Plays to read
Plays to read
#1Plays to read
Posted: 1/8/10 at 4:10pm
As I'm beginning to prepare for college auditions for next winter, I've begun reading a lot of plays to educate myself and to search for monologues. I wanted to see if anyone had suggestions for plays that aren't overused, MUST READ classics or new, awesome plays.
Thanks!!!
"These rabid fans...possess the acting talent to portray the hooker...Linda Eder..." -The New York Times
WOSQ
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/03
#2Plays to read
Posted: 1/8/10 at 4:46pm
This sounds a little sweeping, but just read every play you can get your hands on. Go to the library at school and the one in your community and just start.
Read something you've heard of. Then maybe another by the same author.
There is not tried-and-true list because such a list is always changing. Just read as many plays as you can.
When you get to college you will be stunned at how few of your fellow students will be as familiar with things as you will be.
"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable."
--Carrie Fisher
#3Plays to read
Posted: 1/8/10 at 4:57pm
If you're desperate for a couple guidelines, these authors came up numerous times in my Theater History classes in both college and graduate school:
Euripides
Aristophanes
William Shakespeare (duh)
Christopher Marlowe
Henrik Ibsen
Anton Chekhov
August Strindberg
Arthur Miller
Eugene O'Neill
Aphra Behn
Suzan-Lori Parks
Bertolt Brecht
Atonin Artaud
Read anything by those authors and you'll be in very good shape for college.
But in general, yes, read everything you can.
Nothing matters but knowing nothing matters. ~ Wicked
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent
"He's a tramp, but I love him."
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent
#4Plays to read
Posted: 1/8/10 at 5:01pmEdward Albee Arthur Miller Tennessee Williams Anton Chekov Tony Kushner August Wilson Eugene O'Neill they're classics for a reason! Just read any & all plays you can get ahold of!
#5Plays to read
Posted: 1/8/10 at 5:07pm
There are DOZENS of threads discussing "must-read" plays. Do a search and you'll discover a great compilation of lists.
If you're a stronger actor in a specific genre, begin there. If you're a great classical actor, read the Shakespeare canon, all the great classical playwright's works, and add Peer Gynt to that list.
If you're stronger in contemporary works, go for LaBute, Letts, Ruhl, Vogel, etc. If you're female you will definitely want to ready the works of Ruhl, Vogel, and especially Wasserstein.
And if you're stronger in-between, Williams, Miller, etc.
Some of my favorite new and old plays:
THE CLEAN HOUSE by Sarah Ruhl
AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY by Tracy Letts
THE VISIT by Durrenmatt
THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER by Kaufman & Hart
DOG SEES GOD: CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BLOCKHEAD by Bert V. Royal
THE PILLOWMAN by Martin McDonagh
THE SEAFARER by Conor McPherson
BLITHE SPIRIT by Noel Coward
THE ZOO STORY by Edward Albee
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#6Plays to read
Posted: 1/8/10 at 5:14pm
When it comes to Shakespeare, read the Histories. Not just your Richard III and Henry V, delve deep. There's some cracking stuff lurking in the Henry IVs, Henry VIs, and Richard II. I mean, the Tragedies are great, and I suppose there's some great stuff lurking in the Comedies (Love's Labour's Lost if you're great at making that shizzle sound GOOD), but the Histories are where it's AT! You should DEFINITELY read Hamlet, but for fun rather than for possible audition purposes. 
Updated On: 1/8/10 at 05:14 PM
frapperia
Leading Actor Joined: 6/26/09
#8Plays to read
Posted: 1/8/10 at 5:21pmWhat I did last year was go to the library and got the whole "Best Plays Theatre Yearbook" collection. I read each one cover to cover and then got all of the plays that I was interested at the library or Amazon. I was already familiar with Shakespeare because when I got the complete works as a birthday present one year. Then just get collections of prominent authors of every other period- I had a great Williams collection that I was addicted to last year, and read all of Shaw, Ibsen and Lorca. I'm also a huge LaBute fan!
"There are only two worthwhile things to leave behind when we depart this world of ours: children and art."
