This play is rare because its fast-moving plot, loaded with excitement, suspense, and ultimately—tragedy, ranks it tops in two categories: an extraordinary experience for the typical drama patron and a highly-honored resource to fight teen-age suicide. It is popular for contests and orientation at high schools and colleges.

Ten students at Carnegie Senior High School (Carnie) noisily gather around their lockers on the first day of school. By the time the play ends, one of them is dead. Suicide. Will it be the shy new girl in the school who can't seem to make friends? Or the pest who thinks spray-painting lockers and scaring girls will make him popular? Or the muscular football hero with a vile temper? Or the beautiful but insecure head cheerleader? Or the girl who's too overweight to make cheerleader? Or the one who's too poor to buy the pretty clothes she wants? Or—?

Two acts; Set, school corridor; modern clothes.

From the author: "Welcome to Carnie is an attempt to solve the terrible problem of teen suicide. There are no easy answers, but honest open talk seems a good beginning." (Denson has won a number of national and state awards including the prestigious Audrey Wood National Playwriting Award. After playing to audiences of over 2000, Welcome to Carnie won the Wisconsin Mental Health Asso. statewide Chapter of the Year Award for the Eau Claire area.)

From the publisher: Welcome to Carnie joins such highly acclaimed and abundantly produced scripts as Juvie, Addict, Dolls, I Just Wanna Tell Somebody, Wising Up, Denson's Artie, and others in our Young Adult Awareness series. As one of three new plays selected the Texas Theatre Asso. for its annual convention, it used a portable set in a large room at a Holiday Inn, demonstrating that it can be toured easily.

"Denson captures the trials, the triumphs, and the concerns facing today's high school youth. Through irony, humor, honest dialogue and ultimate tragedy, he leaves his message: if you can't make it alone, there's help available."—Thomas L. Frisbie, counselor, Memorial High School, Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

See also: Plays About Social Issues, Awareness Plays for Young Adults, Plays About Death and War