ALL IN THE FACULTY

by William Ivor Fowkes

FULL-LENGTH PLAY (2 HOURS). Brilliant professors can be rank amateurs in the field of self-knowledge. Talented young faculty member Ned Jenkins arrives at bucolic Humbert College in upstate New York hoping to achieve his life ambition and become a tenured college professor. Although quickly embraced by faculty and students alike, this “golden boy” can’t help making romantic and political missteps that sidetrack...

FULL-LENGTH PLAY (2 HOURS). Brilliant professors can be rank amateurs in the field of self-knowledge. Talented young faculty member Ned Jenkins arrives at bucolic Humbert College in upstate New York hoping to achieve his life ambition and become a tenured college professor. Although quickly embraced by faculty and students alike, this “golden boy” can’t help making romantic and political missteps that sidetrack him from his goal and divide the whole campus—including a brush with an unexpected form of sexual harassment.

Published & Licensed: October 2010. Dramatists Play Service Inc.

Monologue: Published in The Best Women’s Stage Monologues & Scenes 2011, Smith & Kraus Inc, (2012).

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ALL IN THE FACULTY

Recommended by

  • Donna Gordon: ALL IN THE FACULTY by William Ivor Fowkes
    “

    This play is full of intelligent wit. The soliloquies are well-placed, and these are difficult to fit into modern drama. The subject is of endless interest to me, and probably to many college age students and others who have graduated. The themes are likely true to life, although what one writes about one chooses. The subject, in fact, seems very familiar to the writer. The references to film give the play a trendy feel, and add to the ambiguous ending. The reader can figure out the real ending himself. The main character is still doing that.

    This play is full of intelligent wit. The soliloquies are well-placed, and these are difficult to fit into modern drama. The subject is of endless interest to me, and probably to many college age students and others who have graduated. The themes are likely true to life, although what one writes about one chooses. The subject, in fact, seems very familiar to the writer. The references to film give the play a trendy feel, and add to the ambiguous ending. The reader can figure out the real ending himself. The main character is still doing that.

    ”

Character Information

  • Professor William (“The Duke”) Duke
    Professor William (“The Duke”) Duke. Age: 60s. Clever, opinionated, and intimidating. Chair of the English Department. Doctoral thesis (Chicago): “The Bloom of Youth: Erotic Motifs in the World of Oscar Wilde.” Although a firebrand when riled up, he has been keeping a low profile since the death of his lover of many years, Coach Chad Palmieri. Likes to drink. Likes you to drink.
    60s
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Professor Jock Richardson
    Imperious, preppy, and sarcastic. Ned’s rival. His full name is Charles Standish Richardson. “Jock” is an ironic nickname inherited from his form mates at Hotchkiss. A young George Sanders could play this role.
    30s
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Professor Alfred Giulliano
    Jocular and expressive. Everyone loves him—a teddy bear of a man, but a lion when roused. Doctoral thesis (Pittsburgh): “Cartesian Rationalism and the Rise of Doubt.” Twice married. Works overtime to keep his second wife happy.
    50s
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Sarah Carter Giulliano
    Cool and sexy. An experimental painter. Alfred’s second wife. They met in Greece one summer and were married by Labor Day. Always looking for something—or someone—to keep her occupied in Olmstead.
    30s
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Professor Randall (“Street”) Streeter
    Pompous, but gallant and well meaning. Thesis (Princeton): “Spinoza and the Quest for Substance.” Last paper published: 18 years ago. Last day sober: before Ned Jenkins was born.
    60s
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Professor Mary Margaret Dougherty
    Hard-working and sincere. A self-described spinster. Sports a bun and glasses. History Department. Doctoral thesis (Notre Dame): “Courtship and the Roman Catholic Church in Medieval Europe.” One of the most accomplished scholars at Humbert College. The milk of human kindness flows through her veins.
    60s
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Actor #9 - Professor Ralph Bukowski, Grad Student, and President Ravenal (“Ravy”) Porter
    Professor Ralph Bukowski--Analytical, judgmental, and blunt. Thesis (Michigan): “Performative Utterances in Ordinary Language.” The first person in his family to go to college. Dislikes “fuzzy thinkers”—that is, anyone who disagrees with him.
    Grad student--A devoted student of Ned’s father.
    President Ravenal (“Ravy”) Porter--Distracted, but sympathetic. Enjoys his veto power. Has a wandering eye for women—especially younger ones.
    All 3 characters - 40s
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Professor Ned Jenkins
    Articulate and likeable. Son of Norbert Jenkins, distinguished professor of Comp Lit at Yale. Doctoral thesis (Wisconsin): “Hegel’s Aesthetics and the End of Art.” Taught philosophy at several colleges before coming to Humbert. If he fails to get tenure, his academic career will be over.
    30s
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Professor Marlene Bernstein
    Professor Marlene Bernstein. Age: 30s. Funny, yet sensitive. Always dressed in black, with a rose pendant pinned over her heart. Tenured member of the French Department. Doctoral thesis (Tufts): “Passion in the Plays of Jean Giraudoux.” Never misses a new faculty reception—for good reason.
    30s
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female

Development History

  • Reading, Turtle Shell Productions, Shell Theater, New York City, 2009

Awards

  • Playwrights First Award
    The National Arts Club, NYC
    Semi-Finalist
    2015