Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: New to directing.. need a modern comedy

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RaYhoLiO
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Topic: New to directing.. need a modern comedy
Posted: 7/06/10 at 11:41am

Hello ladies and gentlemen! :)

I've been looking thru scripts for the past few weeks, and I'm having a hard time finding a play that fits what I'm looking for...

I'm looking for a play that is relevant.. probably written in the last 10-15 years.. it must be a comedy... one that's actually funny :).. It needs to be a cast of 10 or less people.. The lead(s) can NOT be middle aged or older females.. not looking for a musical.. NC17 on the language. and it needs to be a full length show.

I really like the idea of greater tuna.. but I don't want to direct that, because i'd like to be in it.. LOL

Non conventional shows are a plus with me.. I'm sorta sick of the formulaic comedy that takes place in someones front room, and always seems to have the same charicters, beginning and ending.

This may be a tall order... I know I've had a lot of trouble finding anything that matches my wish list.. do you guys know of anything?

Thanks a ton in advance!

-RayHoli0!

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donzolidis
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Posted: 7/06/10 at 11:52am

When you say NC17, does that mean that you have no difficulties with language at all?

So, if language is no subject matter, take a look at the plays of Durang, Nicky Silver, and David Lindsay-Abaire. I guess Silver I can take or leave, but he has some funny stuff.

Betty's Summer Vacation, by Christopher Durang, might be a little difficult technically. Also: middle-aged actress lead.

Fuddy Meers, by David Lindsay-Abaire. One of the funniest shows I've ever seen. late 20s-30s actress lead.

Wonder of the World, by David Lindsay-Abaire. Also falling-down funny. late 20s-30 actress lead.

Beyond Therapy, by Christopher Durang, getting a little dated now, but still very funny.

The Compleat works of Shakespeare (abridged), you need three brilliantly funny actors. No age requirements.

And from my own stuff, check out The World's Largest Rodent (rated R - not for schools) it has the benefit of being able to be read online for free - young male lead. (cast of 6)

http://www.playscripts.com/play.php3?playid=2081

This one is PG - A Tiny Miracle with a Fiberoptic Unicorn (cast of 8 - young male lead)

http://www.playscripts.com/play.php3?playid=2081

And lastly, my most popular show, The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon (cast of 5, expandable to anything you need)

http://www.playscripts.com/play.php3?playid=1162

www.donzolidis.com

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RaYhoLiO
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Posted: 7/06/10 at 1:42pm

My rating system is a little off I'm sure... LOL I guess what I mean is somethin' FCC ok... VERY limited f-bombs, and C-bombs are right out. :)

I'll read what I can find on those plays :) THanks for the suggestions... and please keep 'em comin' :)

-RayHoli0!

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edh915
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Posted: 7/06/10 at 1:56pm

You might want to take a look at Dead Man's Cell Phone by Sarah Ruhl. Surreal, but very funny. Picasso at the Lapin Agile by Steve Martin is also a winner. (In my book, at least)

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donzolidis
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Posted: 7/06/10 at 2:41pm

Yeah, I think Showgirls when I hear NC-17.

So if you have limited F-bombs, then Durang is probably out, Fuddy Meers and Compleat Works are still okay, and The World's Largest Rodent is out.

www.donzolidis.com

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RaYhoLiO
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Posted: 7/06/10 at 4:46pm

Thanks again!

For my 1st show, I'm thinking that Picasso will be the easiest to get accepted by my directing board, as it's purty conventional... I've seen clips of almost all of the other shows on youtube, and they look GREAT! :) I especially liked fuddy meers. I'm thinking I should probably go with the safest choice I can for the 1st one... not from a directing standpoint... but just to get a show accepted.. they have a lot of 'older' people on the board here..

Anyhow.. I need some info on Picasso.. I've seen several clips online, and they look great. Only concern is 7m How many of those seven men are small parts? I can probably get 2-4 talanted men.... and a few not-so-talanted... 7 gets difficult though... any advice?

-RayHoli0!

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donzolidis
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Posted: 7/06/10 at 5:44pm

Picasso is a fun show. A little light on plot, but it should be easily approved by your board. (After all, Steve Martin wrote it, and he's getting up there in years too.)

As I remember, there are two leads, Picasso and Einstein, which need capable actors. The bartender, also male, is a pretty major part. And then you have Elvis and Schemdiman, who are significant parts, but not that huge. The female parts are smaller and not quite as good.

I don't think there's any way to cross-cast it, there might be one part, Sagot, the art dealer, who could be played by a woman, but I don't have the script in front of me. As I recall, there's a lot of banter about women in there that wouldn't make sense with cross-casting.

www.donzolidis.com

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HongKongCV
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Posted: 7/09/10 at 2:57pm

Have you looked at a show called Flaming Idiots, by Tom Rooney? It's a farce, and it's incredibly funny.

We put that on about two years ago, and it got a good review from a man who usualy doesn't like farces! The audience howled with laughter.

It's a fairly small cast (8 people, if memory serves) with one set and two male leads.

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mark_j
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Joined: 11/28/04
Location: United States
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Posted: 7/13/10 at 9:55am

I'd throw in Dearly Departed.

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FFootlighters
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Joined: 7/13/10
Location: United States
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Posts: 10

Posted: 7/13/10 at 1:29pm

I'd look at Moonlight and Magnolias. 3M/1W and one set...but lots and lots of bananas and peanuts.

