Joyce Becker Lee

Author


Short Stories

Novels

Screenplays

Children's Musicals



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Casualties

A collection of short stories





  From Tortoise Books, Available online and wherever books are sold

https://tortoisebooks.com/store/casualties


STORIES

Casualties--Two rural Wisconsin teens, one Jewish, one not, face the pressures on their friendship during World War II.  

Not all the war's battles were fought overseas.

Withdrawal--An office worker hilariously staves the pangs of a failed romance by stealing his lover's cat.

Heredity--A man unwillingly faces the mother who left him in a desperate effort to save his own son.

Plainsong--A jazz singer must choose between her family or her music.

The Gift--A family faces the positives and negatives in their crazy family's legacy of foretelling death.

The Mikvah--A young woman enjoys a secret rebellion from the confinements of her religion.

Release Point--At her husband's military funeral, a grieving woman must come to grips with the truth of her marriage.

The Home Team--When her husband leaves, a woman must learn to deal with her son's disappointments--and her own.

The Difference--A teen uncovers a surprising secret and experiences an unexpected moment of personal growth.

Home Again--Wallowing in his poor choices, a college grad returns home to reconsider his future.

The First--A woman questioning her own life choices finds unexpected hope in her grandmother's dementia.

Retreat--As her world is tumbling down, a woman attends an office retreat with shocking results.

The Night My Mother Danced With Fred MacMurray--A mother's death kindles a man's memories of his parents and growing up in Depression-era Chicago.

The Medal--A family reluctantly attends a ceremony to receive a medal for their son's heroism even as they question his death.

South Shore, Chicago--A return to the old neighborhood stirs old memories and sparks an unexpected new strength.


What they're saying about Casualties:

"Whether you're a young reader searching for a way forward or an older reader reckoning with a past self who won't leave you alone, you're likely to find unexpected insights in Joyce Becker Lee's emotionally complex and superbly crafted collection."

                                   --Miles Harvey, bestselling author of The King of Confidence and The Island of Lost Maps


"We are all casualties in conflicts of some kind, we realize from reading these fine stories. . . . Lee gracefully makes it brutally clear how her characters are subject to the power of large events and institutions, reminding us that our lives are subject in the same way. These stories are compelling."

                                   --S.L. Wisenberg, author of The Wandering Womb and The Adventures of Cancer Bitch


"This collection of introspective stories acknowledges both the light and the darkness of the world in a way that leaves the reader feeling awake to the wonders and braced for impact."

                                   --Jennifer Companik, author of Check Engine and Other Stories

Children's Musicals

For Script and Lyric information, contact the author.

Grimm and Bear It

Three fairy tales from the Brothers Grimms, "Three Spinning Fairies," "The Shoemaker and the Elves," and "Rumplestiltskin," are filled with happy songs and snappy patter, all tied together with a narrator who is ready to emphasize the moral of each story! Kids love playing the parts, and everybody loves watching the show and tapping their feet along with the catchy songs. Three Spinning Fairies--Songs: "Three Fairy Tales"--Narrator "Emily"--Mother "I'll Never Be Lazy Again"--Emily "Like a Spinning Wheel"--Prince Tyrone "Three Spinning Fairies"--Frannie, Fritzie and Frieda "A Wedding"—Chorus The Elves and the Shoemaker--Songs: "Ida's Lament"--Ida and Eldon "Pretty Shoes 1, 2, and 3"--Townspeople "Elves' Working Song"--Elves "I Always Wanted a Child--Ida and Eldon "I Look Fine"--Elves "When You Do Something Nice for Someone"—Narrator Rumplestiltskin--Songs “Love Song”—Rebecca and Prince Sterling “When Rebecca Spins the Gold”—Townspeople “Anything at All”—Rebecca “Here’s to Rebecca”—Townspeople “I Want the Child”—Rebecca and Rumplestiltskin “Name Song”—Rebecca and Ruplestiltskin “One Very Happy Gnome”—Rumplestiltskin “Don’t Make Promises”—Rebecca and Narrator