-Sunday In The Park With George
#9Plays to read
Posted: 1/8/10 at 5:34pm
Edward Albee and Caryl Churchill are my two favorite living playwrights. THE COLLECTED WORKS OF EDWARD ALBEE (3 volumes) is HIGHLY recommended, particularly Volume 2. I would read WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, SEASCAPE, THREE TALL WOMEN and THE GOAT to start. If you are feeling adventurous, I'd also read TINY ALICE (my favorite Albee play), THE PLAY ABOUT THE BABY and check out the film version of A DELICATE BALANCE. Churchill is much more difficult reading, but A NUMBER and FAR AWAY are two of the most poetic and beautiful plays I have ever read. If you like that, try CLOUD 9 and TOP GIRLS. Both playwrights are highly recommended and both are currently active and presenting new work.
P
#10Plays to read
Posted: 1/9/10 at 1:30amIm actually going into my college auditions in a month and a great reference was the website of the drama book shop in nyc they have some plays of the week I never had heard of read and really fell in love with. And I cant encourage you enough to read Red Light Winter by Adam Rapp. One of my pieces is from it and really its got some powerful good stuff and is a terribly depressing, but very great read.
<------ Me and my friends with patti Lupone at my friends afterparty for her concert with audra mcdonald during the summer of 2007.
"I am sorry but it is an unjust world and virtue is only triumphant in theatricle performances" The Mikado
"I am sorry but it is an unjust world and virtue is only triumphant in theatricle performances" The Mikado
#11Plays to read
Posted: 1/9/10 at 11:15amMy god, I love "Red Light" so much. Adam Rapp is such a great writer!
"There are only two worthwhile things to leave behind when we depart this world of ours: children and art."
-Sunday In The Park With George
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#12Plays to read
Posted: 1/9/10 at 11:20am
A list of recent plays to read should consist of
Blackbird - David Harrower
The Clean House - Sarah Ruhl
Doubt - John Patrick Shanley
The Four of Us - Itamar Moses
Red Light Winter - Adam Rapp
KirbyCat
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/23/08
ghostlight2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/04
#14Plays to read
Posted: 1/9/10 at 5:30pm
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.
And here's a link to one of the threads CapnHook was talking about.
plays to read
#15Plays to read
Posted: 1/9/10 at 5:56pm
Some of my favorite recents and classics:
1. August: Osage County - Letts
2. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - Williams
3. A Streetcar Named Desire - Williams
4. The Glass Menagerie - Williams
5. Spring's Awakening - Wedekind
6. The Crucible - Miller
I know you.
I know you.
I know you.
#16Plays to read
Posted: 1/9/10 at 7:43pm
The Crucible
all of Shakespeare's play
August: Osage County
Doubt
#17Plays to read
Posted: 1/9/10 at 9:57pmI'm going to Barnes & Noble tomorrow and I want to pick up a few plays! Has anyone read History Boys or Dog Sees God? If so, are those good? Any other (newer) plays to recommend? Oh, does anyone know if BARE (A Pop Opera) is in a book form, like the full story/script?
tommyboy
Broadway Star Joined: 12/21/06
#18Plays to read
Posted: 1/10/10 at 7:21amThe comments regarding Shakespeare are all commendable and noteworthy. But AFTER you have studied those (and I suggest you do so in earnest), check out the latter plays in the canon, PERICLES, THE TEMPEST, and THE WINTER'S TALE. There you find a different tone to what the great man had to say regarding themes of redemption, renewal and after life. Maybe Shakespeare was saying something about his own spiritual values.
tommyboy
Broadway Star Joined: 12/21/06
#19Plays to read
Posted: 1/10/10 at 7:48am
P.S.
Re: PERICLES
I had the honor to see a production of this play at the Stratford (the one in Ontario, Canada) Festival a couple seasons ago. It ranks in the top 5 of my anything-ever. The cast included Jonathan Goad as Pericles. And yes, he was terrific.
tommyboy
Broadway Star Joined: 12/21/06
#20Plays to read
Posted: 1/10/10 at 8:12am
P.S. X2
Jonathon -- when, oh ever when, are you finally going to come to New York where you belong?
Ask Christopher or Brian, they will show you how to get here.
Updated On: 1/10/10 at 08:12 AM
#21Plays to read
Posted: 1/10/10 at 12:21pm
Has anyone read History Boys or Dog Sees God? If so, are those good?
Oh, does anyone know if BARE (A Pop Opera) is in a book form, like the full story/script?
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