Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: One Acts for Teens

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socalmom
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Joined: 5/10/09
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Topic: One Acts for Teens
Posted: 5/20/09 at 5:14pm

Hello!

We are a new theater group and let's just say we are about as green as it gets! :)

We just finished up _The Man Who Came To Dinner_ and the students did a superb job!

We did learn, however, that this is not the type of scripct we want to offer...too many kiddos in very small roles.

So, as we look forward to the Fall we are leaning towards 2 or 3 one-acts..you know..to spread the love! :)

We are trying to stay away from sexual situations for the most part...romance is okay, of course. We'd like to stay away from bad words altogether. I guess you could say we're looking for PG-type stuff!!

We had 25 actors last semester and we expect to have that many again with the majority being girls.

Have I talked too much my first time out?? I'm sorry if I did!!!

Oh dear, one more thing!!!! How does one go about researching scripts other than doing the searches on the sites? Do you order one to read?? Do they let you borrow a copy?? Are the synopsis' that they offer accurate enough to just go with one that you like??

I want to thank anyone and everyone who took the time to read this far and if you reply to me I will pray blessings upon you!!!

Laura Gonzalez

www.alethiatheater.com

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Theatrefolk
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Joined: 10/26/08
Location: Canada
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Posts: 17

Posted: 5/20/09 at 5:24pm

All of our one act plays are suitable for teenagers to perform. Most are very girl-heavy.

http://www.theatrefolk.com/products/length/2-one-act

All of the plays have tons of sample pages for you to read before committing to anything!

Theatrefolk: Scripts for High Schools, Middle Schools, and Elementary Schools
http://www.theatrefolk.com

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Nyria
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Joined: 1/20/05
Location: Canada
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Posts: 157

Posted: 5/20/09 at 5:53pm

theatrefolk is a good one.

Also try playscripts.com as you can read theirs online.

Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon from playscripts is a great one to share the love, also 'Hard Candy' and 'A Simple Task'

NYRIA

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Lazy Bee
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Joined: 2/21/07
Location: United Kingdom
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Posts: 89

Posted: 5/20/09 at 6:07pm

Lots of possible scripts here. The starting point, of course, is a bunch of synopses, but in this case you can read every script in full on-line (as long as you have the free Java plug-in working from your browser.)

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

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socalmom
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Posted: 5/20/09 at 7:29pm

Oh my goodness, everyone!!! You have no idea how relieved I feel right now!!! The task of searching out appropriate, one act plays made me feel a little breathless....moving a bit towards hyperventilation, really!! lol!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a wonderful place this is!!!!!!!

Laura Gonzalez

www.alethiatheater.com

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socalmom
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Posted: 5/20/09 at 10:20pm

I have another question that I hope is appropriate in this section....

I am reading the Brothers Grimm play...ohmygosh, it's hilarious!!! I can just hear it in my head and it makes me laugh out loud!!!! I would enjoy doing this one myself!! :)

My question is in regards to making changes....Playscripts has a lot of verbage about presenting the play as written, basically no changes. However, the author of the play says its okay to take parts out and ad lib. Would changes to the script be okay to young it up a little more? That would seem to be against the publishers wishes and it doesn't fit in with what the author says is okay......

I am going to share this play with the rest of the board and there is one member who I think would be more comfortable with it if she knew we could alter a few things and that it would be okay with the author and wouldn't go against the publisher's contract.

Thank you again!!

Laura Gonzalez

www.alethiatheater.com

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donzolidis
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Joined: 5/15/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 156

Posted: 5/21/09 at 12:19am

As I understand the rules, it's like this:

I think it's generally accepted that the director has the right to cut things from a play, (whether that's a bad word here or there or chunks of scenes to make it shorter) it's adding things in that's not allowable.

The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon requires interaction with the audience, so obviously the author (me) can't write perfect lines for every situation. It's assumed that in cases where actors talk to the audience, you have wiggle room there.

Further, the nature of the play (and the play that inspired it, The Complete works of Shakespeare (abridged)) is that its adaptable and flexible depending on the performers. So ad-libbing is okay.

Further, you can always ask the author about changes you'd like to make - you can email playscripts and they'll send on a request to me (or another playwright if it's another play) - if the changes are small and logical, I don't have a problem approving them. Now, not every author is as flexible as I am (Neil Simon is famous for this, but then again, he's Neil Simon and I'm not) so your request might be turned down, but you can always ask.

