Well Known Comedies
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=2578
Printed Date: 11/22/24 at 3:48pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Well Known Comedies
Posted By: bbpchick
Subject: Well Known Comedies
Date Posted: 8/15/07 at 4:06am
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Hello All!
We are starting to think about our 2008 season and I'm looking for some well known comedies/farces etc. for our spring production.
If you have any suggestions, please include where you can get the royalties because I'm horrible with finding that stuff.
One suggestion I've seen in another thread is "An Adult Evening with Shel Silverstien" Where would you go to get the script to read?
Shows for any audience would be fine. The Spring Show doesn't absoluetly have to be family friendly. We live in a tourist town so our show attendees aren't necissarily prudes. But if the show is family friendly that is ok too.
I need a relatively simple set.
Ok I'm rambling. I'll let you get to typing
 .Thank you,
Kendra ------------- Kendra http://www.murphysblackbartplayer.com - www.murphysblackbartplayers.com You are NEVER too old to dress up! |
Replies:
Posted By: SmilersComedy
Date Posted: 3/06/08 at 2:46pm
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Kendra,
I have several crazy comedies and farces, British and American. most run around 90 minutes all on one set with simple lights. All my shows have been produced with runs of no less than six weeks. here is a clip from the sitcom "Double Back Alley" based on my play "A Flash In The Pants" It will give you some idea of my style of comedy. http://www.youtube.com/DickieDaviesPM You can reach me at smilerscomedy@yahoo.com for more info |
Posted By: donzolidis
Date Posted: 3/07/08 at 1:25am
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You have your tried and true comedies which are sure to bring audience members:
Noises Off
A Midsummer Night's Dream
The Odd Couple
But if you're looking for something a bit edgier, I'd look at David Lindsay-Abaire. Fuddy Meers, Wonder of the World, and Kimberly Akimbo (a little more serious) are all hilarious, wonderful plays.
------------- www.donzolidis.com |
Posted By: spikesgirl
Date Posted: 3/30/08 at 11:00am
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If you can grab any of the Ray Cooney shows, they always do well. The "RUN FOR YOUR WIFE" trilogy plays exceedingly well and we sold out of ten of our 16 performances. You might also want to consider THE UNDERPANTS (Steve Martin) or BOEING, BOEING. We settled upon DEARLY DEPARTED for our next comedy. It's not well known, but is seriously funny.
As for well known, consider any of Neil Simon's shows, they always do well as does YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU Charlie |
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 3/30/08 at 7:47pm
| I know they're done over and over - but I still think "Moon Over Buffalo" "Lend Me a Tenor" "I Hate Hamlet" and "Noises Off" are the funniest evenings I've ever spent in a theatre. |
Posted By: Ogreking4
Date Posted: 3/31/08 at 12:35pm
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We must haev the same sense of humor, these are some of the exact plays I would recommend. Also, "Star-Spangled Girl" by Neil Simon is less well known, but funny. "Funny Money" by Ray Cooney is great. Pat Cook has some great comedies especially suited to a family audience. If you have a particularly talented actor, try "One for the Money", also by Ray Cooney... Good luck!
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Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 3/31/08 at 1:51pm
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Dearly Departed is a hillarious comedy about a Texas funeral. Several years ago Whoopie Goldberg filmed it as Kingdom Come. The film gives a good look at the comedy in it. The same author also penned Dearly Beloved which involves a Texas Wedding.
I would also suggest you look at the works of Michael Parker, in particular Whose Wives are They Anyway? This is a wonderful American farce full of humor, sight gags, cross dressing, wife swapping and other fun. ------------- Patrick L. Davis Fort Findlay Playhouse |
Posted By: spikesgirl
Date Posted: 4/01/08 at 11:15am
The one Neil Simon comedy that everyone overlooks is FOOLS. Done right and it's insane! it's funny - I'm on the artistic committee at my theater and we never have a problem with the comedy. it's always the drama that makes us crazy and for the 09-10 season, it's just the opposite this time. We nailed the drama immediately, but are still scratching our heads about the comedy.
Charlie
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Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 4/02/08 at 5:08am
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You might want to look at ;-
http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsM/McGillivrayDavid.htm#23226 - Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society
Kendra as your in a tourist catchment area, if you want bums on seats/ there is 'Fur coat & no knickers'.
Use the 'Doolee' play list site to check these plays suggested & find out who handles them, to make application for rights fees etc. ------------- 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} |
Posted By: Lazy Bee
Date Posted: 4/02/08 at 7:04am
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On the Family-Friendly side, the following are definitely aimed at a family audience:- http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/cgi-bin/Search_Results.asp?iSc=34 - Sherlock's Excellent Adventure by James Barry http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/cgi-bin/Search_Results.asp?iSc=37 - Three Musketeers by James Barry Heading (slightly) more towards the adult end, there are the Ray Cooney farces ("Run for your wife", "Move over, Mrs. Markham" and so on). Rather British, but frequently performed in the US. ------------- Stuart Lazy Bee Scripts http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk - http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk read complete play scripts on-line |
Posted By: CPospisil
Date Posted: 4/04/08 at 4:48pm
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AN ADULT EVENING OF SHEL SILVERSTEIN and SHEL'S SHORTS both by Shel Silverstein are published by Dramatists Play Service ( http://www.dramatists.com - www.dramatists.com ) and the royalties run $75 per performance for either collection. You can also pick and choose from the short plays in both books and make your own evening of his work.
------------- Craig Pospisil Dramatists Play Service |
Posted By: RBergman
Date Posted: 4/05/08 at 11:17am
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Hi, Kendra! I was just browsing through the boards and saw your posting. If you're looking for some killer comedies (i.e., money makers that pack the audiences in) have you read "Dearly Beloved" or "Christmas Belles" by the writers Jones Hope & Wooten? I'm a big fan and work with two community theatres and we've done both - they're fantastic! There's a third - we just order manuscript copies from Dramatists Play Service - that's a wonderful farce. This trilogy is dynamite. Those writers also have another play, Dixie Swim Club, that I hear is the new "Steel Magnolias" - hilarious, but some poignancy. Good luck! Vivie live theatre! ------------- Rach |