seal boy

Meg has given birth to a seal. But what kind? Predator? Prey? And if she doesn't know, how will she know how to keep him safe. Or others safe from him. A contemporary fable about the complexities of parenting an unconventional child, about love, and about growing up.
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seal boy

Recommended by

  • National New Play Network:
    9 Mar. 2021
    seal boy by Ken Weitzman was a finalist for NNPN's 2020 National Showcase of New Plays.
  • Nick Malakhow:
    15 Jan. 2021
    A highly original, extremely theatrical piece that explores the complex experience of parenting a child who doesn't meet societal expectations. The play treads this unique line between parable and dark satire and, all along the way, it manages to feel aesthetically coherent in all its beautiful chaos. Weitzman's use of language mirroring amplifies the themes of nature vs. nurture, social conditioning, and parental control anxieties. Watching the, at turns, hilarious, poignant, and disturbing development of seal boy provides theatrical and sharply observed commentary on the social, emotional, and psychological pressures on young folks to conform and be "normal."
  • Cheryl Bear:
    11 Jan. 2021
    In an unexpected twist of events, one learns how to mother a child different than one was accustomed to. A story of learning to be of service to his development while wanting to protect him and contending with that anxiety. The deep love and pride a mother has in her unique creation is beautifully shown. Great work.

Character Information

  • seal boy
  • Penguin Girl
    Female
  • Meg
    30s,
    Any
    ,
    Female
  • Darrin
  • Chorus, minimum 3, max 15 actors

Development History

  • Workshop
    ,
    American Academy of Dramatic Arts Main Stage Live
    ,
    2018
  • Workshop
    ,
    Playwrights' Center, Core Writer workshop.
    ,
    2017
  • Reading
    ,
    Keen Company Playwrights Lab
    ,
    2016
  • Reading
    ,
    The Lark, Meeting of the Minds
    ,
    2016

Production History

  • Professional
    ,
    Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company (upcoming)
    ,
    2022

Awards

Winner
,
Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company's Generations competition
,
Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company
,
2020
Finalist
,
NNPN National Showcase of New Plays
,
NNPN
,
2020