MEET ME AT THE GATES, MARCUS JAMES

by Donna Hoke

When a black, gay high school student finds a pink noose hanging in his locker, he puts it on and all hell breaks loose, especially after the administration steps in and "handles" the problem in a way that makes Marcus an even bigger target.

Adapted from the novella of the same name by Chris Crutcher (ALAN Award from The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents for Significant Contribution to Adolescent...

When a black, gay high school student finds a pink noose hanging in his locker, he puts it on and all hell breaks loose, especially after the administration steps in and "handles" the problem in a way that makes Marcus an even bigger target.

Adapted from the novella of the same name by Chris Crutcher (ALAN Award from The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents for Significant Contribution to Adolescent Literature, ALA Edwards Award, The Writer magazine Writers Who Make a Difference Award, Intellectual Freedom Award from the National Coalition Against Censorship).

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MEET ME AT THE GATES, MARCUS JAMES

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear: MEET ME AT THE GATES, MARCUS JAMES by Donna Hoke
    “

    A powerful piece on tackling a hate crime and the students ability to stand up for himself as their most pressing concern is the publicity. Well done.

    A powerful piece on tackling a hate crime and the students ability to stand up for himself as their most pressing concern is the publicity. Well done.

    ”
  • Claudia Haas: MEET ME AT THE GATES, MARCUS JAMES by Donna Hoke
    “

    "Nobody's safe till everyone is safe." Tackling a play about a hate crime for young audiences isn't easy. Hoke manages to bypass the easy-platitudes and preachy elements that sometimes pepper these plays. Instead, we have smartly-written dialogue and nuanced turnabouts that are unexpected. An added bonus is the ensemble of teen characters that all change and grow as they discover how to be friends. This would be a grand choice for the high school one-act circuit.

    "Nobody's safe till everyone is safe." Tackling a play about a hate crime for young audiences isn't easy. Hoke manages to bypass the easy-platitudes and preachy elements that sometimes pepper these plays. Instead, we have smartly-written dialogue and nuanced turnabouts that are unexpected. An added bonus is the ensemble of teen characters that all change and grow as they discover how to be friends. This would be a grand choice for the high school one-act circuit.

    ”
  • Purple Crayon Players: MEET ME AT THE GATES, MARCUS JAMES by Donna Hoke
    “

    With MEET ME AT THE GATES, MARCUS JAMES, Donna Hoke shies away from neither the challenge of an adaptation nor the raw subject matter of Chris Crutcher's story. Even on the page (or in a staged reading), lines land like punches and characters sidestep the stereotypes that could easily tempt a lesser playwright. This is the kind of story that stirs up a fire within its audience and its artistic ensemble.

    With MEET ME AT THE GATES, MARCUS JAMES, Donna Hoke shies away from neither the challenge of an adaptation nor the raw subject matter of Chris Crutcher's story. Even on the page (or in a staged reading), lines land like punches and characters sidestep the stereotypes that could easily tempt a lesser playwright. This is the kind of story that stirs up a fire within its audience and its artistic ensemble.

    ”

Character Information

As this play is appropriate for high schools and colleges, all roles can be played by students, and any number of extras can be added throughout.
  • Marcus James
    High school student, gay
    18
    Black
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • John Simet (Mr. S)
    U.S. Government teacher
    30s-50s
    White
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Andrea Bean
    high school principal
    30s-60s
    White
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      South Asian or South Asian American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Roger Marshall
    high school student, bully
    18
    White
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Marilyn Steelman
    High school student, independent
    18
    any but black
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Aaron Strickland
    high school student, Roger's right-hand man
    18
    White
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Johnny Strickland
    Aaron's brother, Marcus's boyfriend
    17
    White
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Raquel Stone
    Roger's girlfriend, a follower
    18
    White
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Matt Miller
    Born again with guts
    18
    any but black
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Coach Bradley
    This character is in voiceover, but, if cast, it can be an actual person
    30s-60s
    any but black
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American,
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male

Development History

  • Workshop, Purple Crayon PLAYGround Festival at Northwestern, 2017

Production History

  • High School, West Seneca East Senior High School, 2018
  • University, Paris Junior College Pyro Fest, 2017

Awards

  • Anna Zornio Children’s Theatre Playwriting Award
    University of New Hampshire
    Finalist
    2017