Scene Library

The scene library is a compilation of scenes from historic plays by women to be used exclusively by acting instructors and students.

Special thanks to Maria-Christina Oliveras and Jacqueline Knapp for their time and commitment. 

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Rachel and her mother, Mrs. Loving discuss Rachel's joy for life and her desire for children. Mrs. Loving expresses pity which worries Rachel. 
 

About the Playwright

Angelina Weld Grimké
Angelina Weld Grimké
Angelina Weld Grimké (1880-1958) wrote poetry, short stories, and non-fiction as well as plays. She was named for her great-aunt, the abolitionist Angelina Grimké Weld. Angelina’s father, Archibald Grimké, was a Harvard-educated lawyer, author, editor, educator and Vice-President of the NAACP. Not much is known about her mother, Sarah Stanley Grimké, other than she scandalized her white family by marrying an African-American man. Sarah abandoned the family shortly after Angelina was born. Angel…
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Rachel comes to realize the fate of black men in her country and is overcome. 
 

About the Playwright

Angelina Weld Grimké
Angelina Weld Grimké
Angelina Weld Grimké (1880-1958) wrote poetry, short stories, and non-fiction as well as plays. She was named for her great-aunt, the abolitionist Angelina Grimké Weld. Angelina’s father, Archibald Grimké, was a Harvard-educated lawyer, author, editor, educator and Vice-President of the NAACP. Not much is known about her mother, Sarah Stanley Grimké, other than she scandalized her white family by marrying an African-American man. Sarah abandoned the family shortly after Angelina was born. Angel…
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Rachel and Mrs. Loving ponder the role that fate has played in their lives. 
 

About the Playwright

Angelina Weld Grimké
Angelina Weld Grimké
Angelina Weld Grimké (1880-1958) wrote poetry, short stories, and non-fiction as well as plays. She was named for her great-aunt, the abolitionist Angelina Grimké Weld. Angelina’s father, Archibald Grimké, was a Harvard-educated lawyer, author, editor, educator and Vice-President of the NAACP. Not much is known about her mother, Sarah Stanley Grimké, other than she scandalized her white family by marrying an African-American man. Sarah abandoned the family shortly after Angelina was born. Angel…
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(2 M) Producer Mose Jason tries to persuade playwright George Herrick, to rewrite his play to keep Lily, the star, happy.
 

About the Playwright

Maurine Dallas Watkins
Maurine Dallas Watkins
Maurine Dallas Watkins (1896-1969) is little remembered today, despite being the author of Chicago (1926) the smash Broadway comedy about two “merry murderesses” with showbiz aspirations that would, fifty decades after its premiere, inspire the smash Broadway musical of the same name. The play was based on Watkins’s observations as journalist covering the Windy City’s sensational Jazz Age murder trials. Watkins’ career encompassed more than Chicago—she earned a playwriting degree from Yale Scho…
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(2W) Lily, jealous of Kerry’s good notices (and her relationship with Jules), tells her she’s doing it all wrong.
 

About the Playwright

Maurine Dallas Watkins
Maurine Dallas Watkins
Maurine Dallas Watkins (1896-1969) is little remembered today, despite being the author of Chicago (1926) the smash Broadway comedy about two “merry murderesses” with showbiz aspirations that would, fifty decades after its premiere, inspire the smash Broadway musical of the same name. The play was based on Watkins’s observations as journalist covering the Windy City’s sensational Jazz Age murder trials. Watkins’ career encompassed more than Chicago—she earned a playwriting degree from Yale Scho…
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(1W, 1M) Kerry learns from Bart, a seasoned actor, just what the score is when the star is involved.
 

About the Playwright

Maurine Dallas Watkins
Maurine Dallas Watkins
Maurine Dallas Watkins (1896-1969) is little remembered today, despite being the author of Chicago (1926) the smash Broadway comedy about two “merry murderesses” with showbiz aspirations that would, fifty decades after its premiere, inspire the smash Broadway musical of the same name. The play was based on Watkins’s observations as journalist covering the Windy City’s sensational Jazz Age murder trials. Watkins’ career encompassed more than Chicago—she earned a playwriting degree from Yale Scho…
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(1W, 1M) At the outdoor party, Spunk meets Lina, and he is immediately smitten by her. They end up dancing together to jubilant music.
 

About the Playwright

Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston

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(1W, 1M) Ruby, who fell for Spunk the moment he came to town, tries to console and woo him now that it looks like he and Lina are over. (Will need someone off-stage as Lina, to call Spunk’s name towards end of scene.)
 

About the Playwright

Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston

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