So yes you can take things out to young it up a bit. Looking at your website, there is some sexual innuendo that would likely be inappropriate for your audience and I think the play can survive and still be funny without that.

www.donzolidis.com

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socalmom
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Posted: 5/21/09 at 1:42am

Oh my goodness!!! I never imagined that the author of the play I'm thoroughly enjoying would reply!!!! I've never talked with an actual playwright before!! (I'm kinda nervous!!) :)

So you wrote that hilarious play!! I love it!!!

Thank you for replying and for taking a look at our website so you know what kind of changes we would most likely want to make. As I was reading it and came across those things, I agree with you...making those changes would keep the integrity of the play and still be funny.

We have so many talented actors and we so want to give everyone a chance to at least say _something_ on stage....in our last play we actually had two kiddos with basically no lines.....we felt SO bad!!! It was our complete lack of knowing any better....live and learn...and boy, are we learning!!

Okay, so knowing that we go through the publisher to contact the author is good to know! We'll steer clear of any Neil Simon..thanks for the heads up on that one!! lol!!!

This discussion board just gets better and better!!!

Laura Gonzalez

www.alethiatheater.com

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Jo Norland
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Joined: 5/22/09
Location: United Kingdom
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Posts: 0

Posted: 5/23/09 at 10:31am

ProPlay is a good database of one act & full length professionally produced plays - clearly set out in terms of number of characters, length, etc.

My script, 'Mothers Have Nine Lives' is there on http://www.singlelane.com/proplay/mothers.html.

It has 12 good female roles, and has worked well in a number of high school productions. Give me a shout if it looks interesting to you. Good luck, Joanna

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imamember
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Joined: 8/18/08
Location: United States
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Posts: 121

Posted: 5/23/09 at 2:03pm

We're doing The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) for our 2010-2011 season and I'm forwarding the Brothers Grimm link to our Youth Theatre Chair for consideration. That might be neat to have both shows in one season.

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Play Suggestions
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Author	Message
socalmom Walk-On Joined: 5/10/09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: One Acts for Teens Posted: 5/20/09 at 5:14pm
	Hello! We are a new theater group and let's just say we are about as green as it gets! :) We just finished up _The Man Who Came To Dinner_ and the students did a superb job! We did learn, however, that this is not the type of scripct we want to offer...too many kiddos in very small roles. So, as we look forward to the Fall we are leaning towards 2 or 3 one-acts..you know..to spread the love! :) We are trying to stay away from sexual situations for the most part...romance is okay, of course. We'd like to stay away from bad words altogether. I guess you could say we're looking for PG-type stuff!! We had 25 actors last semester and we expect to have that many again with the majority being girls. Have I talked too much my first time out?? I'm sorry if I did!!! Oh dear, one more thing!!!! How does one go about researching scripts other than doing the searches on the sites? Do you order one to read?? Do they let you borrow a copy?? Are the synopsis' that they offer accurate enough to just go with one that you like?? I want to thank anyone and everyone who took the time to read this far and if you reply to me I will pray blessings upon you!!! Laura Gonzalez www.alethiatheater.com
	www.alethiatheater.com

	IP Logged

Theatrefolk Player Joined: 10/26/08 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 17	Posted: 5/20/09 at 5:24pm
	All of our one act plays are suitable for teenagers to perform. Most are very girl-heavy. http://www.theatrefolk.com/products/length/2-one-act All of the plays have tons of sample pages for you to read before committing to anything!
	Theatrefolk: Scripts for High Schools, Middle Schools, and Elementary Schools http://www.theatrefolk.com
	IP Logged

Nyria Celebrity Joined: 1/20/05 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 157	Posted: 5/20/09 at 5:53pm
	theatrefolk is a good one. Also try playscripts.com as you can read theirs online. Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon from playscripts is a great one to share the love, also 'Hard Candy' and 'A Simple Task'
	NYRIA
	IP Logged

