Open Admissions - FULL-LENGTH
by Shirley Lauro

Name: Open Admissions - FULL-LENGTH
Brand: Shirley Lauro
SKU: 9780573618468
Rating: 3.11 (10 reviews)

Open Admissions - FULL-LENGTH Book Cover — Open Admissions - FULL-LENGTH Cover

Highlights

Medium Cast

Female

Male

Present Day Role(s) for Asian Actor(s) Unit Set/Multiple Settings Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes American

Synopsis

Full-length drama for 4 men, 7 women.

Publisher's (Samuel French, Inc.) "This drama for a racially and ethnically mixed cast explores equal opportunity in college admissions.

Calvin Jefferson, a sophomore at an urban college not unlike New York's City College, reads at the fifth grade level but always gets Bs.

He is only dimly beginning to understand is that it will take more than a sheepskin to make him competitive in the real world.

It will take basic skills he lacks.

Calvin begs his speech teacher, an overburdened, underpaid and under appreciated victim of the system, for help.

She does try but it is likely too little, too late

On Broadway, Open Admissions received one Tony nomination, two Drama Desk nominations, a Theatre World Award, The Dramatists Guild Hull-Warriner Award, and was adapted by Ms. Lauro for a CBS TV Special starring Jane Alexander."

Frank Rich of the NY Times wrote, "Shirley Lauro's drama is a rarity for Broadway these It thrusts us onto the front line of an agonizing contemporary social crisis and refuses to show us the easy way out.

Though Mrs. Lauro tells of the conflict between a white woman teacher and a black male student in a public New York college, she refuses to present the usual blacks and whites in either the racial or moral sense.

Both her characters are decent people; both are casualties on a battleground that neither of them has made."

Press Reviews

"It thrusts us into the front line of an agonizing social crisis."
— The New York Times

"Thoughtful, sometimes comic, and ultimately moving."
— Christian Science Monitor

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Salina Jones Mid-20's. Calvin's sister. Black, worn. A strong woman, but Calvin is her last hope. Wears slacks, sweater, coat that is worn out.	female	20s	Mid-20's. Calvin's sister. Black, worn. A strong woman, but Calvin is her last hope. Wears slacks, sweater, coat that is worn out.
Georgia Jones 7-9, Calvin's niece; Salina's daughter. Black, cute, bubbly, very spunky little girl. She adores Calvin. Wears jeans, shirt, coat that is worn out.	female	7-9	7-9, Calvin's niece; Salina's daughter. Black, cute, bubbly, very spunky little girl. She adores Calvin. Wears jeans, shirt, coat that is worn out.
Ginny Carlsen Late 30's. White, attractive, in a midwestern "All-American 'SOs Girl" way. Small, peppy, wears skirt, sweater. Energetic personality, deeply troubled beneath the patina.	—	30s	Late 30's. White, attractive, in a midwestern "All-American 'SOs Girl" way. Small, peppy, wears skirt, sweater. Energetic personality, deeply troubled beneath the patina.
Peter Carlsen Around 40. Ginny's husband. Midwestern of Norwegian-American stock. Has charm about him, sexy, rugged quality, but putting on weight. A dreamer, but dreams have become desperate. A funny guy on the surface. Wears robe, gray suit.	male	—	Around 40. Ginny's husband. Midwestern of Norwegian-American stock. Has charm about him, sexy, rugged quality, but putting on weight. A dreamer, but dreams have become desperate. A funny guy on the surface. Wears robe, gray suit.
Cathy Carlsen 10-11. Ginny's daughter. Very bright, cute little girl, but troubled. A contemporary, urban child. Wears skirt, blouse, embroidered vest.	female	10-11	10-11. Ginny's daughter. Very bright, cute little girl, but troubled. A contemporary, urban child. Wears skirt, blouse, embroidered vest.
Professor Clare Block SO-SS, stocky, funny, confident, tough, urban. Clare is a real "pro" in the City University system. She has been teaching for 20 years. Wears a suit, comfortable shoes. Carries her books in an "I Love NY" tote.	female	—	SO-SS, stocky, funny, confident, tough, urban. Clare is a real "pro" in the City University system. She has been teaching for 20 years. Wears a suit, comfortable shoes. Carries her books in an "I Love NY" tote.
Kitty Shim 18, Korean. Extremely intelligent and serious in manner and bearing. She speaks with slightest trace of a Korean accent. She is in total control of herself and the college situation. Wears skirt, sweater.	female	—	18, Korean. Extremely intelligent and serious in manner and bearing. She speaks with slightest trace of a Korean accent. She is in total control of herself and the college situation. Wears skirt, sweater.
Nick Rizzou 18, Italian descent. Big, burly, with Bronx accent. Very passionate nature. A Freshman in the Speech class. Wears polyester suit.	—	—	18, Italian descent. Big, burly, with Bronx accent. Very passionate nature. A Freshman in the Speech class. Wears polyester suit.
Juan Rivera 18, Puerto Rican, small slender build. Tries to be macho. Speaks with Puerto Rican accent. Defensive underneath. Wears bright shirt.	—	—	18, Puerto Rican, small slender build. Tries to be macho. Speaks with Puerto Rican accent. Defensive underneath. Wears bright shirt.
Mrs. Brewster 35-45, older black (or white) woman who is in night session, hoping to raise herself up with a degree. Exhausted. Comes to class after a full day's work.	female	35-45	35-45, older black (or white) woman who is in night session, hoping to raise herself up with a degree. Exhausted. Comes to class after a full day's work.
Calvin Jefferson 18, black, wears black pants, shirt, hooded jacket, Yankees baseball cap. At first glance a street person but this is belied by his intensity and intelligence.	male	—	18, black, wears black pants, shirt, hooded jacket, Yankees baseball cap. At first glance a street person but this is belied by his intensity and intelligence.