three girls never learnt the way home

by Matthew Paul Olmos

Three high school girls are bused into a neighboring affluent town as part of a controversial school integration program. However, a mysterious encounter sends a panic through both towns.

*Developed, in part, by the Lark Play Development Center
and Primary Stages’ Dorothy Strelsin New American Writers Group,
Dorset Theatre Festival, High Desert Play Development at New Mexico University, WildWind Performance...

Three high school girls are bused into a neighboring affluent town as part of a controversial school integration program. However, a mysterious encounter sends a panic through both towns.

*Developed, in part, by the Lark Play Development Center
and Primary Stages’ Dorothy Strelsin New American Writers Group,
Dorset Theatre Festival, High Desert Play Development at New Mexico University, WildWind Performance Lab, JAW @ Portland Center Stage, Dorset Theatre Festival’s Pipeline Series,
and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Black Swan Lab.
It was also developed through Cherry Lane Theatre’s Mentor Project; mentored by Taylor Mac.

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three girls never learnt the way home

Recommended by

  • Nick Malakhow: three girls never learnt the way home

    A haunting piece with a parable-like quality to it, while still centering exquisitely specific and human characters. Spare poetry and lyricism co-exist here with beautifully captured and inelegant rhythms of natural speech. I loved the way Olmos created an entire world, socio-cultural and socio-economic rules and background and context, while zeroing in on just four characters. It makes for an original and theatrical piece that I'd love to see realized onstage!

    A haunting piece with a parable-like quality to it, while still centering exquisitely specific and human characters. Spare poetry and lyricism co-exist here with beautifully captured and inelegant rhythms of natural speech. I loved the way Olmos created an entire world, socio-cultural and socio-economic rules and background and context, while zeroing in on just four characters. It makes for an original and theatrical piece that I'd love to see realized onstage!

  • Maximillian Gill: three girls never learnt the way home

    One of many things that impressed me about this play is how it lives so easily in both a very grounded reality and in a metaphorical space where connection and division play out in mythic ways. Through only four characters, the writer manages to create a whole world of interaction and conflict without ever losing the three young women at the center. The journey is harrowing and beautiful and the piece leaves us with no easy answers to the many lingering questions.

    One of many things that impressed me about this play is how it lives so easily in both a very grounded reality and in a metaphorical space where connection and division play out in mythic ways. Through only four characters, the writer manages to create a whole world of interaction and conflict without ever losing the three young women at the center. The journey is harrowing and beautiful and the piece leaves us with no easy answers to the many lingering questions.

  • Cheryl Bear: three girls never learnt the way home

    A powerful story of opportunity and the trappings of systems that oppress. Well done.

    A powerful story of opportunity and the trappings of systems that oppress. Well done.

View all 6 recommendations

Development History

  • Type Workshop, Organization The Cherry Lane Theatre, Year 2019
  • Type Workshop, Organization Dorset Theatre Festival Pipeline, Year 2019
  • Type Reading, , Year 2018
  • Type Reading, Organization Playwrights' Arena, Year 2018
  • Type Reading, Organization JAW Festival at Portland Center Stage, Year 2018
  • Type Reading, Organization WildWind Performance Lab, Year 2018
  • Type Workshop, Organization High Plains Play Development Workshop, Year 2018
  • Type Reading, Organization The New Group, Year 2018