The Taming eScriptAvailable

The Taming by Lauren Gunderson

(17)
Productions (136)
Comedy
|
85 - 90 minutes
3 W, 
Content Notes: Adult language and content.
Set: Unit set.

Tweetering, pandashrews, and undying giddiness for James Madison -- what else could you expect to find at a Miss America pageant? In this hilarious, raucous, all-female "power-play" inspired by Shakespeare's Shrew, contestant Katherine has political aspirations to match her beauty pageant ambitions. All she needs to revolutionize the American government is the help of one ultra-conservative senator's aide on the cusp of a career breakthrough, and one bleeding-heart liberal blogger who will do anything for her cause. Well, that and a semi-historically-accurate ether trip. Here's lookin' at you, America. Read More

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Play Details

Tweetering, pandashrews, and undying giddiness for James Madison -- what else could you expect to find at a Miss America pageant? In this hilarious, raucous, all-female "power-play" inspired by Shakespeare's Shrew, contestant Katherine has political aspirations to match her beauty pageant ambitions. All she needs to revolutionize the American government is the help of one ultra-conservative senator's aide on the cusp of a career breakthrough, and one bleeding-heart liberal blogger who will do anything for her cause. Well, that and a semi-historically-accurate ether trip. Here's lookin' at you, America.

More at: thetamingplay.tumblr.com

NOTE: This is the 3rd play in the Shakespeare Cycle, a series of contemporary comedies based on Shakespeare's plays. See Exit, Pursued by a Bear and Toil and Trouble for the other plays in this series.

  • Comedy
  • |
  • 85 - 90 minutes
  • 3 W, 
  • Content Notes: Adult language and content.
  • Set: Unit set.
  • Standard Edition ISBN: 978-1-62384-703-6

Published Reviews

Lauren Gunderson's clever play The Taming forces us with humor and provocation to take a hard look at the phenomenon of a democracy in action.

Julie McHale, gmtoday

"So many hysterical lines in the play that you'd hardly finish laughing at one before the next hit you."

KQED Arts

"Gunderson's Taming is a laugh riot with some timely food for thought."

Rob Hurwitt, San Francisco Chronicle

"The Taming has much to offer that is pointed, thought-provoking and laugh-out-loud funny."

Chad Jones, Theater Dogs

"The most tremendously entertaining civics lesson you're likely to see."

Sam Hurwitt, The Idiolect

Production History

JAN 25, 2024 - JAN 25, 2024
The Little Theatre Of Alexandria
Alexandria, VA United States
The Little Theatre Of AlexandriaAlexandria, VA United States
JUL 20, 2023 - JUL 23, 2023
Live Arts Theatre
Berkeley Lake, GA United States
Live Arts TheatreBerkeley Lake, GA United States
APR 07, 2023 - APR 15, 2023
The Tipping Point Theatre Company
Columbus, OH United States
The Tipping Point Theatre CompanyColumbus, OH United States
NOV 17, 2022 - NOV 20, 2022
Grayson College
Denison, TX United States
Grayson CollegeDenison, TX United States
NOV 11, 2022 - NOV 13, 2022
Springfield College Theater
Springfield, MA United States
Springfield College TheaterSpringfield, MA United States
OCT 29, 2022 - OCT 29, 2022
The Sharon Playhouse
Sharon, CT United States
The Sharon PlayhouseSharon, CT United States
OCT 20, 2022 - OCT 29, 2022
Southwest Minnesota State University
Marshall, MN United States
Southwest Minnesota State UniversityMarshall, MN United States
OCT 20, 2022 - OCT 30, 2022
Lean ensemble theater
Hilton Head, SC United States
Lean ensemble theaterHilton Head, SC United States
SEP 30, 2022 - OCT 08, 2022
Village Players of Fort Thomas
Fort Thomas, KY United States
Village Players of Fort ThomasFort Thomas, KY United States
SEP 09, 2022 - OCT 09, 2022
Krista Schafer Ewbank
Trenton, MI United States
Krista Schafer EwbankTrenton, MI United States
1 of 14
No upcoming productions.
OCT 29, 2022 - OCT 29, 2022
The Sharon Playhouse
Sharon, CT United States
The Sharon PlayhouseSharon, CT United States
OCT 20, 2022 - OCT 30, 2022
Lean ensemble theater
Hilton Head, SC United States
Lean ensemble theaterHilton Head, SC United States
OCT 13, 2021 - OCT 24, 2021
WaterTower Theatre
Addison, TX United States
WaterTower TheatreAddison, TX United States
SEP 25, 2019 - NOV 01, 2019
Cape May Stage
Cape May, NJ United States
Cape May StageCape May, NJ United States
MAR 28, 2019 - APR 14, 2019
Shaker Bridge Theatre
Enfield, NH United States
Shaker Bridge TheatreEnfield, NH United States
OCT 08, 2018 - NOV 18, 2018
CoHo Productions
PORTLAND, OR United States
CoHo ProductionsPORTLAND, OR United States
AUG 14, 2018 - AUG 14, 2018
Santa Cruz Shakespeare
Santa Cruz, CA United States
Santa Cruz ShakespeareSanta Cruz, CA United States
JUL 13, 2018 - JUL 28, 2018
Hub Theatre Company Of Boston
Boston, MA United States
Hub Theatre Company Of BostonBoston, MA United States
JUN 01, 2018 - JUN 24, 2018
Synchronicity Theatre
Atlanta, GA United States
Synchronicity TheatreAtlanta, GA United States
SEP 21, 2017 - OCT 22, 2017
Williamston Theatre
Williamston, MI United States
Williamston TheatreWilliamston, MI United States
1 of 3

Awards (2)

Best of The Bay 2013 (Theater Dogs, San Francisco)

Top 10 Plays (The Stranger, Seattle)

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