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The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie

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Overview

Synopsis

“Give me a girl at an impressionable age, and she is mine for life.” So speaks Jean Brodie, a liberated and charismatic schoolteacher. Edinburgh in the 1930s is conservative and respectable, but at the Marcia Blaine School for Girls, Miss Brodie stands out among the drab faculty, with her passionate teaching style. Ignoring the more mundane subjects, she instructs her girls in Italian art, unconventional romance, and Fascist politics. Miss Brodie concentrates her efforts on a small group of favored girls, the “Brodie set”, which include beautiful Jenny, timid Mary MacGregor, and sharp-witted Sandy, who watches carefully as Miss Brodie instructs her charges to “do as I say, and not as I do.” When Teddy Lloyd, a handsome art teacher, tries to reignite a past, passionate affair, Miss Brodie retreats into the arms of meek, conventional choir master Gordon Lowther. But when she tries to have a love affair on her own terms, the subsequent sneaking around endangers her job, leaving her vulnerable to enemies. Will Miss Brodie’s dedication to the teaching profession, and to the hearts and minds of her girls, keep her in her prime? Will her influence be benevolent, or is she just “not good for people”....The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is a gripping, entertaining, powerful drama of adolescence and adulthood, of betrayal and manipulation, and the powerful, lasting effect of a charismatic teacher.

Show Information

Based on
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Sparks (1961)
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
3
First Produced
1966
Genres
Drama
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
1930s, edinburgh, scotland
Cast Size
medium
Ideal For
college / university theater, high school theatre, regional / professional theater, community theater, Mostly Female Cast, Star Vehicle Female, High School, Community Theatre, College/University, Includes Adult, Early Teen, Late Teen, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Child Characters, Medium Cast

Characters

Showing 8 of 13 characters

Character Portrayals

See StageAgent members who have performed roles in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie.

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Key Terms

    An adaptation is a reworking of a story from one medium or cultural context into another, such as turning a novel into a play or updating a classic play’s setting. Adaptations often reinterpret themes, characters, and style for new audiences. They can range from faithful recreations to bold reimaginings.

    Coming of age refers to a story or theme in which a young character transitions into adulthood, often through challenges or self-discovery. This journey typically explores identity, responsibility, and the search for purpose. Many plays and musicals use coming-of-age themes to connect audiences with universal experiences of growth.

    A production created to showcase the talents of a specific star performer, often tailored to their strengths.

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