An online adaptation of
Alexander, read by author
Judith Viorst with the
original illustrations

Click here to play

Behind the Scenes:
The Director

Notes from the Director, Nick Olcott:

Nothing is lonelier than a bad day. The whole world gangs up on you. People are mean, steps reach out to stub your toes, skateboards sneak you to trip you, no one gives you the food you like, and even the cat doesn't want to play with you. Things break when you hardly touch them. They fall down when you just look at them.

The whole world gangs up on you when you're having a bad day.

That's what I decided this story was about. We don't need much of a set for it: a few chairs, a table, and a bed. Actors play the rest of the world: the door that hits you in the back, the faucet that soaks your sweater, that copy machine that just begs to you to try it out, the cell phone that gets you in trouble. Isn't that what it feels like when you're having a bad day? Things aren't just things anymore. They're evil creatures out to get you. The whole world is as mean as the people in it.

Poor Alexander is completely alone in this terrible, horrible, no good, very bad world. His family doesn't even hear him when he tries to tell them what's wrong. The teacher likes everyone else better. Even his best friend deserts him.

Thank goodness that you're there for Alexander. That's right: you in the audience are the only ones Alexander can really talk to. He knows that you're out there. And that you've had your own bad days. So you'll understand.

You probably know his story already. But that doesn't matter. Come join Alexander and live his bad day with him. Maybe with your help, he can beat things just this once. You can help Alexander have a good day at last.