←Recommendations of ALLIANCE

I wish there were a Cal in my school when I needed one! Alliance gets to the heart of a girl whose circumstances have hardened her. She trusts no one, refuses vulnerability. But an alliance? That she can do. Cal's offer to ally with her against their mutual bully feels like a breath of fresh air and offers hope where before there was only pain. There's a lot of heart in these characters, and it would make for a great piece in a short play fest!

A great story, with lots of cool character moments that actors should be able to really sink their teeth into. Exceptional dialogue and themes that everyone should be able to relate to. It only takes one person to start a movement. Excellent read. Highly recommended!

A brilliant play about bullying and the paralyzing fear of being alone when even an alliance with one could strengthen us. Powerful and well done!

A wonderfully sensitive throwback to those confusing, terrifying days of teenagerdom, where you can be surrounded by people your age and feel utterly alone. Victims of bullies live in fear spawned by the unpredictability of actions: get the wrong kid on the wrong day, or go down the wrong corridor and you're toast. Emma beautifully captures that anxiety, intermingled with the yearning for independence and strength not yet available, to consider what would happen if two victims teamed up. A futile gesture? Maybe. But it's something, and Cal's offer resounds in a heartbreaking fashion.

A beautifully done play with subtle, sophisticated roles for young actors. What a joy to watch the characters of CAL and JANE transform from the quiet and the bullied into empowered allies (NOT friends, okay?) in a believable and well-crafted 10 minutes. Absolutely recommend for student actors in middle school to high school!

EMMA GOLDMAN-SHERMAN has written a thoughtful, penetrating, and relatable play on bullying. “ALLIANCE” demonstrates the power of standing up to a bully with the help of others so the bully is no longer able to pick on a helpless person.

Simple, fun, lovely. It's heartfelt while still embracing the transnational nature of young friendship- I mean alliances! Would be a fun scene study for high school and college age students about objective, backstory, and intention. I like these people, and I want to be their teacher... also in their alliance.

Simple set, easy to stage, on a very contemporary topic. Not what you might expect: Jane has a chip on her shoulder and doesn't appreciate Cal's help. She's suspicious of him when he's trying to be thoughtful. Emma does a good job of conveying Jane's independence which she preserves even after she accepts Cal's alliance. Good play on words -- principle and principal. Uplifting, reassuring.

A solid, appealing little tale about two teens who come together to help stand up against a bully, that carves out its nice original little lane. Even though she named the bully after me, I give it thumbs up.