About the Play:

The Hobbit is a full-length drama adapted for the stage by Patricia Gray, based on the classic J.R.R. Tolkien novel of the same name. Bilbo Baggins is swept up with Thorin Oakenshield and his company of dwarves, along with Gandalf the Grey, to slay Smaug the Dragon and win back their stolen treasure. The adaptation, officially authorized by Professor Tolkein, includes all the fictional characters of Tolkein's beloved epic tale of magic, treasure, and dragons.

The Hobbit follows the adventures of Bilbo Baggins many years before The Lord of the Rings on his unexpected journey to reclaim the treasure of the great dragon Smaug. It's unusual for a modern work to become a classic so quickly, but Tolkien's "ring" stories, which began with The Hobbit, clearly are in this very special category. They stir the imagination and intellect of everyone they touch. Bilbo, one of the most conservative of all Hobbits, is asked to leave his large, roomy and very dry home in the ground in order to set off as chief robber in an attempt to recover an important treasure. It's the last thing that any sensitive Hobbit would want to do, but great benefit eventually results – not only for Bilbo but for all of the Hobbits who inhabit Middle Earth. The Hobbit is a fresh theatrical experience for the whole family, both for die-hard Tolkien fans, as well as an introduction for anyone who has been living alone in a cave in the dark going mad and somehow missed this classic story.

The Hobbit as dramatized by Patricia Gray was authorized by J. R. R. Tolkien in 1968. Many productions of this version have been performed up to the present day. It has become a popular choice for school and community theatre productions.

Cast: approximately 26. Variable number of hobbits and other inhabitants of Middle Earth

What people say:

"Excellent adaptation. A real ensemble production, instead of one or two leads the whole cast was really involved." — Melissa Zak, Providence Academy

"This was a play that was easily accomplished by middle-level students. It was flexible enough to accommodate varied students, number of cast members. The set needs were workable in either a small or large space." — Earlene DeLeon, Cedar Rivers Middle School

"Excellent adaptation of Tolkien's book. My actors went out for the play because of their love of the book, and they commented how close to the story it was. Easy to find flashing staff and glowing swords on Internet because of 'Rings' movies." — Linda Hasbrouck, Gilbraltar Area Schools

About the Playwright:

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973) was an English writer, poet, and professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works: The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion. This Patricia Gray adaptation of The Hobbit is the only adaptation approved by Tolkien.