The Siren Song of Stephen Jay Gould

The Siren Song of Stephen Jay Gould by Benjamin Bettenbender

(2)
Productions (65)
Comedy
|
30 - 35 minutes
1 W, 1 M, 
Content Notes: Mild adult language
Set: An open space with a ledge above the set.

A man lands on a woman after trying to throw himself off a bridge in a botched suicide attempt. On the quiet riverbank, as he attends to her minor injury, he learns that she too was planning to end her life over a broken heart. An argument ensues over the relative seriousness of their respective losses, the nature of existence, and the harmful effects of the essays of biologist Stephen Jay Gould. Will this unexpected collision lead each of them back to the dark place where they started, or will they start anew?

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Pricing Information

Min. Performance Fee* $55
Standard Edition $11.99
Stage Manager Edition $24.99
Archival Video License $75

*The per performance fee begins at $55. Your per performance fee will be provided during the ordering process.


Playscripts is pleased to offer an Archival Video License for an additional $150 for full-length plays and $75 for one-act plays.

Play Details

A man lands on a woman after trying to throw himself off a bridge in a botched suicide attempt. On the quiet riverbank, as he attends to her minor injury, he learns that she too was planning to end her life over a broken heart. An argument ensues over the relative seriousness of their respective losses, the nature of existence, and the harmful effects of the essays of biologist Stephen Jay Gould. Will this unexpected collision lead each of them back to the dark place where they started, or will they start anew?

  • Comedy
  • |
  • 30 - 35 minutes
  • 1 W, 1 M, 
  • Content Notes: Mild adult language
  • Set: An open space with a ledge above the set.
  • Standard Edition ISBN: 978-1-62384-227-7

