TitleGrown Backwards
Playwright & DirectorJames Gulden
Stage ManagerSara Ellen
CategoryWorkshop, MacVey Theatre
First RehearsalJanuary 21
Load In/Tech /DressFebruary 11-13
PerformancesFebruary 14-15
Roles to be castAge (Presentation)Gender (Presentation)Description
EMMETT 30MProfessor of Physics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
SHELLY 27FEmmett’s sister, a science teacher at Cambridge Latin High School.
MATTHEW 25MShelly’s husband, labor leader affiliated with the United Automobile Workers and the Cambridge Tenants Organizing Committee.
GARY 13MEmmett’s son.
LAURA 32FEmmett’s wife, a line worker at General Motors Assembly plant.  

 
OTHER ROLES   
MARINE    
CHAPLAIN    
ANTI-WAR PROTESTERS    
SVEN JOHANSSON    
KING CARL XVI    
SPECIAL AGENT    
RICHARD NIXON    
JOHNNY CARSON    
GRANT    
MATT    
Synopsis

EFFECT: 1976, The world is forever changed, and a scientist named Emmett's life is turned backwards.

 

CAUSE: 1972, Emmett's family life is on the verge of collapse. He then discovers that time flows against our perception; effect precedes cause.

Notices

Content Advisory

Contains strong language, derogatory terms, discussion of suicidal ideation and discussion of death.

Note on "Other Roles"

This show has 9 small "other roles" that appear briefly and don’t have as many lines as the main cast. 

There are also moments where groups of people are represented, such as the protestors or mourners at a funeral. 

To bring these two aspects of the show to life I would like to cast an ensemble of 5 to 9 actors, playing multiple small roles throughout the show.
 

Fight Breakdown

PageStage Directions/ Planned ActionCharacter(s)Notes
16MATTHEW grabs EMMETT by the tie and clasps his hand over his mouth.MATTHEW, EMMETT 
17EMMETT nods. MATTHEW releases him. He snatches the induction notice from EMMETT and tucks it in his back pocket. 

MATTHEW, EMMETT

 

 
19MATTHEW basically tears his coat off EMMETT, hastily dons it, and leaves out the front door.

MATTHEW, EMMETT

 

 
32

Three hundred riot police in full body armor and face masks march in to break up the protest. Most carry batons and shields, some carry rifles.

 

Most of the protestors scatter, but some hold strong. They’re pushed back by the shields, smashed over the head or across the back by batons. A cannister of tear gas is thrown, and it lands near the fire barrel where EMMETT, LAURA, MATTHEW, and SHELLY stand. 

 

ANTI-WAR PROTESTORS, POLICE, EMMETT, LAURA, MATTHEW, SHELLY

Batons and rifles are present onstage in this sequence.

 

 The entire cast is involved other than GARY.

32

LAURA jumps to try to get between an officer and a protestor. 

 

The protestor manages to slip away, but LAURA takes a blow to the head and falls to the ground. She’s bleeding. MATTHEW drags her away from the officer. 

SHELLY helps MATTHEW lift up a dazed LAURA and bring her to safety. 


 

LAURA, POLICE, ANTI-WAR PROTESTORS, MATTHEW, SHELLY

Batons and rifles are present onstage in this sequence.

 

EMMETT witnesses all of this.

33

He turns around, facing an officer across the fire barrel who’s barking orders for everyone to clear the area.

EMMETT takes a step towards the barrel. Tear gas swirls through the air. EMMETT is coughing and tears run down his face.

The officer points his rifle at EMMETT, screaming at him. Emmett takes his draft card out of his wallet.

He drops it in the fire, turns around, and runs off. 

 

EMMETT

Batons and rifles are present onstage in this sequence.

 

The entire cast is involved other than GARY.

56SHELLY grabs EMMETT by the shoulders. SHELLY, EMMETTThis is witnessed by the entire cast.
57MATT punches EMMETT across the jaw and stomps out of the room. MATT, EMMETTThis is witnessed by the entire cast.
58

EMMETT unclasps his watch and holds it up.

 

EMMETT throws the watch on the ground and it shatters to pieces. 

EMMETTThis is witnessed by the entire cast.


Intimacy Breakdown

PageStage Directions/ Planned ActionCharacter(s)Notes
9SHELLY opens the door to find two uniformed service members, a MARINE and a CHAPLAIN. She’s immediately inconsolable, almost falling to the floor. EMMETT gets up to help her steady herself and sees who it is.SHELLY, EMMETT, MARINE, CHAPLAINAs Shelly receives terrible news, her brother tries to comfort her.
10

SHELLY sits at the kitchen table. MATTHEW enters, and greets her with a kiss.

 

SHELLY, MATTHEW

Casual, loving, everyday kiss.

