PANDORA SHAKES THINGS UP: A Myth Inverse by Maizy Broderick Scarpa

A Greek myth re-written in verse, inverse, and set in an abstinence-only high school.
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PANDORA SHAKES THINGS UP: A Myth Inverse

Recommended by

  • Rachel Feeny-Williams:
    16 Mar. 2024
    “ To take the serious issue of the promotion of abstinence amongst teenagers and make it the central topic of a play is interesting in itself. But to then set that issue against the backdrop of a high school and sew it all together using a Greek myth and rhyming dialogue is truly genius! Its a truly new way of informing and entertaining that both performers and audiences will enjoy immensely. ”
  • Annie Considine:
    10 Apr. 2020
    “ Hilarious and so clever! Amazing wordplay. ”
  • Andy Reynolds:
    3 Feb. 2018
    “ Smart, funny, slyly subversive - and written completely in verse. What could be better? ”

Character Information

CASTING NOTE
Diversity of all sorts (gender, race, ability, body-type etc) should be actively sought while casting. It is effective to cast a woman or a non-binary actor actor as EPIMETHEUS, as it further enhances the themes of the play. PANDORA should be played by someone who is not a "traditional ingenue." If ARES is cast as a person of color, it is imperative that one or more of the following characters also be played by POC: JANITOR, PANDORA, EPIMETHEUS.

  • Janitor
    Adult,
    Any
    ,
    Any
    Custodian.
    Classically blue-collar, empathetic, wise, and regal.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Pandora
    Teenager,
    Any
    ,
    Female-identifying
    A curious girl.
    Ideally, played by someone who is not a "traditional ingenue."
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Ares
    Teenager,
    Any
    ,
    Male Identifying
    A jock.
    If Ares is cast as a person of color, it is imperative that one or more of the following characters also be played by POC: Janitor, Pandora, Epimetheus.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male, Non-binary
  • Loudspeaker
    Adult,
    Any
    ,
    Any
    The school PA System.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any adult age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • Teacher
    Adult,
    Any
    ,
    Female-identifying
    A teacher.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female, Non-binary
  • Epimetheus
    Teenager,
    Any
    ,
    Any
    A kid with hindsight.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    Twisted Classics Festival, Method & Madness Theatre Co.
    ,
    2019
  • Reading
    ,
    Twisted Classics Festival, Method & Madness Theatre Co.
    ,
    2019
  • Reading
    ,
    Radius Festival, Berkshire Playwrights Lab
    ,
    2018
  • Reading
    ,
    Shakespeare & Company Fringe Festival
    ,
    2017
  • Workshop
    ,
    Berkshire Playwrights Lab Writers' Group
    ,
    2017

Awards

Finalist
,
Twisted Classics Festival
,
Method and Madness Theatre Co.
,
2019
Finalist
,
Radius New Play Festival
,
Berkshire Playwrights Lab
,
2018