“                                                        " Diary of a Beauty Queen"
                                                                                         © 1998 by Lawson Caldwell

                     Diary of a Beauty Queen was produced in St. Henry, Ohio by the Drama Club
                                               at St. Henry High School in December 2004.

Synopsis
Time: 1964
Location: Clarksville, a small Southern town.

The play takes place in a small Southern town in 1964.  It is imperative that the play has a mid-sixties feel.  
Before mod, hippies, the woman’s movement.  The characters are competing in the town beauty pageant.  
The contestants must have bouffant hair.  They must wear one piece swim suits and stylish gowns (tasteful
and from the period.).  These girls have entered the pageant for various reasons, perhaps dated but
significant for the time.  During the early sixties in the South, pageants were a major event.  Beauty Queens
were town celebrities.

For basic staging, the stage may be divided off as the  Backstage  and the  Front of the stage .

For more detailed staging, the stage may revolve so that half of the stage is the dressing room/backstage
area and the other half is the front of the stage facing the audience.

Cast of Charaters - The Contestants:
  1. Alice George-  Is straight forward.  She has entered the pageant because she wants to be someone.  
    She has convinced her two best friends, Sarah and Gwen, to enter.  She really wants to win the title.
  2. Sarah Phelps - Is mild.  She has entered because Alice encouraged her.  She is a good sport.
  3. Gwen Anderson - Is always in a good mood.  She is very genuine and is very supportive of others.
  4. Joyce Watson - Is probably the most beautiful girl in town.  She has already won two previous
    pageants and her two sisters have been previous winners.  She is the one everyone is predicting to
    win.
  5. Sally Anne Simmons - Is the youngest contestant.  She has not experienced college yet so her
    maturity is still young.
  6. The Other Sarah Phelps - Is very athletic.  She is very tall and at times feels awkward about the
    pageant.
  7. Catherine Graham (The reigning Miss Clarksville) - Very beautiful but her personality is very bland.  
    She acts as if holding the title was more of a job than an honor.
  8. Mr. Sole - Is only on the stage when noted.  The rest of the time his voice is only heard.