Production History

APR 25, 2024 - APR 25, 2024
Batavia High School
Batavia, IL United States
 Batavia High School Batavia, IL United States
MAR 27, 2024 - APR 10, 2024
Haven Chicago
Chicago, IL United States
 Haven Chicago Chicago, IL United States
MAR 15, 2024 - MAR 15, 2024
Frost Middle School
Vienna, VA United States
 Frost Middle School Vienna, VA United States
FEB 28, 2024 - MAR 03, 2024
Converse College
Spartanburg, SC United States
 Converse College Spartanburg, SC United States
NOV 29, 2022 - NOV 29, 2022
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville, AL United States
 Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, AL United States
FEB 18, 2022 - FEB 18, 2022
Warrenton High School
Warrenton, MO United States
 Warrenton High School Warrenton, MO United States
AUG 22, 2021 - AUG 29, 2021
ORiGiN Theatrical (Curtin University - Performance Studies)
Bentley, Western Australia Australia
 ORiGiN Theatrical (Curtin University - Performance Studies) Bentley, Western Australia Australia
APR 21, 2021 - APR 21, 2021
New Trier High School
WINNETKA, IL United States
 New Trier High School WINNETKA, IL United States
NOV 17, 2020 - NOV 17, 2020
Episcopal School of Acadiana
Broussard, LA United States
 Episcopal School of Acadiana Broussard, LA United States
AUG 30, 2020 - AUG 30, 2020
Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson, TN United States
 Freed-Hardeman University Henderson, TN United States
MAY 03, 2019 - MAY 03, 2019
Batavia High School
Batavia, IL United States
 Batavia High School Batavia, IL United States
NOV 16, 2018 - NOV 16, 2018
Pinnacle High School
Phoenix, AZ United States
 Pinnacle High School Phoenix, AZ United States
NOV 14, 2018 - NOV 14, 2018
Francis Marion University
Florence, SC United States
 Francis Marion University Florence, SC United States
NOV 14, 2018 - NOV 15, 2018
Kinsella Magnet School Of Performing Arts
Hartford, CT United States
 Kinsella Magnet School Of Performing Arts Hartford, CT United States
MAY 18, 2018 - MAY 18, 2018
New Trier Township High School
Winnetka, HI United States
 New Trier Township High School Winnetka, HI United States
MAY 06, 2018 - MAY 06, 2018
Theatre Wesleyan
Fort Worth, TX United States
 Theatre Wesleyan Fort Worth, TX United States
APR 30, 2017 - APR 30, 2017
Kinkaid School
Houston, TX United States
 Kinkaid School Houston, TX United States
APR 23, 2017 - APR 24, 2017
Loyola University New Orleans
New Orleans, LA United States
 Loyola University New Orleans New Orleans, LA United States
NOV 11, 2016 - NOV 13, 2016
San Diego Mesa College
San Diego, CA United States
 San Diego Mesa College San Diego, CA United States
DEC 05, 2015 - DEC 05, 2015
Directing Class
Charleston, SC United States
 Directing Class Charleston, SC United States
OCT 07, 2015 - OCT 09, 2015
Penn State Berks
Redding, PA United States
 Penn State Berks Redding, PA United States
JUN 24, 2015 - JUN 26, 2015
She Smiled Productions
Portland, ME United States
 She Smiled Productions Portland, ME United States
OCT 01, 2013 - OCT 01, 2013
Theatre Wakefield
Wakefield, QC Canada
 Theatre Wakefield Wakefield, QC Canada
MAR 16, 2013 - MAR 16, 2013
Theatre Wakefield
Lac Ste-Marie, QC Canada
 Theatre Wakefield Lac Ste-Marie, QC Canada
SEP 20, 2012 - SEP 20, 2012
Richardson High School
Richardson, TX United States
 Richardson High School Richardson, TX United States
APR 27, 2012 - APR 28, 2012
Bea Wood Studio Theatre
Wichita Falls, TX United States
 Bea Wood Studio Theatre Wichita Falls, TX United States
APR 25, 2012 - APR 28, 2012
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale, MI United States
 Hillsdale College Hillsdale, MI United States
APR 11, 2012 - APR 12, 2012
Theatrecomrades
Hastings, New Zealand
 Theatrecomrades Hastings, New Zealand
DEC 05, 2011 - DEC 05, 2011
Theatre & Communication Arts Department
McMinnville, OR United States
 Theatre & Communication Arts Department McMinnville, OR United States
NOV 30, 2011 - DEC 02, 2011
Flagler College
St. Augustine, FL United States
 Flagler College St. Augustine, FL United States
NOV 17, 2011 - NOV 17, 2011
University Lake School
Hartland, WI United States
 University Lake School Hartland, WI United States
OCT 22, 2011 - NOV 05, 2011
University Lake School
Hartland, WI United States
 University Lake School Hartland, WI United States
OCT 12, 2011 - OCT 16, 2011
Diebold Performing Arts Center
Edinboro, PA United States
 Diebold Performing Arts Center Edinboro, PA United States
MAY 27, 2011 - MAY 28, 2011
North Shore Players
Tatamagouche, NS Canada
 North Shore Players Tatamagouche, NS Canada
MAY 06, 2011 - MAY 08, 2011
The Masquers Playhouse, Inc.
Richmond, CA United States
