Running on Glass by Cynthia L. (Cindy) Cooper

'A sports scholar engages her friend, a designer and running buddy, in envisioning a pop-up museum of women sports figures; as they explore the stories, they take on the persona of six fascinating persons from sports history, illuminating the resilience and spirit that shape the lives of women who broke the glass before the term 'glass ceiling' even existed. Stories include: Althea Gibson,...
'A sports scholar engages her friend, a designer and running buddy, in envisioning a pop-up museum of women sports figures; as they explore the stories, they take on the persona of six fascinating persons from sports history, illuminating the resilience and spirit that shape the lives of women who broke the glass before the term 'glass ceiling' even existed. Stories include: Althea Gibson, Gertrude Ederle, Wilma Rudolph, Gretel Bergmann, Babe Didrikson, Mamie 'Peanut' Johnson, and more. A tour-de-force for two women performers, one African American, one white.

60-70 Minutes in length (approx)

Minimum, two women performers 1 b, 1 w). Could be performed by six performers, or even eight.

Production: Venus Theatre, Laurel, MD, Nov-Dec 2018. Livestreamed on Facebook.

"The stories are compelling and well-told." "A celebration well worth attending." "A deeply personal look at what drove (the athletes) to succeed." DC Metro Theatre Arts.

"A slam dunk." "Hits the mark." "The spirit of each athlete shines out to the audience." "RUNNING ON GLASS is a grand slam for fans and athletes of all ages." Maryland Theatre Guide.

"Cynthia Cooper's work is quite extraordinary." "Cooper delves into the lives of these women, finding passionate moments of intensity ... to maximize their impact upon the audience." "A remarkably felicitous way of capturing each of these female athletes." "It gets the gears turning in the mind while simultaneously stoking the fires of passion. Women have come so far and yet have so far to come... Cooper's title could not be more apt." The Theatre Bloom

"Actually a joy." "The engaging script ... pulls out the human story." "Only when we remember ... those who have burst through supposedly insurmountable obstacles will we ... keep moving forward -- through shards of glass, indeed." DC Theater Scene

Readings,Off the Page Series, Ego Actus Theatre, NYC; SUNY Delhi, NYSSSA, directed by Tasha Solmon-Gordon, 2018; Michael Warren Powell Creative Center, NCTC), Dramatists Guild Foundation Music Hall, NYC, directed by Tasha Solmon-Gordon, Arts That Matter, 2018; 24 Hours of Women, The Ivy Theatre, NYC, Arthodox (Titled She Plays!), SUNY Delhi, NYSSSA 2017, directed by Michelle Bossy (titled She Plays). Supported in development by the New York Summer School of the Arts.
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Running on Glass

Recommended by

  • Jennifer O'Grady:
    9 Aug. 2019
    “ Theatrical and compelling play with two super-strong roles for female actors. Cooper puts the stories of six, mostly forgotten female sports stars on stage and shows us, in a few moving and condensed scenes, their determination and the obstacles they faced, while two contemporary women simultaneously try to tell those women's stories to the larger world. I love how these women are brought to life for us. We need more plays like this! ”

Written for 2 women, one African American, one Caucasian, the play is composed in large measure of monologues and duologues. As such, it can also be performed by 8 (4 African American, 4 Caucasian), or 6 or 4.

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Ego Actus Theatre
    ,
    2019
  • Reading
    ,
    Arts That Matter
    ,
    2018
  • Reading
    ,
    New York Summer School of the Arts
    ,
    2018
  • Reading
    ,
    New York Summer School of the Arts
    ,
    2017
  • Reading
    ,
    Ivy Theatre
    ,
    2017
  • Reading
    ,
    See Play Description

Production History

  • Professional
    ,
    Venus Theatre
    ,
    2018