Emma Gelders Sterne

Young Joan of Arc Emma Gelders Sterne

The story of Joan of Arc presented from the viewpoint of her family and neighbors. Told with lyrical realism, playwright Emma Gelders Sterne focuses on the girlhood of the The Maid of Orléans as she comes to terms with her destiny. Her French village is under siege by the English and Joan is determined to fight for France. Her family and friends witness the changes in the young girl and when she proclaims that she will join the men in battle, her father strongly discourages her stating that young woman do not do such things. But her perseverance wins out and changes the hearts and minds of those around her. This powerful and moving play was originally produced by The Children's Players of New York. Emma Gelders Sterne was a prolific writer of children's historical books and plays. She became involved in children's theatre after proclaiming there was a shortage of meaningful plays and set out to correct that by writing "Young Joan of Arc" and other plays. In all she wrote over 40 books and many plays including "Listen to the Mockingbird" and "The Reluctant Dragon."