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#1

Seeking a one act play

Posted: 6/27/05 at 8:54pm

I'm seeking a one act to direct in the fall and am having some trouble finding exactly the right one, though not for lack of trying. Can you recommend any particular collections, guides or playwrights I should consider? There's a lot out there, a lot of which isn't appropriate or just doesn't grab me.

FYI, what I'm looking for....
Casting: Roles that can be played by college students, preferably not more than six people or so.
Length: Between around 15 minutes and half an hour.
Tech: Not a big set. I'm not sure where it will be staged yet (the venue varies by semester), but it probably won't be a well-equipped theater (unfortunately, this rules out After Magritte, which I was considering).
Mood: Right now I'm thinking comedy or farce, but will consider anything. Except David Ives. I can't stand David Ives.
Rights: Nothing outrageously expensive, but from what I've seen so far this shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks for any help! I'm going to be in New York next week so I can browse the Drama Book Shop for inspiration.
"WHEN is the winter of our discontent?" "NOW is the winter of our discontent!" Visit My Blog
#2

re: Seeking a one act play

Posted: 6/27/05 at 8:58pm

The Bear/Bohr (depending on translation) by Anton Chekhov.

I did a set for it when we did it in Russian!

I love it.

It is a comedy (probably funnier in Russian)...

There are 2 guy parts....one girl part....then a few odd people for the end.

Maybe there's 2 females parts....
Mama Korey

The Beauty Is: Kelli O'Hara Online

#3

re: Seeking a one act play

Posted: 6/27/05 at 9:07pm

Here are two, both published by Dramatists Play Service

DEEP SLEEPERS

THE UNDEFEATED RHUMBA CHAMP

Both are for 1 male and 1 female. DS is shorter than RHUMBA.

RHUMBA provided Christine Baranski with her breakthrough role which resulted in a valentine by Frank Rich in The NYTimes, and she was immediately cast by Mike Nicholas on Broadway after that. It's that kind of a role for a wonderful comedienne.

DS is a zany comdey that would be perfect for college, too.

#4

re: Seeking a one act play

Posted: 6/27/05 at 9:17pm

House of Blue Leaves - I just like that play.
The Bald Soprano by Eugen Ionesco
Machinal by Sophie (Dont remember last name)
#5

re: Seeking a one act play

Posted: 6/27/05 at 9:25pm

Bang Bang You're Dead

The rights are FREE, the script is online, and its a very minimal set - just a couple different costumes, some props, and a bare stage with only a coffin/box as a set piece.

http://www.bangbangyouredead.com
"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
#6

re: Seeking a one act play

Posted: 6/27/05 at 10:04pm

Some good comedies...

Louder I Cant Hear you is a good one

Check Please

and a dramady
Wait Wait Bo Bait
"If There's One Thing to Learn it's You Just Can't Go Wrong If You Follow Your Heart, and End With A Song"
#7

re: Seeking a one act play

Posted: 6/27/05 at 10:07pm

St. Stanislaus is Outside the House. a little over 30 mins, I think, but amazing. Five people, three boys and two girls (Although we did three girls and two guys with no changes but one stage direction)
#8

re: Seeking a one act play

Posted: 6/27/05 at 10:12pm

The Actors Theatre of Louisville publishes collections of Ten-minute plays: a collection for Two Actors, another for Three Actors, and another one for Four, Five and Six Actors. It's from their National Ten-Minute Play Contest. Plays are categorized into all combinations of male and female roles - all recent stuff.

They're published by Smith and Kraus - part of their Contemporary Playwrights Series.

30 Ten-Minute Plays for Two Actors
30 Ten-Minute Plays for Three Actors
30 Ten-Minute Plays for Four, Five & Six Actors.

I guarantee you'll find tons of stuff you'll love.
Salmon leap from the womb of the white sea you look on; they are calves, they are lambs of good color, in peace without slaughter.
#9

re: Seeking a one act play

Posted: 6/27/05 at 10:24pm

i highly recomend "Naomi in teh living room" by christopher durang. It is highly entertaining, i played Naomi last year its awesome. as well as any of durangs work.
Jonathan rand's "hard candy" and "check please" are also mildy entertaining.