The Twelve Months

Lisle pines for some far-off, unattainable love, and Darius is too shy to tell her of his feelings. Lisle's cousin Tess plans for a solid life of hard work, denying her attraction to the charming but lazy Wirt. When Lisle's Aunt Drearia sends her off to the mountain on impossible errands, Lisle meets the Months who help her see what her life could be. Meanwhile, Wirt and Tess come to an agreement to "meet in the middle." Lovely melodies mix with bright, fun songs as both couples learn about finding the right combination of dreams and reality. The Twelve Months—Songs “A Crazy Duo”—Darius and Wirt “Across the River”—Lisle “What is Love?”—Lisle, Tess, Wirt, and Darius “I’m So Good at Being Bad”—Drearia “Spring Song”—March, April, and May “Summer is Here”—June, July, and August “The Wrong Path”—Lisle “Autumn Goodbye”—September, October, and November Winter Blows Cold”—January “I Dream, Too”—Darius “Meet in the Middle”—Tess and Wirt “Love Is”—Lisle, Tess, Wirt, and Darius

The Love Potion

A couple of con artists convince a lovesick cowboy that their "magic elixir" will make him irrisistible. Based on the opera "L'elisir d'amore" by Gaetano Donizetti, this bright musical includes some of Donizetti's most beautiful tunes mixed with a potpourri of original songs that will engage children and adults alike. A wonderful introduction to opera for all! The Love Potion—Songs “The Love Potion”—Addie and Chorus “Maybe I’ll Be There”—Reno, Netta, and Dan “The Dangerous Life”—Corey and Soldiers “Dulcie’s Song”—Dulcie, Frank, and Chorus “Wait for Me”—Reno, Corey, Addie, and Chorus “A Toast”—All “The Richness of Beauty”—Frank, Dulcie, Netta and Women “Women/Men”—Corey, Netta and Chorus “Reno’s Lament”—Reno and Corey “The Guy Who Has Everything”—Netta, Kate, Laurie and Women “Addie’s Magic”—Dulcie and Addie “The Tear”—Reno “Stay Here”—Addie “Finale”—Dulcie, Frank and All

Kaleidoscope

The mind of a child is a wonder--we wonder how to engage it, how to nurture it, how to make it all it can be. This journey through the difficulties and joys of raising children offers some many thoughtful, humorous and uplifting songs exploring the role of parents and schools in raising children. Kaleidoscope—Songs “Kaleidoscope”—All “Would It Be Nice”—Narrator “All You Need is You”—Teachers, Parents, and Children “Why Don’t They Leave Me/Why Do They Leave Me Alone?”—Children “Young and Gifted”—Children “Four Thousand Children”—Administrator “Four Hundred Children”—Principal “Fourty-Four Children”—Teacher “Political Patter”—Politician “Somewhere On the Way”—Parents and Teachers “The Buck Stops Here”—All

A Christmas Carol

An original musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol. The perfect holiday treat that can be presented with a full cast of 27 or with 5 women and 5 men and 2-4 children. This show also has a separate script for presentation as a radio broadcast with sound effects, either over the air or in front of an audience. A Christmas Carol--Songs “Christmas is a Humbug”—Scrooge “Christmas is a Humbug—Reprise”—Annabelle and Margaret “Face the Past”—Spirit #1 “Who Needs Christmas?”—Miss Grudgeman “Who Needs Christmas?—Reprise”—Little Ebeneezer “Join the Party”—Fezziwig, Mrs. Fezziwig, Chorus “The Present is the Greatest Gift” –Spirit #2 “God Bless Us Every One”—Bob Cratchit, Mrs. Cratchit, Mary, Tommy, Tim “Ebeneezer”-- Spirits “Glad to be Here”—Scrooge, Chorus “God Bless Us Every One--Reprise”--All

Ordering Information

Each show comes with a printable script and music sheets with easy piano parts. For more information, contact jbleewriteriinfo@gmail.com.

Jewish Sunday School Musicals  

Click a show to hear sample songs.

A Purim Spiel

Hadassah becomes Esther to win the king's heart and save her people. This fast-paced telling of the Purim Story is filled with snappy dialogue and great songs, and even a Ziegfeld-style beauty pageant! It's perfect for adults and/or children to perform, and for all to enjoy! Lots of great parts and a running time of around a half-hour, this will be the perfect treat for your Purim Festival. A Purim Play, or Esther, Fast Faster—Songs “I Am Not Your Dancing Girl”—Vashti and Handmaidens “I Could Live With That”—Hadassah/Esther and Mordecai “Beauteous Maidens”—Hegai “It’s Not About the Power”—Bigthan and Teresh “Haman’s Song”—Haman and Zeresh “Carte Blanche”—Haman “Haman’s Song-Reprise”—Haman and Zeresh “Esther’s Prayer”—Esther and Chorus “Finale—Never Again”--All

