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Plays by Students in the 826michigan Theater Writers Club, Summer 2021

I CAN SEnsE MAGicAl FoRcEs Plays by Students in the 826michigan Theater Writers Club, Summer 2021

826 National’s Commitment to Inclusion As an organization committed to encouraging youth in their creative expression, personal growth, and academic success, 826 National and its chapters recognize the importance of diversity at all levels and in all aspects of our work. In order to build and maintain the safe, supportive 826 environment in which great leaps of learning occur, we commit to inclusion: We will not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, nationality, marital status, English fluency, parental status, immigration status, military service, or disability.

826michigan Staff Dr. Naimah Wade, Executive Director Judy Tipton, Development Director Catherine Calabro Cavin, Education Director Frances Martin, Operations Director Megan Gilson, Program Manager Michael Spaeth, Development & Communications Coordinator Caitlin Koska, Volunteer & Program Coordinator

Copyright © 2021 by 826michigan and Blotch Books.

All rights reserved by 826michigan, the many whims of Drs. T & G Blotch, the illustrators, and the authors.

The views expressed in this book are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of 826michigan.

We believe in the power of youth voice and are thrilled that you picked up this book. No part of this book may be reproduced without express written permission from the publisher, except for small excerpts for the purposes of review or scholarly study.

Printed at 826michigan By purchasing this book, you are helping 826michigan continue to offer free student programs. For more information, please visit: 826michigan.org

Also published by 826Michigan . . . An Incomplete List Young Authors Book Project The Book of Many Wisdoms: Advice & Adventure from Ms. Islam’s Third-grade Class Because No One Else Could Do It In Our Defense In the Clouds Over Ypsilanti A Moment to Remember Rare Air / Aire raro A Lantern of Fireflies Tell Me How It Was Where Is It Coming From?

Enjoy! Recipes for Building Community All I Could Do Was Look Up: Anatomy of a Middle School What to Call the Place I Call Home: Voices of 26 Ypsilanti Middle School Students The Moons Were Jealous 2020: Visions of the [Near] Future Don’t Stay Up So Late How to Rise Or, I Put My Heart into the Close Tall Tales & True Stories Suddenly My Heart Stopped for Just a Small Portion of Time: Defining Moments OMNIBUS 826michigan OMNIBUS 1 826michigan OMNIBUS 2 826michigan OMNIBUS 3 826michigan OMNIBUS 4 826michigan OMNIBUS 5 826michigan OMNIBUS 6

826michigan OMNIBUS 7 826michigan OMNIBUS 8 826michigan OMNIBUS 9 826michigan OMNIBUS X 826michigan OMNIBUS 11 826michigan OMNIBUS 12

Acknowledgments A big thank you to everyone who made this program possible, including Bates Academy in Detroit, 826michigan staff, volunteers, and interns, our young authors, and their supportive families.

Theater Writers Club Interns & Volunteers: Lily Grantham Teanne Davis Michelle Ascrizzi Allie Beach Susan Morrel-Samuels Jonathan Townley Mikaela Trowbridge Ray Ugaz

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Contents Acknowledgments. . ................................................................ iv About 826michigan’s Summer 2021 Theater Writers Club........ vi Realm Protector..................................................................... 1 Clyde Musehl and Collaborators

The Lost Friendship Collar..................................................... 7 Ariana Staley, Michelle Horne, Niara Saulsberry, and Terra Jones

About 826michigan............................................................... 12 The 826 Stand....................................................................... 13 Writing Core Values............................................................... 14

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About 826michigan’s Summer 2021 Theater Writers Club This summer, we partnered with Bates Academy in Detroit to host Theater Writers Club, an eightsession virtual workshop series where students in grades three through five crafted scripts in small groups, flexed their theatrical muscles and improv skills, and engaged in frequent dress rehearsals as they practiced reading from the perspective of the characters they created. At the end of the summer, everyone gathered with family and friends to perform their new stories, complete with homemade props, costumes, and backgrounds.

