The Secret of the Biological Clock

by Andie Arthur

Sixteen-year-old Jasmine’s father has gone missing – but Jasmine just knows that she can convince former teen detective Eleanor Dawson to come out of retirement, she will be able to find him. The Secret of the Biological Clock is a whimsical riff on what happens to our favorite teen detectives when they grow up.

Sixteen-year-old Jasmine’s father has gone missing – but Jasmine just knows that she can convince former teen detective Eleanor Dawson to come out of retirement, she will be able to find him. The Secret of the Biological Clock is a whimsical riff on what happens to our favorite teen detectives when they grow up.

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The Secret of the Biological Clock

Recommended by

  • Reina Hardy: The Secret of the Biological Clock

    I saw a production of this delightful show, and it brought out the girl detective in my heart!

    I saw a production of this delightful show, and it brought out the girl detective in my heart!

  • Donna Hoke: The Secret of the Biological Clock

    As a childhood Nancy Drew fan, I found this delightful! Theatricality and mystery, all with tongue planted firmly in cheek.

    As a childhood Nancy Drew fan, I found this delightful! Theatricality and mystery, all with tongue planted firmly in cheek.

Character Information

While this play takes place in a highly stylized 1960s and 1980s -- that does not mean it is a white play. Please cast people of color.

The Eclectic Theatre production plans to have an African American Wilder family and a Latina Alice, but past workshops and readings have included Latina Jasmines, Asian American Eleanors, and so on.
  • Franklin Wilder
    Peter and Robert’s Father, retired police officer
    Character Age
    late 60s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any but preferably POC
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Robert Wilder
    Famous Boy Detective and best friend of Ellie
    Character Age
    18
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any but preferably POC
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Jasmine
    A wanna-be girl detective
    Character Age
    16
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any but preferably POC
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Eleanor Dawson
    former famous girl detective, Jasmineʼs hero
    Character Age
    37
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Ellie Dawson
    Eleanor at age 17
    Character Age
    17
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Peter Wilder
    Eleanorʼs significant other, also a best selling children's novelist
    Character Age
    mid-30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any but preferably POC
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Alice Garcia
    Eleanorʼs best friend, six months pregnant, a police detective
    Character Age
    mid-30s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any race (but Latinx preferred)
    Character Gender Identity
    Female

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Lost Girls Theatre, Year 2017
  • Type Workshop, Organization The Playwrights' Center, Year 2013
  • Type Reading, Organization Lost Girls Theatre, Year 2013
  • Type Reading, Organization From Scratch Festival, Year 2013
  • Type Reading, Organization The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Year 2012

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Eclectic Full Contact Theatre, Year 2019