Out of ideas!
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=4349
Printed Date: 11/25/24 at 11:30pm
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Topic: Out of ideas!
Posted By: nnixon
Subject: Out of ideas!
Date Posted: 11/27/09 at 10:38pm
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I am a HS/MS drama teacher with 27 plays completed at the HS level. :) This year I have a serious lack of male talent. I try to alternate between comedy and drama. We did our second-ever musical-Little Shop last year and I am just not finding an idea for a drama with a cast of 8-12, but mostly women. The dramas we have done include The Crucible, Radium Girls, Dead Man Walking, Frankenstein, Dracula,Marvin's Room, Anne Frank, The Miracle Worker, etc. I could also do a comedy and break with tradition. The cast distribution is critical though. Thanks for any ideas you may have. I am desperate. Has anyone ever done the Magdalene piece called Eclipse? (Not sure I have the correct reference).
Nancy Nixon
Ouray High School
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Replies:
Posted By: donzolidis
Date Posted: 11/28/09 at 12:04am
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I have a few plays that might work for you.
For a drama/comedy - try A Tiny Miracle with a Fiberoptic Unicorn (5 F 3 M), it's kind like a contemporary Brighton Beach Memoirs. You can read it online here (just click on read sample):
http://www.playscripts.com/play?playid=1426 - http://www.playscripts.com/play?playid=1426
For a silly comedy, there's The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon (works for any cast size bigger than 5, gender flexible), which is in the style of the Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged) except with the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. It's been produced by about 300 high schools and a dozen community theatres in the past 3 years, so it's been very popular. You can also read it online here:
http://www.playscripts.com/play?playid=1162 - http://www.playscripts.com/play?playid=1162 ------------- www.donzolidis.com |
Posted By: edh915
Date Posted: 11/28/09 at 1:34pm
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I would suggest having a go at some Shakespeare - comedies, preferably. They were originally played by all-male casts. It's real easy to turn those tables. Play it all-girl. Just make sure you have girls playing men. In other words, don't change the gender of the character, just the gender of the actor playing him. One of the easiest ways to do this is to present the show as though it's Jo and her sisters playacting in the attic, or Our Gang putting on a show in the back yard.
I've got a couple adaptations (simplified Shakespeare) that I've written, "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "Taming of the Shrew", "Comedy of Errors", and "Much Ado About Nothing." I'd be happy to send you a copy or two if you're interested. The Shakespearean language is in tact (mostly). The lines and scenes have simply been judiciously edited, then transferred to prose for easier reading.
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Posted By: Mr. Lowell
Date Posted: 12/01/09 at 1:58pm
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Some smaller comedies with good roles for girls are "Dearly Departed" and "The Dining Room". A bigger sized drama with good girl roles is "Pride and Prejudice", (we are doing it in March). I have seen the courtroom drama "Twelve Angry Men" done with girls as "Twelve Angry Women" and with half and half as "Twelve Angry People". The play "House of Bernarda Alba" has good female parts, but it is rather stuffy drama. There is the heavy Greek trajedy "Trojan Women". But I really recommend an under-rated gem called "Lost in Yonkers" by Neil Simon. It has a simple unit set and a nice small cast...with two challenging and complex female parts.
Good luck, and let us know what you find! -Dana ------------- Mr. Lowell, Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director, for the Linda Sloan Theatre, in the Davison Center for the Arts, at Greensboro Day School |
Posted By: maryg0507
Date Posted: 12/27/09 at 5:26am
| We did The Dixie Swim Club last year with great success. |
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 12/27/09 at 8:54am
stuffy??? it's one of the sexiest plays I've ever directed!  you saw the wrooooong production! LOL (But, I don't think it's appropriate for high school-ers) ------------- http://tristanrobin.blogspot.com |
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 12/27/09 at 8:56am
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How about "The Odd Couple" female version? Six women/two men.
------------- http://tristanrobin.blogspot.com |
Posted By: Jo Norland
Date Posted: 1/14/10 at 11:12am
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My play, Mothers Have Nine Lives is a one-act, but it has a dozen female roles, and has worked very well with various highschool casts.
it may be read for free at http://www.singlelane.com/proplay/mothers.html - http://www.singlelane.com/proplay/mothers.html
Good luck!
Jo
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Posted By: Production Scri
Date Posted: 1/16/10 at 8:53pm
If you're still struggling for options... you should do a quick http://www.productionscripts.com/advanced_search.php - search on the Production Scripts library  ------------- http://WWW.PRODUCTIONSCRIPTS.COM - PRODUCTION SCRIPTS - An online digital marketplace for theatre and radio scripts. |
Posted By: johnmh
Date Posted: 1/21/10 at 5:23pm
 I have been in the female version of The Odd Couple as one of the men. I remember it as nearly as funny as the original. ------------- John Hardaway Director for 3 theaters in Southern Indiana "In the biz" since 1963 |
Posted By: chel
Date Posted: 1/22/10 at 12:24pm
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Is Steel Magnolias too mature for your group? ------------- chel www.windhamtheaterguild.org |
Posted By: johnmh
Date Posted: 1/26/10 at 5:28pm
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I just remembered a show that I directed with a group of Jr. High students. The show is Spirit! by Peg Kehret (Pioneer Drama Service). A comedy/drama with 5 women and 3 men. You can find it here: http://www.pioneerdrama.com/searchdetail.asp?pc=SPIRIT&id=199 - http://www.pioneerdrama.com/searchdetail.asp?pc=SPIRIT&id=199 I have done this show 3 times - the first with the Jr. High and twice with various community theatres using adults. It works both ways. Plays VERY well in an intimate, small theatre. One of the community productions was done in the round - 3 rows of seats surrounding a stage 18' x 18'. Best audience reaction of the three productions. ------------- John Hardaway Director for 3 theaters in Southern Indiana "In the biz" since 1963 |
Posted By: Miss Sara
Date Posted: 1/26/10 at 8:05pm
| The subject matter could possibly be a little intense for a middle school / high school, but I would highly recommend The Children's Hour by Lillian Hellman. 4W, 1M, and at least 3 girls, although I believe in some points, the script calls for as many as seven - only 3 of these, however, are speaking parts if I remember correctly. The parts for women could easily be used for your older girls, the children's for the younger one. It's one of my absolute favorite plays. |
Posted By: Nyria
Date Posted: 2/21/10 at 8:39pm
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If you are struggling for guys I would suggest doing some comedies. Draw them in with this -- then when they find that they love theatre you can do more dramas.
I find guys are more willing to get silly than they are to get serious.
------------- NYRIA |
Posted By: Melvin
Date Posted: 2/24/10 at 9:45pm
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Olivia Twist has about the right female to male ration (10 to 4, if I remember) but it's a musical. You can check it out here:
http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/Musicals/Olivia_Twist.htm However, since you are not shopping for a musical this year, this probably won't help much. I know a lot of the publishers now let you cherry pick plays based on your cast requirements, but then you might end up with the right cast number but the wrong play. It's a dilemma, for sure. Best luck with finding something that works for you. |
Posted By: ozzieparker
Date Posted: 6/17/10 at 2:27pm
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How about Grass Widows? It's a one act with only one set and a cast of 3 women-1 guy (must be dead). I can send the script. ------------- You never know what's comin' for you. |