Rare Birds

by Adam Szymkowicz

FULL LENGTH, PUBLISHED. Sixteen-year-old Evan Wills is an avid bird watcher who wears colorful songbird shirts to school despite the constant antagonism it brings him. Evan’s mother just wants Evan to be normal, and happy—and normal—and get along with her new boyfriend. While Evan summons the courage to talk to Jenny Monroe (whose locker is next to his), troubled bully Dylan has something darker in mind. After...

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Rare Birds

Recommended by

Gina Femia: Rare Birds by Adam Szymkowicz

“

A haunting and poignant coming of age story, this play is brutally honest and cuts straight to the heart. A real reflection of our time, capturing the reality of bullying in a way I haven't seen on stage. Saw a reading at LCT3 and couldn't stop thinking about it - it will stick to your mind for days.

A haunting and poignant coming of age story, this play is brutally honest and cuts straight to the heart. A real reflection of our time, capturing the reality of bullying in a way I haven't seen on stage. Saw a reading at LCT3 and couldn't stop thinking about it - it will stick to your mind for days.

”

Character Information

CAST OF CHARACTERS

EVAN WILLS-----------------------------------------------------16, small for his age, eccentric

MIKE MAKOWSKI----------------------------------------------16, bigger than Evan

DYLAN CORMER-----------------------------------------------16, bigger than Evan, troubled

JENNY MONROE------------------------------------------------17, popular but not unkind

JANET WILLS---------------------------------------------------Mid to late 30s, Evan’s mother

RALPH EMOND-------------------------------------------------40ish, Janet’s boyfriend

MRS. GERARD (voice only)

TEENAGERS (voice only)

TIME

Now.

SETTING

Colchester, CT, a small town south of Hartford.

Most of the stage is taken up by EVAN’s room, center. Small plaster birds hang from his ceiling and sit on every available surface. A window downstage right. Far right is the door to his room. There is a small hall area where you can see if someone is outside his door.

Stage left is a public high school’s hallway complete with lockers. Stage right is a table at a casino restaurant. The restaurant must also become an area in the woods where kids hang out. A cooler, a couple of milk crates.

Evan Wills

small for his age

Character Age

16

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male Identifying
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens,
  
  20s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
Mike Makowski

big for his age

Character Age

16

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens,
  
  20s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
Dylan Cormer

bigger than Evan

Character Age

16

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens,
  
  20s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
Jenny Monroe

popular but not unkind

Character Age

17

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  Teens,
  
  20s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
Janet Wills

mother of Evan

Character Age

mid to late 30s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
Ralph Emond

Character Age

40ish

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Male
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male

Development History

Type Workshop, Organization The Chance Theater, Year 2016
Type Reading, Organization Red Fern, Year 2015
Type Reading, Organization LCT3 (Lincoln Center), Year 2014
Type Reading, Organization Primary Stages, NYC, Year 2013

Production History

Type Professional, Organization Red Fern Theater, Year 2017