Forever Poppy

A magical realist play that intertwines history fantasy and family legacy. Forever Flor William Isla Baptiste Poppy is a curious imaginative nine-year-old girl born in New Orleans to loving eccentric parents-Maricela Sky Spirit and William Coco. They run an experimental bakery and tattoo parlor infusing their lives and community with love and whimsy.The play opens with a Shakespearean prologue: a legendary lost manuscript by William Shakespeare is stolen by John Blackwood sparking a centuries-long feud with his twin brother Robert. Shakespeare curses the brothers with immortality until the manuscript is returned. This mythic theft echoes across time ultimately connecting to Forever Poppy's modern-day story.In New Orleans Forever's life is full of joy storytelling and baked goods until tragedy strikes: her parents perish in a mysterious explosion-possibly linked to the Blackwoods' ancient curse. Orphaned Forever is taken away from the loving motorcycle gang community that embraced her thrust into an uncertain future as dark forces (including Helmut Schmidt John Blackwood in disguise) close in still seeking Shakespeare's manuscript.Through rich language playful characters and heartfelt emotion the play celebrates legacy imagination and resilience. Forever emerges as a new kind of heroine: the spiritual and familial heir of Shakespeare's creativity and her parents' generosity. The message is timeless-stories love and honor can defy even the most powerful curses.Cast: Six characters (three females three males)Setting: A wooden platform stage like Shakespeare's Globe Theater. A place that is magical and transformative. Running Time: 70 minutes. Target Audience: Elementary middle and high school students