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Realm Protector Clyde Musehl, Homeschool, Age 10 and Collaborators BACKGROUND Realm Protector is an action-adventure story with mythical creatures of different races who started a war many years ago. Three thousand years later, Void, who is a chosen hero, rises up with some of his friends and stops those who broke the seal!

In this story there are sixteen realms, and all are in different biomes—some are flying, some are under the sea, and some are mainland (fire, nature, water, and air). Realms are like different branches of reality. Characters can even travel between realms using a realm crystal or by teleporting. Additionally in the sixteen realms, there is a universe, a multiverse, the omniverse, and a celestial universe.

CHARACTERS Void Samael Darkfire, who wears red and black with a jacket, has a power level of one hundred twenty thousand, magical power of blackout (which can remove the sight of any being), has a scytheromancer (which can control other scythes), can travel to different realms by teleporting, and goes on adventures with the characters Jake and Karma. Void has a special ability called Midnight Nova (or nicknamed the “hate ball”) that is active when it's a full moon, and it obliterates most enemies, but he doesn’t use it due to the area of damage. Void’s other powers are Invasion (he can hijack the mind of any being) and Love Commandment (any being with hate in their heart loses the will to fight).

Jake is laid back and chill. Jake is also an oni, or an “onium maximum” (an ultra shapeshifter). He can project the form of anything, but the larger and stronger the form is, the more energy he uses. If he projects several forms at once, he can run out pretty fast. He can only morph three times in one day before he loses power.

Karma is a more serious character and takes her job seriously. She oversees all karma in the realms.

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Insanity is a mania, a spirit of insanity. Insanity was given to Void when he was four years old. If Void runs out of energy, Insanity helps him. Void and Insanity are able to fuse together. He is the one who gave Void his scythe ability. When he fuses with Void, Void’s eyes turn from red to midnight black.

Fangstral is one of our antagonists. He has a cool, human-sized lego car and a magic stick that does what he wants it to do. Fangstral has different powers but is also good at combat. Fangstral also has his own henchmen, but they are not with him by choice. He stole them and hypnotized them.

Title: Realm Protector Characters: Void Samael Darkfire

Fangstral’s henchmen

Insanity

Narrator

Jake

Hoodles

Karma

Hair Dude King

Fangstral

Horn Thing

The Script: SCENE 1 NARRATOR: (In a dramatic voice) “Void is hunting something in a forest in the tree realm with Insanity.”

VOID: “Insanity, charge your weapons, and if you see it, tell me.”

INSANITY: “What if I don’t want to?”

VOID: “This isn’t the time for that! We have to get this­ —” NARRATOR: “Void is cut off as something hits him. It’s a hair dude!

Void has twisted in the air as he is hit. He turns around and shouts . . .”

VOID: “Scytheranium!”

NARRATOR: “Void has summoned his two-handed scythe. Void slashes at the hair dude several times until he successfully knocks him out.

The hair dude falls back into a bunch of hoodles. The hoodles are angry and attack Void!”

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HOODLES: “HOODLE!” NARRATOR: “The hoodle shoots a flare and millions more come. The hoodle’s weakness is cookies, and Void can summon cookies at will using his necromancy power.”

VOID: “That was quite tiring. Maybe I should go take a nap so I can charge my magical powers.”

NARRATOR: “Fangstral is watching from the shadows, and he retreats in disappointment. When Fangstral walks away he gets mad at another hair dude (this is the Hair Dude King) and says . . .”

FANGSTRAL: “You failed.”

SCENE 2 NARRATOR: “Later in the hair dude cave . . .”

HAIR DUDE KING: “Fangstral, this creature is called a hornovveis.

Hornovveis is strong so it could help you attack Void.”

FANGSTRALl: “Cool! What does it taste like?”

HAIR DUDE KING: “No! Don’t eat it.”

FANGSTRAL: (Fangstral replies happily) “Fine. You failed before, but maybe it will work this time. I’ll use it to attack Void while I try to steal his powers that are hidden in the realms.”

