Boy My Greatness

by Zoe Senese-Grossberg

In the summer of 1606, 4 boy players in The King's Men warm up, practice lines, and gossip in between rehearsals for the premieres of Twelfth Night and Antony and Cleopatra. Disruptions comes in the way of the arrival of a new star, twelve year old Robin, and the return of a former boy player turned Puritan preacher. The incoming Plague and anti-theatrical sentiment further threaten their way of life and force...

In the summer of 1606, 4 boy players in The King's Men warm up, practice lines, and gossip in between rehearsals for the premieres of Twelfth Night and Antony and Cleopatra. Disruptions comes in the way of the arrival of a new star, twelve year old Robin, and the return of a former boy player turned Puritan preacher. The incoming Plague and anti-theatrical sentiment further threaten their way of life and force them to consider their futures on the stage. A play about growing up, gender, child acting, and a part of theater history we seek to forget...

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Boy My Greatness

Recommended by

  • Emma Skinner: Boy My Greatness by Zoe Senese-Grossberg
    “

    A masterpiece and a tour-de-force. Boy My Greatness explores gender, desire, and performance with a degree of honesty and wisdom that took my breath away. The stories of these boy players, captured so perfectly at a precise moment in time, are brilliantly intertwined with the century-spanning words of Shakespeare; the effect is nothing less than extraordinary. I urge you to welcome this play onto your stage and into your heart. It will unquestionably remain there for a long, long time.

    A masterpiece and a tour-de-force. Boy My Greatness explores gender, desire, and performance with a degree of honesty and wisdom that took my breath away. The stories of these boy players, captured so perfectly at a precise moment in time, are brilliantly intertwined with the century-spanning words of Shakespeare; the effect is nothing less than extraordinary. I urge you to welcome this play onto your stage and into your heart. It will unquestionably remain there for a long, long time.

    ”
  • Collin Smith: Boy My Greatness by Zoe Senese-Grossberg
    “

    Stunning, absolutely stunning. I'm especially impressed with the tasteful interweaving of Shakespeare's writing, which feels carefully selected and never overdone. This work is thematically rich, building on its subject matter to question gender, faith, love, performance. Yet this play never veers towards self-indulgence, centering the characters and trusting the story to reveal its themes. And these characters are all deep & complex: an absolute dream for an actor. This play is clearly so thoughtful, so lovingly crafted. It had me laughing then soon after moved to tears. Truly, astonishingly...

    Stunning, absolutely stunning. I'm especially impressed with the tasteful interweaving of Shakespeare's writing, which feels carefully selected and never overdone. This work is thematically rich, building on its subject matter to question gender, faith, love, performance. Yet this play never veers towards self-indulgence, centering the characters and trusting the story to reveal its themes. And these characters are all deep & complex: an absolute dream for an actor. This play is clearly so thoughtful, so lovingly crafted. It had me laughing then soon after moved to tears. Truly, astonishingly great.

    read more
    ”
  • Annikka Mocciola: Boy My Greatness by Zoe Senese-Grossberg
    “

    After seeing this production in NYC this spring, it has become my favorite play and a true honor to have witnessed it some of its first stages. I had the pleasure of speaking to Zoe (playwright) afterwards, and left the theatre so inspired to the point of tears! Worth a thousand reads, and I hope to see it grow further, if only so I can experience it once again! This is what today’s theatre should strive to be. I can’t recommend it enough!!

    After seeing this production in NYC this spring, it has become my favorite play and a true honor to have witnessed it some of its first stages. I had the pleasure of speaking to Zoe (playwright) afterwards, and left the theatre so inspired to the point of tears! Worth a thousand reads, and I hope to see it grow further, if only so I can experience it once again! This is what today’s theatre should strive to be. I can’t recommend it enough!!

    ”
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Character Information

Anyone of any gender can play any role and probably should. Be conscious within this freedom, though. Consider what you are afraid to put onstage.
  • Thomas "Tom" Reade
    A boy player about to debut the role of Cleopatra, which will be his final female role. A self described legend of the stage, he is the Globe's current leading lady and specializes in playing great dames (Lady Macbeth, Volumnia, Gertrude). He is terrified about transitioning to male roles.
    22
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
  • Robert "Robin" Howard
    A boy player (formerly of a children's company) about to debut at the Globe playing Octavia in Antony and Cleopatra and Maria in 12th Night. He is well trained and precocious (think Baby June in Gypsy, the girls on Dance Moms, or Macaulay Culkin) and knows he will be the Globe's next star.
    12
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Child,
      Teens,
      20s
  • Samuel Clark
    A former boy player of great talent who originated the role of Rosalind in As You Like It. He is now a Puritan preacher seeking to close the theaters. He is stuck up and fanatical but has not lost his love for drama. Has a complicated past with Tom.
    22
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
  • John Sharpe
    A former boy player, he played leads as a woman but is now in smaller parts, currently debuting the role of Orsino in Twelfth Night. He is a married man with children who trains the younger boys. Robin is his apprentice and he is a bit of a stage mom to him.
    30
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
  • Henry "Hal" Fletcher
    A boy player about to debut the role of Olivia in Twelfth Night. He is a decent, but not especially talented actor and is becoming aware that he will not be able to play most leading male roles due to his natural effeminacy. He is increasingly jealous of the masculinity of Harry (his lover and best friend).
    17
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
  • Henry "Harry" Lawes
    A boy player about to debut the role of Viola in Twelfth Night. He is a decent, but not outstanding actor who has already taken on some minor male roles. He is coming into both his masculinity and his sexuality in a way that threatens his lover and best friend, Hal.
    17
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s

Production History

  • Professional, The Firebird Project, 2024
  • University, Dartfrog Theatre, SUNY Corning Community College, 2024