Follow the Hammer

Join Mattathias and Judah Maccabee as they fight to free their people from the tyranny of King Antiochus. It's fast and funny, with great music and a powerful message in the stirring ending song, "Don't Let the Light Go Out." With a running time of less than half an hour, this is the perfect show to round out any Chanukah celebration. Follow the Hammer--Songs “Rumors”—Messengers “I Refuse”—Mattathias “Judah Maccabbee”—Diana “Follow the Hammer”—Diana and All “What People Are These?”==Antiochus. Jason and Messengers “Don’t Let the Light Go Out”—Judah, Mattathias, Diana and All

The Chanukah Glow

Looking for a bright, short Chanukah show? When two children declare Chanukah is all about the gifts, the menorah's candles come to life to explain the real meaning of Chanukah. A short, tuneful piece, including the sassy "A Gift is a Gift is a Gift," and the happy "Chanukah Calypso" guaranteed to get both chldren and adults involved. The Chanukah Glow--Songs “Chanukah”—All “A Gift is a Gift is a Gift”—David and Susan “The Chanukah Story”—The Candles “The Chanukah Glow Calypso”—The Candles

An American Jew Revue

A lighthearted look at Jewish life across the United States, led by sweet Polly Dartonstein, who takes two children from Maine to the wild West and points in between, all in search of the varieties of people who are bound by their common culture and background. American Jew Revue--Songs “Country Princess”—Polly “Lonesome Kosher Cowboy Blues”—Zeke “The Kosher Piscador”—Fishers “The Tzayde’s Song”—Chaim “Where There’s A Synagogue I’m Home”—Rose and Sadie “We’ll Be Watching You”—Kids and Parents “Finale—Were You There?” All

Ordering Information

Each show comes with a printable script and music sheets with easy piano parts. For more information, contact jbleewriteriinfo@gmail.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joyce Becker Lee received her MA and MFA from Northwestern University, where she was nominated for The Best New American Voices.  Her short story collection, Casualties, is published by Tortoise Books. Other publishing credits include stories and features both in print and online in the U.S. and Canada. A former teacher of English, Writing and Theater, she has worked with middle school, high school and college levels, and enjoys presenting the occasional writing class and working with theater. She served as the founding chair of her local Arts Commission, where she helped introduce and infuse the arts into the community. A lifelong theater enthusiast, she has directed and performed in educational, community and professional theater and opera, and its the author/composer of several children’s musicals. She lives and writes in the northern Chicago suburbs, where she volunteers at a local animal shelter where she also helps write grants. Her greatest joy, however, comes from her children and grandchildren, and she is a busy hands-on Bubble.

Oh, and she also enjoys the occasional character role on stage. Some favorites include Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes, Marmee in Little Women: The Musical, Vera in Mame, the Witch in Into the Woods, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, and Penny Pennywise in Urinetown.


Into the Woods

Damn Yankees

Urinetown

Links to Some Online Publications

                         "Benign Madness," Lit Magazine, Spring, 2024                              

                                    https://www.litmagazine.org/benign-madness/                                         


                              "Spaces," GreenPrints, Summer, 2023                                         

https://greenprints.com/articles/spaces/?t=98901 


                    "Signs," Discretionary Love, April 10, 2022                     

 https://www.discretionarylove.com/signs-joyce-becker-lee/


             "Heredity," Woodcrest Magazine, 2021-2022               

 https://woodcrestmagazine.com/archives/2021-2022/fiction/heredity-joyce-becker-lee.php


"The Writer as Actor," Author Magazine, Februrary 3, 2020

            https://www.authormagazine.org/articles/2020-02-lee             


            "Hippotherapy," Lunch Ticket, Issue 16, Winter/Spring 2020           

https://lunchticket.org/hippotherapy 

  

       "Plainsong," Jerry Jazz Musician, April 3, 2018                 

https://www.jerryjazzmusician.com/plainsong-a-short-story-by-joyce-becker-lee/


                    "The MIkvah," Escape Into Life, June 15, 2015                      

https://www.escapeintolife.com/fiction/the-mikvah-by-joyce-lee/

              

  OTHER WORKS IN PROGRESS

Novels

LITERARY FICTION

The Home Front

MIDDLE GRADE

Still Waters

WOMEN'S FICTION

The Ex Factor

Little Things


Scripts

Casualties (Film based on short story)

The Plum Players Present (TV Dramady-Pilot)

                                

              

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Contact

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