Let's Ban Hamlet by Maggie Smith

Let's Ban Hamlet follows a group of queer teenagers in a midwestern Catholic high school, who have dubbed themselves the Underground Queer Alliance. While prepared for a normal school year, they are suddenly faced with a new ordinance created by their city's archdiocese that directly attacks their identities, threatening to expel each one of them. Their solution is simple: malicious compliance and...
Let's Ban Hamlet follows a group of queer teenagers in a midwestern Catholic high school, who have dubbed themselves the Underground Queer Alliance. While prepared for a normal school year, they are suddenly faced with a new ordinance created by their city's archdiocese that directly attacks their identities, threatening to expel each one of them. Their solution is simple: malicious compliance and refusing to learn any academic material that directly contrasts any Catholic teachings— Starting with Hamlet.

Content Warnings: This play contains themes of homophobia/transphobia, though no characters are ever dead-named or misgendered. While this play has comedic elements, there are some moments where serious topics are discussed. Any specific questions about these topics can be directed to maggiesmithwrites@gmail.com.
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Let's Ban Hamlet

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  • Rachel Feeny-Williams:
    12 Mar. 2024
    “ Something is terrifying about the fact that this play is set 'now' and the decisions being made and enforced by an educational facility sound like something that could be all too real. Maggie has created a theatrical powerhouse by introducing an audience to this group of teens and their struggles before they take a stand against said struggles. It's a play that offers wonderful roles to young people as well as make an audience consider just how dangerous 'enforcing' certain kinds of rules can be to the individual and what kind of path it can lead society down. ”

Character Information

As a writer, I am dedicated to creating diverse worlds onstage. Some of the most defining moments of my life involve me seeing myself represented onstage, television, or in literature. Because of this, I highly recommend casting this play diversely in regards to race, gender identity, and disability. You won’t be depicting the real world if you ignore this request.

This is acknowledging, however, that some roles are specific in the way they must be casted. In this play, the following roles have these limitations:

ASH and LAINE must be played by nonbinary, agender, genderfluid, or otherwise gender non-conforming performer | PERCY must be played by a transgender, nonbinary, genderfluid, or otherwise gender non-conforming performer | RICHIE and CAM must be played by a transgender man | MIA must be played by a transgender woman

  • ASH
    17 or 18,
    Any Race
    ,
    Non-binary (they/them)
    senior; the president of the Underground Queer Alliance; strong, loud, a natural-born leader; must be played by a non-binary, agender, genderfluid, or otherwise gender non-conforming performer
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Non-binary
  • RICHIE
    15 or 16,
    Any Race
    ,
    Transgender Man (He/Him)
    sophomore; has only recently come out; lighthearted, kind, stubborn when he wants to be; still gives everyone the benefit of the doubt; must be played by a transgender performer
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • LAINE
    16 or 17,
    Any Race
    ,
    Non-binary (they/them)
    junior; viewed as a rebel, doesn’t care enough to be one; always lounging, constantly getting written up for violating the uniform, must be played by a non-binary, agender, genderfluid, or otherwise gender non-conforming performer
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Non-binary
  • PERCY
    16 or 17,
    Any Race
    ,
    Genderfluid (she/he/they)
    junior; all smiles but unfortunately cares about being polite more than his own well-being; not yet out to their parents; always has snacks or a pen to lend someone; must be played by a transgender, nonbinary, genderfluid, or otherwise gender non-conforming performer
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • WILDE
    17 or 18,
    Any Race
    ,
    woman
    senior; outspoken and hardworking; always ready to say yes to anything; thinks outside of the box
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • CAM
    17 or 18,
    Any Race
    ,
    Transgender Man (He/Him)
    senior; the absolute most fun to be around; full of energy, goofy; must be played by a transgender performer
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • MIA ROCKWELL
    Mid to Late 20s,
    Any Race
    ,
    Transgender Woman (she/her)
    a guidance counselor who is genuinely good at her job; keeps everything students tell her confidential, even if it could come at the cost of her job; must be played by a transgender performer
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • AMANDA GARRETT
    40s or 50s,
    Any Race
    ,
    Cisgendered Woman (she/her)
    the head of administration stuck between following the policies set in place by the archdiocese and protecting her students
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s, 50s, 60s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female