 The Masquers Playhouse, Inc. Richmond, CA United States
APR 28, 2011 - APR 30, 2011
University Of The Fraser Valley Theatre
Chilliwack, BC Canada
 University Of The Fraser Valley Theatre Chilliwack, BC Canada
APR 08, 2011 - APR 09, 2011
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI United States
 Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI United States
MAY 10, 2010 - MAY 13, 2010
Santa Barbara City College Theatre Arts Dept.
Santa Barbara, CA United States
 Santa Barbara City College Theatre Arts Dept. Santa Barbara, CA United States
JAN 23, 2010 - JAN 23, 2010
Ames High School Speech Club
Ankeny, IA United States
 Ames High School Speech Club Ankeny, IA United States
NOV 09, 2009 - NOV 10, 2009
Wake Forest University Theatre
Winston-Salem, NC United States
 Wake Forest University Theatre Winston-Salem, NC United States
AUG 01, 2009 - AUG 08, 2009
Gorilla Tango Theatre
Chicago, IL United States
 Gorilla Tango Theatre Chicago, IL United States
MAY 15, 2009 - MAY 15, 2009
Lake Dallas High School
Corinth, TX United States
 Lake Dallas High School Corinth, TX United States
MAY 13, 2009 - MAY 13, 2009
Woodbridge Senior High Studio Theater
Woodbridge, VA United States
 Woodbridge Senior High Studio Theater Woodbridge, VA United States
APR 21, 2009 - APR 21, 2009
New Trier High School
Winnetka, IL United States
 New Trier High School Winnetka, IL United States
DEC 05, 2008 - DEC 05, 2008
University Of Central Oklahoma
Edmond, OK United States
 University Of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OK United States
OCT 14, 2008 - OCT 24, 2008
A. C. Flora High School Drama Department
Columbia, SC United States
 A. C. Flora High School Drama Department Columbia, SC United States
SEP 18, 2008 - SEP 21, 2008
Way Off-Broadway Theatre Group
Spokane, WA United States
 Way Off-Broadway Theatre Group Spokane, WA United States
JUN 26, 2008 - JUN 28, 2008
University Of Waterloo Drama Dept.
Waterloo, ON Canada
 University Of Waterloo Drama Dept. Waterloo, ON Canada
JUN 12, 2008 - JUN 14, 2008
Central Alberta Theatre
Red Deer, AB Canada
 Central Alberta Theatre Red Deer, AB Canada
APR 10, 2008 - APR 13, 2008
University Of Nevada, Reno
Reno, NV United States
 University Of Nevada, Reno Reno, NV United States
FEB 28, 2008 - MAR 02, 2008
LSU Drama
Riverside, CA United States
 LSU Drama Riverside, CA United States
NOV 06, 2007 - NOV 10, 2007
UCF BlackBox Theatre
Orlando, FL United States
 UCF BlackBox Theatre Orlando, FL United States
NOV 01, 2007 - NOV 04, 2007
Binghamton University
Binghamton, NY United States
 Binghamton University Binghamton, NY United States
OCT 25, 2007 - OCT 27, 2007
Evangel University
Springfield, MO United States
 Evangel University Springfield, MO United States
OCT 18, 2007 - NOV 02, 2007
A C Flora High School
Columbia, SC United States
 A C Flora High School Columbia, SC United States
OCT 04, 2007 - OCT 06, 2007
Carleton College
Northfield, MN United States
 Carleton College Northfield, MN United States
SEP 28, 2007 - OCT 13, 2007
N/A
APO, AE United States
 N/A APO, AE United States
APR 17, 2007 - APR 21, 2007
Clemson University
Clemson, SC United States
 Clemson University Clemson, SC United States
MAR 05, 2007 - MAR 05, 2007
Showplace Theatre
Peterborough, ON Canada
 Showplace Theatre Peterborough, ON Canada
FEB 23, 2007 - MAR 30, 2007
Acting Unlimited, Inc. And Evangeline Players
St. Martinville, LA United States
 Acting Unlimited, Inc. And Evangeline Players St. Martinville, LA United States
DEC 11, 2006 - DEC 12, 2006
Illinois College
Jacksonville, IL United States
 Illinois College Jacksonville, IL United States
OCT 06, 2006 - OCT 06, 2006
Phillips Academy
Andover, MA United States
 Phillips Academy Andover, MA United States
SEP 23, 2006 - SEP 23, 2006
All Things Art
Canandaigua, NY United States
 All Things Art Canandaigua, NY United States
SEP 21, 2006 - SEP 24, 2006
Webster University
St. Louis, MO United States
 Webster University St. Louis, MO United States
SEP 19, 2006 - SEP 29, 2006
Bridewell Theatre/ Giudecca
London, United Kingdom
 Bridewell Theatre/ Giudecca London, United Kingdom
No upcoming productions.
JUN 24, 2015 - JUN 26, 2015
She Smiled Productions
Portland, ME United States
 She Smiled Productions Portland, ME United States

Archival Video License

Playscripts is pleased to offer an Archival Video License to add to your order for an additional $150 for full-length plays and $75 for one-act plays.

This allows you to record one of your live performances for your internal archives only. This cannot be streamed.

For more information, please reach out to [email protected]

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