HAIR DUDE KING: “The hornovveis has three heads: one head breathes ice, the second breathes fire, and the third head breathes wind.”

SCENE 3 NARRATOR: “Meanwhile, back in the tree realm . . . Void is lazing around, asleep in a hammock. There is a shadow looming over him. The figure then flicks Void on his nose.”

VOID: “Ow!” NARRATOR: “Void looks to his left to see a girl standing there.”

KARMA: “You need to stop lazing around and take your job more seriously.”

VOID: “We’ll be fine, we have plenty of time.”

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KARMA: “Yes, yes, I know, but we still can’t be lazy. We have to be serious about this. Now come on, help me find Jake.”

NARRATOR: “Void groans and hops out of the hammock. Karma grabs his hand and they take off into the forest.”

KARMA: “We lost Jake yesterday and he still hasn’t come back. How are you not worried?”

VOID: “Jake is resourceful. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

KARMA: “I know he’s resourceful, but he could be in danger.”

VOID: “Well, danger is my middle name.”

INSANITY: “It’s actually Samael.”

VOID: “I don’t need your corrections right now.”

KARMA: “Just whatever. We need to keep working.”

VOID: “Sure. Wanna take a shortcut?”

KARMA: “What do you mean, a short—” NARRATOR: “In that instant, Void spreads some wings, grabs Karma, and takes off into the sky.”

FANGSTRAL: “MLEH MLEH MLEH!” NARRATOR: “Insanity makes his voice sound like Fangstral’s and says:” INSANITY: (In a funny tone) “MLEH MLEH MLEH!” NARRATOR: “After this happens, Void and Karma start bursting out laughing!”

FANGSTRAL: “You won’t be laughing when I bring out my minions.”

VOID: “What minions?”

FANGSTRAL: “You hurt my feelings, feel the wrath of the HORN THING!” NARRATOR: “There is a roar above Void and Karma as a creature is smashing down on them!”

KARMA: “LOOK OUT!” NARRATOR: “Karma tackles Void out of the way.”

VOID: “What was that for? I’m sure I would have been fine.”

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NARRATOR: “Void and Karma both spawn their weapons and prepare themselves to face the horn thing. But meanwhile, Fangstral is in the background preparing something. The monster growls with all three of its heads.”

HORN THING: “Growwwlll . . .”

KARMA: “What is that thing?”

VOID: “I don’t know, but it looks really hungry!”

INSANITY: “I bet you two wouldn’t even taste good!”

VOID: “Hey Insanity?”

INSANITY: “Yes?” VOID: “Shut up, please.”

NARRATOR: “Fangstral slams his magic stick into the ground, and it spawns a magical ring.”

KARMA: “Wait, that’s a hornavveis, not a horn thing!”

NARRATOR: “Fangstral blasts Void, which ends up scattering his power.

Karma is having trouble with the hornovveis. They get backed into a tree by the hornovveis. Void tries to use his powers but they seem to be gone.”

INSANITY: “Where is your power?”

VOID: “If I knew I would be using them.”

NARRATOR: “Fangstral’s car crashes through the forest.”

FANGSTRAL: “You lose. Goodbye.”

NARRATOR: “The hornovveis is about to chomp down on Void and Karma.

Then, a large flash happens above the hornovveis. A giant dragon swoops down, roaring. It eats the hornovveis whole! Karma and Void are surprised.”

INSANITY: “Is that . . . ?”

NARRATOR: “The dragon lands and shrinks to a human-like figure.”

JAKE: “Yo! What’d I miss?”

KARMA & VOID: “Jake!”

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NARRATOR: “The two run over to him. Karma scolds him for getting lost while Void just looks at him, wondering where he was.”

VOID: “Where were you?”

JAKE: “Oh. I’ve been . . . uhh . . . air . . . bathing.”

KARMA: “Air bathing?”

VOID: “What’s ‘air bathing?’”

KARMA: “It’s an action flying creatures do. The more wind, the faster they fly.”

INSANITY: “You have a pet dragon, how do you not know this?”

