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Gail F Franklin-Young (a.k.a. Ife)

GAIL F FRANKLIN-YOUNG (A.K.A. IFE)

  
Nationality:    African American
email:    Click here to contact     Website:    Click here

Literary Agent:    n/a

Born and raised in Cleveland OH, Gail F. Franklin-Young, (A.k.A.) Ife, is a writer of many literary genres, including songs. Her plays include, In the Gist Of Twilight, Malvina and Roy, appleton House, a Winter Son, Dead Bumblebees, Half Past Yesterday, Beyond, the Questshun Was God, Hopscotch Blues, the Trouble With the Truth, When the Weeping Leaves the Willow, Moontalk, On the Colored Side Of Town and many many more. Ife has presented excerpts of her works in several states across the country and has had them produced in Ohio and New York as productions, readings and/or included in playwriting festivals. She writes for all ages, children, teens and adults. Her plays are known for their unusual plots, passion, creative savvy, themes and complex characters as well as language and flow. She is also an actress, jazz vocalist, storyteller and illustrator. as an actress, Ife has performed her one-woman shows, "I am That Other Walker Woman,' (includes original songs), 'Cedar avenue,' 'moses Wore a Petticoat,' and 'Nehemiah's Gift. Having placed great emphasis on family throughout the years, putting family first and her career second, Ife's complete repertoire of works are now being explored. She is the author of adult novellas, 'my Buddy,' and 'We Do,' as well as a collection of adult short stories. She has also created poems, songs, many literary and performance stories for all ages and is the author of a new and empowering children's chapter book series. She has earned a B.A. in Dramatic Arts and was presented the 1993 Outstanding Writer's award during her first two years of undergrad. She was also a recipient of the STaRS Research award and won third place in a creative writing contest sponsored by Whiskey Island National Magazine. Ife currently resides in New York City. She can be contacted at encoreplays@aol.com.

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below is a list of Gail F Franklin-Young (a.k.a. Ife)'s plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         Appleton House         Hopscotch Blues         In the Gist Of Twilight         Is This Mama? Is This Papa?         Malvina And Roy         Moontalk         On the Colored Side Of Town         When the Weeping Leaves the Willow         Winter Son, A

Appleton House

Synopsis:
Six well-meaning ex-mental patients desire to help other emotionally disturbed people over the thresholds of their breaking points but their eccentric ways and thinking paints a picture of bizarre incompetence. there is Fred, schizophrenic in a comical kind of way, Vincent with a compulsive behavior disorder, Reggie with hallucinations, Nellie with uncontrollable anger, Donna has multiple personalities and Mother packs a mean pistol. Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, they meet Don, a prospective employee of that agency who has no idea what lies ahead for him. Soon, the six find themselves fighting to maintain their freedom as well as continue their mission to help others.

Notes:
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1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
Frank Silvera Writer's Workshop

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:
Light Comedy

Parts:
Male:  7            Female:  3            Other:  2 attendants/No Speaking

Further Reference:
-

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Hopscotch Blues

Synopsis:
Setting: Harlem - (1927) Three young women have been singing together for years in hopes of becoming successful blues singers. Copper, the true grit behind the group has desires to settle down, marry and have a family but she short-circuits her own plans to trap two black professors when she refuses to be 'herself'. Scotty, is the lovable talented composer who lives downstairs and has his own set of troubles that he tries to drink away. Berdetta and Myrna add to the girl band but both are coupled off with fellows, Wendell and Zack, who takes a great interest in managing the group. Copper says nobody manages her. Wendell gets the group invited to sing at a club that would offset their career in a big way. Scotty is chosen to play piano for them but a foolish decision he makes puts the club patrons in a frenzy and the gig is lost. This incident prompts the ladies to take a good look inside themselves and possibly chart out a new set of dreams.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Karamu House, Cleveland, OH    1994

Organisations:
Joyce Whatley Playwright's Festival

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 light comedy w/music

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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In the Gist Of Twilight

Synopsis:
Maxine, is a successful, black 47 year old entrepreneur who is disillusioned in love and has given up on ever meeting her perfect mate who would be black, wealthy and with a compatible personality. Furthermore she fears the rapture of love because she loses self control and she has always been a bit of a control freak. She makes a decision to bring a new lover into her life through esotEric means. She creates him. He is young and handsome, non-threatening and somewhat of a pushover but he gives her a sense of security. She then breaks it off with her current lover, Richard but not without fight. However, she realizes Miraculous is not as non-threatening as she had thought and a perfect lover may not exist. Satire, Drama and crazy comedy arise as social and racial issues are placed on the table alongside fantasies, fears and disappointments. Strong language and awkward scenarios. Guaranteed to give your audience a wonderful time. Most suitable for adults.

Notes:
For more information or how to obtain this play, please visit playwright's website listed Above.

