HJT 2023-24

Season Play Suggestion Form for Students

Deadline for submitting a play for consideration is December 5, 2022
at 5:00 p.m.
This form is designed to capture your production suggestions for the upcoming 2023 – 2024
season. Your input will provide a central collaborative work space for the Selection Committee’s
discussions and selection.
Please keep in mind the size of our department and the realities of college community we have
available to us to draw upon for casting and crewing shows when you make your suggestions.
Please do not leave any question blank. If a question is not applicable, please say so.
Name: Brooklyn Butler
Email address: Butlerb@whitman.edu
Major: N/A
Play Title Suggestion: The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Playwright: Rupert Holmes
Who holds the licensing rights for this production? (Example: Samuel French, Dramatists Play
Service, specific author’s agent, etc.) Concord Theatricals
Why this play now?
Briefly explain why should we do this title as part of our upcoming season. Why is it relevant?
How would this project fulfill the needs and goals of the department? How does this project
address the needs and interests of the Whitman/Walla Walla community? This show is a
wonderful form of escapism from dark times. It is a comedy with beautifully written songs and
vocal parts that span a wide variety. It has, at its core, audience participation. It is a great way to
get the community involved. It has an ensemble cast that showcases everyone and always a
different ending which keeps its interesting to not only the audience but the cast as well.
Casting needs: Please provide the numbers for each role: Female: 4 Male: 5 Gender neutral: 2
(these roles were originally played by men but have often been played by any gender) There is
also a non speaking dance chorus of any gender
Is there any other information relative to the composition of the cast that we would need to keep
in mind to successfully produce this show without violating an author’s copyright? For example,
does the author’s work make clear that specific roles must be played by a specific population
demographic (such as a specific gender, ethnicity, race, disability, etc.)? Edwin Drood should be
specifically played by a female identifying actor. Also the roles of Neville and Helena are from
the Indian Peninsula but have in the past been played by white actors. I believe this to be the
biggest flaw of the shows professional runs and it should be ratified. Those characters should be
played by people of the correct ethnicity. It does not take anything away from the copyright of
the show. I think taking this racist casting process out of the equation will not only give more
realism to the alienation the characters feel being in England but also make the show better
overall.
Which space would this production best be suited for?
Alexander Stage: Black Box: Other (please specify): The Black Box would create a perfect
intimate feeling
Are there any special or unusual technical needs or requirements for this production, or potential
technical challenges that need to be solved? (Examples: a pool of water on stage, stage weapons,
live animals, puppets, a trapeze, 27 set changes, 50 costume changes, laser beams, etc.) The cast
needs to be able to go into the audience and a method of counting votes should be implemented.
Are there any safety considerations that might require special staffing? (Examples: Intimacy
Coordinator, Fight or Stage Combat Choreographer, live animal wrangler, etc.) No
Please include a copy of your suggested play.

Please submit this form, along with your suggestion to delautba@whitman.edu