Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Christmas Comedy

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tashamay
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Joined: 8/25/05
Location: United Kingdom
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Topic: Christmas Comedy
Posted: 8/25/05 at 3:26am

Hey all!

I'm working with a small Community Theater group comprised of military and military dependents. (we're american military stationed overseas) -- and we're looking for some Christmas comedies to present this year. We've applies for the rights to Billy Shakespeare's Christmas Extravaganza and Traveling Freak Show but it's quite short and we're looking for something to pair with it. We'd like a comedy, something for an 18+ age range that isn't SO adult that people might be deeply offended by it (we've been contemplating The Eight Reindeer Monologues but it gets pretty rough in some spots and I'm not sure who fond the higher ups would be of it....). Anybody have any ideas?? The help would be much appreciated!!

Thanks! J

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Topper
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Joined: 1/27/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 543

Posted: 8/25/05 at 1:35pm

There is a stage version of the popular 1983 movie
"A Christmas Story" by Jean Shepherd. It is a
good-sized cast, set in the 1940's and takes some
talented youngsters (8-10 yrs old) or actors capable
of playing those ages.

The video of the movie is definitely worth renting if
you're not familiar with the show.

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

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DWolfman
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Joined: 7/07/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 134

Posted: 8/25/05 at 9:37pm

I directed a couple of one-acts last December for a Christmas show. One I would definitely recommend is Pat Cook's "Scrooge Has Left the Building."

In it, Marley's Ghost arrives at what he remembers as Scrooge's abode only to find the miser has split and the new tenants are none too happy about the haunting. On top of that, he has crossed the international date line to get there and arrives a day early - Christmas Eve EVE - Further ghosts show up with their own agendas until the lady of the house (who is scarier than all the ghosts combined) takes the situation in "hand."

It lasts about 25 minutes, is hilarious, and is available through Eldridge Publishers:

http://www.histage.com/searchdetails.asp?strPlayno=2239

Even a man who is pure of heart...

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tashamay
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Posted: 8/26/05 at 4:14am

Scrooge Has Left the Building sounds like just what we're looking for. I'll certainly check it out.

Thanks so much!

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tolston
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Joined: 8/26/05
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Posted: 8/26/05 at 12:12pm

I've written a one-act Christmas comedy called "Twilight of the King" which centers around two Roman guards stationed in Bethlehem on the night of Christ's birth. If you're interested, the full script is available on my website at http://www.playwrighting.org/twilight.html

Dramatically yours,
-Colorado Tolston-

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Shatcher
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Joined: 2/21/05
Location: United States
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Posted: 8/26/05 at 12:33pm

Try "Jacob Marleys christams Carol" It can be done with 1 actor or many (it started as a 1 man show) It tells the story from Marleys point of view. Basiclly Marley must redeem Scrooge to get out of hell himself. the set is simple (pretty much nothing but a big candle). the show is funny and uplifting. My husband stared in it last christmas. it was a huge hit for the theatre.

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dougb
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Joined: 3/30/04
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Posts: 148

Posted: 8/27/05 at 10:29am

There is a Robert Fulghum series of stories called "Uh Oh, Here Comes Christmas". You can get rights for it in several lengths. It has singing and monologues and small group stories. I have been looking at it for several years and like it a lot.

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75director
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Joined: 8/19/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 122

Posted: 8/27/05 at 1:15pm

Last year we did an evening of 3 one-acts for our holiday production. It went over very well, lots of people involved and lots of new people in the seats to see kids/relatives. Two of the one acts were from a collection called "The Happy Holidays Collection: Seven Christmas Comedies for Children" Some very cute shows appropriate for youth, but with enough comedy to keep the adults from being board.

The third was a longer one-act called "Blitzen" about a family dealing with the aftermath of a hurricane. Very touching story with Christmas really just as the backdrop, not preachy or anything like that. We called the whole evening "Stocking Stuffers".

All the scripts we used are published by Dramatic Publishing.

We're doing "A Christmas Story" this year, and people are already calling wanting tickets. People are nuts about that movie.

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mark_j
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Joined: 11/28/04
Location: United States
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Posts: 31

Posted: 8/28/05 at 9:25am

You can always go with "A Tuna X-Mas". It's a full length comedy with about a dozen parts for 2 actors (but that can be changed). We had a lot of fun with it.

Mark J.

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RachelB
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Joined: 4/19/06
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Posted: 5/04/06 at 9:18pm

I'm a big fan of the new hit comedy, "Dearly Beloved" (I've seen it four times) and met the writers in Greensboro, NC. They were writing a Christmas Play that's going to have a premiere this fall. The title they is "Christmas Belles." Check it out on their website www.JezebellesInk.com. Their work is hilarious - kind of in the vein of "Greater Tuna" - and they're great about answering emails. Good show! Rachel B.

