Jan Kultura, Substitute Teacher, Meets The Crowd

by Ian Thal

Mister Kultura is filling in for the regular social studies teacher. The students refuse to provide their real names, identifying themselves only by such monikers as "King of My Pants" and "Unique Superstar" while a previously scheduled guest speaker named Jackie gives a presentation on the awesomeness of the crowdsourced economy.

[This version, uploaded December 4, 2018, was revised for sake of greater...

Mister Kultura is filling in for the regular social studies teacher. The students refuse to provide their real names, identifying themselves only by such monikers as "King of My Pants" and "Unique Superstar" while a previously scheduled guest speaker named Jackie gives a presentation on the awesomeness of the crowdsourced economy.

[This version, uploaded December 4, 2018, was revised for sake of greater continuity with its sequel, "Jan Kultura, Substitute Teacher, and the Matriarchy of the Ants.]

"[...]two plays that specifically spoke to economic theory, in the same way that Copenhagen speaks to physics or The Hard Problem speaks to brain science. [...]Clearing Bombs by Eric Samuelson imagines a conversation between two major 20th century economists stuck on a rooftop during WWII and passing the time with a deep but lively economic debate. Jan Kultura, Substitute Teacher, Meets the Crowd by Ian Thal is a short play that essentially presents a case study of crowd sourced creativity as a vehicle to steal ideas from people without having to pay them – well larded with good economic thinking. These stood out to me as good examples of scripts we could stand to have more of."

Pete Miller, "Why We Need Plays About Capitalism" in 2am Theatre
http://www.2amtheatre.com/2017/02/03/why-we-need-plays-about-capitalism/

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Jan Kultura, Substitute Teacher, Meets The Crowd

Recommended by

  • Donna Gordon: Jan Kultura, Substitute Teacher, Meets The Crowd by Ian Thal
    “

    I can't say this is the story of an unfortunate substitute teacher because it's too funny.
    And I actually learned something
    I don't know whose more ridiculous: the teacher or the students. It doesn't really matter because it's an entertaining romp.

    I can't say this is the story of an unfortunate substitute teacher because it's too funny.
    And I actually learned something
    I don't know whose more ridiculous: the teacher or the students. It doesn't really matter because it's an entertaining romp.

    ”
  • Tom Moran: Jan Kultura, Substitute Teacher, Meets The Crowd by Ian Thal
    “

    AN engaging and unique 15-minute piece: a lesson in the deeply problematic economics of crowdsourcing, wrapped up in a fascinating set of off-kilter characters. This was really fun to read and would make for a production equal parts thought-provoking and manic.

    AN engaging and unique 15-minute piece: a lesson in the deeply problematic economics of crowdsourcing, wrapped up in a fascinating set of off-kilter characters. This was really fun to read and would make for a production equal parts thought-provoking and manic.

    ”
  • Samantha Marchant: Jan Kultura, Substitute Teacher, Meets The Crowd by Ian Thal
    “

    As a writer and a substitute teacher I have much appreciation for this script. Mister Kultura does a good job making the students and the audience think.

    As a writer and a substitute teacher I have much appreciation for this script. Mister Kultura does a good job making the students and the audience think.

    ”
View all 12 recommendations

Character Information

Jan Kultura: A substitute teacher. Possibly an inscrutable foreigner.
Jackie: A marketing executive doing pro bono work.
King Of My Pants: Not his real name. A high school student.
Unique Superstar: Not her real name. A high school student.
  • Jan Kultura
    Old enough to be perceived as an adult by teenagers, but not to be taken seriously by the staff. He is an unselfconsciously bohemian immigrant, now a citizen. His clothing and demeanor indicate that he has either never quite learned to conform to the customs of his new country or that he never fully wanted to. He barely conforms to the dress code of the teaching profession. His speech and movements are affected, for while he is aware that despite his erudition, he knows that he makes mistakes, and is concerned that the slightest mistake will scandalize others, to deliberately scandalize is not beyond him. Nonetheless, he has never mastered the use of either the definite or indefinite articles of speech.
    Slavic,
    Slavic-Language speaker
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Jackie
    Jackie is an advertising executive visiting the school as part of her firm's pro bono work. She dresses in a manner that teenagers will appreciate as stylish and sophisticated.
    20s - 30s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • King Of My Pants
    Not his real name. A high school student.
    Teenager
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Unique Superstar
    Not her real name. A high school student.
    Teenager
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female

Development History

  • Reading, UptownWorks NYC, 2015

Production History

  • Fringe, Silver Spring Stage, Silver Spring MD, 2016

Awards

  • http://www.2amtheatre.com/2017/02/03/why-we-need-plays-about-capitalism/