Dwayne’s Plays

Published by Dramatic Publishing
Adapted from the novel by Kate DiCamillo
Edward Tulane is an expensive china rabbit, vain and self-centered, with no interest in anyone but himself. When he's thrown overboard on an ocean voyage, Edward sinks to the bottom of the sea and begins a journey over which he has no control. As years pass and he moves from owner to owner, Edward learns what it means to love, to lose that love, and to find the courage to love again. Winner of the AATE Distinguished Play Award. Produced professionally across the country at theaters including Imagination Stage, Dallas Children's Theater, Chicago Children's Theatre, and South Coast Repertory.

Book by Dwayne Hartford, music by Kyle Sorrell
Adapted from the novel by Kate DiCamillo
Based on Newbery-winning author Kate DiCamillo's beloved novel, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane The Musical brings this breathtaking story to life with beautiful new songs and dynamic storytelling. As Edward's journey takes him from the ocean floor to a fisherman's shack, from a hobo camp to a hospital room, he meets a series of strangers who show him the transformative power of kindness, compassion, and love. Through joy and heartache, Edward learns that even a heart of porcelain can break—and be made whole again.

Published by Dramatic Publishing
Two brothers set out to seek help for their mother, who has spiraled into depression following a devastating tragedy. When they lose their way, they encounter strangers who insist they must follow different paths forward. The brothers discover that only by facing their own past can they find help for their mother and themselves. Told with gentle humor, fantasy, and emotion, Eric and Elliot addresses depression and suicide while offering hope and alternatives. Winner of the 2005 AATE Distinguished Play Award.

Published by Dramatic Publishing
Three children discover the unlimited power of imagination when siblings Anne and Tim meet their new neighbor, the fabulous Nina Frances Elizabeth Vanderhelden. Using moving boxes and garage treasures, Nina takes an eager Tim and reluctant Anne on a make-believe adventure to battle the child-eating monster, the Mooklecratz. The children discover their own strengths, the value of cooperation, and the magic of creative play. A celebration of imagination that encourages children and adults alike never to lose their sense of play.

Published by Dramatic Publishing
Adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens
Set during the French Revolution, this adaptation follows Charles Darnay, a French aristocrat who rejects his family's brutal legacy; Dr. Manette, imprisoned for 18 years in the Bastille; Lucie, who unknowingly marries the descendant of her father's oppressors; Sydney Carton, whose unrequited love for Lucie gives his life meaning; and Madame Defarge, whose rage is woven into her knitting. The play explores timeless questions: How does one prioritize loyalty to country, friends, and moral code? Is violence ever justified? What defines a life well lived?

Published by Dramatic Publishing
Set in Maine during World War II, eleven-year-old Eddie Winthrop has been sent to live with his grandparents while his father fights in the Pacific and his mother works at a shipyard. Missing his parents and struggling to adjust to small-town life, Eddie finds himself in the middle of events that challenge the ties of family and friendship and question the definitions of patriotism and civic duty. When a stranger arrives in town, Eddie faces difficult moral and ethical dilemmas. A story of family, patriotism, fear, and prejudice that resonates with current events.

Book and lyrics by Dwayne Hartford, music by Sarah Roberts
A high-octane musical revue spanning the history of the American presidency. The men who rose to the highest office are brought to life through original songs in rock, hip-hop, blues, pop, jazz, reggae, country, and more. With driving anthems and jazz-inspired numbers celebrating lesser-known commanders-in-chief, audiences young and old learn something new about the presidents while seeing something of themselves reflected in the stories on stage.

One-woman show. Grades 5 and up.
Majka's life is forever changed when she sails with her parents aboard the S.S. St. Louis, a German ocean liner carrying 900 Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany in 1939. Raised to accept the world around her, Majka's beliefs are challenged when she befriends Liesl, a young Jewish passenger. As the ship is denied entry at every port, Majka must decide which side she's on. This intimate, 45-minute classroom performance explores themes of friendship, prejudice, anti-Semitism, heroism, and personal responsibility.

Peter Pan and Wendy return like you've never seen them before! It's 2016, and Wendy wants an adventure. Peter Pan appears and whisks Wendy and her brother off to Neverland where the children battle pirates, ninjas and even get in trouble with a pterodactyl! Along the way they learn about friendship and the precious nature of time and memory. Your family will love this exciting new Peter Pan adventure!

Published by Dramatic Publishing
Included in the anthology The Bully Plays
Barbara wants to be class president so she can stamp out bullying. And nobody says no to Barbara. A short play that addresses bullying with a touch of irony, exploring the line between victims and those who wield power.