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Danny, King of the Basement

  • David S. Craig
  • Full Length Play, Comedy, Drama, Contemporary
  • 2M, 2F
  • ISBN: DF2

"Everything that you want a show for young audiences to be...written with insight and compassion."

Toronto Star

  • Full Length Play
  • Comedy, Drama
  • 55 minutes

  • Time Period: Contemporary
  • Target Audience: Pre-Teen (Age 11 - 13), Children (Age 6 - 10), Appropriate for all audiences
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings

  • Performance Group:
  • Community Theatre, Jr High/Primary

  • Accolades:
  • Winner! Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Production in Theatre for Young Audiences
    Winner! Canada Council Children's Theatre Prize
Danny, King of the Basement tells the story of 10-year-old Danny "Delco" Carter. 

Danny is the "king of moving." In two years, he and his unemployed mother have moved more times than most kids lose teeth; there's just never the money to pay the rent. But far from being overcome by his homelessness, Danny appears to be thriving. He can pack his bags faster than it takes to tie a shoelace. He can make a friend in a morning and a best friend in a day. 

When Danny moves into a basement apartment on upscale Clinton Street, the kids he meets have more material things, but they seem to have bigger problems than just being hungry. Penelope's parents are separated and are using her as a go-between because they won't talk to each other. Angelo's dad is scary; he sounds (and looks) like a dinosaur. But Danny's imaginative play creates a sense of community that allows his friends to cope with their problems and, ultimately, to help Danny -- because Danny's challenge isn't losing a home -- it's gaining one. 

This heartwarming story about a boy who creates an imaginary world to deal with the instability and hardship of his daily life is a powerful, yet playful, play that truthfully explores issues related to child poverty and homelessness and ultimately demonstrates how the power of friendship can change lives. 

REVIEWS:

"Everything that you want a show for young audiences to be... written with insight and compassion."

Toronto Star

"Shines a penetrating light on the mindset of a wanting kid most citizens would drive by thoughtlessly on one of our sorry streets."

Winnipeg Free Press

"It succeeds in entertaining middle-schoolers while compassionately depicting challenges many children cope with daily, and silently."

The Seattle Times

  • Casting: 2M, 2F
  • Casting Attributes: Roles for Children

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Danny, King of the Basement Script Order Now

Danny, King of the Basement tells the story of 10-year-old Danny eDelcoe Carter. Danny is the eking of moving.e In two years, he and his unemployed mother have moved more times than most kids lose teeth; therees just never the money to pay the rent. But far from being overcome by his homelessness, Danny appears to be thriving. He can pack his bags faster than it takes to tie a shoelace. He can make a friend in a morning and a best friend in a day. When Danny moves into a basement apartment on upscale Clinton Street, the kids he meets have more material things, but they seem to have bigger problems than just being hungry. Penelopees parents are separated and are using her as a go-between because they wonet talk to each other. Angeloes dad is scary; he sounds (and looks) like a dinosaur. But Dannyes imaginative play creates a sense of community that allows his friends to cope with their problems and, ultimately, to help Dannyebecause Dannyes challenge isnet losing a homeeites gaining one. This heartwarming story about a boy who creates an imaginary world to deal with the instability and hardship of his daily life is a powerful, yet playful, play that truthfully explores issues related to child poverty and homelessness and ultimately demonstrates how the power of friendship can change lives. A winner of the Dora Mavor Moore Award (Torontoes Tony Awards) for Outstanding Production in Theatre for Young Audiences and the Canada Council Childrenes Theatre Prize. Modular set. Approximate running time: 55 minutes.

$19.95