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Author	Message
tashamay Walk-On Joined: 8/25/05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Christmas Comedy Posted: 8/25/05 at 3:26am
	Hey all! I'm working with a small Community Theater group comprised of military and military dependents. (we're american military stationed overseas) -- and we're looking for some Christmas comedies to present this year. We've applies for the rights to Billy Shakespeare's Christmas Extravaganza and Traveling Freak Show but it's quite short and we're looking for something to pair with it. We'd like a comedy, something for an 18+ age range that isn't SO adult that people might be deeply offended by it (we've been contemplating The Eight Reindeer Monologues but it gets pretty rough in some spots and I'm not sure who fond the higher ups would be of it....). Anybody have any ideas?? The help would be much appreciated!! Thanks! J

	IP Logged

Topper Celebrity Joined: 1/27/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 543	Posted: 8/25/05 at 1:35pm
	There is a stage version of the popular 1983 movie "A Christmas Story" by Jean Shepherd. It is a good-sized cast, set in the 1940's and takes some talented youngsters (8-10 yrs old) or actors capable of playing those ages. The video of the movie is definitely worth renting if you're not familiar with the show.
	"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
	IP Logged

DWolfman Celebrity Joined: 7/07/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 134	Posted: 8/25/05 at 9:37pm
	I directed a couple of one-acts last December for a Christmas show. One I would definitely recommend is Pat Cook's "Scrooge Has Left the Building." In it, Marley's Ghost arrives at what he remembers as Scrooge's abode only to find the miser has split and the new tenants are none too happy about the haunting. On top of that, he has crossed the international date line to get there and arrives a day early - Christmas Eve EVE - Further ghosts show up with their own agendas until the lady of the house (who is scarier than all the ghosts combined) takes the situation in "hand." It lasts about 25 minutes, is hilarious, and is available through Eldridge Publishers: http://www.histage.com/searchdetails.asp?strPlayno=2239
	Even a man who is pure of heart...
	IP Logged

tashamay Walk-On Joined: 8/25/05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 8/26/05 at 4:14am
	Scrooge Has Left the Building sounds like just what we're looking for. I'll certainly check it out. Thanks so much!
	IP Logged

tolston Walk-On Joined: 8/26/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 8/26/05 at 12:12pm
	I've written a one-act Christmas comedy called "Twilight of the King" which centers around two Roman guards stationed in Bethlehem on the night of Christ's birth. If you're interested, the full script is available on my website at http://www.playwrighting.org/twilight.html
	Dramatically yours, -Colorado Tolston-
	IP Logged

Shatcher Celebrity Joined: 2/21/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 251	Posted: 8/26/05 at 12:33pm
	Try "Jacob Marleys christams Carol" It can be done with 1 actor or many (it started as a 1 man show) It tells the story from Marleys point of view. Basiclly Marley must redeem Scrooge to get out of hell himself. the set is simple (pretty much nothing but a big candle). the show is funny and uplifting. My husband stared in it last christmas. it was a huge hit for the theatre.
	IP Logged

dougb Celebrity Joined: 3/30/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 148	Posted: 8/27/05 at 10:29am
	There is a Robert Fulghum series of stories called "Uh Oh, Here Comes Christmas". You can get rights for it in several lengths. It has singing and monologues and small group stories. I have been looking at it for several years and like it a lot.
	IP Logged

75director Celebrity Joined: 8/19/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 122	Posted: 8/27/05 at 1:15pm
	Last year we did an evening of 3 one-acts for our holiday production. It went over very well, lots of people involved and lots of new people in the seats to see kids/relatives. Two of the one acts were from a collection called "The Happy Holidays Collection: Seven Christmas Comedies for Children" Some very cute shows appropriate for youth, but with enough comedy to keep the adults from being board. The third was a longer one-act called "Blitzen" about a family dealing with the aftermath of a hurricane. Very touching story with Christmas really just as the backdrop, not preachy or anything like that. We called the whole evening "Stocking Stuffers". All the scripts we used are published by Dramatic Publishing. We're doing "A Christmas Story" this year, and people are already calling wanting tickets. People are nuts about that movie.
	IP Logged

mark_j Lead Joined: 11/28/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 31	Posted: 8/28/05 at 9:25am
	You can always go with "A Tuna X-Mas". It's a full length comedy with about a dozen parts for 2 actors (but that can be changed). We had a lot of fun with it. Mark J.
	IP Logged

RachelB Player Joined: 4/19/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 5/04/06 at 9:18pm
	I'm a big fan of the new hit comedy, "Dearly Beloved" (I've seen it four times) and met the writers in Greensboro, NC. They were writing a Christmas Play that's going to have a premiere this fall. The title they is "Christmas Belles." Check it out on their website www.JezebellesInk.com. Their work is hilarious - kind of in the vein of "Greater Tuna" - and they're great about answering emails. Good show! Rachel B.
	IP Logged

Topic: Christmas Comedy( Topic Closed)
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