Choreomania 1518

by Malena Pennycook

It's 16th century France and everything is horrible! There's bubonic plague, major agricultural collapse and the leadership is corrupt as all hell. When a dancing plague breaks out, a group of potato farmers cue the strobe lights and reach towards hope. These are the choreomaniacs. This is their (mostly) true story.

It's 16th century France and everything is horrible! There's bubonic plague, major agricultural collapse and the leadership is corrupt as all hell. When a dancing plague breaks out, a group of potato farmers cue the strobe lights and reach towards hope. These are the choreomaniacs. This is their (mostly) true story.

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Choreomania 1518

Recommended by

  • Annie Schoonover: Choreomania 1518 by Malena Pennycook
    “

    A fabulously written play about young women surrounded by death in a world where the future seems nonexistent. I love every character dearly and would absolutely die to see a production of this.

    A fabulously written play about young women surrounded by death in a world where the future seems nonexistent. I love every character dearly and would absolutely die to see a production of this.

    ”
  • Brynn Hambley: Choreomania 1518 by Malena Pennycook
    “

    As a huge historical fiction fan, I greatly enjoyed this play. Pennycook's use of modern language in juxtaposition with the medieval circumstances showed the devastating connections between the Fraus' stresses and our modern day ones. I loved the use of the microphone as prayer, a shout into the void-- and the way that movement is used to deepen the emotional resonance of the plot. For a more in depth review, go to "A Playwright's Journey" on SubStack!

    As a huge historical fiction fan, I greatly enjoyed this play. Pennycook's use of modern language in juxtaposition with the medieval circumstances showed the devastating connections between the Fraus' stresses and our modern day ones. I loved the use of the microphone as prayer, a shout into the void-- and the way that movement is used to deepen the emotional resonance of the plot. For a more in depth review, go to "A Playwright's Journey" on SubStack!

    ”
  • Jan Rosenberg: Choreomania 1518 by Malena Pennycook
    “

    I was lucky to see a recent reading of this, and it made me very excited about how we can tell stories from long ago. This real life tale from the 1500s is written in contemporary speak, is darkly hilarious, and full of heart. History repeats itself. We keep dancing. The dance sequence at the end will live on in my brain forever.

    I was lucky to see a recent reading of this, and it made me very excited about how we can tell stories from long ago. This real life tale from the 1500s is written in contemporary speak, is darkly hilarious, and full of heart. History repeats itself. We keep dancing. The dance sequence at the end will live on in my brain forever.

    ”
View all 4 recommendations
FRAU MIKA - 15. she/her. Has hope for her mother.
FRAU SEVALLIA - 15. she/her. Has hope for her eternal soul.
FRAU THERA - 17. they/them. Has hope for the rebels.
FRAU BETTY - 16. she/her. Hopeless.
FRAU LUCY - 18. she/they. Has hope for her sheep.
FATHER - 30s. he/him. A corrupt town leader.
CHOREOMANIACS (optional) - a chorus of 400 who dance themselves to death

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