It's Ours!
The Fifth Street Women’s Building Takeover, 1971
a comedy
a comedy
Situation
A group of feminists have taken over a derelict school building on New York’s Lower East Side. They are using it as a women’s center. But city officials are threatening to evict them.
Synopsis
Kay Swift wants to preserve a condemned building, currently used as a women’s center. She claims the site is a national treasure as the place that first inspired George Gershwin’s love of music.
Cast
The play may be performed by 8 actors (4 female and 4 any gender).
Main Characters
Female
MALLORY JACQUELINESDAUGHTER, a cynical activist, 20s
RAQUEL, a vain hippie, 20s
CONNIE LUCANIA, an enthusiastic nurse, 20s
KAY SWIFT, a tenacious writer, 74
Male
GEORGIE GERSHVIN, a carefree truant, 10 to 12
IZ (ISIDORE) GERSHVIN (later Ira), a clever bookworm, 11 to 14
MAXIE ROSENZWEIG, a conceited violinist, 9 to 10
SALVATORE LUCANIA, an ambitious hustler, 13
Minor characters
Female
An apple seller (played by Kay)
Male (may be played by the actors who played the main male characters)
SERGEANT O’MALLEY, a fastidious police officer, mature
Three police officers
A police photographer
A judge
A court reporter
Settings
Outside 330 East Fifth Street, Manhattan
Inside 330 East Fifth Street (formerly Public School 25, northern building)
Georgie’s bedroom at 91 Second Avenue
Outside 113 East Fourth Street (formerly P.S. 25, southern facade)
A parlor in an apartment on Seventh Street
Seventh Street
The 9th Precinct Police Station, 321 East Fifth Street
A courtroom in the Criminal Court, 100 Centre Street
Times
January 14, 1971
1908
1909
1910
December 6, 1910
Later in 1971
A group of feminists have taken over a derelict school building on New York’s Lower East Side. They are using it as a women’s center. But city officials are threatening to evict them.
Synopsis
Kay Swift wants to preserve a condemned building, currently used as a women’s center. She claims the site is a national treasure as the place that first inspired George Gershwin’s love of music.
Cast
The play may be performed by 8 actors (4 female and 4 any gender).
Main Characters
Female
MALLORY JACQUELINESDAUGHTER, a cynical activist, 20s
RAQUEL, a vain hippie, 20s
CONNIE LUCANIA, an enthusiastic nurse, 20s
KAY SWIFT, a tenacious writer, 74
Male
GEORGIE GERSHVIN, a carefree truant, 10 to 12
IZ (ISIDORE) GERSHVIN (later Ira), a clever bookworm, 11 to 14
MAXIE ROSENZWEIG, a conceited violinist, 9 to 10
SALVATORE LUCANIA, an ambitious hustler, 13
Minor characters
Female
An apple seller (played by Kay)
Male (may be played by the actors who played the main male characters)
SERGEANT O’MALLEY, a fastidious police officer, mature
Three police officers
A police photographer
A judge
A court reporter
Settings
Outside 330 East Fifth Street, Manhattan
Inside 330 East Fifth Street (formerly Public School 25, northern building)
Georgie’s bedroom at 91 Second Avenue
Outside 113 East Fourth Street (formerly P.S. 25, southern facade)
A parlor in an apartment on Seventh Street
Seventh Street
The 9th Precinct Police Station, 321 East Fifth Street
A courtroom in the Criminal Court, 100 Centre Street
Times
January 14, 1971
1908
1909
1910
December 6, 1910
Later in 1971