JAKE: “Well, we have work to do. I saw what happened. Your powers . . . they’re gone.”

VOID & KARMA: “WHAT?” (Dramatic music.)

NARRATOR: “Coming soon . . . ” VOID: “What exactly is . . . that?”

JAKE: “An orb.”

(Coughing and growling in the darkness and a figure roars.)

INSANITY: “That’s not good . . . ” END OF PLAY

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The Lost Friendship Collar Ariana Staley, Bates Academy, Age 10 Michelle Horne, Bates Academy, Age 10 Niara Saulsberry, Bates Academy, Age 12 Terra Jones, Detroit Enterprise Academy, Age 11 BACKGROUND Shilo and Buddy the Dog are friends, but then they break apart after a fight and now have to find a way to become friends again. Buddy gets mad at Shilo because she loses something that was important to Buddy. Buddy then messes up Shilo’s house, and Shilo says she will never forgive him. Shilo loses Buddy’s collar from his past owner.

Ally the unicorn and Buddy go out to look for the collar since Shilo lost it. Abigail and Shilo become friends and talk while the Dog and unicorn talk and become friends.

Then they all get lost in the forest. They all find each other and settle their arguments and all four become great friends.

CHARACTERS Abigail is a human who likes going on adventures and exploring. She's short. She has glitter shoes and a glitter top. Her hair is tan-ish.

And she loves mac and cheese and enjoys dancing.

Shilo, also a human, likes nature and appreciates art from things she finds outside. She has pink and black shoes, black curly hair, and always wears her favorite green shirt.

Ally, who is a unicorn, has pink and purple glitter powers she can shoot from her horn. She can also clean your room with her powers.

She has a white tail but the rest of her is pink, purple, yellow, and red. In the sunlight she glows. She is iridescent.

Buddy is a Magical Dog that saves lives. He can shoot fire out of his mouth and he can fly! He also knows the future and is light brown with green eyes.

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Title: The Lost Friendship Collar Characters: Narrator

Ally the Unicorn

Shilo

Buddy the Dog

Abigail

The Script: SCENE 1 NARRATOR: “Down in the west part of the forest, there was a Magical Dog and a human fighting over the Dog’s magical collar.”

SHILO: “What are you doing?” (towards Buddy the Dog).

BUDDY: “Give it back!”

SHILO: “I will never forgive you for what you’re doing! I will not give it back!”

BUDDY: “If you don’t give it back, I will ruin the house!”

NARRATOR: “As the characters get mad at each other, the Dog barks (he has a powerful bark) and the whole house gets burnt down.”

BUDDY: Barks loudly.

SHILO: “NOOOOO! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!” NARRATOR: “The Dog barks sadly, and disappears. He can only do simple magic without his collar.”

BUDDY: Barks softly.

NARRATOR: “Meanwhile on the other side of the forest:” ALLY & ABIGAIL: “What was that?”

ALLY: “I need you to check that force out.”

ABIGAIL: “OK I’ll do it.”

SCENE 2 NARRATOR: “When Buddy teleports he disappears into the middle of the forest. During the teleportation, the collar is lost as well.

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Abigail and Ally go separate ways to find out what that force is and where it is coming from.”

SHILO: “UGH! I can’t believe he did that!”

ABIGAIL: “Are you OK?” SHILO: “No, I’m not OK! Someone just burned my house down!”

ABIGAIL: “OK . . . ? Why did someone burn your house down?”

SHILO: “OK fine, this is what really happened. I took this dog’s collar because I thought I could gain magical powers just like him, but it didn’t work. Wait, why am I telling you this? Who are you anyways?”

ABIGAIL: “Oh, I’m Abigail, and you are?”

SHILO: “I’m Shilo.”

ABIGAIL: “You said something about a magical collar, right?”

SHILO: “Yes, it was my friend's, his name was Buddy. I just lost it too, it just randomly disappeared.”

ABIGAIL: “Well, how about we go look for this collar.”

