Title:
Charles Ives Take Me Home
Author:
Jessica Dickey
What It’s All About:
John Starr is a classical violinist. If he could have it his way, he’d be playing all over the world and creating music just like his idol, Charles Ives. Instead he’s stuck playing in Queens and getting occasional visits from his daughter, Laura. Coach Laura Starr is a no-holds-barred women’s high school basketball coach who lives, breathes, and eats basketball. You would never guess she’s John’s daughter. The two characters flow in and out of their memories of a life at odds with each other, trying desperately to share their passions with the other. All the while, Charles Ives mediates, interjects, and eventually brings them home.
Why You Should Do This Play:
There are a small handful of father-daughter relationships written for the stage, and this one is absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking. Everything about the play comes back to the joining of fragmented parts: John and his daughter, sports and art. Even the music of Charles Ives sounds scattered upon first listen, but sit with it awhile and it all comes together. And if you’re looking to expand your theatre audience, this play is one that speaks to longtime theatregoers while also attracting first timers with its music and sports references.
Need to Know:
The male characters both play the violin during the show, and Coach Starr often dribbles a basketball keeping time with the music. One of these skills may sound harder than the other, but as the play proves, they both take quite a bit of practice.
A Bit Extra:
Don’t know Charles Ives? No problem, check out one of his compositions referenced in the show here.
Photo: Kate Nowlin, Henry Stram and Drew McVety. Credit: Sara Krulwich, New York Times.
To purchase a copy of Charles Ives Take Me Home, click here, and to learn more about licensing a production, click here.
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