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Lauren Goldman Marshall

LAUREN GOLDMAN MARSHALL

  (1960 - )
Nationality:    USA
email:    Click here to contact     Website:    n/a

Literary Agent:    n/a

Playwright LAUReN GOLDMAN MARSHALL lives in Seattle. Marshall's work is eclectic, ranging from the widely popular, lighthearted Seattle revue, Waiter, there's a Slug in My Latte' (Cabaret de Paris, Seattle; over 200 performances) to a musical Drama about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, Abraham's Land (New Image Theatre, Seattle). Her contemporary adaptation of Moliere's the Misanthrope, set in the Seattle grunge rock scene, premiered in 1999 at Artists Repertory Theatre, Portland, OR, directed by Dennis Bigelow, where it won the Portland Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Production of the Season, and in 2003, was produced by NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where it was directed by Timothy Douglas. Marshall also writes educational works, such as Whadda 'Bout My Legal Rights? (empty Space Theater, Seattle, published by Samuel French, Inc.), Rivercide, P.I. (Seattle Public Theater; published by Baker's Plays), and the 100th eye (West Coast ensemble, Los Angeles). Though styles differ, her works share in common a love of language and warm sense of humor. A former Arts & entertainment attorney, she obtained undergraduate and law degrees from Stanford (1983, 1986) and an M.F.A. in Music Theatre writing from NYU, Tisch School of the Arts (1997). From 1997-2001, she served as Producing Artistic Director of the Seattle Public Theater, before stepping down to start a family. Marshall is married to Michael Schell and has two daughters, Hannah and Abigail.

Research:    Member of the Dramatists Guild of America (as at 2015)

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below is a list of Lauren Goldman Marshall's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         Abraham's Land         Big Cigar, The         China Heart, The & the 100th Eye         Falling Leaves         Finding Pluie-the Adventures Of A Lost Water Drop         Fixing Einstein         Ladies Lounge         Misanthrope, The         Monkey King         Rivercide, Pi! (An Environmental Who-Dunnit)         Story Of the Abscess Tooth, The         Waiter, There's A Slug In My Latte         Whadda' Bout My Legal Rights?

Abraham's Land

Synopsis:
Abraham's Land is a full length musical Drama set against the backdrop of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Yitzhak (an Israeli soldier) and Ismail (a Palestinian philosophy student) are launched onto adjacent journeys through the culture of the other. After Yitzhak mistakenly shoots Ismail during a street demonstration in east Jerusalem, he struggles with guilt and remorse and resolves to make atonement by returning Ismail's identity card to his family, living in Gaza. Meanwhile, Ismail regains consciousness, but suffers from amnesia. With his mind now a blank slate, he sets forth on a journey of self education through Israeli society. Thus trading places, each character comes to experience the good of the other society and the darker side of his own. When the two ultimately meet again, they must confront painful truths about themselves and each other. Shadow puppets, masks and music evoking the passions of the region bring myth and mysticism into this contemporary fable.

Notes:
Created by Lauren Goldman Marshall And Hannah eady; music by David Nafissian And others. Abraham's Land was developed As A Jewish/Arab collaboration between Marshall, eady And Nafissian, working with An Arab And Jewish development ensemble. It was further refined in A production by Israeli And Palestinian teenagers At Seeds of Peace camp in Portland, Me, (1999).

1st Produced:
New Image Theatre, Seattle    1992

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1st Published:
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Genre:
Musical Drama

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  4            Other:  2+ M or F ensemble

Further Reference:
-

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Big Cigar, The

Synopsis:
At the turn of the century, Jewish immigrant cigar maker Oscar Hammerstein takes on high society when he sets out to build the greatest opera house in America, and for a time succeeds. But the very qualities that lead to his success--ruthless ambition, fearlessness, and fierce independence --ultimately lead to his downfall when he betrays the people he needs the most, including his own son. A musical tapestry weaves together the narrative in a contemporary, through-sung musical about characters in the opera world at the turn of the century. the original music is inspired by vaudeville and opera, and the Dramatic through-line is augmented by Oscar's flashbacks, dreams, and hallucinations.

