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Looking for a Play to Direct

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#1

Looking for a Play to Direct

Posted: 7/7/05 at 1:53am

I have to analyze and direct a play as one of the requirements for my major. I'm having a great deal of difficulty finding the right play.

It has to be 30-60 minutes in length, so most students do the second act of a full-length play. If I do that, it means that the second act must be able to stand alone (so mysteries won't work, for example).

Also it must have 4-6 actors, and I go to a women's college where males are very hard to find. And we're not allowed to do anything that has been directed in the 4-year-memory of the school, so many obvious choices like "Beautiful Bodies", "Crimes of the Heart", "My Mother Said I Never Should", and "Three Tall Women" are out.

Please let me know if you have any brilliant suggestions of plays I could
do. Thank you!

(edit: Also, the play must have a through-plot. I cannot use anything that is a series of monologues or unrelated vignettes, as I have to analyze the root conflict.)
I starred in a short film called Magnetic Personality. Check it out!

Updated On: 7/11/05 at 01:53 AM

#2

re: Looking for a Play to Direct

Posted: 7/7/05 at 12:10pm

Try "Catholic School Girls" by Casey Kurtti
The cast is only four women, the set is minimal, and it's a memory play so it's condusive to cutting
"It's really crazy backstage. Just before the show started, Elaine Stritch got into a fight with stage hand, and then inexplicably started squeezing Hugh Jackman's buttocks. And by the time they had sedated her, she had punched out two cops and was holding Norbert Leo Butz hostage, threatening to kill one of his three names." -Nathan Lane
#3

re: Looking for a Play to Direct

Posted: 7/7/05 at 3:51pm

There's an all women one act called The Audition is Over. I think it has 5 or 6 women in it. Very cute, fun piece.
Be the change you want in the world....
#4

re: Looking for a Play to Direct

Posted: 7/7/05 at 4:01pm

i'm not entirely sure if it's all women, but what about nunsence?
Less is more
Ugly is beautiful
"My brother plays a drag queen... and I'm surprised he looks as good as he does in drag." - Adam Rapp

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"Yeah Abba. All the filthy crap you spew out there on those boards. I for one, am equally shocked. :-P" - AnnaK
#6

re: Looking for a Play to Direct

Posted: 7/7/05 at 7:12pm

A Steve Martin play called WASP. YOu only need 2 guys and its hysterical. About 50-65 minutes long (but very easy to cut) I just directed and produced this at my high school. it was awesome!
#7

re: Looking for a Play to Direct

Posted: 7/7/05 at 11:02pm

I've seen two of the suggested... Catholic School Girls is awesome, but I didn't like Wasp at all. Maybe some of Top Girls, by Caryll Churchill? I was in the first act - we only did the first act at my school (the two acts stand completely apart from one another.) You need six women I believe. Done correctly, it's very clever and funny.

Updated On: 7/8/05 at 11:02 PM

#8

re: Looking for a Play to Direct

Posted: 7/8/05 at 10:05am

~FF~ may I recommend The American Dream, By Edward Albee.


Only 2 men and 3 women. Wonderfully written play with many many possibilities
I got rid of my teeth at a young age because... I'm straight. Teeth are for gay people. That's why fairies come and get them
#10

re: Looking for a Play to Direct

Posted: 7/8/05 at 12:28pm

Thanks for the suggestions, guys.

I ordered the following plays last week:

- Alterations
- Catch a Falling Star
- Catholic School Girls
- Daughters
- A Day in the Death of Joe Egg
- Gwen and Gwen
- Mama Drama

I'm glad to hear such positive things about "Catholic School Girls".

I believe that 'Laundry and Bourbon' and 'Topgirls' have been done in the last few years at my school, so they're probably out. I'll look at all the other things suggested.

By all means, keep 'em coming!

Thanks!
~ff~
I starred in a short film called Magnetic Personality. Check it out!
#11

re: Looking for a Play to Direct

Posted: 7/8/05 at 1:42pm

Plus "Laundry and Bourbon" only has 3 women and you said you needed 4-6. Let us know what you choose!
"It's really crazy backstage. Just before the show started, Elaine Stritch got into a fight with stage hand, and then inexplicably started squeezing Hugh Jackman's buttocks. And by the time they had sedated her, she had punched out two cops and was holding Norbert Leo Butz hostage, threatening to kill one of his three names." -Nathan Lane
#13

re: Looking for a Play to Direct

Posted: 7/9/05 at 1:09am

another good one...and an all-female cast...Career Angel. you could do an excerpt from there.
"you can take the girl out of Hicksville, but you can't take the Hicksville out of the girl." ~Rent
#14

re: Looking for a Play to Direct

Posted: 7/9/05 at 6:07pm

Life Under Water by Richard Greenberg has 2 men, 3 women...AWESOME play, about 45 minutes.
-Anyone want to turn anarchist with me?