 

12[SHELLY] pulls [EMMETT] into a hug.SHELLY, EMMETTJoyful hug between two siblings who haven’t seen each other in a while.
22SHELLY pulls [GARY] into a hug.

 		SHELLY, GARYComforting hug from an aunt cheering up her nephew.
23LAURA finds GARY and gives her son a big hug. 

 		LAURA, GARY

Casual, loving, everyday hug.

 

24[SHELLY] gives MATTHEW a kiss.

SHELLY, MATTHEW

 

Casual, loving, everyday kiss.

 

42LAURA pulls EMMETT into eye contact. He’s crying. He puts his arms around her. They hold each other. LAURA, EMMETTLAURA is attempting to comfort EMMETT through a breakdown. They cling to each other for safety.
43[LAURA] kisses [EMMETT]LAURA, EMMETTIntimate kiss, possibly rekindling a love long faded.
45[LAURA] embraces GARY.LAURA, GARYComforting hug from a mother cheering up her son.
55LAURA gives GARY a hug.

 		LAURA, GARYComforting hug from a mother cheering up her son.
59GARY goes and hugs [SHELLY].GARY, SHELLY

Comforting hug from a nephew cheering up his aunt.

 

60LAURA returns with the coffee, hands it to SHELLY, and joins in the hug. LAURA, SHELLY

Comforting hug from a sister-in-law cheering up her sister-in-law.

 

Important Dates/Holidays1/20 Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Observed), 1/21 Spring Classes Begin, 1/27 Lailat al Miraj*, 1/29 Seol-nal, 1/29 Chinese New Year (Year of the Snake), 1/29 Tet Nguyen Dan, 1/29 Tsagaan Sar, 2/2 Groundhog Day, 2/9 Superbowl, 2/11 Thaipusam, 2/12 Magha Puja Day, 2/14 St. Valentine's Day, 2/14 Lailat al Bara*, 2/15 Nirvana Day

Grown Backwards

Callbacks – Sunday, November 17th - TB 41

Time 

Role 

Who 

5:00-6:20 

Laura 

E’mma Camara 

Emmett, Matthew 

Creyton Conrey 

Shelly 

Abby Dart 

Matthew 

Lucas De La Rosa 

Gary 

Kayden Ellis 

Emmett, Gary 

Chase Hohman 

Laura 

Kaiya Kralik 

Emmett, Matthew 

Joey Lepire 

Gary 

Nicky LoSasso 

Emmett, Matthew 

Flynn Milligan 

Shelly 

Elizabeth Nigg 

Emmett 

Patrick O’Brien 

Shelly 

Abby Paul 

Laura 

Laurel Preston 

Shelly, Laura 

Ella Sirna 

Emmett 

Charlie Thomas 

  •  
  •  
  •  

6:20-7:40 

Laura 

Hanna Anderson 

Emmett 

Haydon Bailey 

Shelly, Laura 

Roxy Glave 

Shelly, Laura 

Jennifer Hogan 

Gary 

Cody Holcomb 

Laura 

Asha Keller 

Laura 

Charlotte Larsen 

Matthew, Gary 

Rai San Martin 

Gary 

Thomas McCarthy 

Emmett, Matthew 

Lucas Nelson 

Shelly 

Madeline Nuss 

Laura 

Chloe Schwab 

Emmett, Matthew 

Ephram Sinnwell 

Emmett 

John Stinson 

Matthew 

Isak West 

  •  
  •  
  •  

7:40-9:00 

Shelly 

Vivian Bonde 

Laura 

Frances Dapier 

Emmett, Matthew 

Carden Green 

Shelly 

Kelsey Hart 

Laura 

Jordan Kinney 

Emmett, Gary 

Brody Kivett 

Laura 

Holland Larned 

Emmett, Matthew 

Soren Martin 

Shelly, Laura 

Zoe Mae Nolte 

Emmett 

Nick Hull 

Shelly, Laura 

Sophia Polking 

Matthew 

Caleb Schinderling 

Gary 

Grace Troelstrup 

Emmett, Matthew 

Daniel Weber 

TB 41 is located in the basement of the Theatre Building. Feel free contact James Gulden (james-gulden@uiowa.edu) with any questions, conflicts, or concerns.

Grown Backwards

Cast List
 

EMMETT

Patrick O’Brien

SHELLY

Elizabeth Nigg

MATTHEW

Carden Green

LAURA

Roxy Glave

GARY

Grace Troelstroep

ENSEMBLE

Nicky LoSasso

Jacob Miller

Caleb Schinderling

Charlie Thomas

Amelia Yoder

 

Thank you to all who auditioned!

Please email james-gulden@uiowa.edu to accept or decline your role, along with any questions and concerns.

Questions or concerns?

James Gulden, Playwright, Director & Team Leader: james-gulden@uiowa.edu