Bobby Goodspeed is a soft-spoken 7th grader who survives his mixed-up preadolescent life with the unwavering support of his three best friends: the outspoken Addie, the flamoyant Joe, and the tough Skeezie. Everything changes when Addie decides that the four of them should run against more popular peers in the upcoming student council election. But her lofty ideals and rabble-rousing speeches make the wrong...
Bobby Goodspeed is a soft-spoken 7th grader who survives his mixed-up preadolescent life with the unwavering support of his three best friends: the outspoken Addie, the flamoyant Joe, and the tough Skeezie. Everything changes when Addie decides that the four of them should run against more popular peers in the upcoming student council election. But her lofty ideals and rabble-rousing speeches make the wrong kind of waves, offending fellow classmates, teachers and the principal. It is not until softer-spoken Bob-by says what's in his heart about nicknames and taunts that people begin to listen and take notice, granting their respect for them. The original production ran 70 minutes. (There is another version of the script for a larger youth cast and that script runs 90 minutes)
In 2004, the book inspired GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network) and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing created a national No-Name Calling Week. The project seeks to focus national attention on the problem of name-calling in schools, and to provide students and educators with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate name-calling in their communities.
DUSHAWN must be played by a black actor
JOE must be played by a queer actor
For a cast of 8, the parts can be split:
ACTOR 1 BOBBY ACTRESS 1: ADDIE
ACTOR 2 JOE ACTRESS 2: KELSEY,MS WYMAN,AUNT PAM
ACTOR 3 SKEEZIE ACTOR 4: DUSHAWN,ADAM
ACTOR 5: KEVIN, COLIN, ACTOR 6: DAD, MR. KELLERMAN
For a cast of 7, the parts for Actor 5 and 6 can be combined.
BOBBY
12,
Male
a soft-spoken, thoughtful, overweight 12 year old who wears baggy clothes and lives alone with his dad
Can be played by:
Age:
Child, Teens, 20s
Race/Ethnicity:
White
Gender:
Male
ADDIE
12,
Female
a tall, outspoken, intelligent girl who is strident in her liberal beliefs
Can be played by:
Age:
Child, Teens, 20s
Race/Ethnicity:
White
Gender:
Female
JOE
12
a creative, flamboyant, and confident boy who current-ly has a streak of pink in his hair
Can be played by:
Age:
Child, Teens, 20s
Race/Ethnicity:
Any race/ethnicity
Gender:
Any gender
SKEEZIE
12,
Male
a tough rebel from a lower income family who is a sloppy eater, is often dirty, has slicked back hair
Can be played by:
Age:
Child, Teens, 20s
Race/Ethnicity:
Any race/ethnicity
Gender:
Male
DUSHAWN
12,
African American / Black
,
Male
a popular African American athlete
Can be played by:
Age:
Child, Teens, 20s
Race/Ethnicity:
Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
Gender:
Male
COLIN
12
a smart, nice, popular student
Can be played by:
Age:
Child, Teens, 20s
Race/Ethnicity:
Any race/ethnicity
Gender:
Any gender
KEVIN
12,
Male
a troublemaking bully
Can be played by:
Age:
Child, Teens, 20s
Race/Ethnicity:
Any race/ethnicity
Gender:
Male
KELSEY
12,
Female
a shy, quiet artist
Can be played by:
Age:
Child, Teens, 20s
Race/Ethnicity:
Any race/ethnicity
Gender:
Female
MS WYMAN
adult
a seventh grade math teacher who promotes self esteem
Can be played by:
Age:
Any adult age
Race/Ethnicity:
Any race/ethnicity
Gender:
Any gender
MR KELLERMAN
Adult
The strict principal, and war veteran
Can be played by:
Age:
Any adult age
Race/Ethnicity:
Any race/ethnicity
Gender:
Any gender
DAD
adult,
Male
Bobby’s father, a widower
Can be played by:
Age:
Any adult age
Race/Ethnicity:
Any race/ethnicity
Gender:
Male
AUNT PAM
adult
Joe’s supportive aunt who works at the Candy Kitchen