The Real Reason Dinosaurs Went Extinct

Now available from Brooklyn Publishers!

Think the dinosaurs were just helpless victims of that asteroid that crashed into the earth 66 million years ago? Well, they weren't—and this action-packed, large-cast comedy tells the whole hilarious tale!

As the play begins, two dinosaur scientists, Professor Broadbeak and Doctor Duckbill, discover the asteroid just three days before it's due to strike. When they try...

Now available from Brooklyn Publishers!

Think the dinosaurs were just helpless victims of that asteroid that crashed into the earth 66 million years ago? Well, they weren't—and this action-packed, large-cast comedy tells the whole hilarious tale!

As the play begins, two dinosaur scientists, Professor Broadbeak and Doctor Duckbill, discover the asteroid just three days before it's due to strike. When they try to warn the plant-eating citizens of Fernville, however, they get mocked and ridiculed. After all, the scientists have been predicting doom and gloom for years. But when one of their predictions finally comes true, and the town is attacked by a pack of hungry meat eaters, the plant eaters realize that some dangers are too serious to be ignored. Now it's up to a clumsy young dinosaur named Snaggleclaw to venture into the Crags—the very heart of the meat eaters' territory—and bring back a special crystal that offers the plant eaters their only hope of destroying the asteroid.

Can Snaggleclaw convince the meat eaters to cooperate? Or will he end up becoming a late night snack? Find out in this easy-to-produce play that teaches the importance of working together while sneaking in a ton of fun facts about the world of the dinosaurs.

An allegory for our time, this light-hearted comedy presents climate change in a way even the youngest kids will understand and with the animals they love the most--dinosaurs!

Run Time: 80-90 minutes.

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The Real Reason Dinosaurs Went Extinct

Cast of 21 (4M, 5F, plus 12 roles that can be any). Optional extras.


CAST OF CHARACTERS (# of lines)

THE PLANT-EATING DINOSAURS:

MISS SWEETWATER, firm but kind teacher (57)

LITTLE SPIKE, spunky student; child of Mayor Spiketail (95)

GABBY, know-it-all student; child of Loftynose (30)

BUSTER, smart alecky student; child of Jabberjaw (40)

SNAGGLECLAW, clumsy but goodhearted student (115)

PROFESSOR BROADBEAK, easily excited scientist (115)

DOCTOR DUCKBILL, much more sensible scientist (106)

THUNDERFOOT, brawny security guard (9)

STORMBROW, another (13)

JABBERJAW, loves to gossip (49)

LOFTYNOSE, a snob (45)

SHARPTONGUE, town crank (33)

GRAYTOOTH, grumpy oldtimer; parent of Jabberjaw (18)

MAYOR SPIKETAIL, pompous mayor of Fernville (63)


THE MEAT-EATING DINOSAURS:

CRUSHER, hotheaded leader (68)

UMBERSNOUT, obsequious to a fault (38)

RUMBLEBELLY, always hungry (47)

PERKY, closet vegetarian (46)

THICKSKULL, a little slow (42)


THE MAMMALS:

NIBBLER, nervous, shrew-like rodent (8)

WHISKERS, another (7)

EXTRAS, additional plant eaters, meat eaters, or mammals

Production History

  • Type Community Theater, Organization Standouts, Wellington, New Zealand (World Premiere), Year 2022