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Books in Playing with Plays series

  • Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland for Kids: 3 Short Melodramatic Plays for 3 Group Sizes

    Brendan P. Kelso, Angela M. Herrick, Lewis Carroll, Shana Hallmeyer, Ron Leishman, Ryan Gottlieb, Keagan P. Kelso

    Paperback (Independently published, Sept. 13, 2019)
    Alice's Adventures like you have never read them before: quick, fun, and easy to understand. In a play format and designed for 7-21+ actors, kids of all ages, or anyone who wants to enjoy and loosely understand Carroll's novel. What you will get: Fun! 3 melodramatic modifications for group sizes: 7-12+ 10-16+ 13-21+ Actual lines from Carroll's novel mixed in Creatively funny interpretations of the remaining story A delightfully funny rendition easy for ADULTS to understand too! A kid who loves classic stories! This mini-melodramatic masterpiece is sure to be a doorway for your child to love all the classics. Classical literature is difficult enough in class or watching on stage, let alone trying to teach the stories to children, but as the author's mantra states in the book, "there is no better way to learn than to have fun!" Guaranteed to have you and your kids coming back for more!
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  • Shakespeare's Hamlet for Kids: 3 Short Melodramatic Plays for 3 Group Sizes

    Brendan P Kelso, Shana Hallmeyer

    Hardcover (Playing With Plays, Nov. 27, 2016)
    Hamlet like you have never read it before: quick, fun, and easy to understand. Designed for 6-20+ actors, kids of all ages, or anyone who wants to enjoy and loosely understand Shakespeare's play. What you will get: Fun! 3 melodramatic modifications for group sizes: 6-7+ 8-14+ 11-20+ Actual lines from Shakespeare's play mixed in Creatively funny interpretations of the remaining script A delightfully funny rendition that is easy for ADULTS to understand too! A kid who loves Shakespeare! This mini-melodramatic masterpiece is sure to be a doorway for your child to love all the classics. Shakespeare is difficult enough in class or watching on stage, let alone trying to teach the stories to children, but as the author's mantra states in the book, "there is no better way to learn than to have fun!" Kids who have read this have also eventually purchased Shakespeare's entire works and have completed 'hero' reports on Shakespeare at school. Guaranteed to have you and your kids coming back for more!
  • Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book for Kids: 3 Short Melodramatic Plays for 3 Group Sizes

    Brendan P. Kelso, Khara C. Barnhart, Rudyard Kipling, Adam T. Watson, Shana Hallmeyer, Ron Leishman, Asif Zamir

    Paperback (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, Jan. 27, 2016)
    Baloo? Bagheera? Mowgli? Which character will you monkey around with!?Jungle Book like you have never experienced it before: quick, fun, and easy to understand. Designed for 6-16+ actors, kids, families, or anyone who wants to enjoy and perform Rudyard Kipling's classic story. Jungle Book for Kids is a play versatile enough for sibling fun, classes, drama groups, homeschool groups, or backyard performances. It's appropriate and fun for all ages! Plays range from 15 to 25 minutes. What you will get: Fun! 3 hilarious melodramatic play modifications for 3 group sizes: 6-8+ kids 10-13+ kids 13-16+ kids Actual lines from Jungle Book highlighted for easy identification Creatively funny and witty telling of the remaining story A kid who loves the Classics! This mini-melodramatic masterpiece is sure to spark a love of all classics for your child. Many classic novels and plays are difficult to read in class or watch on stage, and attempting to teach these to children can be even more challenging. But, as the author states in the book, "there is no better way to learn than to have fun!" Kids who have read or performed these plays continue to come back for more!* *Guaranteed!
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  • Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing for Kids: 3 Short Melodramatic Plays for 3 Group Sizes

    Brendan P Kelso, William Shakespeare, Shana Hallmeyer, Debra Williamson, Ren Kris, Asif Zamir

