm’s fairy tales retold as modern parables through Freudian psychology, autobiographical references, street language and searing wit. They are funny, outrageous and strangely moving. Both works play strongly to audiences of all ages and levels of sophistication. They make interesting companion pieces because both deal with the dwarfing of the human spirit. Casts: 4 each. 8 min. each. $9.95

TEMPORARILY HUMBOLDT COUNTY by The Firesign Theatre - A hilarious and cutting satire of the white man’s treatment of the American Indian through the ages by one of the most popular recording groups of comedians. Content may be objectionable to some. Cast: 8.

THREE SCENES FROM SHAKESPEARE: HISTORY, COMEDY, & TRAGEDY -- Shakespeare Packet II - Using three RT staging approaches, this packet features the Witches’ Scene (IV-1) from Macbeth, the Highway Scene (IV-5) from The Taming of the Shrew, and the Oration Scene (III-2) from Julius Caesar which involves the entire class as participants. A simple and exciting program to stimulate interest in the three forms of Shakespeare’s plays. Cast: 7, 4 and 7 with class. $10.95

TWO TALES OF TERROR: “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allan Poe - These famous stories of terror have been treated by the author in very different ways, one realistically, one symbolically. Together they provide a vivid picture of Poe’s imaginative range in this genre. Full texts with copious notes are included with arrangements which solve the problems of presenting this material effectively for today’s audiences. Performance: 30 minutes each. Casts: 4 & 7. $14.95



SEE ADVANCED ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE SCHOOL SECTION FOR THE FOLLOWING TITLES ALSO RECOMMENDED:

THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN by Robert Browning
THE DRAGON PACKET by Ogden Nash, Heywood Broun, and Kenneth Grahame