The Kentucky Anthology: Two Hundred Years of Writing in the Bluegrass State

Marsha Norman

572 The Kentucky Anthology Marsha Norman from Getting Out Marsha Norman, who was born in Louisville in 1947, won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1983 for ’Night, Mother. After she earned degrees from Agnes Scott College and the University of Louisville, she worked with mentally disturbed children at Central State Hospital in Anchorage, taught in the Jefferson County Public Schools, and edited the “Jelly Bean Journal,” the children’s supplement of the old Louisville Times. Her first play, Getting Out, premiered at Actors Theatre of Louisville in 1977. Other plays by Norman include Third and Oak: The Laundromat, Third and Oak: The Pool Hall (1978), and D. Boone (1992). Getting Out is about life inside a women’s correctional institution. Here is how the play begins—with a monologue delivered through a loudspeaker. h These announcements will be broadcast beginning five minutes before the houselights come down for Act I. A woman’s voice is preferred, a droning loudspeaker tone is essential. LOUDSPEAKER: Kitchen workers, all kitchen workers report immediately to the kitchen. Kitchen workers to the kitchen. The library will not be open today. Those scheduled for book checkout should remain in morning work assignments. Kitchen workers to the kitchen. No library hours today. Library hours resume tomorrow as usual. All kitchen workers to the kitchen. Frances Mills, you have a visitor at the front gate. All residents and staff, all residents and staff . . . do not, repeat, do not, walk on the front lawn today or use the picnic tables on the front lawn during your break after lunch or dinner. Your attention please. The exercise class for Dorm A residents has been cancelled . Mrs. Fischer should be back at work in another month. She thanks you for your cards and wants all her girls to know she had an eight-pound baby girl. Doris Creech, see Mrs. Adams at the library before lunch. Frances Mills, you have a visitor at the front gate. The Women’s Associates’ picnic for the beauty school class has been postponed until Friday. As picnic lunches have already been prepared, any beauty school member who so wishes may pick up a picnic lunch and eat it at her assigned lunch table during the regular lunch period. 572 George C. Wolfe 573 Frances Mills, you have a visitor at the front gate. Doris Creech to see Mrs. Adams at the library before lunch. I’m sorry, that’s Frankie Hill, you have a visitor at the front gate. Repeat, Frankie Hill, not Frances Mills, you have a visitor at the front gate. Marsha Norman 573 ...