The Name Jar

An adaptation of the book by Yangsook Choi

by Susan H. Pak

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Synopsis Casting & Production Media Authors

Synopsis

After her first day of school in America, a young, Korean, immigrant girl decides to change her name to something “easer to pronounce.” With the enthusiastic help of her new classmates, she soon has a jar filled with exciting new names. Will she choose a new name? Or will she find value in her own?

Casting & Production

Casting

UNHEI — Korean, 7, Female
MR. BILL — Korean American, 30s, Male*
AMARI — African American, 7, Male
RALPH — American, 7, Male
ROSA — Latin American, 7, Female
MR. KIM — Korean, 50s, Male*
HEEWON — Korean, Unhei’s mother, 30s, Female*
HALMONIE — Korean, Unhei’s grandmother, 50s-60s, Female*

Note on Casting:
MR. BILL and MR. KIM should be played by the same actor.
HEEWON and HALMONIE should be played by the same actor.

Setting

An American city or town.
Present day.

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Media

"THE NAME JAR is a celebration of culture, family, and what’s in a name."

- Broadway World

"THE NAME JAR tells a delightful, affirming story that can be a springboard to conversations about being at peace with one’s identity, or multiplicity of identities, as is often the case in today’s world; about seeing value in diversity and difference; and in having empathy for those working through a feeling of being different—to welcome them while respecting their difference. THE NAME JAR is a most enjoyable and uplifting show for both children and adults that reenforces values for a world where diversity is the norm."

- Talkin’ Broadway

"I love what the two companies have done with this production geared towards people age five and up; however, the up doesn’t mean 14 or 17 it means 101+. The message here is simple enough for school age children to understand but universal enough for anyone to learn from."

- The Stages of MN

Authors

Susan H. Pak

Susan H. Pak is a Chicago-based playwright, who has taught theater and scriptwriting at the university-level for over a decade. Susan received an MFA in writing for the screen and...

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