Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
romgitsean
Broadway Star Joined: 4/7/08
#1Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
Posted: 1/2/11 at 1:19am
Save your Arsenic and Old Lace and Rumors, though.
Preferably less than ten people. Suggestions?
Recent Broadway and Off-Broadway:: Carrie, Merrily, Ionescopade
Next On The List :: Clybourne Park, Once, Streetcar, BOM
Next On The List :: Clybourne Park, Once, Streetcar, BOM
HummingAlong
Stand-by Joined: 12/22/10
#2Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
Posted: 1/2/11 at 1:26am
Not sure how helpful this will be, but it's entertaining to think about...
You'd have to wait for rights and then rewrite to adapt for additional players, but I think Colin Quinn's Long Story Short could actually be a kind of cool thing for a small ensemble to do. The players could have a lot of fun with this piece - almost like a comedic version of Metamorphoses. It's educational but with the opportunity to have some lighthearted fun, which could be well received. (Unfortunately, it's not doing so well out here...but I really think it could be cool like this.)
Updated On: 1/2/11 at 01:26 AM
#2Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
Posted: 1/2/11 at 1:51amGLORIOUS. It is the story of the infamous opera singer Gloria Jenkins. It is a very small cast. It is a very funny, touching, and fun little play. It is not a musical. It can be done with a very small set (or no set) all you need is a piano and a couch and maybe a video screen.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
jonartdesigns
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/04
#3Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
Posted: 1/2/11 at 2:17amLend Me a Tenor, and Boeing-Boeing come to mind.
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
#4Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
Posted: 1/2/11 at 2:30am
Well, "Art" by Yasmina Reza of course. Three people, one unit set, very few props. Boom. Easy.
If you want to go with something less snobby check out "The Underpants" and "Picasso at the Lapine Agile," both by Steve Martin. Jeff Daniels' "Escabana in da Moonlight" and "Escabana in Love" also seem to be very popular.
#5Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
Posted: 1/2/11 at 2:36amI admit that I'm not familiar with the show, but what about "Waiting for Godot"? Then again, I do hear that the show is either a hit or miss.
singingbackup
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/3/06
#6Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
Posted: 1/2/11 at 3:27am
Play On
Written by Rick Abbot
Play On is about a small community theater staging a new play – Murder Most Foul - for the first time. The eccentric playwright decides at the last minute to change lines and add a new character a few days before opening night. Wackiness ensues! It's similar to Noises Off. 10 characters as I recall.
#7Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
Posted: 1/2/11 at 3:35am
Dedication or The Stuff of Dreams
Torch Song Trilogy
Waiting For Godot
Noises Off!
The Boys Next Door
The Graduate
NotSinceCarrie2
Swing Joined: 12/22/10
#8Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
Posted: 1/2/11 at 6:27pm
Bill Irwin's Scapin is quite fun, and an excellent way to have two leads (at least, that's how we did it, with Sylvestre just as important as Scapin -- 7m, 4f)
I'm blanking on others, but Lunch Hour (3m, 2f) is underrated.
#9Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
Posted: 1/2/11 at 7:19pmFools, by Neil Simon (7m, 3f, but some genders can be easily switched). Not his *best*, but it is a fun, enjoyable, silly show, and has a stationary set.
tommyboy
Broadway Star Joined: 12/21/06
#10Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
Posted: 1/2/11 at 7:25pm
Any or all of the Tuna trilogy -- hilarious, but requires 2 very talented male actors.
Private Lives -- a classic British comedy by Noel Coward -- requires accents. Don't do it if you can't cast the accents.
On Golden Pond
Sylvia -- can be cast with 4 or 6, a family-friendly version of the script is offered by the author (A.R. Gurney) for the kiddies, blue-hairs or church groups. But the R-like rated version is funnier.
#11Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
Posted: 1/2/11 at 9:04pm
Don't know anything about Bill Irwin's adaptation of Scapin, but Jim Dale's adaptation, Scapino, is a fun show. However, unless you have a truly dynamic entertainer playing the title character, the play will not work.
Just to play devil's advocate, Waiting For Godot would be a very challenging show for a community theater, and is not the kind of play you undertake without knowing you have people who can pull it off. Also, it's not really a comedy.
Assuming you don't have a huge casting pool to choose from, you may have to chose the play based on who you have.
wonderland01
Swing Joined: 3/24/10
#12Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
Posted: 1/2/11 at 10:52pmI second Noises Off, if you have a cast good at physical comedy. Rumors is also great.
#13Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
Posted: 1/3/11 at 8:35amI'm currently in Ken Ludwig's LEADING LADIES and it is hilarious!!! 3 women and 5 men with basically a unit set.
<-- Tevye, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, March 2018
#14Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
Posted: 1/3/11 at 8:44amBlithe Spirit
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson
algy
Broadway Star Joined: 10/19/05
#15Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
Posted: 1/3/11 at 10:38am
Can I add "Stepping out" to the mix?
I saw the recent UK tour - and I've seen it done in a village hall - made me laugh both times, but I preferred the village hall. And it's even better if the cast can't dance...
iluvtheatertrash
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
#16Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
Posted: 1/3/11 at 10:47amWait. Since when is On Golden Pond a comedy?
"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#17Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
Posted: 1/3/11 at 12:16pm
Moonlight and Magnolias
Tale of the Allergist's Wife
The Last Night of Ballyhoo
...though all of the above might be "too Jewish" for some groups.
ErinDillyFan
Broadway Star Joined: 7/14/06
#18Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
Posted: 1/3/11 at 12:23pm
I agree with Blithe Spirit.
I have never seen the musical version High Spirits, but love the cast album and don't know why you would need a large ensemble for it.
JimCo
Chorus Member Joined: 1/2/09
#19Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
Posted: 1/3/11 at 3:25pmDearly Departed...it is a scream, and audiences love it. Play it real, though. The only way it works!
Chorus Member Joined: 12/31/69
#20Relatively Small Cast Comedies to suggest for a Community Theatre
Posted: 1/3/11 at 3:30pmYou can't go wrong with Neil Simon. Depending on your talent pool you have Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple, any of the "BB" shows- or it you want to hedge your bets go with one of the Suites- you can make the cast bigger or smaller as needed.
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