1st Produced:
Little Harlem Theater, Harlem, NY    2000

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:
Dramedy

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  1            Other:  Voice Over- Disc Jockey-Offstage

Further Reference:
-

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Is This Mama? Is This Papa?

Synopsis:
Kenneth and Renee are a happily married black couple with two grown and three minor children. then Renee's unhappy sister, ernestine arrives after leaving her husband. She has never cared for Renee's husband, feeling that her sister deserved someone financially established. When Kenneth is caught in an honest, but tacky situation ernestine uses it to talk Renee into leaving him. the couple drift apart but that is not all ernestine does. She steers her nieces and nephews in the wrong direction and interferes in a grown daughter's marriage. Finally, she is held responsible for a family members attempted suicide. When ernestine's henpecked husband, arnold grows a backbone and demands ernestine keeps her nose out of other people's business and come back home she realizes her mistakes. a fun play.

Notes:
-

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:  6            Female:  5            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Malvina And Roy

Synopsis:
Malvina and Roy are a black performing couple who have been booked at a London theater house. Roy, a flamboyant drinker and Malvina, a chirpy co-dependent presents their bizarre relationship of 30 years before and after going on stage. even in the company of Mr. Gross, a guest therapist, they remain fixated on the need to destroy and build one another up again. they display their disappointments, their needs and their desires as well as their passions as they revisit their lives of thirty years together. Racism, self-hatred, eccentricity, failures, passions and finally exhaustion are set out in full view. Finally, the couple must make a decision to continue the way they had been or fix their lives which may destroy the relationship permanently. Lots of riveting comedy, seriousness, thought provoking dialogue and social issues. Strong language and suggestive scenarios.

Notes:
For more information or how to obtain this play, please visit playwright's website listed Above.

1st Produced:
Dwyer Cultural Center, Harlem, NY    May 2010

Organisations:
Frank Silvera Writer's Workshop

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:
Drama w/comical moments

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Moontalk

Synopsis:
andy (andrea) and Charlie have been married for years but they have no children. they do want children but Charlie refuses to adopt and refuses to be examined by a doctor along with his wife. andrea gives a card party in hopes of introducing a young woman to an admirer as to steer her away from a suspected player (playboy) but the party turns out all wrong. On a eerie night with a strange looking full moon, couples let out secrets that have been welling up inside for a long time. Like lids on a bubbling pot they explode, leaving along hurt and anger. andrea and Charlie feud with one another like never before under that strange moon. the young lady eventually shows up married to the suspected playboy but things look grim for other couples. Charlie understands that when a man biologically fathers a child, it is not an indication of his manhood. Becoming a man involves many factors; all of which he possesses.

Notes:
-

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:  6            Female:  6            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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On the Colored Side Of Town

Synopsis:
Setting: Late 1800's. Victor McLloyd is obsessed over Mantel, his great-great grandfather, who was a slave, a captured African medicine man. Victor is also very curious about the powers he has inherited and wish to explore them so he summons Mantel back from 'spirit life.' there is no hospital on the southern side of town and Victor decides to change all. In the process he too becomes a medicine man, healing in a strange kind of way. With a strong, and magnetic personality and a dash of arrogance, Victor becomes highly respected on his side of town by most but when some residents who do not understand the 'old ways of healing' band together to destroy Victor's practice, he must make a decision that will change his and his family's life forever.

Notes:
For more information or how to obtain this play, please visit playwright's website listed Above.

1st Produced:
BAC kstage Little Theater, Cleveland State University    1990

Organisations:
Cleveland State University

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:  4            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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When the Weeping Leaves the Willow

Synopsis:
A teenage boy, Curt and his sister Nikki-Bina are set on igniting the community's concern about drugs and gangs and the devastating effects both have had in their neighborhood. They create something that gains support of many adults, especially those who are willing to teach young people their African and African American history. They set out to change the neighborhood with knowledge, promoting good values and principles, literacy, black history, healthy self-esteem and a deeper sense of self.

Notes:
Would be perfect for school Drama clubs.

1st Produced:
East Cleveland Theater, East Cleveland, OH    1992

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:  4            Female:  3            Other:  Several small roles for groups

Further Reference:
-

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Winter Son, A

Synopsis:
Sid, an art addicted, troubled husband leaves to purchase a loaf of bread. He returns home fifteen years later after traveling the world, 'going where 'art' would lead him.' He realizes upon his return that his family was not better off without him as he thought they would be. there exists a multitude of familial problems that may not have arisen had he stayed. He returned to make amends and hopefully be united with his family but wounds are so deep that it is not probable he will be forgiven. although his departure was a foolish 'intellectual blunder,' his family continues to see him as a deserter. alas, his wife accepts this new man after finding him to have what she needed to see in him before he left. His mother and four children would rather send him on his way but the good he brings back far outweighs the bad memories and a new start is in the equation. a moving story of human err, passion and forgiveness.

Notes:
For more information or how to obtain this play, please visit playwright's website listed Above.

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:  6            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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