Notes:
(work-in-progress). Music by Michael Wartofsky

1st Produced:
Staged Reading/Workshop New Opera Musical Theatre Institute, Boston    2001

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1st Published:
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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

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Genre:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  1            Other:  Optional; none required, if doubling

Further Reference:
-

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China Heart, The & the 100th Eye

Synopsis:
Paired short-stories for the stage, about two close friends having to confront the realities of HIV/AIDS. In the China Heart, a young artist (Joel) and his female friend (China) struggle with their sexual attraction for one another while facing their fear that Joel has HIV. Too shy to admit their attraction, they communicate through the safe language of artistic collaboration. In the 100th eye, Joel and China are commissioned to create a sculpture out of found objects. During their search to complete their masterpiece, they must face his inevitable demise to AIDS. With help from their patron, they attempt to communicate their true feelings to each other. Although originally designed for teens and adults with mental-health disabilities, these pieces have been produced as well for general audiences. Communication and friendship are the main themes in these whimsical and joyful, yet poignant works.

Notes:
the China Heart Also produced by Concerned Productions At New Mexico Rep, Santa Fe, 1993. the 100th eye Also produced by West Coast ensemble, Celebration of One-Acts, Los Angeles, 1996 & Pittsburgh New Works Festival, 1996.

1st Produced:
Aids Prevention Theatre Troupe, Seattle    1992

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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

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Genre:
Paired one-acts; educational

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  -            Other:  female: 1 (China Heart) 2 (100th eye)

Further Reference:
-

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Falling Leaves

Synopsis:
A contemporary adaptation of the O'Henry Short story, the Last Leaf. Johnsy and Sue are a lesbian couple living in Greenwich Village, NYC. Johnsy has AIDS and believes she will die when the last leaf falls off a vine outside her window. their friend Rubens, a gay artist himself battling AIDS, paints a leaf to inspire Johnsy.

Notes:
Music by Michael Wartofsky. Fully produced by Seattle Public theatre, 1999.

1st Produced:
Dixon Place, NYC (Concert Staging)    1997

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1st Published:
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Music:
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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

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Genre:
One-act chamber opera

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Finding Pluie-the Adventures Of A Lost Water Drop

Synopsis:
Pluie, a little water droplet with an adventurous spirit, and his sister and brother, Agua and Mizu, take a journey that leads them through the water cycle. When Pluie evaporates from the ocean, his siblings set out to find their lost brother and bring him home. From a snowy mountainside to a stinky sewer treatment plant, their travels teach them new things about the water cycle and themselves. Raven, who sees all from the sky, and Salmon, who sees all from the water, narrate. When Pluie is trapped inside a blackberry, Raven and Salmon come to the rescue.

Notes:
This short play (under 30 minutes) designed to educate About the water cycle is intended for performance by or for elementary school students. Contains original song "Water Rules" with music by Chris Ballew (of the band Presidents of the United States of America).

1st Produced:
Spruce Street School, Seattle    2007

Organisations:
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1st Published:
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Music:
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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

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Genre:
Children's; educational

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  flexible. 12-20+ total parts (M or F), depending on doubling

Further Reference:
-

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Fixing Einstein

Synopsis:
ictoria - a cutting-edge scientist facing a degenerative illness - clones herself, intending that her clone will do a better job of carrying on her life. Her clone, Vicki, has her own ideas about how to live, but finds her unsuspecting husband and sons resistant to change. Just when everything seems to be working, we run into the problem of splitting yourself in two.

Notes:
music by Ian Williams book and lyrics by Lauren G marshall

1st Produced:
5th Avenue Theatre. Seattle, NY    25 Jul 2015

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1st Published:
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Genre:
musical 90 min

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Ladies Lounge

Synopsis:
Misfit characters come together in a woman's restroom.

Notes:
5th place, American theatre Association Christina Crawford Awards, reading New Dramatists, NYC 1986.

