Anne of Green Gables (1989)

Anne of Green Gables (1989) is a play by Joseph Robinette based on the novel Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.

It is a full-length play and is approximately 105 minutes long. The script was published by Dramatic Publishing in 1989 and is available through the Dramatic Publishing website.

The play is described as follows:
"This dramatization captures the charm and excitement of L.M. Montgomery's enduring classic about an orphan girl, Anne Shirley, from her first encounter with her austere guardian to her thrilling graduation from Queen's Academy. The play faithfully recreates the memorable events and characters from the brilliant novel. All the tragedies and triumphs that mark Anne's growth from adolescence to early adulthood are here: her friendship with Diana, her feuds with Gilbert, her adoration of Matthew, the mistaken wine bottle, the cake disaster, the broken leg, the scholastic achievements, and the saving of Green Gables. Whether the playgoer is an "old friend" of Anne's or meeting her for the first time, this play will solidify a lasting friendship between the audience and one of literature's most unforgettable characters. The flexibility of casting and the simplicity of the set make this an ideal production for community and school groups."


Image Credit:
Image adapted from Anne of Green Gables (1989) poster by Dramatic Publishing.

Created September 24, 2006. Last updated June 21, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Anne of Green Gables (1997)

Anne of Green Gables (1997) is a musical by Joseph Robinette and Evelyn Swensson based on the novel Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. The book is by Joseph Robinette, and the music and lyrics are by Evelyn Swensson. The musical made its world premiere at the Delaware Children's Theatre in Wilmington, Delaware where it was directed by Marie Swajeski. The script was published by Dramatic Publishing in 1997.

The musical has two acts and is approximately 105 minutes long. The script is available through Dramatic Publishing.

The musical is described as follows:
"This sparkling new musical further enhances the enduring story of Anne Shirley, the orphan girl whom Mark Twain called "the most delightful child of fiction since the immortal Alice." The exciting, melodious score offers great variety from the opening chorus number "Prince Edward Island," wherein we meet the townspeople of Avonlea, to the spirited "Charlottetown Rag." Other delightful songs include "Kindred Spirits" performed by Anne and Diana, "I Dare You," and the lilting "Green Gables." Eminently singable and easily staged, this humorous and heartwarming Anne of Green Gables is the ideal family musical."


Image Credit:
Anne of Green Gables (1997) book cover by Dramatic Publishing.

Created September 24, 2006. Last updated June 21, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Anne With an “e” – The Green Gables Musical (1998)

Anne...With an “e” - The Green Gables Musical (1998) is a musical by Neil K. Newell and C. Michael Perry based on the novel Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. The musical was produced and made its world premiere at the Spanish Fork Community Theatre in Spanish Fork, Utah, USA on July 19, 1998.

The original production was directed by C. Michael Perry, produced by Cherie Murray, and choreographed by Tara Christopher. The musical direction was by Steve Boothe and Gregory Lawrence Duffin, and the sets were designed by Jim Nicholet and LeEarl Peck.

The musical has two acts and is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes long. The script is available through Eldridge Publishing.

The play is described as follows:
"Anne of Green Gables,” by L. M. Montgomery, is an enduring story of innocence, joy, and the true meaning of love that has delighted and inspired readers for over a century. Now this heartwarming story of the irrepressible Anne Shirley is impressively adapted to the stage and has inspired a musical score that will knock your socks off! The story begins as Anne arrives at Green Gables and follows her through mishaps and adventures, through Matthew’s death and her reconciliation with Gilbert, and finally to her determination to stay at Green Gables and help Marilla while pursuing her education. There are 20 songs including “Breath of Air!” “Bosom Friends” “The Lady of Shallot” “The Perfect Man,” and “Bend in the Road.” This charming, faithful adaptation appeals to those of every generation."


Image Credit:
Promotional artwork for Anne With an “e” - The Green Gables Musical.

Created September 24, 2006. Last updated June 20, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Anne of Green Gables Christmas Ornament

On my honeymoon on Prince Edward Island, I bought this Anne of Green Gables Christmas ornament to hang on my Christmas tree. It's a little straw hat with red braids attached.



If you can't make it to PEI, there's a similar Christmas ornament available here.

Created July 26, 2006. Last updated January 25, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

L.M. Montgomery: The Norval Years, 1926-1935

L.M. Montgomery: The Norval Years, 1926-1935 by Deborah Quaile was published by Wordbird Press on June 15, 2006. The book includes illustrations by Jennifer Osborn. It is organized in the form of a scrapbook and follows Montgomery's years living and working in Norval, Ontario, Canada, including photographs, journal entries, and local newspaper and magazine articles.

Here's the description of the book from Wordbird Press:

The professional life and home life of Lucy Maud Montgomery Macdonald (author of Anne of Green Gables) were inextricably intertwined. This scrapbook-style history follows Maud’s village life in Norval, Ontario, Canada, where she lived from 1926 to 1935, through photographs, memorabilia, literary quotations, and local journalism. In long-unread issues of newspapers and magazines, and in personal archives, author Deborah Quaile has uncovered hints of Maud that haven’t been seen in decades. The story follows Norval and local history, while at the same time recreating the life of Canada’s favourite author, from her everyday appearance at church socials, to speaking engagements in far-flung cities where standing ovations were cordial recognitions of her other existence.

L.M. Montgomery: The Norval Years, 1926-1935 reconstructs the reality in which the writer revolved, presenting new material that has not been seen by the current generations of Montgomery scholars and fans. Knowing her fondness for scrapbooking through archives in Ontario and Prince Edward Island, perhaps these are the pages L.M. Montgomery would have loved to create.

