Readers Theater Play
Andy Warhol, Prince of Pop Art
Characters:
Andy
John and Paul Warhola
Mom
Narrator 1
Narrator 2
Magazine Editor
Andy's Friend
Muriel
Man on the Street
Scene 1 (in the family's kitchen)
Narrator: Andy Warhola grew up in a small apartment in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, where his father, Ondrej and later too his mother, Julia worked hard to make ends meet. Andy was the youngest of three boys. Together they got into a lot of rough-and-tumble mischief, running around those tight quarters so their mom had to think of ways to occupy them with more quiet activities. Often she would gather them into the kitchen for regular drawing sessions.
Mom: Now boys--John, Paul and Andy--settle down! Come and sit down at this table with these crayons and paper. Whoever draws the best picture will get the prize!
Narrator 2: The prize was always the same--a Hershey's candy bar.
John: (whispers to his brother, Paul): Let's see if we can beat Andy this time. My mouth is just watering for a chocolate bar.
Narrator 1: During those drawing contests Andy always won. Even as a young boy he had a real talent for drawing. His second-grade teacher for one praised his skills calling him a good little artist. Interestingly, Andy's first dream was to become a tap dancer, not an artist.
Scene 2 (Andy's bedroom)
Narrator 2: When Andy was eight years old, he got an illness called rheumatic fever which caused him to feel shaky and to turn very pale. Because of this, he had to stay home and rest in bed for months on end.
Mom: Andy, do you feel? Could you turn the radio down a little? Would you like me to read you some more Dick Tracy comics?
Andy: Not right now, Mom. Thanks. I've just finished a page in my coloring book and now I'm going to read my movie star magazines.
(Later that afternoon)
Mom: Andy, what are you doing now? Shouldn't you be resting like the doctor said?
Andy: Aw, Mom. I'm okay. I'm writing a letter to the Shirley Temple fan club.
Narrator 2: Shirley Temple was a famous child movie star who sang and danced in many movies back then. She was very popular. Andy loved her.
Andy: Can I have a dime, Mom, to send along for her autographed picture? I want to add it to my collection.
Mom: Of course, little Andy, but after you finish your letter it will be time to eat. I've made your favorite meal--Campbell's Tomato Soup and a sandwich.
Andy: Yummy! Mom, you're the best!
(Scene 3 Andy's living room)
Narrator 1: Andy eventually got over his sickness. Many years passed. Even though his family was poor, his father, before his sudden death, was able to save up enough money to pay for two years of college for his talented son. Andy worked hard to get good grades and was soon ready to graduate from Art college. Andy always looked to his mother for advice.
Andy: Mom, what do you think I should do now?
Mom: Oh Andy, I think you will go off and do something that is great, and crazy and terrific!
Narrator 2: So Andy, who was very interested in fashion at that time, hopped on a train headed for New York City with his friend, Philip.
Narrator 1: Andy found New York City to be a magical place. Eager to find work, he went to his job interviews wearing a new while corduroy suit and carrying his artwork samples in a large paper bag. On his second day job hunting Andy got lucky.
Scene 4 (in an office)
Magazine editor: Hmmm. Mr. Warhola, I like your artwork. It's very original. But, to tell you the truth, all I need right now are drawings of shoes.
Andy: Oh, I can do that! Shoes are my favorite things to draw.
Magazine editor: Good. I'll need them by ten o'clock sharp tomorrow morning.
Andy: No problem! See you then.
Narrator 2: Andy worked all night and returned the next day with 50 drawings of shoes.
Magazine editor: Mr. Warhola, these are wonderful!
Narrator 1: Andy got the job with Glamour magazine as well as many jobs after that. From then on he made footwear one of the subjects of his art.
Scene 6 (on the streets of New York City)
Andy's friend: (Waves down Andy) Well, if it isn't my friend, Raggedy Andy or should I say Andy Paperbag! Where are you off to in those old sneakers? What happened to our corduroy suit and necktie that you used to wear?
Andy: I just came from another job interview. My old suit? It's gone now. I wore it so much that it turned yellow. And the necktie--I never did know how to tie it right. Don't you remember how I used to cut off the longer of the two ends to make it look even? I wanted a new look so now I dress very casually in a t-shirt, khakis and these beat-up sneakers. What do you think of my silver wig?
Andy's friend: Great, man. You look real cool. Hey, where are you headed now?
Andy: My mother's coming to live with me. I'm going to pick her up at the station.
Scene 7 (At Andy's apartment)
Mom: Oh, Andy, look how these mice run around your apartment. It's a very good thing that you have two cats, Hester and Sam. Come. Help me with my bags. Then I'm going to straighten this place up.
Narrator 2: Hester eventually had kittens and Andy named each one of them the same name--Sam. He later did a book of drawings about his 25 cats.
(Ten years later)
Scene 8 (Andy's studio)
Andy: Oh Muriel, I want to be a serious artist, not just a commercial artist. I need something new and different to paint. I'll pay you $ 50 if you can give me a good idea.
Muriel: Andy, how about painting something that people see everyday like a can of soup, or a Coca Cola bottle. Hey, you like money so much. Why don't you paint money?
Andy: (smiling and rubbing his chin) Hmmm. I like those ideas (hands her the money).
(Next morning)
Andy: Mom, can you do me a favor? I want you to go buy 32 different cans of Campbell's soup for me. I'm going to start making portraits of them.
Mom: Ahh, Andy. How clever you are!
Scene 9 (in the art gallery)
Man-on-the street: (to Andy) Why do you paint cans of soup? They are so ordinary. Do you call that art?
Andy: Yes, I do. I paint things that I think are beautiful. We see these things everyday and never think much about them.
Narrator 1: Andy Warhol went on to paint other things he liked like movie stars, favorite toys and flowers. His special style and techniques in creating his artwork soon made him very famous. He came of the leading figures in the Pop Art Movement. Many people called him the Prince of Pop.