My Father’s Field

Based on the life of John M. Horner,

East-Bay Pioneer

Script and Lyrics by

Melva Wheelwright

Music by

Melva Wheelwright

Rick Laurell

Wendy Wheelwright

Lyric Contributors:

Wendy Wheelwright

Lance Wheelwright

Joy N. Hulme

Thomas Johnston

Rick Laurell

Script Contributors:

Thomas Johnston

Kenna McOmber

Lance Wheelwright

Script

ã 2001

Act I

Overture

Scene I: Music fades into a background. Lights are dim as sound of soft chatter is heard from students seated in a college classroom. This can be depicted with a few chairs

or simple wood benches and a plain wood table for the professor’s books and papers, set either upstage or to the side, leaving the center for the next part of the scene. The clothing indicates that this time period is 1890. Place, UC Berkeley, CA

Lights come up as music chimes the hour:

Professor: (an elderly man with a droll sense of humor, a rather comical yet endearing sort

of character, looks at pocket watch, taps on desk get the attention of class)

Students: (straighten up and stop talking, open their notebooks to write)

Professor: Your attention, please. This is Senior Writing Class where famous authors

are trained. Anyone here want to be a famous author?

Student: I do!

Student: And I!

All: (general hubbub)

Professor: Anyone here want to write the story of the Century?