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Overview

Synopsis

A humorous story of teen angst and misunderstandings, family dynamics and financial matters, Jerome Chodorov and Joseph Fields’ Junior Miss is a sweet and snarky comedy about the Graves, a middle-class family living in New York City, just prior to WWII. At the center of the family’s story is intense and imaginative young Judy Graves, who imagines that her family is full of Hollywood-style intrigue and heartbreaking drama. Hovering between childhood and the coveted maturity of high school, clumsy and melodramatic Judy gets no respect from her family: perpetually irritated father Harry, condescending and infuriatingly popular older sister Lois, even saintly mother Grace doesn’t seem to take her seriously. But when Judy thinks a confiding moment between her father and his boss’ daughter means they’re having an affair, she takes it upon herself to save her family from falling apart! Her scheme to set her father’s supposed mistress up with handsome Willis, Judy’s suspected jailbird uncle, succeeds all too well -- and precipitates a financial crisis for the Graves family. Judy’s father is nearly fired by his boss, who blames him for his daughter’s new, undesirable liaison. Supported by Fuffy, her snappy and energetic best friend, Judy proceeds to save the day and untangle the complicated web of tales she has woven around her family -- all while learning to walk in high heels, writing her autobiography, preparing for her first school party -- complete with a real live date -- and cheerfully eating everything in sight. Judy is a dynamic and entertaining heroine, and Junior Miss is a nostalgic comedy based on stories by Sally Benson, author of Meet Me in St. Louis. This wholesome family story is perfect for a wide variety of ages and communities.

Casting note: While there are 9 Featured Male characters in the Teen - Young Adult Range, with doubling, only 3 such actors are completely necessary.

Show Information

Category
Play
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
3
First Produced
1941
Genres
Comedy
Settings
Period, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
the graves’ apartment, new york city, 1930s
Cast Size
large
Ideal For
community theatre, high school theatre, college / university theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Early Teen, Adult, Late Teen, Mature Adult, Young Adult Characters, Large Cast

Context

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Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Judy Graves

Lead

Female

Spoken

Harry Graves

Lead

Male

Spoken

Grace Graves

Lead

Female

Spoken

Lois Graves

Lead

Female

Spoken

Hilda

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Fuffy Adams

Supporting

Female

Spoken

J.B. Curtis

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Ellen Curtis

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Willis Reynolds

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Haskell Cummings

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Barlow Adams

Featured

Male

Spoken

Joe

Featured

Male

Spoken

Western Union Boy

Featured

Male

Spoken

Merrill Feurbach

Featured

Male

Spoken

Sterling Brown

Featured

Male

Spoken

Albert Kunody

Featured

Male

Spoken

Tommy Arbuckle

Featured

Male

Spoken

Charles

Featured

Male

Spoken

Henry

Featured

Male

Spoken

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Videos

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Quizzes

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Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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