THE LESSER LEYENDECKER, a 100-minute full-length drama, LGBTQ+ themes

by Arianna Rose

100 minutes Full-length play, can be played in one act or two acts - optional act break indicated}
{Online Reading, Playwrights Thriving Reading Series, October 2024}
{Online Play Discussion Group, Athena Project Read & Rant, August 2024}
{Semi-finalist, Dramatists Guild Fellowship Program 2024}
{Finalist, Theatre Lab's Fair Play Initiative 2022}

“Family First” is the motto of the three Leyendecker siblings....

100 minutes Full-length play, can be played in one act or two acts - optional act break indicated}
{Online Reading, Playwrights Thriving Reading Series, October 2024}
{Online Play Discussion Group, Athena Project Read & Rant, August 2024}
{Semi-finalist, Dramatists Guild Fellowship Program 2024}
{Finalist, Theatre Lab's Fair Play Initiative 2022}

“Family First” is the motto of the three Leyendecker siblings. When real-life brothers Frank and Joe find fame as illustrators, a stranger insinuates himself into their close-knit relationship and threatens everything they’ve created.

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THE LESSER LEYENDECKER, a 100-minute full-length drama, LGBTQ+ themes

Recommended by

  • Sam Heyman: THE LESSER LEYENDECKER, a 100-minute full-length drama, LGBTQ+ themes by Arianna Rose
    “

    There’s something awe inspiring about the meticulous care with which Arianna Rose has constructed The Lesser Leyendecker. A pronged and poignant bio-drama with theatrical flourish, this play demonstrates a visionary talent for taking the facts of historical record and imbuing them with the heart and magic they deserve. An excellent feat of stage craft, I can’t wait to see where this play goes next.

    There’s something awe inspiring about the meticulous care with which Arianna Rose has constructed The Lesser Leyendecker. A pronged and poignant bio-drama with theatrical flourish, this play demonstrates a visionary talent for taking the facts of historical record and imbuing them with the heart and magic they deserve. An excellent feat of stage craft, I can’t wait to see where this play goes next.

    ”
  • Paul Donnelly: THE LESSER LEYENDECKER, a 100-minute full-length drama, LGBTQ+ themes by Arianna Rose
    “

    The Lesser Leyendecker is a gripping and vividly theatrical exploration of the tension between sibling love and sibling rivalry and between the commercial and artistic imperatives. A manipulative interloper threatens the Leyendecker's bond with tragic consequences. This is a work of great compassion and insight and a compelling story with well-drawn characters.

    The Lesser Leyendecker is a gripping and vividly theatrical exploration of the tension between sibling love and sibling rivalry and between the commercial and artistic imperatives. A manipulative interloper threatens the Leyendecker's bond with tragic consequences. This is a work of great compassion and insight and a compelling story with well-drawn characters.

    ”
  • Daniel Prillaman: THE LESSER LEYENDECKER, a 100-minute full-length drama, LGBTQ+ themes by Arianna Rose
    “

    A fantastic and theatrical character study of a much more famous family than you might realize. Rose briskly paces this play with beautiful imagery (Livvy and the Arrow Collar Man are a delight to imagine) and thought-provoking commentary on how we pursue both love (familial and non-platonic) and art, and how the choices we make in those can backfire. Not just on ourselves, but on those with whom we share everything. This is some painfully human work, and heart wrenching with the best of them.

    A fantastic and theatrical character study of a much more famous family than you might realize. Rose briskly paces this play with beautiful imagery (Livvy and the Arrow Collar Man are a delight to imagine) and thought-provoking commentary on how we pursue both love (familial and non-platonic) and art, and how the choices we make in those can backfire. Not just on ourselves, but on those with whom we share everything. This is some painfully human work, and heart wrenching with the best of them.

    ”
View all 7 recommendations

Character Information

4 men, 2 women, 1 cutout or puppet/puppeteer (Could be human). 1 of the woman could be either an actor or a puppeteer actor with puppet.

  • FRANK LEYENDECKER
    artist temperament; mercurial, weakness for alcohol and drugs, suffers from younger child syndrome; looks up to brother and sister, homosexual.
    20s-40s
    Any Race or ethnicity
    Gay male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • LIVVY aka Live Wire Woman
    Based on Frank’s illustration for the April 29, 1922 edition of Life Magazine “A Live Wire”), represents Frank’s life force and art. She can be an actor, or a puppet with a puppeteer actor.
    20s-30s
    Any Race or ethnicity
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • JOSEPH LEYENDECKER, aka JOE
    Has as a slight stutter when stressed. Walks with a slight limp due to a childhood disease. Brilliant illustrator. Feels responsible for his siblings. Driven. Irresponsible with money. Homosexual.
    20s-40s
    Any Race or ethnicity
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • MARY LEYENDECKER
    Loyal to her brothers and their art; a bit of a hothead; organized, a good head for business.
    20s-40s
    Any Race/Ethnicity
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • CHARLES BEACH
    around 7 years younger than Joe. Tall, muscular, blond, movie star handsome. Canadian, clipped British accent. Beautifully dressed. Always well mannered. Polite till pushed. Homosexual.
    20s-30s
    Canadian
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • NORMAN ROCKWELL
    Up-and-coming illustrator who befriends the Leyendecker siblings. Somewhat obsessed with Joe’s talent and career.
    20s-40s
    Any Race or ethnicity
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • ARROW COLLAR MAN
    (non-verbal) could be a cardboard cutout or life-size puppet that the actors or a puppeteer move around; a projection or hologram…or a live actor if that’s feasible. Should resemble the actor playing CHARLES BEACH. Based on the Arrow Collar Man advertisements.
    20s-30s
    caucasian
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      White
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male

Development History

  • Reading, Athena Project Read & Rant, NY, 2024
  • Reading, Playwrights Thriving Online Reading Series, 2024

Awards

  • Playwriting Fellowship Program
    Dramatists Guild Foundation
    Semi-Finalist
    2024