KHAKI CHUMS
by Lawrence Thelen
Khaki Chums is based on the unofficial Christmas Day truce that took place between British and German soldiers during World War I. The play takes place on Christmas night, 1914. When young British soldier Danny O’Neill runs from the trenches onto the battlefield to escape the misery of war, he is surprised by Bamey Luntz, a young German soldier. The two peacefully set their weapons aside in honor of the holiday. Soon, British and German soldiers from both sides leave their trenches and embark upon a ceasefire during which they sing carols, share stories, and exchange gifts. As the morning sun begins to rise, the soldiers reluctantly return to their trenches to resume the war.
- Cast Size: 12M+ (can be a mixed cast of men and women)
- Running Time: 90+ minutes
- Royalty Rate: $75 per performance
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About the Playwright
Lawrence Thelen is a Connecticut-based playwright and screenwriter. His comedy Pie in the Sky premiered on stage at the Victory Theatre in Los Angeles where it was named an L.A. Times Critics Choice. The piece was subsequently made into a multi-award-winning independent feature film. His latest comedy Man or Mouse won the Arts Fort Worth Original Works Festival and premiered there in March 2025. Other works include the comedies Higgins in Harlem (Playhouse on Park), and Eating Rhode Island (Edinburgh Fringe Festival), both published by Dramatic; also the musical Star of Freedom (Ivoryton Playhouse); the Noël Coward musical comedy Mad Dogs and Englishmen; and the WWI Christmas Day Truce musical Khaki Chums. His books include The Show Makers: Great Directors of the American Musical Theatrepublished by Routledge, and an anthology of his one-act plays entitled Ichabod Crane Tells All and Other Short Comedies is published by Next Stage Press. He is the former Literary Manager and Producing Associate for Goodspeed Musicals, and was most recently the Playwright-in- Residence at the Ivoryton Playhouse.
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