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Back Story

Back Story

Based on characters created by Joan Ackermann, Coutney Baron, Neena Beber, Constance Congdon, Jon Klein, Shirley Lauro, Craig Lucas, Eduardo Machado, Donald Margulies, Jane Martin, Susan Miller, John Olive, Tanya Palmer, David Rambo, Edwin Sanchez, Adele Edling Shank, Mayo Simon and Val Smith.

Product Code: B98000

Full-length Play

Comedy

Cast size: any combination of male and female actors, from 1m. and 1w. to 11m. and 11w.


No Livestream or Record and Stream Rights Available


Rights and availability

This title can be licensed and sold throughout the World.

* Please note the royalty rate listed is the minimum royalty rate per performance. The actual royalty rate will be determined upon completion of a royalty application.

$10.95
In Stock

Min. Royalty Rate: $90.00/perf

Synopsis

Back Story is a two-character play written in 19 scenes by 18 playwrights. Back Story illuminates various episodes in the young lives of Ainsley and Ethan Belcher. When Ethan is born in the worst blizzard of the century, his 2-year-old sister, Ainsley, nearly sacrifices a toe trying to clear a path for the baby's arrival. That initial gesture of devotion blossoms into a tale of sibling loyalty, rivalry and love that spans two decades. Inspired by Joan Ackermann's narrative Back Story, each of the 18 playwrights in this collective creation puts a distinctive spin on Ainsley's and Ethan's amusing and poignant struggles with life, each other, and the phantom dad who left them for the wilds of Alaska.

  1. Time to Think, Joan Ackerman
  2. Good Morning to the Horse, Craig Lucas
  3. What Became of the Polar Bear, Mayo Simon
  4. The Reluctant Instrument, Neena Beber
  5. Ethan's Got Get

Notes

No Livestream or Record and Stream Rights Available

Details

  • Status In stock
  • Type of Show Full-length Play
  • Product Code B98000
  • Minimum Cast Size 2
  • Pages of Dialogue 53
  • Min. Royalty Rate $90.00/perf
  • Approx. Run Time 90 min
  • Staging Unit set.

Categories

  • Target Audience High School | College and Adult
  • Performing Group High School | College Theatre
  • Genre Comedy
  • ISBN(13) 9781583420225

* Please note the royalty rate listed is the minimum royalty rate per performance. The actual royalty rate will be determined upon completion of a royalty application.

Customer Reviews

This is an edgy piece full of wonderful writing and acting challenges. Not for every school, but those who tackle it will find the work and audience response very rewarding.

Laura Howell, Lancaster Country Day School, Lancaster, Pa.

Hints, Tips, and Tricks

We costumed the Ethans and Ainsleys similarly to keep confusion at a minimum. Run with no intermission. We found telling or reading the story was unnecessary (too redundant). We also used students' photography for scenes.

Laura Howell, Lancaster Country Day School, Lancaster, Pa.

Production Map

Location City State Opens Closes
First Congregational Church East Longmeadow MA 04/25/2025 04/26/2025