1st Produced:
Fremont Playhouse    1990

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1st Published:
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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

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Genre:
comedy One Act

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Misanthrope, The

Synopsis:
This award-winning modern iambic pentameter verse adaptation transports Moliere's the Misanthrope from the 17th century French court to the present-day indie-rock scene. the entertainment biz has become the royal court of today, where all that matters is who you know. Alceste is a grunge musician and Celimene a pop singer aspiring to a film career. Can brutally honest Alceste make it in this superficial world? And what about the love of his life, Celimene, the queen of hype and hypocrisy?

Notes:
Winner of Portland Drama Critics Circle 1999 Award for Best Production of the Season; finalist 1997 JFK Center Fund for New American Plays. Other productions include Tisch School of the Arts, NYU, 2003, directed by Timothy Douglas, And Ghostlight theatricals, Seattle, 2009. Based on A concept by Allen Craig DiBona.

1st Produced:
Artists Repertory Theatre, Portland, Or    1999

Organisations:
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1st Published:
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Music:
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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

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Genre:
Comedy; contemporaryadaptation of classic Adaptation

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  3            Other:  1-3 additional M or F

Further Reference:
-

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Monkey King

Synopsis:
A rambunctious young boy wants to live forever! Based on the first portion of the classic Chinese epic The Journey to the West, this world-premiere is a ripping ride full of comedy, drama, adventure, martial arts and acrobatics. Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) has supernatural powers, but when his kingdom is overrun by demons, he sets out to come immortal

Notes:
Commissioned by SPT for its youth program, this is a tale for all free-spirited individuals struggling to find a place in a hierarchical world. Intended to ultimately be part one of a two part series, this script runs one hour and is designed for a large cast.

1st Produced:
Seattle Public Theater. Seattle, WA    07 Aug 2015

Organisations:
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1st Published:
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Music:
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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

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Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Rivercide, Pi! (An Environmental Who-Dunnit)

Synopsis:
A private investigator is called into investigate the death of a river, and determines that we are all collectively responsible. Designed for school-age audiences.

Notes:
Music by edd Key

1st Produced:
Seattle Public Theatre    1993

Organisations:
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1st Published:
Baker's Plays (1998)   -

Music:
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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

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Genre:
educational musical about water quality

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  Flexible; none required if doubling

Further Reference:
-

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Story Of the Abscess Tooth, The

Synopsis:
A souvenir salesman, who lacks dental insurance, cannot afford treatment for his abscess tooth.

Notes:
Translation from Spanish by Lauren Marshall And Mauricio Berho of one-act by Argentinean playwright Osvaldo Dragun

1st Produced:
Seattle Public Theatre    1995

Organisations:
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1st Published:
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Music:
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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

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Genre:
Translation

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Waiter, There's A Slug In My Latte

Synopsis:
This distinctly Seattle musical revue takes a light-hearted look at Seattle, America's most livable city in the early 1990s. Hit songs include Monorail-Train to Nowhere, Slug Sushi, Panic Swept the City (but the snowplows didn't) and the Mean, Mean Drug from Medallin (a.k.a. espresso).

Notes:
Music by Todd Moeller. This widely popular show was An Annual fixture At Seattle's Cabaret de Paris between 1990-1995, where it had over 200 performances.

1st Produced:
Cabaret De Paris, Seattle    1990

Organisations:
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1st Published:
Rain City Projects (1993)   -

Music:
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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

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Genre:
Musical revue

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Whadda' Bout My Legal Rights?

Synopsis:
A musical play about legal rights and responsibilities, designed for teenage audiences.

Notes:
Created by Lauren Goldman Marshall And Andrew Duxbury And composer Suzanne Grant; book by Marshall And Duxbury, lyrics by Marshall, Duxbury And Grant; music by Grant.

1st Produced:
Empty Space Theatre, Seattle    1989

Organisations:
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1st Published:
Samuel French Inc (1990)   -

Music:
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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

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Genre:
educational musical

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
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