    Paperback (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, April 2, 2011)
    Who will you be? Hero? Beatrice? The witty Benedick? The evil Don John!?!Much Ado About Nothing like you have never experienced it before: quick, fun, and easy to understand. Designed for 8-20+ actors, kids, families, or anyone who wants to enjoy and perform Shakespeare's classic play.Much Ado About Nothing for Kids is a play versatile enough for sibling fun, classes, drama groups, homeschool groups, or backyard performances. It's appropriate and fun for all ages! Plays range from 15 to 25 minutes. Which character will your kids be?!What you will get: Fun! 3 hilarious modifications for group sizes: 8-11+ 12-16+ 16-20+ Actual lines from Shakespeare's play highlighted for easy identification Creatively funny and witty telling of the remaining script A delightfully funny rendition that is easy for ADULTS to understand too! A kid who loves Shakespeare!This mini-melodramatic masterpiece is sure to spark a love of Shakespeare. Shakespeare is difficult enough in class or watching onstage, let alone trying to teach the stories to children, but as the author's mantra states in the book, "there is no better way to learn than to have fun! "Kids who have read this have also eventually purchased the entire Shakespeare works, and have completed 'hero' reports on Shakespeare at school. Guaranteed to have you coming back for more!
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  • Bram Stoker's Dracula for Kids: 3 Short Melodramatic Plays for 3 Group Sizes

    Brendan P. Kelso, Angela M. Herrick, Bram Stoker, Shana Hallmeyer, Ron Leishman, Ryan Gottlieb

    Paperback (Independently published, July 17, 2020)
    Who will you be? A vampire bride? The vampire hunter Van Helsing? The evil Dracula!?!Dracula like you have never experienced it before: quick, fun, and easy to understand. Designed for 7-20+ actors, kids, families, or anyone who wants to enjoy and perform Bram Stoker's classic story. Dracula for Kids is a play versatile enough for sibling fun, classes, drama groups, homeschool groups, or backyard performances. It's appropriate and fun for all ages! Plays range from 15 to 25 minutes. What you will get: Fun! 3 hilarious melodramatic play modifications for 3 group sizes: 7-9 kids 10-16 kids 12-20+ kids Actual lines from Dracula highlighted for easy identification Creatively funny and witty telling of the remaining story A kid who loves the Classics! This mini-melodramatic masterpiece is sure to spark a love of all classics for your child. Many classic novels and plays are difficult to read in class or watch on stage, and attempting to teach these to children can be even more challenging. But, as the author states in the book, "there is no better way to learn than to have fun!" Kids who have read or performed these plays continue to come back for more!* *Guaranteed!
  • Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island for Kids: 3 Short Melodramatic Plays for 3 Group Sizes

    Brendan P Kelso, Khara C Barnhart, Adam T Watson, Shana Hallmeyer

    Paperback (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, Sept. 14, 2013)
    Who will you be? Long John Silver? Jim Hawkins? Captain Billy Bones? A swashbuckling pirate!?!Treasure Island like you have never experienced it before: quick, fun, and easy to understand. Designed for 7-25+ actors, kids, families, or anyone who wants to enjoy and perform Robert Louis Stevenson's classic story. Treasure Island for Kids is a play versatile enough for sibling fun, classes, drama groups, homeschool groups, or backyard performances. It's appropriate and fun for all ages! Plays range from 15 to 25 minutes and WHO doesn't love playing a pirate!!! What you will get: Fun! 3 melodramatic modifications for group sizes: 7-9+ 10-16+ 17-25+ Actual lines from Treasure Island highlighted for easy identification Creatively funny interpretations of the remaining story A kid who loves the Classics! This mini-melodramatic masterpiece is sure to spark a love of all classics for your child. Many classic novels and plays are difficult to read in class or watch on stage, and attempting to teach these to children can be even more challenging. But, as the author states in the book, "there is no better way to learn than to have fun!" Kids who have read or performed these plays continue to come back for more!**Guaranteed!
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  • Shakespeare's Henry V for Kids: 3 Short Melodramatic Plays for 3 Group Sizes

