Bloomer Girls by Emily Brauer Rogers

Bloomer Girls is a fictional account of real life women in the late 1800s who travelled the United States playing sports and looking for adventure. A ragtag women's team headed by a female manager travels the West playing local teams. Half vaudevillian, but trying to prove their true athleticism and strength as women, they continue to try and overcome stereotypes. The Wild West holds hope for these women...
Bloomer Girls is a fictional account of real life women in the late 1800s who travelled the United States playing sports and looking for adventure. A ragtag women's team headed by a female manager travels the West playing local teams. Half vaudevillian, but trying to prove their true athleticism and strength as women, they continue to try and overcome stereotypes. The Wild West holds hope for these women that they can redefine who they are without raising too many eyebrows.

Juxtaposed with the 1800s team, modern college softball players face similar struggles as they attempt to find room in a sport that divides them from men and still limits their options at the top of the game.
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Bloomer Girls

Recommended by

  • Jenn Ruzumna:
    3 May. 2023
    “ The characters in this play are vibrant and varied and Rogers has created a rich world for play makers to explore. I was invested in these characters individually and collectively and found myself rooting for them, their teams and women's baseball in general! ”
  • Rachel Feeny-Williams:
    7 Jul. 2021
    “ Normally I am not a fan of sports in general but this is so much more than a play about sports! This is a great homage to strong women who aren't afraid of pursuing dreams in a mans world! The characters are beautifully created to the point where you bond with them through the piece. The writer has created a tremendous piece celebrating the strength of women and it should be commended for that. ”

Character Information

Playwright encourages diverse casting.
Doubling can happen if necessary. These characters should then be played by the same actor.
Maggie./ Coach.
Daisy./ Chris.
Liz./ Viviana.
Sarah./ Gwen.
Cora./ Baseball Goddess.

  • Baseball Goddess
    Any. ,
    Female
    Goddess. Ringmaster.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Maggie
    40's-50's,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Coach and owner of team
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Liz
    Teens-40s
    Strongest player. Wants out. Second base.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Sarah
    Teens-30s,
    Agender/Non-binary or Female
    Pitcher.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Daisy
    Teens-30s,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Vaudevillian singer. Outfield.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Cora
    Teens-30s,
    Female.
    Feminist. First Base.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Gwen
    Teens-30s,
    Female
    Stubborn. Shortstop.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Viviana
    Teens-30s,
    Female
    Outfield.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Chris
    Teens-30s,
    Female.
    Best player on her team. Catcher.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Coach
    30s-50s,
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Macha Theatre Works
    ,
    2023
  • Reading
    ,
    Dramatists Guild End of Play Reading
    ,
    2021