Original Works Publishing Releases Two American History Plays

Original Works Publishing's latest releases focus on two periods in American history rarely heard about. OWP is known for its catalog of bold and original plays, but another area of great passion for the company is American history plays. "Telling a true story from our history in a unique and fulfilling way is no less original than creating something that is pure fiction. The fine line for OWP is that the piece can't be an adaptation, it must be the playwrights unique vision for the events that actually took place." says Original Works president Jason Aaron Goldberg. Goldberg himself has written American history plays, most recently THE CONFESSIONS OF DEACON JIM: a true western tale for the stage, developed at the Pasadena Playhouse Hothouse.

The first new release, available now, is "Bea[u]tiful in the Extreme" by UCLA playwriting instructor Leon Martell. It received its premiere production in Los Angeles by the Colony Theatre, where the Los Angeles Times called it "artfully interwoven history."

"Bea[u]tiful in the Extreme" Synopsis: America, 1809. Barely in his thirties, Meriwether Lewis, with his friend and partner William Clark, had led an expedition across the continent and back. He was a national hero, the governor of the Louisiana Territory, and he killed himself. Bea[u]tiful in the Extreme, his own words to describe the prairie, follows Meriwether Lewis as he wrestles the demons in his mind. Between the time of his first suicide attempt on a flat boat down the Mississippi, and his final self execution in an inn on the Natchez trace, Lewis relives the triumphs and trials of his epic journey. With Thomas Jefferson, his mentor, Sacagawea the native girl as his guide, and William Clark, his friend, anchor and in many ways soul mate, he struggles to find meaning in all he has seen and done. A warrior faces evil spirits, broken dreams, and politicians in his final battle. Whiskey, meat, laughs, and laudanum on the long trail to immortality.

The second new title, available May 16, is "Censored on Final Approach" by Marquette University professor Phylis Ravel. It premiered at Hofstra University in the mid-90s but has since been reworked and was recently staged at Marquette. Dramatists Guild Executive Director Gary Garrison called the work "A beautifully rendered, character-driven drama, Censored on Final Approach is ideal for any theatre company looking to produce ensemble work. With an assortment of well-crafted, complex roles for women, this fascinating, historical drama should be a must-produce for any college theatre program."

"Censored on Final Approach" Synopsis: During World War II a select number of female pilots were selected to serve as WASPs, Women Air Service Pilots. They were not embraced by their male counterparts and struggled for acceptance daily. After the war, four WASPs meet to reminisce about their challenges and successes. The conversation soon shifts to a redacted report about a fellow pilot who was killed while trying to land her aircraft. What really happened? Someone knows the truth. Censored on Final Approach journeys into a time and place often left out of the history books.

Copies may be purchased via the OWP website, www.originalworksonline.com. Kindle editions for both titles are available now via the Amazon Kindle Store.

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