Corners Grove

by Kaela Mei-Shing Garvin

A reverent nod to Our Town by Thornton Wilder, this play follows a group of young people in the town of Corner’s Grove from high school into adulthood as they deal with leaving home, falling in love, gender identity, and the death of Whitney Houston. It’s a story about growing up and hometowns, friendship and drinking in parking lots.

A reverent nod to Our Town by Thornton Wilder, this play follows a group of young people in the town of Corner’s Grove from high school into adulthood as they deal with leaving home, falling in love, gender identity, and the death of Whitney Houston. It’s a story about growing up and hometowns, friendship and drinking in parking lots.

  • Inquire About Rights
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Library

Corners Grove

Recommended by

  • Jenine Florence Jacinto: Corners Grove by Kaela Mei-Shing Garvin
    “

    An excellent play that screams young adult! A perfect play for college and high schools to produce with, a large cast (with many featured parts), flexible casting, and an outside look on an American classic theatre piece. Has beautifully written language perfect for the time jumps within the piece!

    An excellent play that screams young adult! A perfect play for college and high schools to produce with, a large cast (with many featured parts), flexible casting, and an outside look on an American classic theatre piece. Has beautifully written language perfect for the time jumps within the piece!

    ”
  • Cheryl Bear: Corners Grove by Kaela Mei-Shing Garvin
    “

    A modern day ode to Our Town as the youth of high school cope with growing into adulthood. Well done.

    A modern day ode to Our Town as the youth of high school cope with growing into adulthood. Well done.

    ”
  • Shaun Leisher: Corners Grove by Kaela Mei-Shing Garvin
    “

    I loved this take on Our Town. Obviously good to know the play but not necessary. This play touches on themes of loss, rebirth and nostalgia that so many can relate to. I really hope this play gets produced all over. Really great opportunity for a large cast of young actors to pay homage to a huge part of the theatrical canon while also proving the necessity of subverting classic plays.

    I loved this take on Our Town. Obviously good to know the play but not necessary. This play touches on themes of loss, rebirth and nostalgia that so many can relate to. I really hope this play gets produced all over. Really great opportunity for a large cast of young actors to pay homage to a huge part of the theatrical canon while also proving the necessity of subverting classic plays.

    ”
View all 4 recommendations
STAGE MANAGER: aka the Stage Bitch. Young with an attitude. A romantic at heart. Ultimately has a great affection for the town.
WALLY/WHITNEY WEBB:
Born 1990: 16 in 2008, 20 in 2011, 21 in 2012
Sibling to EMILY; friends with REBECCA; cousins with JULIA.
Wally has a supreme feeling of not fitting in Corners Grove. Would probably identify in 2019 as nonbinary but doesn’t have the words for it yet.
EMILY WEBB:
Born 1989—18 in 2008; 22 in 4/2011.
Sister to Wally, cousin to Julia Gibbs, friendly with Lou, Regina, and Melissa; nominally friends with Rebecca; stuff with George.
A whip-smart girl who wants the world at her feet. As Wally says of her, she has a certain “emotional idiocy masked by book intelligence.”
GEORGE GIBBS:
Born 1990: 18 in 2008; 22 in 4/2011
Brother to Rebecca; friends with Howie, Joe; stuff with EMILY.
An All-American guy. Fancies himself a man. Genuinely loves Emily.
REBECCA GIBBS:
16 in April 2008, 20 in 2011, 21 in 2012.
Sister to George; dated Simon Stimson; hooked up with Howie Newsome a few times; nominally friends with Emily; best friends with Wally.
A hard partying girl with a big/delicate heart. Loves the Real Housewives and vodka.
JOE CROWELL-ORTIZ: Born 1990: 17 in July 2008, 21 in April 2011
Brother to Si, friends with Rebecca, Howie, and Wally. A stand up guy. Enlists in the military and is sent to Afghanistan.
HOWIE NEWSOME:
Born December 1990: 16 in July 2008, 20 in April 2011
Friends with Rebecca, Howie, Wally and George. Stoner. Works at Cold Stone. LOVES to talk about the weather. In an ideal world he’d be a meteorologist. His car is named Bessie.
JULIA GIBBS:
Born 1987: 20 in April 2008, 24 in April 2011; 25 in February 2012
Cousin to Wally and Emily, friends with Melissa, Lou; dating, then married to LUKE. Foothill College Fall 2005-Spring 2007, then UC Davis 2007-2009. Met LUKE 2006, summer. A sensible, mild-mannered girl who would type everyone’s Sex and the City character upon meeting them. (She’s a Carrie. At least according to her.)
MELISSA CARTWRIGHT
Friends with Julia, Lou, Regina. Foothill College Fall 2005-Spring 2007, then UC Davis 2007-2009.
Dated Stacy McAllister as well as an unseen “Zach” in the past.
Is a great singer. Practical, a good friend. Stubborn.
LOU SOAMES:
Born 1987. The town’s resident gossip. Her hair is full of secrets.
LUKE LORBERBAUM:
Born 1985: Boyfriends with, then engaged to, then married to JULIA.
MANNY CROWELL-ORTIZ:
Brother to JOE. Grew up in his shadow, probably.
SIMON STIMSON:
Born 1989
Had a big loss in the past—probably a parent or sibling. Musically gifted; leads the community college choir. Has little patience for “mendacity,” despite dating Rebecca. Drinks too much.
STACY MCALLISTER:
Local nerd. Attended Stanford. Dated MELISSA.
WOMAN IN AUDITORIUM: Concerned with temperance
MAN IN AUDITORIUM: Concerned with justice
ANOTHER WOMAN IN AUDITORIUM: Concerned with culture and beauty.
SAM CRAIG: Simon Stimson’s cousin, left Corners Grove. Now a Boston Bro.

CASTING NOTE: Corners Grove is a diverse place and I’d love for the actors to reflect that. Last names can and should be changed to reflect the ethnicity of the actors. Several parts can be doubled if needed.

Development History

  • Commission, Boxed Wine Productions, 2012

Production History

  • Professional, Planet Connections Theater Festivity/Undiscovered Countries, 2015
  • Workshop, Boxed Wine Productions, 2012