Christmas Comedy
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Play Suggestions
Forum Discription: Need help finding a show that's right for your theater? Ask here.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1553
Printed Date: 11/22/24 at 5:06am
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Topic: Christmas Comedy
Posted By: tashamay
Subject: Christmas Comedy
Date Posted: 8/25/05 at 3:26am
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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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Replies:
Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 8/25/05 at 1:35pm
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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 |
Posted By: DWolfman
Date Posted: 8/25/05 at 9:37pm
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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 - http://www.histage.com/searchdetails.asp?strPlayno=2239 ------------- Even a man who is pure of heart... |
Posted By: tashamay
Date Posted: 8/26/05 at 4:14am
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Scrooge Has Left the Building sounds like just what we're looking for. I'll certainly check it out. Thanks so much! |
Posted By: tolston
Date Posted: 8/26/05 at 12:12pm
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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 - http://www.playwrighting.org/twilight.html
------------- Dramatically yours, -Colorado Tolston- |
Posted By: Shatcher
Date 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. |
Posted By: dougb
Date Posted: 8/27/05 at 10:29am
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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. |
Posted By: 75director
Date Posted: 8/27/05 at 1:15pm
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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. |
Posted By: mark_j
Date Posted: 8/28/05 at 9:25am
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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. |
Posted By: RachelB
Date 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 http://www.JezebellesInk.com - 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. |
Posted By: Chris Polo
Date Posted: 6/17/06 at 12:05pm
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For a full-length small-cast show, check out The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society's Production of 'A Christmas Carol.' Side-splitting farce, cast of 5, if I remember correctly - 4 women, 1 man - playing all the characters in their own really bad and obviously under-rehearsed version of A Christmas Carol. They're bedeviled throughout by a totally disjointed script, flimsy cardboard set pieces, inappropriate props, ridiculous costumes, injuries, and their own egos. We did it over 10 years ago and still have audience members asking when we're going to do it again. English accents required -- the language throughout is really too British to Americanize (although I imagine you Aussies on the board could have a field day with it with no trouble at all!). Available from Sam French. ------------- Chris Polo Visit Community Theater Green Room Originals at www.cafepress.com/ctgr "The scenery in the play was beautiful, but the actors got in front of it." -- Alexander Woolcott |
Posted By: castMe
Date Posted: 6/17/06 at 2:46pm
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Chris. I second the Farndale Ave Christmas Carol. Great fun and minimum set required.
------------- Investigate. Imagine. Choose. |
Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 6/17/06 at 11:07pm
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The ?Farndales? are brilliant and there is a stable of about 7 of them
about everything from the Mikado, a murder mystery, haunted castle,
Peter Pan to The Scottish play. TFAHETWGDS are very easy to do & get the punters. Another one comes to mind ?Fur coat & no nickers? by Mike Harding which as has 9M 5F if nothing else the title will put bums on seats. http://www.doollee.com/Agents/kCasarotto.htm Also another about a hapless theatre group is ?The last Tango in Little Grimly by Tristram David 2M 2F http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsT/TristramDavid.htm#46803 Also Mike Harding wrote ?The last Tango in Whitby? about a Charabanc [coach/bus] trip to the seaside. But this may be a bit too much of a British institution for some groups there? If nothing else do or even write your own Panto!  ------------- Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house} |