    Brendan P Kelso, Ian Campbell, Ron Leishman, Shana Hallmeyer, Asif Zamir

    Paperback (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, March 23, 2018)
    Who will you be? Henry V? Captain Fluellen? King of France? One of the conspirators!?!Henry V like you have never experienced it before: quick, fun, and easy to understand. Designed for 6-18+ actors, kids, families, or anyone who wants to enjoy and perform Shakespeare's classic play.Henry V for Kids is a play versatile enough for sibling fun, classes, drama groups, homeschool groups, or backyard performances. It's appropriate and fun for all ages! Plays range from 15 to 25 minutes. Which character will your kids be?!What you will get: Fun! 3 hilarious modifications for group sizes: 6-12 9-15 14-18+ Actual lines from Shakespeare's play highlighted for easy identification Creatively funny and witty telling of the remaining script A delightfully funny rendition that is easy for ADULTS to understand too! A kid who loves Shakespeare!This mini-melodramatic masterpiece is sure to spark a love of Shakespeare. Shakespeare is difficult enough in class or watching onstage, let alone trying to teach the stories to children, but as the author's mantra states in the book, "there is no better way to learn than to have fun! "Kids who have read this have also eventually purchased the entire Shakespeare works, and have completed 'hero' reports on Shakespeare at school. Guaranteed to have you coming back for more!
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  • Beowulf for Kids: 3 Short Melodramatic Plays for 3 Group Sizes

    Brendan P Kelso, Amanda Thayer, Ron Leishman, Shana Hallmeyer

    Paperback (Independently published, Dec. 17, 2018)
    Beowulf like you have never read it before; quick, fun, and easy to understand. Designed for 7-20+ actors, kids of all ages, or anyone who wants to enjoy and loosely understand this classic Old English story. What you will get: Fun! 3 melodramatic modifications for group sizes: 7-12+ 11-14+ 14-20+ Actual lines from J. Lesslie Hall's translation of Beowulf mixed in Creatively funny interpretations of the remaining story A delightfully funny rendition that is easy for ADULTS to understand too! A kid who loves the Classics! This mini-melodramatic masterpiece is sure to be a doorway for your child to love all the classics. Classical literature is difficult enough in class or watching on stage, let alone trying to teach the stories to children, but as the author's mantra states in the book, "there is no better way to learn than to have fun!" Guaranteed to have you and your kids coming back for more!
  • Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist for Kids: 3 Short Melodramatic Plays for 3 Group Sizes

    Brendan P. Kelso, Khara C. Barnhart, Suzy Newman, Adam T. Watson, Shana Hallmeyer, Asif Zamir

    Paperback (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, Jan. 22, 2015)
    Who will you be? Oliver? The Artful Dodger? Fagin? The sneaky thief Sikes!?!Oliver Twist like you have never experienced it before: quick, fun, and easy to understand. Designed for 8-22+ actors, kids, families, or anyone who wants to enjoy and perform Charles Dickens' classic story. Oliver Twist for Kids is a play versatile enough for sibling fun, classes, drama groups, homeschool groups, or backyard performances. It's appropriate and fun for all ages! Plays range from 15 to 25 minutes. What you will get: Fun! 3 hilarious melodramatic play modifications for 3 group sizes: 8-12+ kids 13-18+ kids 17-22+ kids Actual lines from Oliver Twist highlighted for easy identification Creatively funny and witty telling of the remaining story A kid who loves the Classics! This mini-melodramatic masterpiece is sure to spark a love of all classics for your child. Many classic novels and plays are difficult to read in class or watch on stage, and attempting to teach these to children can be even more challenging. But, as the author states in the book, "there is no better way to learn than to have fun!" Kids who have read or performed these plays continue to come back for more!* *Guaranteed!
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  • Shakespeare's Richard III for Kids: 3 Short Melodramatic Plays for 3 Group Sizes

