Play Suggestions: Thrillers

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Thrillers

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=2310
Printed Date: 11/22/24 at 4:49am
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Topic: Thrillers

Posted By: weagz
Subject: Thrillers
Date Posted: 3/19/07 at 9:11pm

Looking for some new ideas for our next season. Have you done any good thrillers?

Replies:

Posted By: Nanette
Date Posted: 3/19/07 at 11:41pm

If your theatre is up for a musical, how about 'Jack the Ripper: The Whitechapel Musical'. Try contacting the composer, Steven Bergman through his site: http://www.everydayaholiday.net - www.everydayaholiday.net . There's a sample of the script there, too.

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In a world of margarine, be butter!

Posted By: falstaff29
Date Posted: 3/19/07 at 11:59pm

Wait Until Dark is good thriller material. So are most Pinters.

Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 3/20/07 at 9:41am

Havent done it "yet", but we read a psycological thriller that many members found good.... its called "Murder in Green Meadows"... couple of really good twists...

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Marty W

"Till next we trod the boards.."

Posted By: Linda S
Date Posted: 3/20/07 at 10:02am

The show that had me on the edge of my seat both times that I saw it was "Woman In Black." It was by far the best thriller I had ever seen on stage. It is still scary even when you know the ending. Samuel French has the rights.

Linda

Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 3/21/07 at 12:05am

"The Criminal Mind" is a two-act comic thriller.

A psychiatrist and his mistress plot to murder his wife in a secluded cabin up north.

3 men. 2 women. 3 offstage voices (on radio). One set.

Send me a Private Message with your mailing address and I'll gladly send you a copy or more info if you're interested.

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

Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 3/21/07 at 8:47am

I'm a big fan of "Veronica's Room"

Posted By: eveharrington
Date Posted: 3/21/07 at 1:48pm

I also would say "Wait Until Dark" as long as you have a strong enough actress in your group to be convincing as a blind woman, there's another one that I believe is called "The Night Listener" concerning a late night radio host and a creepy caller

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"If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights."

Posted By: teridtiger
Date Posted: 3/29/07 at 11:00am

I second "Woman in Black".

Also, the stage adaptation of Stephen King's "Misery" by Simon Moore is an excellent script for two outstanding actors. Your tech team will also have a great time with it, since the famous hobbling scene follows the book and not the movie (Annie chops off his feet with an axe, rather than just breaking his ankles).

Posted By: bernster74
Date Posted: 4/08/07 at 1:46pm

I would also suggest looking at Lucille Fletcher's Night Watch - a nice surprise ending.

I second motions for Veronica's Room and Wait Until Dark.

Depending on who your audience is, perhaps an Agatha Christie mystery would sell well. The Mousetrap has huge name recognition.

Posted By: biggertigger
Date Posted: 4/16/07 at 10:55pm

There is a really good show called Catch me if you can. It has all the plot twists and turns that kept me on my set the first time I saw it and each time I have directed it audience members loved it very much and come back to see it time and time again.

The problem is the scripts cost $25.00, but worth every penny when you first read it.

http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/product_info.php/products_id/1150?osCsid=ea79fa98fb6292232a8d7bfe9eeb2f67 - http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/product_info.php/products_id/1150?osCsid=ea79fa98fb6292232a8d7bfe9eeb2f67

This is the website with the synopsis.

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The two greatest days in a theater persons life, the day you start a new show and the day the damn thing closes.

Posted By: timokay
Date Posted: 5/04/07 at 1:15pm

Originally posted by biggertigger

There is a really good show called Catch me if you can. It has all the plot twists and turns that kept me on my set the first time I saw it and each time I have directed it audience members loved it very much and come back to see it time and time again.

The problem is the scripts cost $25.00, but worth every penny when you first read it.

This is the website with the synopsis.

What is the cast size for this production?
We are looking for a mystery/thriller for next season, but always have to accommodate a cast of 15-25 performers.
Hard to do with a thriller.

Posted By: biggertigger
Date Posted: 5/04/07 at 6:18pm

It has a cast of seven so it wont fit your criteria for 15-25 performers. I just re-read the script, which I haven't seen in over 3 years. The show consist of 5 males and 2 females, with the majority of the cast just 3 males and 1 female being the main players. Then there are 2 males and 1 female that are really small bit parts.

The plot takes place in a Catskills cabin during labor day weekend. And a pivital point of the show is the amount of smoking done through out the show. There is no way of getting around this as it fits into the plot. If you have a stage that does not allow smoking in facilities it may be a problem for you.

But if you get a chance to just read through it once you'll be kept on the edge of your seat until the very end. It is also very funny with the "bumbling detective".

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The two greatest days in a theater persons life, the day you start a new show and the day the damn thing closes.