"Bless you and all who know you, oh wise and penguined one." ~YouWantItWhen????
#15

re: Looking for a Play to Direct

Posted: 7/9/05 at 11:52pm

The Vagina Monologues - Very funny all lady cast

I love "Oh Dad, Poor dad, Momma hung you in the closet and I'm feeling so sad" you need 2 guys for sure, but the "bellboys" can be played by girls
#16

re: Looking for a Play to Direct

Posted: 7/11/05 at 1:33am

"The Shape of Things," by Neal Labute. Even if you don't do it, you HAVE to read it. You won't be able to put it down. One of my favorite plays.
Avatar - Isaac, my blue-fronted Amazon parrot. Adopted 9/7/07. Age 30 (my pet is older than me!)
#18

re: Looking for a Play to Direct

Posted: 8/18/05 at 4:04pm

I can't remember the name of it, but it's a nazi play where a man plays numerous roles. i'll keep trying to think of it.
"Applause begets applause in the theatre, as laughter begets laughter and tears beget tears." CLAYTON HAMILTON, "Theory of the Theatre" "I think theater ought to be theatrical ... you know, shuffling the pack in different ways so that it's -- there's always some kind of ambush involved in the experience. You're being ambushed by an unexpected word, or by an elephant falling out of the cupboard, whatever it is." TOM STOPPARD
#19

re: Looking for a Play to Direct

Posted: 8/18/05 at 5:40pm

Aria De Capo by Edna St. Vincent Millay. It's frequently anthologized and, although there are men in it, it's done commedia del arte style and could easily be done by all women.
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali
#20

re: Looking for a Play to Direct

Posted: 8/19/05 at 6:55pm

*bump*

can anyone help me find the name of this play? the man in the show portrays various roles that are indicative of the evils the female lead must endure in life. I can't for the life of me remember the title.
"Applause begets applause in the theatre, as laughter begets laughter and tears beget tears." CLAYTON HAMILTON, "Theory of the Theatre" "I think theater ought to be theatrical ... you know, shuffling the pack in different ways so that it's -- there's always some kind of ambush involved in the experience. You're being ambushed by an unexpected word, or by an elephant falling out of the cupboard, whatever it is." TOM STOPPARD
#21

re: Looking for a Play to Direct

Posted: 8/19/05 at 7:14pm

do you mean I Am My Own Wife?
when ducks grow thumbs then maybe my opinion will change.
#22

re: Looking for a Play to Direct

Posted: 8/19/05 at 7:16pm

I don't think so, at least it doesn't ring a bell. Thanks for trying.
"Applause begets applause in the theatre, as laughter begets laughter and tears beget tears." CLAYTON HAMILTON, "Theory of the Theatre" "I think theater ought to be theatrical ... you know, shuffling the pack in different ways so that it's -- there's always some kind of ambush involved in the experience. You're being ambushed by an unexpected word, or by an elephant falling out of the cupboard, whatever it is." TOM STOPPARD
#23

re: Looking for a Play to Direct

Posted: 8/19/05 at 7:31pm

you are gonna have to give us more info then, cause from what you said about the play it sounds pretty close to I Am My Own Wife.
when ducks grow thumbs then maybe my opinion will change.
#24

re: Looking for a Play to Direct

Posted: 8/20/05 at 2:37am

I don't know a whole lot more info...or I surely would.
"Applause begets applause in the theatre, as laughter begets laughter and tears beget tears." CLAYTON HAMILTON, "Theory of the Theatre" "I think theater ought to be theatrical ... you know, shuffling the pack in different ways so that it's -- there's always some kind of ambush involved in the experience. You're being ambushed by an unexpected word, or by an elephant falling out of the cupboard, whatever it is." TOM STOPPARD
#25

re: Looking for a Play to Direct

Posted: 8/20/05 at 9:09am

Guido Contini - I think you might be talking about "Kindertransport", in which a man plays a nazi, a mailman, and a dog catcher. Unfortunately, this play was done by a senior last year, and therefore I am not allowed to use it. But thanks for the suggestion.
I starred in a short film called Magnetic Personality. Check it out!

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