Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: NEED IDEAS QUICKLY

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   I've been asked to direct a play -- "any play" -- as a fund-raiser for a local charity group that provides meals to the shut-in elderly. They want me to include in the cast a few local "celebrities," primarily so that these well-connected folks can sell the tables to their friends. Not a bad idea ... and I think I can find a few who can also act.
Originally they wanted an interactive murder mystery, but I couldn't find many scripts online and none that were very clever. If we're going to have a bunch of well-heeled young professionals on stage, the audience they bring along is going to want some sophisticated humor. Or at least something so farcical everyone will be giggling. 
I need help finding a good script for this situation. 
I would LOVE to do interactive dinner theater with a play about a wedding or reception. I haven't found a big cache of scripts. We could pull in local businesses to help in exchange for advertising and tax-deductions -- a bridal shop, a caterer, etc. 
Then I thought about doing a funny Radio Show format, because it could be ideal for the type of talent I'll be getting -- something with a couple of experienced actors as DJ's who'd have to anchor the show but lots of little goodies for locals who can sing, or a couple who could do a commercial or a short murder mystery a la radio (Guy Noir-like). But I don't have time to write a script and I can't seem to find a good one online. 

Wow -- that was a lot of talking just to really ask one question: 
Do you have a good idea for a dinner theater show in either a Radio Show, wedding reception or mystery format? 
I'm grateful for any advice you can send my way. Thanks!! 

Author	Message
Traci Walk-On Joined: 7/14/10 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: NEED IDEAS QUICKLY Posted: 7/14/10 at 9:43pm
	I've been asked to direct a play -- "any play" -- as a fund-raiser for a local charity group that provides meals to the shut-in elderly. They want me to include in the cast a few local "celebrities," primarily so that these well-connected folks can sell the tables to their friends. Not a bad idea ... and I think I can find a few who can also act. Originally they wanted an interactive murder mystery, but I couldn't find many scripts online and none that were very clever. If we're going to have a bunch of well-heeled young professionals on stage, the audience they bring along is going to want some sophisticated humor. Or at least something so farcical everyone will be giggling. I need help finding a good script for this situation. I would LOVE to do interactive dinner theater with a play about a wedding or reception. I haven't found a big cache of scripts. We could pull in local businesses to help in exchange for advertising and tax-deductions -- a bridal shop, a caterer, etc. Then I thought about doing a funny Radio Show format, because it could be ideal for the type of talent I'll be getting -- something with a couple of experienced actors as DJ's who'd have to anchor the show but lots of little goodies for locals who can sing, or a couple who could do a commercial or a short murder mystery a la radio (Guy Noir-like). But I don't have time to write a script and I can't seem to find a good one online. Wow -- that was a lot of talking just to really ask one question: Do you have a good idea for a dinner theater show in either a Radio Show, wedding reception or mystery format? I'm grateful for any advice you can send my way. Thanks!!

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Martin Player Joined: 4/02/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Posted: 7/15/10 at 6:36am
	My two-act murder mystery, The Man in Seat 24 or (The Uninvited Guest), has a cast of 15- 8 females and 7 males- and is published by Brooklyn Publishers. Synopsis: An irate, rude, and combative theatre patron (in your audience!) hijacks the cast, the crew, and his fellow theatre-goers and winds up stone cold dead at center stage. The Man in Seat 24 Or (The Uninvited Guest) is a murder mystery, a play-within-a-play, where a harried and frazzled theatre director investigates a murder--during a night of theatre gone wrong--and realizes that there is more to this evening’s performance than meets the eye. You may also wish to consider one of my earlier plays, a made for stage radio show, Delia Dancer, Doughnut Girl, from Heuer Publishing, with a flexible cast of 21. Synopsis: Delia Dancer, Doughnut Girl is a modern melodrama that chronicles a ridiculous day and the challenges and struggles of a young woman who makes a living manufacturing doughnuts and sweet pastries in a small town doughnut factory. Structured as a radio program complete with phony commercials, parody songs, audience participation, and listener call-in spots, Delia Dancer, Doughnut Girl stretches theatrical forms but is deeply rooted in awful puns and wrapped around an apple pie and a cup of coffee of small town life. Types: Full Length Play, Community Theatre Genres: Comedy, Melodrama Cast: 6 men, 7 women, 8 extras, flexible cast, 21 total
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donzolidis Celebrity Joined: 5/15/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 156	Posted: 7/15/10 at 4:20pm
	I have a one-act murder mystery which is a parody of Clue - the audience votes on who the killer is. Check out The Muderous Mansion of Mr. Uno: you can read it online for free by clicking on read sample here: http://www.playscripts.com/play.php3?playid=1011 And I have another wild farcical comedy with audience participation - works with a cast of 5 but expandable up to however many you need for celebrity cameos. It comes in one-act and full-length flavors. You can read it online here: one-act http://www.playscripts.com/play.php3?playid=1163 full-length http://www.playscripts.com/play.php3?playid=1162 Have you checked out Tony n' Tina's wedding? I have no idea if that show is any good, but I think it's along the lines you describe.
	www.donzolidis.com
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Traci Walk-On Joined: 7/14/10 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 7/15/10 at 7:24pm
	Great ideas from both of you. Thanks. I'll check this stuff out. I actually tried to start with Tina and Tony's Wedding, because that was the one recommended to our group, but I couldn't find anywhere that it was available for a small community theater group to perform -- everything I read looked like you had to pay a company to come to your town to do the show. Do you know something different?
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Traci Walk-On Joined: 7/14/10 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 7/15/10 at 8:13pm
	Martin, I can't print the copy of The Man in Seat 24. And I am supposed to meet with the charity folks Friday at noon ... if I can't print it for them to read, they can't consider it. Any suggestions?
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Traci Walk-On Joined: 7/14/10 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 7/15/10 at 8:19pm
	Ditto on the Brothers Grimm ... I can take synopses to them but it would be awesome to have something for them to read. Convincing them to go home and go online to read these scripts may not be ... as easy as I'd like.
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Martin Player Joined: 4/02/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Posted: 7/16/10 at 7:15am
	Traci, My suggestion? If you need it ASAP, download the script from the site. Good luck in your search, M.
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Lazy Bee Star Joined: 2/21/07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 89	Posted: 7/18/10 at 5:03pm
	There is the Wedding Reception Murder Mystery by Archie Wilson (there is a link to the overview on this page) And on the "staged radio play" front, there is "The Neville Report - Village of Fear" Both of those are rather English. (So the Neville Report is more like the BBC of the 1950s than Guy Noir.)
	Stuart Lazy Bee Scripts http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk read complete play scripts on-line
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ianhornby Player Joined: 11/25/10 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Posted: 11/26/10 at 5:40am
	Have a glance at http://www.plays4theatre.com/bookdetails.php?pr=642
	I demand a second opinion
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