NARRATOR: “Then the girls begin walking into the forest in search of the lost collar, becoming friends along the way. On the other side of the forest, Ally has found Buddy and they are sitting next to each other.”

BUDDY: “So what type of powers do you have? (Buddy says to himself) Maybe she can help me find the collar.”

ALLY: “My powers are that I can clean your room super fast, I shoot glitter out of my horn, fly, glow in the sun, and I can sense magical forces!”

BUDDY: “Cool! Can you help me find my collar then?”

ALLY: “Yes, I think I can help you find your collar, and it'll be helpful for me to help improve my sensing skills!”

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SCENE 3 NARRATOR: “Now the two teams are racing for the collar, an animal versus human race! In the midst of the race, friendships are being formed and the bonds are growing stronger.”

SHILO: “Did you hear that?”

ABIGAIL: “Yeah, I heard that too! It was really weird, but I think it’s coming from the middle of the forest.”

SHILO: “We should probably go see what that is.”

ALLY: (To Buddy) “We should probably go check what that sound was, my sensing powers feel very strong.”

NARRATOR: “As they get closer to the mysterious sound, the two teams bump into each other . . . literally.”

ALL four cast members: “OW!” SHILO: “Buddy!”

BUDDY: “Shilo!”

ALLY: “Abigail!”

ABIGAIL: “Ally!”

ALL four cast members: “What’re you doing here!”

BUDDY: “Well, we’re here to find my collar.”

SHILO: “We’re here to find the collar too!”

ALLY: “Hey, we should all work together to find the collar.”

SHILO: “Oh . . . OK.” NARRATOR: “All four members walk together towards the sound of the magical collar. They finally find the collar in the middle of the forest but are encountered with another problem . . . they are lost in the middle of the forest.”

ABIGAIL: “Wait, I think we’re in the middle of nowhere.”

BUDDY: “That’s fine. We can just use my collar.”

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NARRATOR: “As Buddy goes to get his collar, he realizes that the magical collar isn’t as magical as before.”

SHILO: “Well, use your collar already.”

BUDDY: “I don’t think the collar works anymore . . .”

ALLY: “So this collar gives you powers like camouflage and teleport but you can’t use it anymore? Don’t you think it’s because you and Shilo aren’t friends anymore?”

SHILO: “So you think our friendship powered it?”

BUDDY: “Yeah, I guess so.”

SHILO: “Well, I guess we have no choice.”

BUDDY: “I’m sorry for what I did earlier.”

SHILO: “Yeah . . . I’m sorry for taking your collar too.”

NARRATOR: “Now that the two are friends once again, the collar begins to work. The collar begins to glow and makes a loud noise. They end up becoming best friends, better than ever before.”

ABIGAIL: “Hey, I think the collar is beginning to work! Let’s use it and get out of here!”

NARRATOR: “They teleport back to the broken-down house and realize that there is still much work to do. Now that they have all become friends, they all decide to pinch in to help build Shilo a brandnew house using friendship and the magical powers of Ally and Buddy.

The End.” END OF PLAY

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826 National was inspired to take a stand on issues of inclusion and diversity in light of the many events that spotlighted social and racial injustices throughout the country. We as educators, volunteers, and caring adults need to be aware of the wide range of issues our students face on a day-to-day basis. We need to support these young people as they navigate through and try to make sense of the world and their own identities.

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We at 826 have the privilege of working with the next generation of scholars, teachers, doctors, artists, lawyers, and writers. It's our job to make sure they are able to take their own stands.

As an organization committed to encouraging youth in their creative expression, personal growth, and academic success, 826 National and its chapters recognize the importance of diversity at all levels and in all aspects of our work. In order to build and maintain the safe, supportive 826 environment in which great leaps in learning happen, we commit ourselves to inclusion: we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, nationality, marital status, English fluency, parental status, military service, or disability.

The 826 National network is committed to encouraging youth to express themselves and to use the written word to effectively do so. We encourage our students to write, take chances, make decisions, and finish what they start. And 826 strives to do this in an environment free from discrimination and exclusion.

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