A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

The Ballad of George Zimmerman

10 Minute Play, Drama  /  1w, 2m

The Ballad of George Zimmerman

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    1w, 2m
  • Duration
    Duration
    10 minutes
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Teen (Age 14-18)

Details

Summary
A folk opera recreating the ten minutes leading to the murder of Trayvon Martin, The Ballad of George Zimmerman explores the mind of his killer.
History
The Ballad of George Zimmerman was originally commissioned for Facing Our Truth: Ten Minute Plays On Trayvon, Race And Privilege and produced by The New Black Fest, Keith Josef Adkins, Artistic Director. The original reading took place at the Martin Segal Theater at CUNY Graduate Center, NYC December 5, 2013.

Facing Our Truth is not associated with the Trayvon Martin Foundation.
ZIMMERMAN - Late 20s, would call himself Hispanic.
TRAYVON - Late teens, would call himself Black.
OFFICER - Would call herself White. 

Only the actor playing George Zimmerman needs to be able to play the guitar. The others are welcome to augment their performances with percussive elements, such as hand-clapping, feet-stomping, etc. If no suitable guitar-playing actor can be found, as a last resort an instrumental recording can be provided. 

  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day, New Millennium/21st Century
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Additional Features No Intermission, Play with Music
  • Duration 10 minutes
  • Cautions
    • Intense Adult Themes

Media

"The playwrights [of Facing Our Truth...] are Latino, white, Middle Eastern, Asian-American and black ... [The theatre event] was inspired by the debates and nationwide protests that greeted George Zimmerman’s July 13 acquittal in the killing of Mr. Martin, an unarmed black teenager." - Keith Josef Adkins, quoted in The New York Times, Read More

"We're excited to bring our community together to witness how a select group of artists will approach this tragic event and its aftermath ... These are events which, if not considered and explored thoughtfully, could fracture communities." - Michael Ritchie, Artistic Director, Center Theatre Group, Read More 

"Adkins, co-founder and artistic director of The New Black Fest, a New York City–based theatre festival, was so upset by the [verdict acquitting George Zimmerman] ... Days later, still struggling to sort out his feelings of rage, disappointment and confusion, Adkins decided to look for solace and answers where he’d always found them: in the theatre." - Theatre Communications Group, Read More

"Like no other form, theatre definitely promotes dialogue ... It puts us all in a room together, so we’re not just showing the work—we’re also opening communication around the issues that the work stirred up." - Dominique Morisseau, quoted in Theatre Communications Group, Read More

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £30 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

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Authors

Dan O'Brien

Dan O’Brien is a playwright, poet, memoirist, essayist and librettist. His play Newtown, winner of the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation Theatre Visions Fund Award, premiered at Geva Theatre in 2024, directed by Elizabeth Williamson. The Body of an American, O’Brien’s play ...

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Quetzal Flores

Quetzal Flores is a Grammy® Award winning East LA Chican@ rock group, now celebrating its 20-year anniversary, Quetzal is the collaborative project of Quetzal Flores (guitar), Martha González (lead vocals, percussion), Tylana Enomoto (violin), Juan Pérez (bass), Peter Jacobso ...
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