The Playwrights Database
BOB MAY (1949 - )
Nationality: USAemail: Click here to contact Website: n/a
Literary Agent: n/a
Bob May began his theater career as an actor in 1967 with a small role in Kiss Me Kate at Ft. Lauderdale High School (FL). Acting took a back seat to directing while he earned a BA in Theater from St. Cloud State University (MN) in 1972. Since that time he has directed over 400 productions at various educational, community, and professional theaters across the country, winning numerous awards for his directing. While directing, he was also writing plays, and to date over fifty of his plays have been produced. He began teaching in higher education in 1983 at Brainerd Community College (MN) where his plays Paul Bunyan, Lumberjack Extraordinaire; The Three Little Pigs; Beanie and the Bamboozling Book Machine (published by Samuel French); and The Andrew is Dead Story (an AIDS play, published by I.E. Clark) were produced. In 1994, he earned an MFA in Playwriting from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. During his tenure at UNLV the university theater produced eight of his plays, including Faces; For the Love of a Woman; Concerned Citizen (published by Dramatic Publishing); and The Clown, The Penguin, and The Princess. His playsBroadway Memories and 9th Inning Wedding are published in the textbook The Golden Stage by Ann McDonough, Ph.D. And his absurdist play Go To. . . is published in the January 2009 literary journal The Exquisite Corpse. Mr. May currently teaches Playwriting at the University of Central Arkansas. Since moving to Arkansas he has written two sequels to his popular playBeanie and the Bamboozling Book Machine: Beanie and the Bamboozling Horror Machine and Beanie and the Bamboozling Adventure Machine (both published by Samuel French). He serves as the Artistic Director and in-house playwright for his Children's Theatre to Go theatre company, founded in 2002. They have produced his work exclusively, includingCrystal and the Christmas Snowman; A Different Kind of Nutcracker; and Elson, the First Christmas Elf (all published in the collection: Snowmen, Elves, and Nutcrackers by Baker's Plays); Jack and the Beanstalk - a musical (published by Heuer Publishing);Cinderella and the Fairy Godfather, Alice in Wonderland, Giget's Gadget to Bamboozle Beanie, Snow White and the Magic Mirror, and Hocus Pocus Horticulture (all published by Playscripts, Inc.). He and his wife, Cathy, have five children and four grandchildren. Mr. May is a member of The Dramatists Guild of America.
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below is a list of Bob May's plays - click on a Play Title for more information
Alice In Wonderland Beanie And The Bamboozling Adventure Machine Beanie And The Bamboozling Book Machine Beanie And The Bamboozling Horror Machine Cinderella And The Fairy Godfather Crystal And The Christmas Snowman Different Kind Of Nutcracker, A Elson, The First Christmas Elf Gidget's Gadget To Bamboozle Beanie Hocus Pocus Horticulture Snow White And The Magic MirrorAlice In Wonderland
Synopsis:
Impetuous Alice is about to turn thirteen, but she's not sure she's ready to grow up. Accompanied by her older self, Alyse, Alice embarks on a journey underground after a mysterious and familiar White Rabbit crosses their path. In this new telling of Lewis Carroll's classic story, Alice and Alyse navigate the wacky landscape of Wonderland, eventually helping Alice accept the idea of becoming a young adult.
Notes:
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1st Produced:
Children's Theatre To Go (Conway, AR, United States) 2006
Organisations:
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1st Published:
Playscripts, Inc - New York -
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
Booksellers:
Genre:
45-50 min Drama/Comedy
Parts:
Male: 6 Female: 5 Other: 6 males, 5 females, 6 either (14-32 actors possible: 3-16 males, 5-18 females)
Further Reference:
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Top of PageBeanie And The Bamboozling Adventure Machine
Synopsis:
This highly anticipated third original bamboozling fantasy adventure to "Beanie and the Bamboozling Book Machine". Beanie's about to destroy the book machine, but a classmate fooling around with the machine has unleashed more troublemakers. Not only are the original fairytale characters (Robin Hood, Maid Marian, Snow White) released from their stories, but also villains like The Black Knight, Mordred and Morgan Le Fey. Can Beanie save the day, and who IS behind all of this?
Notes:
written by Roy C Booth & Bob May
1st Produced:
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Organisations:
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1st Published:
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
Booksellers:
Genre:
Childrens Fantasy
Parts:
Male: 12 Female: 5 Other: -
Further Reference:
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Top of PageBeanie And The Bamboozling Book Machine
Synopsis:
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Notes:
written by Bob May, Roy C Booth And Cristopher Tibbetts
1st Produced:
Brainerd Community College, Brainerd, MN 1989
Organisations:
Brainerd Community College
1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 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
Booksellers:
Genre:
Childrens Youth Audience
Parts:
Male: 6 Female: 7 Other: -
Further Reference:
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Top of PageBeanie And The Bamboozling Horror Machine
Synopsis:
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Notes:
written by Bob May, Roy C Booth
1st Produced:
- -
Organisations:
Brainerd Community College
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:
Childrens Youth Audience
Parts:
Male: 11 Female: 8 Other: -
Further Reference:
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Top of PageCinderella And The Fairy Godfather
Synopsis:
Rags is a Fairy Godfather who has trouble finding work in a world where everyone wants a Fairy Godmother. But when there's a Godmother shortage, Rags puts on a tutu and steps in to help Cinderella get to the ball -- in a hot rod, no less. He's out of practice and makes plenty of mistakes along the way, but with the audience's help, he just might help Cinderella find her true love.
