Bleeding Kansas
by Kathryn Walat

Bleeding Kansas Book Cover
Bleeding Kansas Cover

Highlights

105 mins Wild West Ensemble Cast Unit Set/Multiple Settings Period Costumes American Historical Comedy

Synopsis

Historical DramaCharacters: 3 male, 2 femaleIt's 1855, Kansas Territory.

The country is divided.

People are turning against their neighbors because of their beliefs.

War is on the horizon.

Good people will do bad things and love will grow in places it shouldn't.

A provocative, funny and insightful play revisits a crucial moment in American history.

Homesteading farmers George and Kitty fight the elements to start a new life as a politically divided country takes a dangerous step towards civil war."To Walat's credit, her fast-moving play does not preach, merely raises questions, among them: Who are we as a nation?

What shaped us and why?

And does what we were-violent, intractable and destructive-play into our present-day society?...Bleeding Kansas is an excellent work" -San Diego News

Press Reviews

"To Walat's credit, her fast-moving play does not preach, merely raises questions, among them: Who are we as a nation? What shaped us and why? And does what we were—violent, intractable and destructive—play into our present-day society?...Bleeding Kansas is an excellent work." –San Diego News“Kathryn Walat has delivered a powerful play. Bleeding Kansasis a gut-wrenching, tear-jerking drama that grabs the emotions. Its story offers plenty of parallels to present-day political and ethical issues but it doesn’t hit us over the head with them. Its characters aren’t Brechtian archetypes but believable flesh-and-blood human beings for whom we root and with whom we suffer.” –Zenger’s Newsmagazine“Bleeding Kansas offers a fascinating look at a largely unknown chapter of American history, and it does it from a very human perspective. That the prejudices and divisions it portrays mirror what’s going on in America today make it especially timely.” – North County Times“In this fresh new play, Kate "

— Ithaca Journal

Characters

Character
Edwin Redpath Aka Red

A pro-slavery “Border Ruffian” from Missouri.

Kittson Clarke

A headstrong woman following her husband George.

George Clarke

A free-state farmer from Indiana.

Josiah Nichols

A pro-slavery farmer from Missouri.

Other Men

Played by the actors who play Red, George, and Josiah, as indicated.

Hannah Rose Allen

A young abolitionist from Boston.

Videos

Kathryn Walat on Bleeding Kansas

Publication

Publisher Samuel French
Year 2011
Binding Paperback
Pages 84
Place New York
Language English
ISBN-13 9780573699153
ISBN-10 0573699151
LCCN 2013474880
LCC MLCS 2014/40564 (P)

Bleeding Kansas is a American historical play written by Kathryn Walat and published by Samuel French in New York (2011).

Digital editions available on Amazon Kindle .

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Rating

3.7

6 ratings · 10 reviews

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Performance Rights

Available for Licensing
Amateur Only
Fee: Minimum Fee: $120 per performance

Restrictions: Major Markets Only (US) / Standard Restriction (UK)

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