The Sketchbook of Locust Hall

Heartwarming. Hilarious. Deeply moving.

The Sketchbook of Locust Hall is a time-bending historical comedy-drama that beautifully connects modern middle school life with the emotional realities of America’s past. Blending laugh-out-loud physical comedy, heartfelt family storytelling, and meaningful historical themes, this unforgettable play invites young performers and audiences alike to discover that history is far more personal than they ever imagined.

It’s Memorial Day morning, and twelve-year-old Sally Marshall is less interested in honoring history than she is in checking livestream notifications and celebrating her birthday. But when she uncovers an oversized 1865 sketchbook hidden in her family’s attic, she is suddenly pulled into the living history of her own backyard.

The garden of Locust Hall transforms into the final days of the Civil War, where another twelve-year-old Sally, Sally Randolph, must help her family hide her exhausted Confederate courier brother from a suspicious Union officer. Armed only with quick thinking, terrible birthday cake, and an oversized sketchbook, the family launches a frantic and hilarious disguise scheme involving a fake cousin named “Millicent,” flying tea cups, and one very confused soldier.

As modern Sally witnesses this chaotic and emotional snapshot of survival unfold in the very place she sits every day, she slowly begins to understand the true meaning of Memorial Day, family legacy, and remembrance.

A Powerful Blend of Comedy and Heart

While The Sketchbook of Locust Hall tackles meaningful themes of war, sacrifice, and remembrance, the play remains highly accessible and entertaining for young audiences. The script balances emotional depth with energetic middle school comedy, creating moments that are both genuinely funny and deeply moving.

From Curtis’s panicked lookout duty and Dora’s horrifying birthday cake to the wildly improvised “Cousin Millicent” disguise sequence, the historical scenes deliver nonstop theatrical fun while still honoring the emotional realities of the period.

Why Schools & Directors Will Love This Play

• Strong Roles for Young Actors: The script provides memorable featured roles for middle school performers, with especially rich material for both Sally characters, Dora, Curtis, and the bewildered Union Officer.
• Simple Yet Theatrical Staging: One backyard setting transforms seamlessly between 2026 and 1865 through lighting, sound, and minimal set adjustments, making the production highly achievable for schools and youth theatres.
• Flexible Casting Opportunities: Several roles can be double-cast, including the two Sally characters and the mother roles, allowing flexibility for both small and large programs.
• Physical Comedy & Ensemble Energy: The frantic disguise sequence, exaggerated reactions, and choreographed transitions create exciting opportunities for physical storytelling and comedic timing.
• Meaningful Educational Themes: The play naturally opens conversations about Memorial Day, the Civil War, family history, remembrance, and how young people connect with the past in today’s digital world.

Perfect For

• Middle school theatre programs
• Youth theatre companies
• Historical-themed productions
• Classroom drama showcases
• Memorial Day community performances
• School one-act festivals

Filled with humor, warmth, and emotional resonance, The Sketchbook of Locust Hall reminds audiences that history is not distant or lifeless. It is personal, immediate, and carried forward through the stories we choose to remember.

One sketchbook. Two birthdays. A backyard filled with history.