Fairfield Footlighters
Fairfield, OH
http://www.fairfield-footlighters.org

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Topic: New to directing.. need a modern comedy( Topic Closed)
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Author	Message
RaYhoLiO Walk-On Joined: 7/06/10 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: New to directing.. need a modern comedy Posted: 7/06/10 at 11:41am
	Hello ladies and gentlemen! :) I've been looking thru scripts for the past few weeks, and I'm having a hard time finding a play that fits what I'm looking for... I'm looking for a play that is relevant.. probably written in the last 10-15 years.. it must be a comedy... one that's actually funny :).. It needs to be a cast of 10 or less people.. The lead(s) can NOT be middle aged or older females.. not looking for a musical.. NC17 on the language. and it needs to be a full length show. I really like the idea of greater tuna.. but I don't want to direct that, because i'd like to be in it.. LOL Non conventional shows are a plus with me.. I'm sorta sick of the formulaic comedy that takes place in someones front room, and always seems to have the same charicters, beginning and ending. This may be a tall order... I know I've had a lot of trouble finding anything that matches my wish list.. do you guys know of anything? Thanks a ton in advance!
	-RayHoli0!

	IP Logged

donzolidis Celebrity Joined: 5/15/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 156	Posted: 7/06/10 at 11:52am
	When you say NC17, does that mean that you have no difficulties with language at all? So, if language is no subject matter, take a look at the plays of Durang, Nicky Silver, and David Lindsay-Abaire. I guess Silver I can take or leave, but he has some funny stuff. Betty's Summer Vacation, by Christopher Durang, might be a little difficult technically. Also: middle-aged actress lead. Fuddy Meers, by David Lindsay-Abaire. One of the funniest shows I've ever seen. late 20s-30s actress lead. Wonder of the World, by David Lindsay-Abaire. Also falling-down funny. late 20s-30 actress lead. Beyond Therapy, by Christopher Durang, getting a little dated now, but still very funny. The Compleat works of Shakespeare (abridged), you need three brilliantly funny actors. No age requirements. And from my own stuff, check out The World's Largest Rodent (rated R - not for schools) it has the benefit of being able to be read online for free - young male lead. (cast of 6) http://www.playscripts.com/play.php3?playid=2081 This one is PG - A Tiny Miracle with a Fiberoptic Unicorn (cast of 8 - young male lead) http://www.playscripts.com/play.php3?playid=2081 And lastly, my most popular show, The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon (cast of 5, expandable to anything you need) http://www.playscripts.com/play.php3?playid=1162
	www.donzolidis.com
	IP Logged

RaYhoLiO Walk-On Joined: 7/06/10 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 7/06/10 at 1:42pm
	My rating system is a little off I'm sure... LOL I guess what I mean is somethin' FCC ok... VERY limited f-bombs, and C-bombs are right out. :) I'll read what I can find on those plays :) THanks for the suggestions... and please keep 'em comin' :)
	-RayHoli0!
	IP Logged

edh915 Celebrity Joined: 11/19/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 325	Posted: 7/06/10 at 1:56pm
	You might want to take a look at Dead Man's Cell Phone by Sarah Ruhl. Surreal, but very funny. Picasso at the Lapin Agile by Steve Martin is also a winner. (In my book, at least)
	IP Logged

donzolidis Celebrity Joined: 5/15/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 156	Posted: 7/06/10 at 2:41pm
	Yeah, I think Showgirls when I hear NC-17. So if you have limited F-bombs, then Durang is probably out, Fuddy Meers and Compleat Works are still okay, and The World's Largest Rodent is out.
	www.donzolidis.com
	IP Logged

RaYhoLiO Walk-On Joined: 7/06/10 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 7/06/10 at 4:46pm
	Thanks again! For my 1st show, I'm thinking that Picasso will be the easiest to get accepted by my directing board, as it's purty conventional... I've seen clips of almost all of the other shows on youtube, and they look GREAT! :) I especially liked fuddy meers. I'm thinking I should probably go with the safest choice I can for the 1st one... not from a directing standpoint... but just to get a show accepted.. they have a lot of 'older' people on the board here.. Anyhow.. I need some info on Picasso.. I've seen several clips online, and they look great. Only concern is 7m How many of those seven men are small parts? I can probably get 2-4 talanted men.... and a few not-so-talanted... 7 gets difficult though... any advice?
	-RayHoli0!
	IP Logged

donzolidis Celebrity Joined: 5/15/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 156	Posted: 7/06/10 at 5:44pm
	Picasso is a fun show. A little light on plot, but it should be easily approved by your board. (After all, Steve Martin wrote it, and he's getting up there in years too.) As I remember, there are two leads, Picasso and Einstein, which need capable actors. The bartender, also male, is a pretty major part. And then you have Elvis and Schemdiman, who are significant parts, but not that huge. The female parts are smaller and not quite as good. I don't think there's any way to cross-cast it, there might be one part, Sagot, the art dealer, who could be played by a woman, but I don't have the script in front of me. As I recall, there's a lot of banter about women in there that wouldn't make sense with cross-casting.
	www.donzolidis.com
	IP Logged

HongKongCV Walk-On Joined: 5/27/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 7/09/10 at 2:57pm
	Have you looked at a show called Flaming Idiots, by Tom Rooney? It's a farce, and it's incredibly funny. We put that on about two years ago, and it got a good review from a man who usualy doesn't like farces! The audience howled with laughter. It's a fairly small cast (8 people, if memory serves) with one set and two male leads.
	IP Logged

mark_j Lead Joined: 11/28/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 31	Posted: 7/13/10 at 9:55am
	I'd throw in Dearly Departed.
	IP Logged

FFootlighters Player Joined: 7/13/10 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Posted: 7/13/10 at 1:29pm
	I'd look at Moonlight and Magnolias. 3M/1W and one set...but lots and lots of bananas and peanuts.
	Fairfield Footlighters Fairfield, OH http://www.fairfield-footlighters.org
	IP Logged