Tomato Queen

CHARACTERS

2 F; 2 M; 3 fluid

Time/Place

Present, American exurbia

SET

Imaginative use of playing space to represent a greenhouse, Mr. Bogs’ dining room, Tomato World, amusement park of the gastro-future.

RUNNING TME

Two acts – 2 hour, 15 minute running time

Composer

Scott Lamps

Synopsis

Tomato Queen is a fantastical fable with music. Camina, an impatient 11- year- old girl, is left by her parents at Mr. Bogs’ Commercial Success Camp. While creating the perfect winter tomato for Mr. Bogs (and earning her way to Camp Fun), Camina becomes friends with a shy, nocturnal Dormouse. With Dormouse’s help, she battles her impatient tendencies, a jealous former camper, Evil Scientist, and his enormous tomato-munching Hornworm. After a brief foray into Bogs’ world of success, Camina chooses her own path into adulthood; refining and declaring her own radically inclusive ideas about cooperation, friendship and success. Theme: Like tomatoes, humans grow into their best selves with patient love and unconditional acceptance.

Production/Development History

Public Workshop Performance, Quest Theatre, October 2014

Full production (seventeen performances) Quest Theatre, Chicago February- March 2015