Morgan’s Mumbles: My Favorite Plays, by teen contributor Morgan Randall

One of the things that being a theatre mom has taught me is that teens are engaged with wrestling with story and literature in so many more ways then we often give them credit for. For many teens, theatre is home. It’s a way to take on new skin and explore lives and wrestle with deep thoughts and emotions. Today teen contributor Morgan Randall, another theatre kid, shares some of her favorite plays with us. Never underestimate a teen, they are thinking deeply and wrestling with the world in so many profound ways.

Medea by Euripides

This show is a classic Greek tragedy, if you know Greek Mythology you are most likely familiar with Jason and the tale of the Gold Fleece. This story takes place not long after that in Corinth, where Medea and his two children lived with him. However, at the start of the show, Medea is informed with the terrible news that Jason is to be married to Glauce, the daughter of the King of Creon. The story follows Medea’s rage towards Jason and how that affects both her and her children, along with Jason and his new family.

Eat! It’s Not About Food by Linda Daugherty

This show tackles a very big issue in society, it talks about eating disorders and their impact on all different people. It talks about the toxic culture around body image and dieting, as well as discussing multiple stories of people dealing with different disorders and also informs the audience of facts about eating disorders. The story follows multiple people, specifically the people around Amy (her friends, kids at school, family, and then eventually people who are in recovery). It follows their struggles with their bodies and how their eating disorders impact not only their health but also their relationships. It also tackles the problem with the lack of discussion about eating disorders, in general, but also specifically with males.

Girl In The Mirror by Jacoby

I was really lucky to be able to direct this show with my best friend a few years back, it is another pretty heavy show as it talks about suicide. It follows a girl named Susan, who recently committed suicide, while in a coma between life and death she gets to choose if she lives or dies. In order to make this decision, she leaves her body and a Speaker takes her through her memories. The things she had experienced that made her want to commit suicide, then halfway through the show, it switches. They are looking into the future and what will happen to the people around her if she ends up dying.

Lafayette No. 1 by Mandy Conner

This story follows a young girl named Lizzie Landry, and the orphans (known as the Forgotten) as yellow fever sweeps the streets of New Orleans. The story follows these orphans and Lizzie, as they try to band together against the local law enforcement and leaders of the town to make them aware of the most vulnerable citizens in New Orleans. This story is absolutely amazing, it gives me chills even just reading it. I adore the emphasis on friendship and the power that is obtained when people fight together for what is just.

Shipwrecked: An Entertainment, The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont by Donald Margulies

This is the only comedy on this list because I enjoy the deeper meaning behind the show as it brings into question how far we as people are willing to go in order to tell an engaging story. Louis de Rougemont breaks the fourth wall in order to tell us his incredible tale of bravery and how he has risen to popularity. While the story is engaging, parts are obviously exaggerated and some are just straight-up lies. The show also has a lot of really cool pops and ensemble, if you ever get the chance to watch it.

Morgan Randall, Teen Contributor

Morgan recently graduated high school and is currently enrolled to attend college in the fall getting her BA in Theatre and Dance with an emphasis on Design and Technology. She loves theatre, writing, reading, and learning. But something that has always been important to her is being a voice for those who feel like they don’t have one, and being a catalyst for change in any way possible.

Filed under: Theatre