~~EM~~
#10

re: Seeking a one act play

Posted: 6/28/05 at 12:56am

For Whom The Southern Belle Tolls is always a good one...by Christopher Durang, it got a great reaction in one of our one-act festivals at college. Basically a Durang-like farce on The Glass Menagerie except hte Laura character is played by a boy and is a ...oh crap, I can't remember the word...people who always think tey're really sick but it's all in their heads... and then Jim is now Ginny and a lesbian who's like, half deaf from working in the factory or whatever with Tom and is mishearing and screaming the entire show...2 girls, 2 guys...great stuff, very funny, very fun.

I'll have to find my old programs and send some more of the better shows people did your way.

There's one called Sociability, 2 men, 2 women, very funny but there are some 'adult' moments and it's very charicature funny but great.

I know I have more from looking myself...Actor's Nightmare, I think that's 6 people, also Durang...kinda overdone though.

If I show you the darkness I hold inside, will you bring me to light?
#11

re: Seeking a one act play

Posted: 6/28/05 at 1:02am

Check out www.Playscripts.com They have a ton of short one act plays that are loads of fun and have varied cast sizes. I read some great ones at Thespian festival last week. There's a fun one act called S.P.A.R. but it has more than 6 people.
Be the change you want in the world....
#12

re: Seeking a one act play

Posted: 6/28/05 at 1:02am

"This Property Is Condemned"
by Tennessee Williams

Set= A Plank
Actors: 1 Boy
1 Girl
#13

re: Seeking a one act play

Posted: 6/28/05 at 1:14pm

I"ve seen This Place Is Condemned - not a bad show at all, however if you're looking for comedy, not really it.

It has it's lighter moments that make you snicker but it's a very heartfelt story and has some sadness and drama in it that I think I'd categorize it as above a comedy.
If I show you the darkness I hold inside, will you bring me to light?
#14

re: Seeking a one act play

Posted: 6/28/05 at 2:23pm

Robert Patrick's "My Cup Runneth Over"

A great one act for two girls
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>> “I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>> -whatever2
#15

re: Seeking a one act play

Posted: 6/28/05 at 4:48pm

Try the one act called NAOMI IN THE LIVING ROOM by the wonderful Christopher Durang. This one act is hillarious and easy to do. I know for I directed it, and it turned out, well, by far the best out of all the one acts we did. Seriously, read it, you will love it. It is a three person show ( 2 females and 1 male who crossdresses) thats about 10-15 minutes long. It is a comedy. Read it! You will laugh!!!!!!!
"Sometimes when you dream, your dreams come true..."
#16

re: Seeking a one act play

Posted: 6/28/05 at 6:17pm

Thanks for all your suggestions! I'll look into them. I'm not sure if I want to do a parody, but I know Durang is hilarious (I know Desire, Desire, Desire; but not the Menangerie one).

Thenardier- do you recommend any particular translation of the Chekhov? Or do you just know it in Russian? (I've done some German and French theater, so I know what that's like...)
"WHEN is the winter of our discontent?" "NOW is the winter of our discontent!" Visit My Blog
#17

re: Seeking a one act play

Posted: 6/28/05 at 7:20pm

There is a good peoce called "Hard Candy" I don't remeber who owns the rights but i'll look around.
"You know just because you put a smiley face after it doesn't change the fact that it was an a-hole comment." ~ Sumofallthings
#18

re: Seeking a one act play

Posted: 6/28/05 at 8:15pm

It's not funny, but I love Andre's Mother by Terrence McNally. 2 Men 2 Women and it's only 10-15 minutes and there's no set required. However, it's not the least bit funny.
#19

re: Seeking a one act play

Posted: 6/28/05 at 10:22pm

um Seasick is kinda crazy and All the World is a stage is fun, icant remember who they're by but it was very fun when iwas in it.

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