Comedy with flexible, big cast?
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=4445
Printed Date: 11/25/24 at 2:27pm
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Topic: Comedy with flexible, big cast?
Posted By: jayzehr
Subject: Comedy with flexible, big cast?
Date Posted: 1/30/10 at 7:08am
Looking for something funny with maybe 10-15 people, contemporary, perhaps a little "edgy."
I'm wanting to repeat the experience we had with Dearly Departed but I really don't want to do any of the sequels to that show.
I'm also brainstorming other ways to include a lot of whoever shows up, perhaps a night of one acts? Or something along those lines?
I guess I'm just getting frustrated with the model of choosing a show long ahead of time and then depending on the right people showing up for auditions. I guess there's no way around that. It's just that frequently it seems we get a lot of good actors at auditions but they don't necessarily fit with the show that was selected.
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Replies:
Posted By: donzolidis
Date Posted: 1/30/10 at 10:31am
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I know you've probably heard me suggest this before, but I do think this play serves your needs pretty well. The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon fits a minimum of 5 actors, but then is expandable to however many you want. Read it online here for free:
http://www.playscripts.com/play.php3?playid=1162 - http://www.playscripts.com/play.php3?playid=1162
It's being done at about 5 CTs this year, so it seems to be popular.
I have another play, brand-new, which will be published in the fall, called The Matchmakers (8 M 5 F), which might work for you. Here's my blurb:
"Bree isn't exactly having a good day. Her soon-to-be ex-boyfriend took her to Wendy's before the homecoming dance, her father works at a Renaissance Festival and never gets out of character, and her best friend is getting married at sixteen. After her Mom divorces her Dad and gets engaged to the marriage counselor, Bree tries her best to find a new match for her sword-loving father. Too bad he's trying to match her up at the same time. And it's also too bad she seems to be romantically entangled with a guy who just happens to be her future brother-in-law. A hilarious and fast-paced romantic comedy."
You can email me at mailto:donzolidis@yahoo.com - donzolidis@yahoo.com if you'd like to read it.
Thanks!
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www.donzolidis.com
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Posted By: Martin
Date Posted: 1/30/10 at 11:15am
My new one act comedy, You Dont Have to Feed a Cello, was published this month by Heuer Publishing. It was written with five (5) male roles and with ten (10) females roles and many of these fifteeen roles have plenty of room for flexible casting. Running time: 45 minutes.
Synopsis:You Don’t Have to Feed A Cello is a young man’s worst nightmare, his own personal life, mistakes and failures, brought hilariously to the stage in embarrassing moments orchestrated and revealed by a Greek chorus of six nagging mothers in his head. Vexed and hounded by finger-pointing failure, nagging guilt, missed opportunities, and a son’s duties and responsibilities, a playful, comical, paranoid theatrical presentation of a conscience riddled by a mother’s overprotective love and good intentions.
If you are looking for something a little different, you may also wish to consider one of my earlier comedies, Delia Dancer, Doughnut Girl, from Heuer Publishing, with a flexible cast of 21.
Synopsis: Delia Dancer, Doughnut Girl is a modern melodrama that chronicles a ridiculous day and the challenges and struggles of a young woman who makes a living manufacturing doughnuts and sweet pastries in a small town doughnut factory. Structured as a radio program complete with phony commercials, parody songs, audience participation, and listener call-in spots, Delia Dancer, Doughnut Girl stretches theatrical forms but is deeply rooted in awful puns and wrapped around an apple pie and a cup of coffee of small town life.
Types: Full Length Play, Community Theatre
Genres: Comedy, Melodrama
Cast: 6 men, 7 women, 8 extras, flexible cast, 21 total
I have also mentioned recently in an early posting in this forum my new full length murder mystery with a cast of 15, The Man in Seat 24 or The Uninvited Guest. This was published with Brooklyn Publishers last April.
I come here looking for new play ideas to read and direct as well. Shameless self-promotion, I know, but some folks have been directing these large shows of mine recently to some good success.
Good luck in your search,
Martin
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Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 1/30/10 at 6:04pm
Don Juan in Chicago
only 8 characters - but very very funny - and edgy
http://www.dramatists.com/cgi-bin/db/single.asp?key=782
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http://tristanrobin.blogspot.com
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Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 1/30/10 at 8:56pm
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You could have a go at 'Kareoke Twist' by John grimshaw
It is completly flexable & a cast of any size. Writen here localy by Johnny & has been produced at varoius comeatre venues, to great aclaim.
http://www.theatre.asn.au/company/a_lad_in_sane_productions - http://www.theatre.asn.au/company/a_lad_in_sane_productions
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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}
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Posted By: edh915
Date Posted: 2/01/10 at 2:23pm
Take a look at "Somewhere In Between" by Craig Pospisil (Dramatists Play Service). An urban romantic comedy in the tradition of "You've Got Mail" or "Sleepless In Seattle" or "While You Were Sleeping", but with a bit of an edge (not too syrupy or sappy).
Written for as few as six actors, there are several cameo roles that can easily expand your cast to 12 or more. Check out Northwest Indiana Excellence in Theatre Foundation website, www.nwindianatheatre.org , under "Auditions", for a more complete description of the show and some dialogue samples.
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Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 2/01/10 at 6:00pm
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I've been away but I wanted to say thanks for all the suggestions! I'll be able to start looking things over in the morning.
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Posted By: Lazy Bee
Date Posted: 2/02/10 at 5:06pm
Some http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/cgi-bin/Search_Results.asp?iMM=5&iMF=5&iXM=7&iXF=8&iAR=4&iC%281%29=2&iC%283%29=1&iC%285%29=2&iC%289%29=1 - suggestions here , of which the edgiest is probably Pig.
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Stuart
Lazy Bee Scripts
http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk - http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk read complete play scripts on-line
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Posted By: Dough Boy
Date Posted: 2/10/10 at 9:46am
Well, If you're looking in the Dearly Departed range, you've got to check out John Culbertson's Messiah on the Frigidaire . It's published by Samuel French.
Everything you need to know on the http://www.messiahonthefrigidaire.com - website .
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Posted By: Shanahan
Date Posted: 2/10/10 at 10:40pm
Mike Legge's "Shake-A-Spear" from JAC Publishing. About 23 parts, many easily double-able.
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Laughter guaranteed. Plays by John Shanahan
http://www.johnshanahan.net
Dinner for Several
One Before Forty
Bob's Date
Brushstroke
Worst Possible Time for Writer's Block
& more!
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Posted By: Melvin
Date Posted: 2/12/10 at 5:49pm
Blind Dates, a comedy from Lazy Bee Scripts. Can be done with a large or a small cast. Simple sets. Doing both one acts can fill a nice evening.
http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/OneActPlays/Blind_Date_Inc.htm -
http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/OneActPlays/Blind_Date_Inc2.htm -
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Posted By: ozzieparker
Date Posted: 3/19/10 at 2:25pm
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How about Pamela Parker's "Second Samuel"? Here's a production that's opening in Perth Australia.
http://www.tazentertainment.com.au/specialevents.htm#secondsamuel - http://www.tazentertainment.com.au/specialevents.htm#secondsamuel
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You never know what's comin' for you.
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