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Theodore Shank

THEODORE SHANK

  (1929 - )
Nationality:    USA
email:    Click here to contact     Website:    Click here

Literary Agent:    n/a

Theodore Shank's plays including biography, theatres, agent, synopses, cast sizes, production and published dates

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below is a list of Theodore Shank's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         Black Wings         Electricity         Fly Away All         Global Economy         Wild Indian!         Wives of the Magi, The

Black Wings

Synopsis:
Based on the life of the first black aviatrix Bessie Coleman

Notes:
Music by William Harper; lyrics by theodore Shank; book by theodore Shank

1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Electricity

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    2004

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Short play

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Fly Away All

Synopsis:
the opera is set in a surreal waiting place, a kind of limbo between two worlds. One direction leads back to the world in which the characters lived; in the other direction is a world they've never seen, a kind of haven which is both seductive and ominous. From the haven we hear the MULTITUDF (taped)--a kind of angelic yuppie chorus. the world in which the characters lived demands responsibilities, the unknown world takes all responsibilities from them, but also takes their freedom. A Young Man has some there in a state of nervous collapse. An Old Man has been brought there by his wife who can no longer care for him.

Notes:
the music was created on An Fmax sampler And can be performed by one keyboard musician. A variety of sampled sounds serve As the orchestra. these include the sound of wind, children playing, laugher, gasps, ticking clock, footsteps, electronic hums, tin

1st Produced:
the Minnesota Opera New Music-Theater Fnsemble    1988

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Short Surreal Dance Opera One Act

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  chorus on tape

Further Reference:
-

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Global Economy

Synopsis:
A street vendor forces a homeless woman to dance

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    2004

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Short play

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Wild Indian!

Synopsis:
Based on historical events and individuals. In 1911 Ishi, the last of the Stone-Age Yahi Indians, entered the modern world. Focusing on the remaining five years of his life, which he spent as a living exhibit in the San Francisco Museum of Anthropology, the opera interweaves his eye-witness account of the massacre of his tribe with scenes from the Yahi exhibit in the museum. While Professor Kroeber, the anthropologist, is determined that Ishi retain his native culture, the young Chinese secretary is equally determined to help Ishi adjust to the new world. And Kroeber's assistant, a young woman anthropologist, tries to adapt to the professional world of men.

Notes:
Received An Award in the Dramatists Guild/CBS New Plays Program for 1985, And received A "Stage Two Award" from the Foundation of the Dramatists Guild And CBS, 1987

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Wives of the Magi, The

Synopsis:
A Buddhist monk tells Magus Jabbar Khan to watch for a sign, but it takes him a while to realize that the star is blinking at him. When he sets off his wife, Amirana, sends word to the other two tribes in this world that she has found a lost young woman who must belong to one of their tribes. The Magi of those tribes have also set off on their quest and their wives (the North African Shaharazad and the Viking Hedwig) overcome centuries of hatred and suspicion and come to see this strange girl for themselves. She turns out to be a pregnant Mayan princess. The women become friends and are all thrilled when Xquic gives birth to a daughter. They celebrate in a naming ceremony drawn from many cultures. The men return, also having become friends on their journey, and the world is united.

Notes:
written by Theodore Shank and Adele Edling Shank

1st Produced:
[reading] Magic Theatre, San Francisco    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
A Mayan, Christian, Music Hall, Jewish, Calypso, Buddhist Play with Music

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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