Born to Be Wild

Book By: Bryan Starchman
Play #: 8413
Pages: 62 pgs
Cast: Widely flexible cast of 32. (Minimum: 2 m, 1 w, 2 flexible.)

Ever wonder why your cat acts like he's king of the world? Or why flamingos stand on one leg? Have you ever imagined what a spider would have to say to a fly just before devouring him, or what "small talk" sounds like when a cannibalistic female praying mantis goes on a date with a naive male praying mantis? Well, Bryan Starchman has given the animals of the world a voice in this hilarious comedy. Focusing on simple costumes and sets, a large flexible cast, and ten whacky scenes, your audience will get to see and hear what animals really think about us humans! Stretch your actors -- and your imagination -- as you get ready to take a walk on the wild side!

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PLATTE-GEDDES HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
P.O. BOX 140, SD 4/25/2024
ASTORIA CUSD #1 2 Performance(s)
ASTORIA, IL 3/8/2024
ASHEBORO HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
ASHEBORO, NC 11/17/2023
ST PAUL LUTHERAN SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
UTICA, NE 5/3/2023
PARK HILL SCHOOL DISTRICT 2 Performance(s)
KANSAS CITY, MO 4/15/2023
BASIS GOODYEAR 1 Performance(s)
GOODYEAR, AZ 3/31/2023
PALATINE PARK DISTRICT 2 Performance(s)
PALATINE, IL 6/17/2022
ST THOMAS AQUINAS ACADEMY 3 Performance(s)
PESHTIGO, WI 5/6/2022
WORTHINGTON SCHOOLS 4 Performance(s)
WORTHINGTON, OH 3/17/2022
BUTLER SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
BUTLER, PA 11/12/2021
BIG SANDY SCHOOLS 1 Performance(s)
SIMLA, CO 10/19/2021
MISS MONA'S DRAMA CAMP 2 Performance(s)
ROANOKE, VA 7/9/2021
EAST HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
KANSAS CITY, MO 5/14/2021
BROOKS MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
BOLINGBROOK, IL 12/11/2020
LIGONIER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
LIGONIER, PA 12/4/2020
PAW PAW HIGH SCHOOL 4 Performance(s)
PAW PAW, MI 11/13/2020
CHISHOLM PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2 Performance(s)
ENID, OK 4/15/2020
WAHIAWA INTER JR HI SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
WAHIAWA, HI 1/15/2020
LIBERAL R2 DRAMA CLUB 1 Performance(s)
LIBERAL, MO 11/8/2019
ALTON COMM SCH DIST 11 3 Performance(s)
ALTON, IL 10/17/2019
SWARTZ CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL DRA 2 Performance(s)
SWARTZ CREEK, MI 5/21/2019
NOBLE MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
WILMINGTON, NC 5/16/2019
CRIPPLE CREEK-VICTOR SCHOOL DISTRICT RE1 2 Performance(s)
CRIPPLE CREEK, CO 5/8/2019
BLACK RIVER HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
SULLIVAN, OH 4/6/2019
HUNTERS LANE HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
NASHVILLE, TN 4/4/2019
STRASBURG PUBLIC SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
STRASBURG, ND 3/29/2019
2 Performance(s)
CLINTON, KY 3/22/2019
NORTHWESTERN DRAMA CLUB 3 Performance(s)
ALBION, PA 3/1/2019
COBURG COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
COBURG, OR 1/30/2019
HEADLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
HEADLAND, AL 12/14/2018
STAUNTON HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
STAUNTON, IL 9/23/2018
GOOD SHEPHERD EPISCOPAL SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
DALLAS, TX 5/22/2018
BEAVER ISLAND COMMUNITY SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
BEAVER ISLAND, MI 5/18/2018
THE VILLAGE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
EUGENE, OR 5/10/2018
BEAVER ISLAND NEWS 1 Performance(s)
BEAVER ISLAND, MI 5/8/2018
BYRON-BERGEN CENTRAL SCHOOLS 2 Performance(s)
BYRON, NY 5/4/2018
GILMANTON SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
GILMANTON IW, NH 3/29/2018
WEST BEND-MALLARD HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
WEST BEND, IA 3/16/2018
THEISEN MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
FOND DU LAC, WI 3/9/2018
WEST YORK AREA MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
YORK, PA 2/23/2018
LENNOX HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
LENNOX, SD 11/27/2017
NIOBRARA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
LUSK, WY 11/17/2017
NORTH MERCER DRAMA CLUB 2 Performance(s)
MERCER, MO 11/13/2017
WEST HANCOCK HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
BRITT, IA 11/4/2017
GENESEO HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
GENESEO, IL 10/27/2017
BENET ACADEMY 3 Performance(s)
LISLE, IL 4/28/2017
PALMYRA R-1 SCHOOL DISTRICT 2 Performance(s)
PALMYRA, MO 4/1/2017
MT. OLIVE HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
MT. OLIVE, IL 3/16/2017
HERRIN HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
HERRIN, IL 3/2/2017
MERINO DRAMA 3 Performance(s)
MERINO, CO 11/20/2016
BANCROFT SCHOOL 4 Performance(s)
WORCESTER, MA 11/9/2016
ONEIDA BAPTIST INSTITUTE 4 Performance(s)
ONEIDA, KY 10/21/2016
CASA GRANDE UNION HS 4 Performance(s)
CASA GRANDE, AZ 9/30/2016
THURSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
LAGUNA BEACH , CA 6/2/2016
OLATHE HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA CLASS 1 Performance(s)
OLATHE, CO 5/27/2016
HENLEY HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
KLAMATH FALLS, OR 5/12/2016
WEST HOLMES HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
MILLERSBURG, OH 5/6/2016
BETHANY CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS 2 Performance(s)
GOSHEN, IN 5/5/2016
JEWETT SCHOOL OF THE ARTS 3 Performance(s)
