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This Is Not a Pipe Dream

"Charming and extraordinary... If the life of a surrealist painter seems like a peculiar subject for young audiences, you should be aware of one of the many achievements of This Is Not a Pipe Dream... Audiences will leave with an appreciation for the power to transform the ordinary into the wonderful."

The New York Times

More information

Description

  • Full Length Play
  • Drama
  • 50 minutes

  • Target Audience: Teen (Age 14 - 18), Appropriate for all audiences, Adult
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings

  • Performance Group:
  • Community Theatre, College Theatre / Student

  • Accolades:
  • Winner! AATE Distinguished Play Award
Based freely on the work and early life of surrealist artist Rene Magritte, this is an unorthodox adventure in theatrical form. It celebrates art and the imagination and the ways in which these help us confront life's mysteries.

Here is the story of young Rene who wants to be an artist, a notion dismissed by his father as a pipe dream. Encouraged by his mother, before her untimely death, the boy begins his quest. He follows his vision into the delightfully absurd magic-realism of his famous paintings. The boy and the audience discover something of the true power of dreams and the triumph of imagination.

The multi-image dramatic staging incorporates spectacular color images of Rene Magritte's artwork. 
REVIEWS:

"Charming and extraordinary. If the life of a surrealist painter seems like a peculiar subject for young audiences, you should be aware of one of the many achievements of The Is Not a Pipe Dream... Audiences will leave with an appreciation for the power to transform the ordinary into the wonderful."

 The New York Times

"Hats off!... An innovative, risk-taking venture... one of the best productions of this theatrical season for audiences of any age... Hilariously ridiculous... hauntingly magical... The clowning will have you guaffawing in spite of yourself, and the images of loneliness and loss are so palpable that they can't help but provoke goose bumps."

 The Chicago Tribune

"Kornhauser's exploration of theater, art and reality is... fed by Magritte's observations and signature images. [In] this unusual fantasy romp... fittingly, little is quite what it seems... This sometimes thoughtful, sometimes wacky play deliberately keeps the audience guessing about the nature of reality."

 The Los Angeles Times

Premiere Production: Acclaimed productions at Childsplay in Arizona, Asolo Repertory Theatre in Florida, the Honolulu Theatre for Youth and the Fulton Opera House in Pennsylvania.

Characters

  • Casting: 2M, 2F, 1M or F

Available Material

Name Price
This Is Not a Pipe Dream Script Order Now

Based freely on the work and early life of surrealist artist Rene Magritte, this is an unorthodox adventure in theatrical form. It celebrates art and the imagination and the ways in which these help us confront life's mysteries. Here is the story of young Rene who wants to be an artist, a notion dismissed by his father as a pipe dream. Encouraged by his mother, before her untimely death, the boy begins his quest. He follows his vision into the delightfully absurd magic-realism of his famous paintings. The boy and the audience discover something of the true power of dreams and the triumph of imagination. The multi-image dramatic staging incorporates spectacular color images of Rene Magritte's artwork. Unit set. Approximate running time: 50 minutes.

Also Available:

CD (color art images set for projection)

 $19.95

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