Hello everybody. I am a high school senior in search of a one-act to direct this year. I have an idea of what I want, however I cannot find a one-act that fits my criteria. I want something that is intriguing and unique, I don't want to do just a straight comedy or drama. I want a one-act that will have a surprise ending and that will raise questions because of its surreal nature. I've looked for one-acts that are about psychological mental issues such as the issues involved in someone's head or something like where two people would be interacting through the entire play until it was revealed in the end that one of the people was a figment of the other's imagination, but I can't find anything with these subject matters. Does anyone have any suggestions of possible titles of one-acts that I could direct for my high school? Thank you!

Dear Sparklegal:

I have a 10-minute, 3-character play available that is a surrealistic drama entitled CROSSING BELLS.  It is to air over KSFU-FM (San Francisco, California), over the national (USA) public radio, and globally on the web through Shoestring Radio Theatre later this year.  For educational institutions, students, and amateur theatre companies with educational outreach programs and senior discounts, no royalties.  (Synopsis and scenic requirements below.) If you'd like a copy, please email me back and I'll gladly send it to you as an email attachment (Word.doc or Rich.txt). 

Cheers, Linda

Brief Synopsis:   A recluse owns and operates a small art gallery where no painting is for sale.  Two elderly ladies on a bus tour of the American Southwest, upon the recommendation of a ?local? at the coffee shop at the motel where the tour group spent the night, visit the unusual art gallery.  Contained in an old train station built in the 1800s, the gallery holds the paintings of unknown painters, talented but who died young.  The elderly ladies open the eyes of the reclusive gallery owner to certain truths about the nature of her ?collection of possessions? in a surrealistic manner.  

Set Requirements:   A desert train station converted into an art gallery.  It is small and unpretentious, retaining the character of another time.   However, the play can be performed on a bare stage with scrims.

 

I have a friend (who is at our theater), and he has written several plays.  Included in those, are many one-acts.  5 of his one-acts have been done in high schools in the area.  Would you like to see if I could have him contact you?  Let me know (e-mail me)

Thanks so much everyone for the replies and suggestions, however I did find a one-act that stole my heart. It's a comedy called "Cut" by Ed Monk (completely not what I was expecting to do), and it's a multi-dimensional play about actors playing in a play about actors in a play etc. Has anyone heard of this one-act before? Any suggestions on how to perform it?