about the play
With Southern Gothic comedy and deep poetic spirit, THE PRICELESS SLAVE explores the true story of George Paysinger, an antebellum slave-architect. Paysinger finds his art (and life's work) inextricably enmeshed with his own bondage. As Paysinger decides whether or not to attempt an escape, three women on the plantation consider fleeing the restrictions of their own social positions. Also, Thomas Jefferson shows up, despite being dead.
MOTTO
Encourage fun, discourage sadism.
CAST REQUIREMENTS
Four women, two men.
PLAY LENGTH
108 pages, with a run-time of two hours.
LYN GARDNER
...Played a role in determining the play's structure. Her blog informed the use of verse, the ratio of women to men, etcetera.
SPECIAL THANKS
...to Professor James Loehlin, Brenda Demery, Suzanna Maria Meyer, dramaturg Heather Helinksy, and the Bossier Parish Historical Library.
COHEN NEW WORKS
Under the direction of Gary Jaffe (and under the supervision of Franchelle Dorn), the play received a fully-staged workshop production at the 2013 Cohen New Works Festival presented by the University Co-Op. Thank you, Cohen! The workshop took place under the organizational umbrella of Spirit of Shakespeare, a performing arts club managed by Professor Alan W Friedman. Madge Darlington of the Rude Mechanicals gave us especially helpful feedback and thoughts on our work.
MOTTO
Encourage fun, discourage sadism.
CAST REQUIREMENTS
Four women, two men.
PLAY LENGTH
108 pages, with a run-time of two hours.
LYN GARDNER
...Played a role in determining the play's structure. Her blog informed the use of verse, the ratio of women to men, etcetera.
SPECIAL THANKS
...to Professor James Loehlin, Brenda Demery, Suzanna Maria Meyer, dramaturg Heather Helinksy, and the Bossier Parish Historical Library.
COHEN NEW WORKS
Under the direction of Gary Jaffe (and under the supervision of Franchelle Dorn), the play received a fully-staged workshop production at the 2013 Cohen New Works Festival presented by the University Co-Op. Thank you, Cohen! The workshop took place under the organizational umbrella of Spirit of Shakespeare, a performing arts club managed by Professor Alan W Friedman. Madge Darlington of the Rude Mechanicals gave us especially helpful feedback and thoughts on our work.