Program Types & Tips Using Drama in Your Program Dramatic Literature You Can Use Our Constitution and the Bill of Rights assures certain rights to all citizens, not only of different races, religions, and gender, but also to those who differ in other ways. Clarence Darrow once said that no matter what laws we make, unless we are open and liberty loving, then there is no freedom. Our goal should not simply be tolerance. True freedom can only come when we begin to really appreciate our many differences, no matter what they are, and find the common human aspirations we share. There is an abundance of good dramatic literature to help your organization “speak up for democracy and diversity” and to stimulate discussion about what diversity means in your community. This brief list of resources will help you get started in your search for literature with themes related to the law. Plays A Case of Libel, Henry Denker, Random House (1964). (First Amendment issues) The Crucible, Arthur Miller, Bantam Books (1963). (Persecution based on belief) The Diary of Anne Frank, Frances Goodrich, Random House (1956). Adapted from Anne Frank’s diary. (Persecution based on race and belief) Inherit the Wind, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, Bantam Books (1960). (Scopes trial, First Amendment issues) The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare (Ethnic and gender discrimination.) The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, Bantam Books (1971). (Civil disobedience) To Kill A Mockingbird, Horton Foote, Grove Press (1989). Adapted from the book by Harper Lee. (Discrimination based on race and equal justice under the law) Twelve Angry Men, Reginald Rose, Dramatic Publishing Co. (1983) (Trial by jury.) Other Resources Beyond Portia: Women, Law and Literature in the United States, Jacqueline St. Joan, Annette B. McElhiney, Judith Resnick, Eds., Northeastern University Press (1997). Law in Literature: Legal Themes in Literature: An Annotated Bibliography of Law-Related Works, Elizabeth Villiers Gemmette, Ed., White Papers Press (1998). Law in Literature: Legal Themes in Drama, Elizabeth Villiers Gemmette, Ed., Whitston Publishing (1995). Law in Literature: Legal Themes in Novellas, Elizabeth Villiers Gemmette, Ed., Whitston Publishing (1996). Law in Literature: Legal Themes in Short Stories, Elizabeth Villiers Gemmette, Ed., Whitston Publishing (1995). The World of Law, Vol. I: The Law in Literature and Vol. 2: The Law as Literature, Ephraim London, Ed., Simon and Schuster (1960). (NOTE: Excerpts from plays, literature and movies can usually be used without charge for educational purposes. But check first to see if you need an author’s permission to use a work or a portion of it, so you’re not infringing on the author’s copyright.) >>Using Drama in Your Program Main Page >>Ideas for Drama & Law Day >>Dramatic Literature You Can Use Reaching the Community Home | Program Types & Tips Home