Notes:
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1st Produced:
Children's Theatre to Go (Conway, AR, United States) 2005
Organisations:
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1st Published:
Playscripts, Inc - New York -
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:
45-50 min Comedy for young audiences
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 4 Other: 2 males, 4 females
Further Reference:
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Top of PageCrystal And The Christmas Snowman
Lauren is stuck spending Christmas with her father, stepmother, and her half brother and sister. She learns the importance of family from a snow angel, a Christmas snowman, a TV weather man, and Santa Claus.
Notes:
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1st Produced:
Reynolds Performance Hall, Conway, Arkansas 2005
Organisations:
Children's Theatre To Go Inc
1st Published:
Bakers Plays, CA, 2008 >>> 9780874403060
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:
Christmas Play One Act
Parts:
Male: 4 Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
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Top of PageDifferent Kind Of Nutcracker, A
It's Christmas Eve, Godfather Hoffmann has some special gifts for Fritz and Marie, including a Nutcracker. As Marie tucks in the handsome prince for the night, the room fills with mice, led by the Mouse King, who seems to be at war with the Nutcracker. Is it all a dream or is the story real as Godfather Hoffmann explains to Marie how the Nutcracker became the way he is. The ballet only tells half the story of Godfather Hoffmann's wonderful toys and the strange adventures of Marie on Christmas Eve, when the toys come to life and she finds herself in another world, where she must save her Nutcracker Prince from a terrible curse.
Notes:
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1st Produced:
Reynolds Performance Hall, Conway, Arkansas 2006
Organisations:
Children's Theatre To Go Inc
1st Published:
Bakers Plays, CA, 2008 >>> 9780874403060
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:
Christmas Play One Act
Parts:
Male: 8 Female: 9 Other: extras
Further Reference:
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Top of PageElson, The First Christmas Elf
Is Christmas about to end? Santa Claus is considering no longer building and delivering toys to the good children around the world. The job has just become too big for him and Mrs. Claus. A call for help is sent out by Mrs. Claus via the reindeer to all dwarfs and elves. Elson wants to be the first to the North Pole to help Santa, but he must first get permission to leave his elf colony. When the Elder Elf refuses permission Elson's Elf Grande goes against the Elder Elf's decision and helps Elson put together an expedition team to the North Pole. Getting there isn't going to be easy as the Elder Elf has also put together a team to beat Elson there. And the evil elfin Spirit, Excy, will have a say in who becomes the first Christmas Elf and whether Christmas will even survive.
Notes:
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1st Produced:
Reynolds Performance Hall, Conway, Arkansas 2007
Organisations:
Children's Theatre To Go Inc
1st Published:
Bakers Plays, CA, 2008 >>> 9780874403060
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:
Christmas Play One Act
Parts:
Male: 9 Female: 7 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageGidget's Gadget To Bamboozle Beanie
Synopsis:
Gidget plugs a gadget into Beanie's book-reading machine in order to stop him from unfairly winning the Book-It reading contest. But the machine has other plans. Soon the borders between Bookworld and home begin to blur as wicked witches are released, students are captured, and storybook characters and humans have to work together to save the day.
Notes:
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1st Produced:
Children's Theatre To Go, Inc. (Conway, AR, United States) 2007
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
Playscripts, Inc - New York -
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:
45-50 min Fantasy adventure
Parts:
Male: 7 Female: 11 Other: 7 males, 11 females (18 actors possible: 5-8 males, 10-13 females)
Further Reference:
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Top of PageHocus Pocus Horticulture
Synopsis:
Led by Whiskers the Rabbit, a group of animals escapes from the evil magician Mysterio and create a Magic Garden. Now it's up to them to learn about botany and ecology so they can grow their own food. But when Mysterio tries to force the animals back to his circus, they must use their knowledge of the plant world to defeat the evil magician. Written in collaboration with psychologists, biologists, and educators, Hocus Pocus Horticulture is the perfect introduction to the magic of plants and gardening.
Notes:
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1st Produced:
Children's Theatre to Go, Inc. (Conway, AR, United States) 2008
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
Playscripts, Inc - New York -
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:
40-50 min Comedy for young audiences
Parts:
Male: 10 Female: 10 Other: 10 males, 10 females (17-26 actors possible: 8-16 males, 7-16 females)
Further Reference:
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Top of PageSnow White And The Magic Mirror
Synopsis:
After the Queen finds out that the beautiful Snow White will one day rule the land, she orders the kind Huntsman to get rid of her. But when he can't bring himself to do the deed, the Queen, disguised as Snow White's mother, gives her a poison apple. Now it's up to the Magic Mirror and the seven dwarfs (who are really orphaned children) to save the princess and restore the kingdom. A traditional, entertaining adaptation of the classic story.
Notes:
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1st Produced:
Children's Theatre To Go, Inc. (Conway, AR, United States) 2007
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
Playscripts, Inc - New York -
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:
45-50 min Theater for young audiences
Parts:
Male: 9 Female: 4 Other: 9 males, 4 females
Further Reference:
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