Catherine Bush / Playwright
Home Plays & Musicals Contact

Plays & Musicals


Theatre for Young Audiences

Browse All Plays

Grandma Gatewood Took a Walk

  • John Hardy & Mary Lucy Bivins
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Mary Lucy Bivins
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • John Hardy & Mary Lucy Bivins
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Mary Lucy Bivins
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Mary Lucy Bivins
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • John Hardy
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

Synopsis

In 1955, sixty-seven-year-old Emma “Grandma” Gatewood called her son and told him she was “going for a walk.” What she forgot to mention was that the walk would encompass all 2,050 miles of the Appalachian Trail. As we join Emma on her adventure, we relive with her the hills and valleys, obstacles and detours of her Life that led her to make history as the first woman to solo thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.

Cast

Emma Gatewood 50’s-60’s, an Appalachian farm woman who has seen much and endured
P.C. Gatewood 50’s-60’s, Emma’s abusive husband
Hugh Caldwell 50’s-60’s, Emma’s father, a one-legged drunk
Dr. Monroe 40’s, a local doctor
Burris Hall 30’s, a park ranger
Nelson Gatewood 30’s, Emma’s son
Slade 40’s, suspicious farmer, lives near A.T.
Frank Callahan 30’s-40’s, a reporter
Warren Large 40’s, a bird-watcher
Mary Snow 20’s, Sports Illustrated writer
Weatherman 40’s, works for the National Weather Service
Howard Bell 30’s, hiker on the A.T.
Sheriff arrests Emma
Mayor bails Emma out of jail

Specs

Cast Size: 2 (1w, 1m)
Approximate Run Time: 1h 45m
Number of Acts: Two
Script Sample
Request Rights

Production History

GRANDMA GATEWOOD TOOK A WALK was first produced in 2024 by Barter Theatre (Abingdon, VA), Katy Brown, Producing Artistic Director

Casting Notes:
The following roles are to be played by the same actor:

P.C./Hugh/Dr. Monroe/Burris/Nelson/Slade/Frank Callahan/Warren Large/Mary Snow/Weatherman/Howard Bell/Sheriff /Mayor

Cast Size: 2 (1w, 1m)
Approximate Run Time: 1h 45m
Number of Acts: Two
Script Sample
Request Rights

Synopsis

In 1955, sixty-seven-year-old Emma “Grandma” Gatewood called her son and told him she was “going for a walk.” What she forgot to mention was that the walk would encompass all 2,050 miles of the Appalachian Trail. As we join Emma on her adventure, we relive with her the hills and valleys, obstacles and detours of her Life that led her to make history as the first woman to solo thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.

Cast

Emma Gatewood
50’s-60’s, an Appalachian farm woman who has seen much and endured
P.C. Gatewood
50’s-60’s, Emma’s abusive husband
Hugh Caldwell
50’s-60’s, Emma’s father, a one-legged drunk
Dr. Monroe
40’s, a local doctor
Burris Hall
30’s, a park ranger
Nelson Gatewood
30’s, Emma’s son
Slade
40’s, suspicious farmer, lives near A.T.
Frank Callahan
30’s-40’s, a reporter
Warren Large
40’s, a bird-watcher
Mary Snow
20’s, Sports Illustrated writer
Weatherman
40’s, works for the National Weather Service
Howard Bell
30’s, hiker on the A.T.
Sheriff
arrests Emma
Mayor
bails Emma out of jail
Casting Notes:
The following roles are to be played by the same actor:

P.C./Hugh/Dr. Monroe/Burris/Nelson/Slade/Frank Callahan/Warren Large/Mary Snow/Weatherman/Howard Bell/Sheriff /Mayor


Production History

GRANDMA GATEWOOD TOOK A WALK was first produced in 2024 by Barter Theatre (Abingdon, VA), Katy Brown, Producing Artistic Director
Script Sample
Request Rights
Home Plays & Musicals Contact

[email protected]
Created by Sean Michael Flattery