Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Well Known Comedies

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bbpchick
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Topic: Well Known Comedies
Posted: 8/15/07 at 4:06am

Hello All!

We are starting to think about our 2008 season and I'm looking for some well known comedies/farces etc. for our spring production.

If you have any suggestions, please include where you can get the royalties because I'm horrible with finding that stuff.

One suggestion I've seen in another thread is "An Adult Evening with Shel Silverstien" Where would you go to get the script to read?

Shows for any audience would be fine. The Spring Show doesn't absoluetly have to be family friendly. We live in a tourist town so our show attendees aren't necissarily prudes. But if the show is family friendly that is ok too.

I need a relatively simple set.

Ok I'm rambling. I'll let you get to typing

Thank you,

Kendra

Kendra
www.murphysblackbartplayers.com
You are NEVER too old to dress up!

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SmilersComedy
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Posted: 3/06/08 at 2:46pm

Kendra,
I have several crazy comedies and farces, British and American. most run around 90 minutes all on one set with simple lights.

All my shows have been produced with runs of no less than six weeks.

here is a clip from the sitcom "Double Back Alley" based on my play "A Flash In The Pants" It will give you some idea of my style of comedy.

http://www.youtube.com/DickieDaviesPM

You can reach me at smilerscomedy@yahoo.com for more info

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donzolidis
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Posted: 3/07/08 at 1:25am

You have your tried and true comedies which are sure to bring audience members:

Noises Off

A Midsummer Night's Dream

The Odd Couple

But if you're looking for something a bit edgier, I'd look at David Lindsay-Abaire. Fuddy Meers, Wonder of the World, and Kimberly Akimbo (a little more serious) are all hilarious, wonderful plays.

www.donzolidis.com

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spikesgirl
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Posted: 3/30/08 at 11:00am

If you can grab any of the Ray Cooney shows, they always do well. The "RUN FOR YOUR WIFE" trilogy plays exceedingly well and we sold out of ten of our 16 performances. You might also want to consider THE UNDERPANTS (Steve Martin) or BOEING, BOEING. We settled upon DEARLY DEPARTED for our next comedy. It's not well known, but is seriously funny.

As for well known, consider any of Neil Simon's shows, they always do well as does YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU

Charlie

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tristanrobin
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Posted: 3/30/08 at 7:47pm

I know they're done over and over - but I still think "Moon Over Buffalo" "Lend Me a Tenor" "I Hate Hamlet" and "Noises Off" are the funniest evenings I've ever spent in a theatre.

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Ogreking4
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Posted: 3/31/08 at 12:35pm

We must haev the same sense of humor, these are some of the exact plays I would recommend. Also, "Star-Spangled Girl" by Neil Simon is less well known, but funny. "Funny Money" by Ray Cooney is great. Pat Cook has some great comedies especially suited to a family audience. If you have a particularly talented actor, try "One for the Money", also by Ray Cooney...

Good luck!

Originally posted by spikesgirl

If you can grab any of the Ray Cooney shows, they always do well. The "RUN FOR YOUR WIFE" trilogy plays exceedingly well and we sold out of ten of our 16 performances. You might also want to consider THE UNDERPANTS (Steve Martin) or BOEING, BOEING. We settled upon DEARLY DEPARTED for our next comedy. It's not well known, but is seriously funny.

As for well known, consider any of Neil Simon's shows, they always do well as does YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU

Charlie

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pdavis69
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Posted: 3/31/08 at 1:51pm

Dearly Departed is a hillarious comedy about a Texas funeral. Several years ago Whoopie Goldberg filmed it as Kingdom Come. The film gives a good look at the comedy in it. The same author also penned Dearly Beloved which involves a Texas Wedding.

I would also suggest you look at the works of Michael Parker, in particular Whose Wives are They Anyway? This is a wonderful American farce full of humor, sight gags, cross dressing, wife swapping and other fun.

Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

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spikesgirl
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Posted: 4/01/08 at 11:15am

Originally posted by pdavis69

Dearly Departed is a hillarious comedy about a Texas funeral. Several years ago Whoopie Goldberg filmed it as Kingdom Come. The film gives a good look at the comedy in it. The same author also penned Dearly Beloved which involves a Texas Wedding.

The one Neil Simon comedy that everyone overlooks is FOOLS. Done right and it's insane! it's funny - I'm on the artistic committee at my theater and we never have a problem with the comedy. it's always the drama that makes us crazy and for the 09-10 season, it's just the opposite this time. We nailed the drama immediately, but are still scratching our heads about the comedy.

Charlie

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Gaafa
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Posted: 4/02/08 at 5:08am

You might want to look at ;-

Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society

http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsM/McGillivrayDavid.htm#23224There is a stable of about six escapades to choose from.

Kendra as your in a tourist catchment area, if you want bums on seats/ there is 'Fur coat & no knickers'.

Use the 'Doolee' play list site to check these plays suggested & find out who handles them, to make application for rights fees etc.

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

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Lazy Bee
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Posted: 4/02/08 at 7:04am

On the Family-Friendly side, the following are definitely aimed at a family audience:-
Sherlock's Excellent Adventure by James Barry
Three Musketeers by James Barry

Heading (slightly) more towards the adult end, there are the Ray Cooney farces ("Run for your wife", "Move over, Mrs. Markham" and so on). Rather British, but frequently performed in the US.

Stuart
Lazy Bee Scripts
http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk read complete play scripts on-line

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