    Brendan P Kelso, Ian Campbell, Shana Hallmeyer, Ron Leishman, Asif Zamir

    Paperback (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, March 18, 2017)
    Who will you be? Richard III? Lady Anne? Buckingham? A ghost!?!Richard III like you have never experienced it before: quick, fun, and easy to understand. Designed for 6-17+ actors, kids, families, or anyone who wants to enjoy and perform Shakespeare's classic play.Richard III for Kids is a play versatile enough for sibling fun, classes, drama groups, homeschool groups, or backyard performances. It's appropriate and fun for all ages! Plays range from 15 to 25 minutes. Which character will your kids be?!What you will get: Fun! 3 hilarious modifications for group sizes: 6-9 9-12 12-17+ Actual lines from Shakespeare's play highlighted for easy identification Creatively funny and witty telling of the remaining script A delightfully funny rendition that is easy for ADULTS to understand too! A kid who loves Shakespeare!This mini-melodramatic masterpiece is sure to spark a love of Shakespeare. Shakespeare is difficult enough in class or watching onstage, let alone trying to teach the stories to children, but as the author's mantra states in the book, "there is no better way to learn than to have fun! "Kids who have read this have also eventually purchased the entire Shakespeare works, and have completed 'hero' reports on Shakespeare at school. Guaranteed to have you coming back for more!
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  • Shakespeare’s As You Like It for Kids: 3 Short Melodramatic Plays for 3 Group Sizes

    Brendan P. Kelso, William Shakespeare, Shana Hallmeyer, Ron Leishman

    Paperback (Independently published, July 1, 2019)
    Who will you be? Rosalind? Orlando? Touchstone the clown? The wrestler!?!As You Like It like you have never experienced it before: quick, fun, and easy to understand. Designed for 7-17+ actors, kids, families, or anyone who wants to enjoy and perform Shakespeare's classic play.As You Like It for Kids is a play versatile enough for sibling fun, classes, drama groups, homeschool groups, or backyard performances. It's appropriate and fun for all ages! Plays range from 15 to 25 minutes. Which character will your kids be?!What you will get: Fun! 3 hilarious modifications for group sizes: 7-10 9-12 12-17+ Actual lines from Shakespeare's play highlighted for easy identification Creatively funny and witty telling of the remaining script A delightfully funny rendition that is easy for ADULTS to understand too! A kid who loves Shakespeare!This mini-melodramatic masterpiece is sure to spark a love of Shakespeare. Shakespeare is difficult enough in class or watching onstage, let alone trying to teach the stories to children, but as the author's mantra states in the book, "there is no better way to learn than to have fun! "Kids who have read this have also eventually purchased the entire Shakespeare works, and have completed 'hero' reports on Shakespeare at school. Guaranteed to have you coming back for more!
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  • Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac: 3 Short Melodramatic Plays for 3 Group Sizes

    Brendan P Kelso, Suzy Newman, Ron Leishman, Shana Hallmeyer, Ryan Gottlieb

    Paperback (Independently published, Dec. 18, 2018)
    Cyrano de Bergerac like you have never read it before; quick, fun, and easy to understand. Designed for 7-21+ actors, kids of all ages, or anyone who wants to enjoy and loosely understand Edmond Rostand's classic play. What you will get: Fun! 3 melodramatic modifications for group sizes: 7-9 9-14 12-21+ Actual lines from Gladys Thomas and Mary F. Guillemard's translation of the play mixed in Creatively funny interpretations of the remaining story A delightfully funny rendition that is easy for ADULTS to understand too! A kid who loves the Classics! This mini-melodramatic masterpiece is sure to be a doorway for your child to love all the classics. Classical literature is difficult enough in class or watching on stage, let alone trying to teach the stories to children, but as the author's mantra states in the book, "there is no better way to learn than to have fun!" Guaranteed to have you and your kids coming back for more!