Play Suggestions: Play Needed - Small Cast, Minimal Set, Easy to Do!

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Play Needed - Small Cast, Minimal Set, Easy to Do!

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=2470
Printed Date: 4/20/25 at 12:06pm
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Topic: Play Needed - Small Cast, Minimal Set, Easy to Do!

Posted By: sburger
Subject: Play Needed - Small Cast, Minimal Set, Easy to Do!
Date Posted: 6/24/07 at 10:22pm

Hello

I'm a director from a small high school. This year we are doing Seussical in the Fall and our One-Act competition happens to collide with it. We can either skip the one-act or find a really really easy to produce one-act with a really really small cast - I'm thinking like three people.

Any ideas? Something that has minimal set (or almost no set!) and just a few kids but something really GOOD, too?

Thanks!

Replies:

Posted By: donzolidis
Date Posted: 6/26/07 at 1:31pm

I know a whole bunch of one acts that could use five actors. Can you go that large?

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www.donzolidis.com

Posted By: mikejmurray
Date Posted: 6/26/07 at 8:11pm

I'd be interesting in hearing what they are as I'm looking for potential one acts as well...

Posted By: donzolidis
Date Posted: 6/26/07 at 9:24pm

A few I've seen and really liked:

Jerry Finnegan's Sister, (I believe 1M and 1W)--by Jack Neary, published by Dramatic Publishing. Kind of a sweet relationship play narrated by the boy who's in love with the girl next door. Fun, sweet, easy.

I've been partial to Charlie Blake's Boat (1M 1W), by Graeme Gillis, published in hot-Blooded: A collection of one-acts from Youngblood (Dramatists Play Service)--about a young man trying to sail around the world in a homemade boat and a woman who attempts to talk him out of it. A little more adult than Jerry Finnegan's Sister but I don't think there's anything too awful in there.

There's the ubiquitous Check Please, by Jonathan Rand (2M 2W, expandable from Playscripts--you can read basically the entire thing on-line at their website), which is about two people going through a series of blind dates--hilarious and simple. (I think it's the most-produced one-act in the world though.)

And I have two coming from Playscripts this August:

!Artistic Inspiration (5 either, expandable to just about any number) Two hack writers attempt to create the most produceable play in the world--3 chorus members act out their horribly written plays.

The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon (1M 1W 3 either, expandable) Told in the style of the Compleat Works of Shakspere (abridged), 2 narrators attempt to retell all of the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm as quickly as possible--audience participation, quick costume changes, no set, sort of a wild, silly ride.

My plays will be available in August, but I can happily email you an advance copy of the script if you'd like to look at them.

Hope that helps!

Don

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www.donzolidis.com

Posted By: Lazy Bee
Date Posted: 6/29/07 at 6:23am

You say "just a few kids", do you mean that the play must be aimed at performance by kids? Do you have any limitations on adult material (swearing, adult themes)?

Pending an answer, try:-
http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/OneActPlays/The_Red_Balloon.htm - The Red Balloon by Damian Trasler (1M, 2F)
http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/OneActPlays/Work_In_Progress.htm - Work in Progress by Damian Trasler (2M, 2F)

There are a http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/cgi-bin/Full_Search.ASP - number of others , but either with larger casts or more adult themes.

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Stuart
Lazy Bee Scripts
http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk - http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk read complete play scripts on-line

Posted By: Martin
Date Posted: 7/03/07 at 1:56pm

The Mistake, Heuer Publishing..

Posted By: Playwright
Date Posted: 7/15/07 at 11:30am

I have a play that I wrote especially for drama festivals/competitions. It has minimal set and four teen girls and one older male. It's a drama called 'A Harmless Game'.

Posted By: dmd196
Date Posted: 7/29/07 at 5:39pm

I directed "Time Flies" by David Ives last year. It's a fun show about 2 mayflies on a date. The play requires 2 M and 1 F. The set is simple but you can still let your imagination go a little crazy.

Follow this link for photos... http://scrapbook.newtowneplayers.org/time_flies.html - http://scrapbook.newtowneplayers.org/time_flies.html

Posted By: psmstar
Date Posted: 9/14/07 at 1:08pm

The best small cast show I've seen is called "Plaza Suite" with minimal set involved... It's great.

Posted By: ABSteel
Date Posted: 9/15/07 at 2:53pm

I directed a one act in high school called HIGH WINDOW. 3F. 2M. I didn't even have a set... just used the curtains, added a desk and chair, built a large window and hung it from one of the beams, and called it a day.

http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/product_info.php/products_id/3913 - http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/product_info.php/products_id/3913

Synopsis: Less than a year ago, Walter Hodge was independent, debonair, fun loving. Now merely a pale and timid shell, he is cruelly taunted by Aunt Emily about his weakness and an awful secret they seem to share-- a secret linked in some terribly fascinating way to the imposing window overlooking the street below. "High Window" has firmly established for itself a distinguished place among America's notable one act plays.

Royalty: $20