About the Play:

Anne of Green Gables is a full-length drama adapted for the stage by Joseph Robinette, from the beloved Canadian novel by L.M. Montgomery. How would you feel if you ordered something from the mainland and what was delivered to your island home was something quite different? That's the predicament established from the outset here: the aging Cuthberts ordered a boy from the orphanage to help on their farm but Anne was sent to them. This timeless family classic is especially recommended for school and contest use.

Anne of Green Gables is a non-musical dramatization that 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.

Anne of Green Gables was adapted by Joseph Robinette from the novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. The flexibility of casting and the simplicity of the set make this an ideal production for community and school groups.

Cast: 12 to 19 female, 6 to 12 male, extras if desired

What people say:

"Joseph Robinette has done a fine job of translating this endearing character from L. M. Montgomery's 1908 novel to the stage. The story follows Anne through a number of years, up to the point where she's about to head off to college. Robinette gets all of the high points in...." — Talkin' Broadway

"What an excellent dramatization of an iconic story. The story of the world's best-loved red-headed orphan is a delight and so true to the book." — Lorna Stratton, ICHTHYS Theatre Productions

"This was a really delightful play to produce and direct. The story is engaging, full of fast, well-paced scenes and thoughtful, tender moments. A BIG hit with both the cast and audiences." — Tom Snell, Pacific Christian School

"Anne is a lovely play. This version is well written and the characters are fully developed. This group of actors adapted well to the adult roles and the ability to add lots of extras (school children, townspeople, mourners, graduation ceremony guests) was helpful for our large cast." — Maureen Ghiossi, The King's Academy

About the Playwright:

Joseph Robinette is the author or co-author almost 60 published plays and musicals, qualifying him as one of America's most prolific playwrights. His works have been produced in all 50 states and in 21 foreign countries. He is Professor Emeritus of Theatre at Rowan University in New Jersey where he taught speech and theatre there for 34 years prior to his 2005 retirement. He is a Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk Award nominee for the libretto of the acclaimed A Christmas Story, The Musical.

Lucy Maud Montgomery, OBE (1874-1942), published as L.M. Montgomery, was a Canadian author best known for a series of novels beginning in 1908 with Anne of Green Gables. The book was an immediate success. The central character, Anne Shirley, an orphaned girl, made Montgomery famous in her lifetime and gave her an international following.