The Sparkle Wars

by Brendan Bourque-Sheil

Memorial is a massive, mid-gentrified neighborhood in the American South, where just about every kind of American life is crammed into fifteen chaotic miles. When a group of Memorial High School Theatre students get their production of The Laramie Project shut down by the school board, they decide to make their own piece of documentary theatre about the fight to get it back, which takes them to the frontlines of...

Memorial is a massive, mid-gentrified neighborhood in the American South, where just about every kind of American life is crammed into fifteen chaotic miles. When a group of Memorial High School Theatre students get their production of The Laramie Project shut down by the school board, they decide to make their own piece of documentary theatre about the fight to get it back, which takes them to the frontlines of a hijinks-filled culture war, guaranteed to transform Memorial, and all of them along with it. The Sparkle Wars is a mockumentary about how communities choose the stories of who they are.

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The Sparkle Wars

Recommended by

  • Shaun Leisher: The Sparkle Wars by Brendan Bourque-Sheil
    “

    A faux documentary play about a school trying to put on the ultimate documentary play. Could have easily felt gimmicky and focused on form but instead this play looks at things like the exploration of sexuality and gender identity in one's youth to the power of realizing it is possible to grow old as a member of the LGBTQIA community. I love how flexible this cast is. I'd love to see the large cast production that feels like an entire town is represented on stage but the one with 5 versatile actors also excites me.

    A faux documentary play about a school trying to put on the ultimate documentary play. Could have easily felt gimmicky and focused on form but instead this play looks at things like the exploration of sexuality and gender identity in one's youth to the power of realizing it is possible to grow old as a member of the LGBTQIA community. I love how flexible this cast is. I'd love to see the large cast production that feels like an entire town is represented on stage but the one with 5 versatile actors also excites me.

    ”
There are five core characters who play many parts.

ROOK - trans, he/him
ELI - cis, he/him
MACKENZIE - cis, she/her
AJ - cis, she/her
WRENCH - non-binary, they/them

All five of these characters are in their late teens/early 20's. Please cast a trans man to play Rook and a Non-Binary person to play Wrench

All other characters can be played by these five, BUT if you want to split these parts up among a bigger cast, go for it. There are probably various ways to handle the doubling. Here’s one:

ROOK’s track: STUDENT 1, COMMENT 3

ELI’s track: MR. L, COMMENT 4, BOARD PRESIDENT, REESE, STUDENT 2, CAL, ANONYMOUS TROLL

MACKENZIE’s track: EUGENIE, SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT, NURSE, NEWS REPORTER, STUDENT 5,

AJ’s track: PRINCIPAL, COMMENT 2, WILBUR, GRACIE, STUDENT 3, PASTOR, PRISCILLA

WRENCH’s track: COMMENT 1, PRODUCER, OFFICER, FINCH, MS. C, STUDENT 4, CAROL, MS. M

Development History

  • Workshop, James Madison University New Works Lab, 2025
  • Reading, Firehouse Theatre, 2025

Production History

Awards

  • Carlo Annoni International Playwriting Prize
    Finalist
    2026