O Beautiful

by Theresa Rebeck

"O Beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves"... In our age of cyber-bullying and aggressive patriotism remember those lyrics - or else! Theresa Rebeck pens a theatrically inventive mash up of contemporary American life and the history that got us to this politically polarized age. It's fiercely funny story explores the lives of high school students, teachers, and their families as they cope in a world of real personal problems and extremist ideological rhetoric that gets so heated that Jes

Genres: Plays

82 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2011

About the author

Theresa Rebeck is a playwright. She also works as a television writer. Her input went into popular shows such as Dream On, Brooklyn Bridge, L.A. Law, American Dreamer, Maximum Bob, First Wave, and Third Watch.
She also wrote and produced Canterbury’s Law, Smith, Law and Order: Criminal Intent and NYPD Blue.
Ms. Rebeck has an MFA in Playwrighting and a PhD. in Victorian Melodrama, from Brandeis University. She is a board member of the Dramatists Guild and has taught at Brandeis and Columbia Universities.
She currently resides in Brooklyn with her husband Jess Lynn and two children, Cooper and Cleo.

Reviews

[Jason Zeppa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dialogue could be better, but good story overall

[Lauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another thought-provoking play by Theresa Rebeck. This one revolves around a small-town high school and so many issues that face America today, including teen pregnancy, right-wing politics, gun control, date rape, bullying, and race relations. Combining very serious topics and their implications with humor is a gift of Ms. Rebeck's. Perfect for high school and college students (but only if they aren't censored by their administrators)!

[Gail Griffith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not appropriate for high school. Very heavy handed - dealing with rape, abortion, gun control, the right to bear arms.