The book includes the following contents:

Introduction: The Allure of L.M. Montgomery
Foreword
From Prince Edward Island to the World
Norval History
Maud's Home and Gardens
Friends and Family
Norval and Union Presbyterian Churches
Local Beauty
Life in the Village
Devotions and Duties
Maud's Days
L.M. Montgomery's Accomplishments
Leaving Norval
Remembering Maud: Montgomery in Modern Norval
Epilogue
Endnotes
Bibliography
Index

Image credit:
Book cover of L.M. Montgomery: The Norval Years, 1926-1935 from Wordbird Press.


Created June 7, 2006. Last updated June 23, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

At the Altar: Matrimonial Tales

At the Altar: Matrimonial Tales was published in 1994. The book contains 18 of L.M. Montgomery's short stories that were rediscovered and edited by Rea Wilmshurst. The tales in this collection all involve themes of love conquering obstacles. The stories contained in the volume are listed below with their original publication dates in parentheses:

"Aunt Philippa and the Men" (1915)
"A Dinner of Herbs" (1928)
"Jessamine" (1909)
"The Pennington's Girl" (1900)
"The Gossip of Valley View" (1910)
"The Pursuit of the Ideal" (1904)
"By the Rule of Contrary" (1908)
"Nan" (1904)
"The Wooing of Bessy" (1906)
"Miss Cordelia's Accommodation" (1903)
"The Twins and a Wedding" (1908)
"Them Notorious Pigs" (1904)
"The Dissipation of Miss Ponsonby" (1906)
"An Unconventional Confidence" (1903)
"The Way of Winning Anne" (1899)
"The Touch of Fate" (1899)
"What Aunt Marcella Would Have Called It" (1935)
"When Jack and Jill Took a Hand" (1905)

Image Credit:
Book cover of my Bantam 1995 edition of At the Altar: Matrimonial Tales featuring artwork by Ben Stahl. Photograph by World of Anne Shirley.

Purchase and read At the Altar: Matrimonial Tales:



Created May 26, 2006. Last updated May 21, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Anne of Green Gables (1991)

Anne of Green Gables (1991) is a play adapted by R.N. Sandberg from the novel Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. The play was commissioned by the Seattle Children’s Theatre in Seattle, Washington and had its world premiere there in 1991.

The full-length play is 105 minutes long. There is also a one-act version of the play that is 60 minutes long. The scripts for both the full-length and one-act versions of the play are available through Dramatic Publishing.

The play is described as follows:
“A faithful, unsentimental dramatization of the first part of the beloved classic. Commissioned and premiered by Seattle’s Children’s Theatre.

Marilla Cuthbert and her brother Matthew request an orphan boy to help work their farm but are mistakenly sent the high-spirited, red-headed Anne Shirley. Knowing they are ill equipped to raise a child, Marilla attempts to send Anne back to the orphanage. With Matthew lobbying to keep Anne, Marilla ultimately agrees to let her stay at Green Gables. The trials and tribulations Marilla fears come to pass as Anne insults Marilla's best friend, “loses” Marilla's most cherished brooch, smacks the school's prize pupil with a slate, and inadvertently gets her best friend Diana drunk on cherry cordial. She also turns out to be bright, charming and resourceful, full of irresistible imagination. Marilla and Matthew admit she is the best thing that ever happened to them, and Anne comes to understand she is a loved, worthwhile person.”


Image Credit:
Photograph by Chris Bennion of Anne of Green Gables by R.N. Sandberg, which was performed at the Seattle Children's Theatre in 1991. The photograph is featured on R.N. Sanberg's website.

Created May 22, 2006. Last updated June 16, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Emily (1999)

Emily (1999) is a musical by Richard Ouzounian and Marek Norman based on the Emily of New Moon trilogy (Emily of New Moon, Emily Climbs, and Emily’s Quest) by L.M. Montgomery. Richard Ouzounian, who is a theatre critic, writer, and director, wrote the book and lyrics. Marek Norman, who is a composer, actor, and producer, wrote the orchestral music.

Emily made its world premiere on June 19, 1999 at the Charlottetown Festival at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. The musical starred Tracy Michalidis as Emily Starr. The musical was successful and returned the following season in 2000. The script was published by McArthur and Company in 2000.

Emily is described in the published script as follows:
"EMILY is a new Canadian musical based on the famous trilogy by Lucy Maud Montgomery: EMILY OF NEW MOON, EMILY CLIMBS, and EMILY'S QUEST. The three books deal with the growth of a young woman on Prince Edward Island at the turn of the century, both as an individual and as a writer. Many commentators feel that Emily contains Montgomery's fantasy of the choices she wishes she had made in her life. EMILY was first presented at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown in June of 1999 and instantly became a smash hit, proving to be one of the most popular shows in the festival's thirty-five year history. It will be returning for the 2000 season, and a subsequent tour is in the works. Included here is an introduction by Richard Ouzounian, the entire play's script, and four original songs from the musical.”

The four songs included in the book are: “The Dream Begins,” “Disappointed House,” “There Will Be Another Rainbow,” and “This Island.”


Image Credit:
Front cover of the Emily script by Richard Ouzounian and Marek Norman featuring a photograph of Tracy Michalidis as Emily Starr from The Charlottetown Festival (1999). The photograph is by Barrett and MacKay. The script was published by McArthur and Company in 2000.

Created May 21, 2006. Last updated June 22, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com