# STUFF! A Curious Collection 

## Metadata

- Slug: stuff-a-curious-collection
- Type: Short Play
- Genre: Dramedy
- Acts: 1 act
- Duration: 40–60 minutes
- Cast:
  - Medium (7-14)
  - Large (15+)
- Cast Summary: 7 to 20+, m/f 
- Movement Requirements: Minimal, flexible, with strong opportunity for robust movement work.
- Technical Requirements: Minimal, flexible
- Performing Groups:
  - High School/Secondary
  - Theatre for Young Audiences
- Primary Image: https://content.uproartheatrics.com/xyiq4wcax6vo453glxx3i9pl71vx

---

## Authors

- By Sandra Fenichel Asher (author slug: sandra-fenichel-asher)

## Overview

*STUFF! A Curious Collection* playfully explores the power of *stuff* to inspire story creation, and the power of *story* to heal broken spirits and build community. Born from a collaboration between at-risk teens and theatre professionals, this theatrical fantasia for young actors and audiences** features deeply flexible casting, and fantastic opportunity for robust and playful physical theatre.
Five young people who have lost their zest for life, for a variety of genuine and recognizable reasons, are called into an imagined world where a blank book awaits their individual and group stories.  As they share the stories that have frozen each of them in an unhappy state, they begin to appreciate one another and understand themselves.  Soon, they are combining their real-life odds and ends into a gloriously silly — and restorative — group story.  Having arrived alone, the five young people depart together, no longer imprisoned by their stories but owning them.
*It has been found that a really gifted, trained, adult physical theatre actor in the role of Stuff inspires both the cast and audiences to new heights of creativity and enjoyment.  However, young people can also thrive in the role.*

## Cast

| Name | Description |
| ---- | ---- |
| A NOTE ON CASTING: | May be played by actors representing whatever variations of human being are locally available.  All are welcome.  Cast size is flexible. For a larger cast, STORY CHARACTERS may be played by additional actors, with or without use of puppets, all imagined into being by the ONES as they create their group story.  STUFF's role can be divided among additional actors, all non-speaking, either as equals or as assistants to a single leading STUFF.
 |
| M.C. (Master of Creativity) | The embodiment of the human drive to find purpose, community and healing through shared stories.  Upbeat, confident, and welcoming.  |
| STUFF |  A non-speaking personification of odds and ends of absolutely no significance except when paired with human creativity.  In this play, as in life, STUFF calls to us, teases us, tickles us, troubles us, inspires us – and, in so doing, evokes the human creativity required to realize its own potential.   |
| SOME ONE | Upper teens, loves to read and write stories. Also plays story characters 	MINEY, TRAVEL AGENT, LARRY, PUPPET CURLY, and PUPPET MOE.
 |
| ANY ONE | Early teens, a visual artist who loves to play dress-up and finds costume pieces for others as indicated. Also plays story character MOTHER. |
| EACH ONE | A drummer who loves to play with all kinds of sound and helps to create sound effects as indicated. Also plays story characters FATHER, LION, and PUPPET WHALE.
 |
| EVERY ONE | Upper teens, born to dance. Also plays the story characters MEENY and TOUR GUIDE.
 |
| OTHER ONE | The youngest of the ONES, grieving for a beloved pet. Also plays story character EENY and shares operation of PUPPET MOE.
 |

## Materials

### Available for additional fee:

| Name | Description |
| ---- | ----------- |
| 60-Minute Talkback with the Creators | A 60-minute Zoom/Google Meet with one or more of the show's creator(s). Licensees and guests can ask questions, share experiences, and hear about the artistic journey of the show and creative team. This can be scheduled before or after the performances. If we are unable to make scheduling work, the cost will be refunded. |
| Video Recording License | License to create an archival recording of the show that may be distributed to the cast and crew. This does not allow publicly posting the performance. |