The Hula Hoop Girls: American Capitals

The Hula Hoop Girls: American Capitals is a scene about two second-graders. Jodie and Miranda would rather practice for a life in the circus than prepare for an upcoming test on US capitals. They’ll have to decide whether play is more important than studying and if repeating the second grade is really worth it! A cute scene for young girls!

David-Matthew Barnes is a best-selling author, playwright, poet, and screenwriter. Two of his young adult novels have been recognized by the American Library Association for inclusivity in young adult literature. To date, he has written over fifty stage plays that have been performed in three languages in ten countries. His literary work has appeared in over one hundred publications, including The Best Stage Scenes, The Best Women’s Stage Monologues, The Best Men’s Stage Monologues, Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Best Advice I Ever Heard, and 105 Five-Minute Plays for Study and Performance. He has also served as the guest editor of dramatic literature for The Louisville Review and as a judge for the Oregon Literary Fellowships in the category of Young Readers. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. He earned an MFA in Creative Writing at Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina. He has been an arts educator for over a decade. Having lived around the world, he calls Chicago his hometown.

Excerpt from the play:

CAST OF CHARACTERS

JODIE – 7, a second-grader who would rather hula hoop than do her homework
MIRANDA – 7, a second-grader who would rather twirl her baton than do her homework

TIME: A Wednesday afternoon. Present year.

SETTING: A backyard. A blank stage.

JODIE:
It’s no use. I’m never going to remember all of them.

MIRANDA:
Jodie, we have to try.

JODIE:
Homework is boring. I would rather practice for the circus.

MIRANDA:
But what if they don’t let us join the circus?

JODIE:
Of course they will. We’re the best hula hoop girls in the world.

MIRANDA:
Maybe you are. But I would rather twirl a baton.

JODIE:
Miss McGee is going to be very upset with us on Monday.

MIRANDA:
We should study.

JODIE:
But how are we going to remember all the names? How many states are there again?

MIRANDA:
Fifty.

JODIE:
Wow. That’s a lot.

MIRANDA:
Let’s practice…Alabama.

JODIE:
Montgomery.

MIRANDA:
Right! Now, ask me.