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The Empty Pot

When the emperor, who is saddled with two egotistical sons and their jealous and scheming mothers, realizes that it is time to choose a successor to the throne, he is horrified at the prospects in his own palace and turns to the villagers.

  • Full Length Play
  • Comedy, Drama
  • 75 minutes

  • Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences
  • Set Requirements: Area Staging

  • Performance Group:
  • Community Theatre, High School/Secondary, Elementary School / Primary
Ming is a young Chinese boy who, like the emperor, loves to grow beautiful flowers. Ming's grandfather, near his death and in constant communication with the "Dead Ancestors," is Ming's greatest teacher; he sees Ming's skills as the foundation for the philosophy of a great leader.

When the emperor, who is saddled with two egotistical sons and their jealous and scheming mothers, realizes that it is time to choose a successor to the throne, he is horrified at the prospects in his own palace and turns to the villagers with the help of his good friend and confidant, Sun Li.

The emperor puts out a decree that all subjects receive a seed, and, in a years time, each person must bring to the emperor his or her best effort.

Comedy and plotting ensue as the emperor's sons, Sam Pu and Wong Weh, do their level best to be the successors to the throne. The villagers are put to the test as to how they will respond to the emperor's decree, and Ming, who has now lost his biggest advocate, feels alone and unsuccessful in his attempts to grow a beautiful flower.

Will integrity prevail? Or is the desire for the most powerful seat in the kingdom too great a reward to stay true to oneself? A years time will tell. 

  • Casting: 7M, 4F, 15M or F

Name Price
The Empty Pot Script Order Now

Ming is a young Chinese boy who, like the emperor, loves to grow beautiful flowers. Minges grandfather, near his death and in constant communication with the eDead Ancestors, e is Minges greatest teacher; he sees Minges skills as the foundation for the philosophy of a great leader. When the emperor, who is saddled with two egotistical sons and their jealous and scheming mothers, realizes that it is time to choose a successor to the throne, he is horrified at the prospects in his own palace and turns to the villagers with the help of his good friend and confidant, Sun Li. The emperor puts out a decree that all subjects receive a seed, and, in a yeares time, each person must bring to the emperor his or her best effort. Comedy and plotting ensue as the emperores sons, Sam Pu and Wong Weh, do their level best to be the successors to the throne. The villagers are put to the test as to how they will respond to the emperores decree, and Ming, who has now lost his biggest advocate, feels alone and unsuccessful in his attempts to grow a beautiful flower. Will integrity prevail Or is the desire for the most powerful seat in the kingdom too great a reward to stay true to oneself A yeares time will tell. Area staging. Approximate running time: 75 minutes.

$19.95