WINTER HAVEN, FL 4/28/2016
BUTTE HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
DORRIS, CA 4/28/2016
LA PIETRA-HSG 2 Performance(s)
HONOLULU, HI 4/21/2016
ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART 2 Performance(s)
SAINT CHARLES , MO 4/2/2016
VILLANOVA PREPARATORY SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
OJAI, CA 11/20/2015
KELVIN GROVE MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
LOCKPORT, IL 11/15/2015
A-C CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
ASHLAND, IL 11/13/2015
INDIAN MILLS MEMORIAL SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
SHAMONG, NJ 10/15/2015
HERON LAKE - OKABENA 1 Performance(s)
OKABENA, MN 7/4/2015
UNION HIGH SCH 3 Performance(s)
UNION, MS 4/22/2015
NEW SMYRNA BEACH HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL 4/17/2015
YORKTON REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
YORKTON, SK 4/16/2015
BLUE RIVER VALLEY SCHOOLS 2 Performance(s)
NEW CASTLE, IN 4/10/2015
HENRY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
HENRY, SD 3/27/2015
SANTA SUSANA HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
SIMI VVALLEY, CA 2/21/2015
EAST BRIDGEWATER HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
EAST BRIDGEWATER, MA 2/15/2015
LIMA SENIOR HIGH DRAMA DEPT. 1 Performance(s)
LIMA, OH 11/21/2014
LAKENHEATH MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
APO, AE 11/20/2014
WESTLAKE PLAYERSLMS MASQUE 2 Performance(s)
BATTLE CREEK, MI 5/9/2014
CLIFTON RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
MILLEDGEVILLE, GA 4/3/2014
AE PEACOCK COLLEGIATE 1 Performance(s)
MOOSE JAW, SK 4/3/2014
THE VILLAGE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
EUGENE, OR 3/15/2014
RAY MARSH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
SHAWNEE, KS 12/17/2013
PUEBLO COMMUNITY COLLEGE 3 Performance(s)
PUEBLO, CO 12/5/2013
THEATRE GROUP 3 Performance(s)
DOVER, OH 11/21/2013
GREENE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
JEFFERSON, IA 11/15/2013
RIDGEVIEW HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
COLFAX, IL 11/2/2013
COUNTY LINE HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
BRANCH, AR 10/15/2013
MISS MONAS SCHOOL OF DANCE 2 Performance(s)
ROANOKE, VA 8/9/2013
SUMMER SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
ASHWAUBENON, WI 7/11/2013
GLACIER CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
CROSS PLAINS, WI 5/30/2013
BEAVER AREA MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
BEAVER, PA 5/23/2013
HENDERSON JUNIOR HIGH 1 Performance(s)
STEPHENVILLE, TX 5/21/2013
F.K.SWEET ELEMENTARY 1 Performance(s)
FORT PIERCE, FL 5/18/2013
THE NEW COMMUNITY SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
RICHMOND, VA 5/16/2013
DANIEL F MAHONEY MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
SOUTH PORTLAND, ME 5/15/2013
IMPROMPTU PLAYERS 4 Performance(s)
DERIDDER, LA 5/14/2013
JAMES RIVER HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
BUCHANAN, VA 5/9/2013
BEAVER ISLAND COMM SCH 1 Performance(s)
BEAVER ISLAND, MI 5/3/2013
LEETON R-X PUBLIC SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
LEETON , MO 4/26/2013
MCEWEN HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
MCEWEN, TN 4/25/2013
PILOT MOUNTAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PILOT MOUNTAIN, NC 4/25/2013
BROADVIEW SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
MARICOPA, AZ 4/20/2013
SOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL 4 Performance(s)
MORGANTOWN, WV 4/15/2013
BLUE EARTH AREA HIGHSCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
BLUE EARTH, MN 4/13/2013
BLUE EARTH AREA HIGHSCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
BLUE EARTH, MN 4/13/2013
LYONS DECATUR NORTHEAST 1 Performance(s)
LYONS, NE 4/12/2013
SOMERSET MIDDLE SCHOOL DRAMA 2 Performance(s)
SOMERSET, WI 4/5/2013
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
CORINTH, ME 3/29/2013
BROADVIEW SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
MARICOPA, AZ 3/23/2013
CLARK PLEASANT INTERMEDIATE 1 Performance(s)
GREENWOOD, IN 3/19/2013
SURREY PUBLIC SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
SURREY, ND 3/15/2013
THE VILLAGE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
EUGENE, OR 3/14/2013
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
CORINTH, ME 3/9/2013
DAVID L RAHN JR HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
MT MORRIS, IL 2/22/2013
BROOKS MIDDLE SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
BOLINGBROOK, IL 2/20/2013
IMPROMPTU PLAYERS 1 Performance(s)
DERIDDER, LA 1/12/2013
PEPPERELL HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
LINDALE, GA 12/7/2012
WHITEHOUSE JUNIOR HIGH 1 Performance(s)
WHITEHOUSE , TX 12/1/2012
VISTA VIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
BREA, CA 11/30/2012
BLUFFTON HS DRAMA CLUB 2 Performance(s)
BLUFFTON, OH 11/16/2012
WOODCREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
HOUSTON, TX 11/15/2012
BIG SANDY SCHOOLS 1 Performance(s)
SIMLA, CO 11/14/2012
INDIAN SPRINGS SCHOOLS 1 Performance(s)
INDIAN SPRINGS, NV 10/30/2012
STAUNTON HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
STAUNTON, IL 9/23/2012
THEATRE ON THE SQUARE 6 Performance(s)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN 8/18/2012
OCALA CIVIC THEATRE 3 Performance(s)
OCALA, FL 8/10/2012
OCALA CIVIC THEATRE 1 Performance(s)
OCALA, FL 8/10/2012
VERO BEACH SR HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
VERO BEACH, FL 5/4/2012