Lazy Bee Star Joined: 2/21/07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 89	Posted: 5/20/09 at 6:07pm
	Lots of possible scripts here. The starting point, of course, is a bunch of synopses, but in this case you can read *every* script in full on-line (as long as you have the free Java plug-in working from your browser.)
	Stuart Lazy Bee Scripts http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk read complete play scripts on-line
	IP Logged

socalmom Walk-On Joined: 5/10/09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 5/20/09 at 7:29pm
	Oh my goodness, everyone!!! You have no idea how relieved I feel right now!!! The task of searching out appropriate, one act plays made me feel a little breathless....moving a bit towards hyperventilation, really!! lol!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a wonderful place this is!!!!!!! Laura Gonzalez www.alethiatheater.com
	www.alethiatheater.com
	IP Logged

socalmom Walk-On Joined: 5/10/09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 5/20/09 at 10:20pm
	I have another question that I hope is appropriate in this section.... I am reading the Brothers Grimm play...ohmygosh, it's hilarious!!! I can just hear it in my head and it makes me laugh out loud!!!! I would enjoy doing this one myself!! :) My question is in regards to making changes....Playscripts has a lot of verbage about presenting the play as written, basically no changes. However, the author of the play says its okay to take parts out and ad lib. Would changes to the script be okay to young it up a little more? That would seem to be against the publishers wishes and it doesn't fit in with what the author says is okay...... I am going to share this play with the rest of the board and there is one member who I think would be more comfortable with it if she knew we could alter a few things and that it would be okay with the author and wouldn't go against the publisher's contract. Thank you again!! Laura Gonzalez www.alethiatheater.com
	www.alethiatheater.com
	IP Logged

donzolidis Celebrity Joined: 5/15/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 156	Posted: 5/21/09 at 12:19am
	As I understand the rules, it's like this: I think it's generally accepted that the director has the right to cut things from a play, (whether that's a bad word here or there or chunks of scenes to make it shorter) it's adding things in that's not allowable. The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon requires interaction with the audience, so obviously the author (me) can't write perfect lines for every situation. It's assumed that in cases where actors talk to the audience, you have wiggle room there. Further, the nature of the play (and the play that inspired it, The Complete works of Shakespeare (abridged)) is that its adaptable and flexible depending on the performers. So ad-libbing is okay. Further, you can always ask the author about changes you'd like to make - you can email playscripts and they'll send on a request to me (or another playwright if it's another play) - if the changes are small and logical, I don't have a problem approving them. Now, not every author is as flexible as I am (Neil Simon is famous for this, but then again, he's Neil Simon and I'm not) so your request might be turned down, but you can always ask. So yes you can take things out to young it up a bit. Looking at your website, there is some sexual innuendo that would likely be inappropriate for your audience and I think the play can survive and still be funny without that.
	www.donzolidis.com
	IP Logged

socalmom Walk-On Joined: 5/10/09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 5/21/09 at 1:42am
	Oh my goodness!!! I never imagined that the author of the play I'm thoroughly enjoying would reply!!!! I've never talked with an actual playwright before!! (I'm kinda nervous!!) :) So you wrote that hilarious play!! I love it!!! Thank you for replying and for taking a look at our website so you know what kind of changes we would most likely want to make. As I was reading it and came across those things, I agree with you...making those changes would keep the integrity of the play and still be funny. We have so many talented actors and we so want to give everyone a chance to at least say _something_ on stage....in our last play we actually had two kiddos with basically no lines.....we felt SO bad!!! It was our complete lack of knowing any better....live and learn...and boy, are we learning!! Okay, so knowing that we go through the publisher to contact the author is good to know! We'll steer clear of any Neil Simon..thanks for the heads up on that one!! lol!!! This discussion board just gets better and better!!! Laura Gonzalez www.alethiatheater.com
	www.alethiatheater.com
	IP Logged

Jo Norland Walk-On Joined: 5/22/09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 5/23/09 at 10:31am
	ProPlay is a good database of one act & full length professionally produced plays - clearly set out in terms of number of characters, length, etc. My script, 'Mothers Have Nine Lives' is there on http://www.singlelane.com/proplay/mothers.html. It has 12 good female roles, and has worked well in a number of high school productions. Give me a shout if it looks interesting to you. Good luck, Joanna
	IP Logged

imamember Celebrity Joined: 8/18/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 121	Posted: 5/23/09 at 2:03pm
	We're doing The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) for our 2010-2011 season and I'm forwarding the Brothers Grimm link to our Youth Theatre Chair for consideration. That might be neat to have both shows in one season.
	IP Logged

Topic: One Acts for Teens( Topic Closed)
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