Changelings

by Reina Hardy

FULL LENGTH: "Hardy has imagined a uniquely compelling tale... Changelings... thrust(s) its onlookers into a twisted, fantastical world of fairies and spells where the stakes are high and the unbelievable has become the everyday. Keep your babies close, turn your shirt inside out, and dive headfirst into this realm where up is down and reality has been kicked to the curb." -Austin Chronicle

The Powers are a...

FULL LENGTH: "Hardy has imagined a uniquely compelling tale... Changelings... thrust(s) its onlookers into a twisted, fantastical world of fairies and spells where the stakes are high and the unbelievable has become the everyday. Keep your babies close, turn your shirt inside out, and dive headfirst into this realm where up is down and reality has been kicked to the curb." -Austin Chronicle

The Powers are a family suffering from a rare inherited condition-their children are extremely likely to be stolen away by a fairy. Megan Powers wants to defy the odds, but her brother, Luther, has to stop her wedding at any cost, even if it means revealing the secret, magical world beneath the city of Austin to an outsider. When he teams up with a lovestruck magician to defeat the Wicked Child, the centuries-old villain that has stalked him his entire life, Luther discovers a startling truth about his own history- and unleashes a danger that no-one can control. A spectacle, a fantasy, a buddy comedy and a family tragedy, "Changelings" asks frightening questions about the making of children and the making of monsters.

Interested in producing this play? Fill out the rights request form: http://gurmanagency.com/rights-request-forms/rights/

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Changelings

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear: Changelings by Reina Hardy
    “

    A moving story written from the heart of magic, children and monsters. Well done!

    A moving story written from the heart of magic, children and monsters. Well done!

    ”
  • Molly Wagner: Changelings by Reina Hardy
    “

    A fun and surprising fairy tale filled with strange and magical creatures, comedic dialogue, and high stakes!

    A fun and surprising fairy tale filled with strange and magical creatures, comedic dialogue, and high stakes!

    ”
  • Chelsea Frandsen: Changelings by Reina Hardy
    “

    A beautiful modern fairy tale complete with magic, wizards, and fairies. Delightful, surprising, and tragic, with both male and female characters that are a joy to root for, this is a story that stays with you long after you reach the end.

    A beautiful modern fairy tale complete with magic, wizards, and fairies. Delightful, surprising, and tragic, with both male and female characters that are a joy to root for, this is a story that stays with you long after you reach the end.

    ”
View all 6 recommendations

Character Information

With doubling, the speaking roles can be covered by ten actors. In the original Austin production, we used ten speaking actors, plus a movement chorus of four silent performers.

A high school version with 19 speaking roles is also available from NPX.
  • Luther Powers
    Has a habit of holding eye contact with others for entirely too long.
    About 30
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Megan Powers
    Luther's sister. Knows she is pretty.
    20s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Timothy Stamp
    Megan's fiance. Eager if not dashing.
    20s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Magus Kemp
    A grandiose and talkative wizard.
    30s-60s
    Any
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • Angus Powers
    A less than ideal father from theElizabethan era. Can be combined with other roles.
    30s-40s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • The Wicked Child/Elizabeth
    A whimsical, dangerous fairy princess with a habit of stealing babies.
    Appears to be 13, but actually much older.
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • The Whiteling
    Sort of a mother of pearl gargoyle thing. Very physical role.
    Young
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
  • The Mysterious Figure/Pandora
    An immensely powerful and scary fairy queen. Can be combined with other roles.
    Ageless
    Female
  • The Luck Angel
    A very kind and pretty fairy. Can be combined with other roles
    Ageless
    High Femme
  • Luwis
    A fairy janitor. Grunts. Can be combined with other roles.
    Old and tired
  • Bantam Beth
    A little girl who is also a fierce fighter.
    11, but actually older
    Girl
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Child,
      Teens,
      20s
  • Bantam
    The same person as Bantam Beth, but a large burly dude. It's fairyland, so they rapidly fluctuate between the two forms. (Note- in the original Austin production, the same actor played both forms, but it does take the right actor.)
    Appears to be 20s-40s.
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
  • The Mother
    A mother of an infant. Can be combined with other roles.
    20s-30s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Movement Chorus
    Ambient magical creatures. This chorus can be double cast with the smaller roles, and can be used to create magical effects with mime, dance and spectacle.

Production History

  • Professional, The Vortex, 2015