Behind The Scenes

Playwright Bryan Starchman Talks About

“Born to Be Wild”

 

Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS PLAY?

A: My wife and I often make up voices for what our cats are thinking as they roam around the house, acting like they own the place. The concept of cats thinking that we are beneath them because we feed them, clean their litter box, and basically react to their every action inspired me to start thinking about how animals might see the world.

 

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART OR LINE IN THE PLAY?

A: I really like the flamingo scene. It was the first one that I wrote and visually I think it is going to be hilarious. Having the actor walk as awkwardly as possible is going to make for some great physical comedy, plus I like the individual personalities of both flamingos.

 

Q: WHERE DID THE CHARACTERS COME FROM?

A: Mr. Piddles is definitely one of our cats (I won't say which one in case he is reading this). The bat parents are my parents. The monkey news just seemed like a fun idea. But the mantis scene came from my wife. I wasn't too sure about a scene where two praying mantises sit at a table and one wants to eat the other's head, but it turned out to be one of the strongest scenes in the play! My wife often has the best (and sometimes creepiest) ideas for scenes when I'm working on a script.

 

Q: WHAT DID YOU TRY TO ACHIEVE WITH THIS PLAY?

A: I am an animal lover myself and I just thought it would be funny to get inside of their heads and see what they have to say about the human world around them. It's sort of a sick scene, but the farm animals realizing that going to the fair is NOT a privilege and getting revenge on their owner somehow seems totally plausible to me...if they had the ability to talk and use a telephone. I just hope that this play will make people laugh and also maybe encourage them to think about the animals’ point of view the next time they are at a zoo or their cat suddenly attacks the drapes.

 

Q: DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?

A: As I've said throughout the play, keep the costumes simple and focus on the voice, movement, and facial expressions of the actors. Audiences are very forgiving once they understand that they are supposed to be imaging two praying mantises on a date or a spider with a fly caught in its web. Have fun with this one, it should be quite an audience pleaser.