GIFTED AND TALENTED

by Sonya Sobieski

Middle-class mom Shana is thrilled that her daughter tested into the most prestigious public school in the city. Unfortunately, her daughter isn’t; the school doesn’t believe in learning through play, even in kindergarten. Shana has joined the PTA to advocate for more recess and gym class, which the state mandates should be once a day, not once a week. But she discovers that “mandates” mean little in public...

Middle-class mom Shana is thrilled that her daughter tested into the most prestigious public school in the city. Unfortunately, her daughter isn’t; the school doesn’t believe in learning through play, even in kindergarten. Shana has joined the PTA to advocate for more recess and gym class, which the state mandates should be once a day, not once a week. But she discovers that “mandates” mean little in public education, where schools are run by bureaucratically tyrannical principals and shrinking budgets force reliance on the donations and hard work of parent volunteers. As discussions about money allocation and past disagreements get more heated, Shana and her fellow volunteers must admit to themselves that their kids are “gifted”mainly in socioeconomic status. But they have been reluctant to rock the boat while their own children benefit, thereby betraying their liberal ideals of protest and equality and keeping afloat—often single-handed—a deeply flawed system. One set.

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GIFTED AND TALENTED

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear: GIFTED AND TALENTED

    A truly funny and accurate portrait of the public school system that parents will go gaga for! Well done!

    A truly funny and accurate portrait of the public school system that parents will go gaga for! Well done!

  • Rachel Bublitz: GIFTED AND TALENTED

    GIFTED AND TALENTED is a hilarious play that tackles the problems within the public school system through jokes, mom-camaraderie, and well intentioned baked goods. I was lucky enough to catch a reading of the play at the 2018 Detroit New Works Festival and I know it'll be sticking in my brain for a long time to come. Sobieski gives us FIVE amazing roles for women, who are all complex and multifaceted characters, quick and brilliant dialogue, and specifics about life on the PTA that will make your skin crawl. HIGHLY recommend reading and producing this play!

    GIFTED AND TALENTED is a hilarious play that tackles the problems within the public school system through jokes, mom-camaraderie, and well intentioned baked goods. I was lucky enough to catch a reading of the play at the 2018 Detroit New Works Festival and I know it'll be sticking in my brain for a long time to come. Sobieski gives us FIVE amazing roles for women, who are all complex and multifaceted characters, quick and brilliant dialogue, and specifics about life on the PTA that will make your skin crawl. HIGHLY recommend reading and producing this play!

  • Premiere Stages at Kean University: GIFTED AND TALENTED

    Premiere Stages, the professional Equity theater in residence at Kean University, is pleased to recognize "Gifted and Talented," by Sonya Sobieski, as a semifinalist in the 2017 Premiere Stages Play Festival. "Gifted and Talented" rose through a competitive selection process conducted by Premiere staff and an outside panel of theater professionals over the course of five months to be one of 18 semifinalists out of roughly 400 submissions to the Festival. The panel was particularly impressed by its thought-provoking examination of social issues and the engaging, slow burn of its conflict. Our...

    Premiere Stages, the professional Equity theater in residence at Kean University, is pleased to recognize "Gifted and Talented," by Sonya Sobieski, as a semifinalist in the 2017 Premiere Stages Play Festival. "Gifted and Talented" rose through a competitive selection process conducted by Premiere staff and an outside panel of theater professionals over the course of five months to be one of 18 semifinalists out of roughly 400 submissions to the Festival. The panel was particularly impressed by its thought-provoking examination of social issues and the engaging, slow burn of its conflict. Our congratulations and thanks to Sonya.

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Detroit New Works Festival, Outvisible Theatre, Year 2018

Awards

  • Detroit New Works Festival
    Outvisible Theatre
    Finalist
    2018
  • Premiere Play Festival
    Premiere Stages
    Semi-Finalist
    2017