Play Suggestions: New to directing.. need a modern comedy

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New to directing.. need a modern comedy

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=4692
Printed Date: 11/25/24 at 5:41pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: New to directing.. need a modern comedy

Posted By: RaYhoLiO
Subject: New to directing.. need a modern comedy
Date Posted: 7/06/10 at 11:41am

Hello ladies and gentlemen! :)

I've been looking thru scripts for the past few weeks, and I'm having a hard time finding a play that fits what I'm looking for...

I'm looking for a play that is relevant.. probably written in the last 10-15 years.. it must be a comedy... one that's actually funny :).. It needs to be a cast of 10 or less people.. The lead(s) can NOT be middle aged or older females.. not looking for a musical.. NC17 on the language. and it needs to be a full length show.

I really like the idea of greater tuna.. but I don't want to direct that, because i'd like to be in it.. LOL

Non conventional shows are a plus with me.. I'm sorta sick of the formulaic comedy that takes place in someones front room, and always seems to have the same charicters, beginning and ending.

This may be a tall order... I know I've had a lot of trouble finding anything that matches my wish list.. do you guys know of anything?

Thanks a ton in advance!

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-RayHoli0!

Replies:

Posted By: donzolidis
Date Posted: 7/06/10 at 11:52am

When you say NC17, does that mean that you have no difficulties with language at all?

So, if language is no subject matter, take a look at the plays of Durang, Nicky Silver, and David Lindsay-Abaire. I guess Silver I can take or leave, but he has some funny stuff.

Betty's Summer Vacation, by Christopher Durang, might be a little difficult technically. Also: middle-aged actress lead.

Fuddy Meers, by David Lindsay-Abaire. One of the funniest shows I've ever seen. late 20s-30s actress lead.

Wonder of the World, by David Lindsay-Abaire. Also falling-down funny. late 20s-30 actress lead.

Beyond Therapy, by Christopher Durang, getting a little dated now, but still very funny.

The Compleat works of Shakespeare (abridged), you need three brilliantly funny actors. No age requirements.

And from my own stuff, check out The World's Largest Rodent (rated R - not for schools) it has the benefit of being able to be read online for free - young male lead. (cast of 6)

http://www.playscripts.com/play.php3?playid=2081 - http://www.playscripts.com/play.php3?playid=2081

This one is PG - A Tiny Miracle with a Fiberoptic Unicorn (cast of 8 - young male lead)

http://www.playscripts.com/play.php3?playid=2081 - http://www.playscripts.com/play.php3?playid=2081

And lastly, my most popular show, The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon (cast of 5, expandable to anything you need)

http://www.playscripts.com/play.php3?playid=1162 - http://www.playscripts.com/play.php3?playid=1162

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www.donzolidis.com

Posted By: RaYhoLiO
Date Posted: 7/06/10 at 1:42pm

My rating system is a little off I'm sure... LOL I guess what I mean is somethin' FCC ok... VERY limited f-bombs, and C-bombs are right out. :)

I'll read what I can find on those plays :) THanks for the suggestions... and please keep 'em comin' :)

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-RayHoli0!

Posted By: edh915
Date Posted: 7/06/10 at 1:56pm

You might want to take a look at Dead Man's Cell Phone by Sarah Ruhl. Surreal, but very funny. Picasso at the Lapin Agile by Steve Martin is also a winner. (In my book, at least)

Posted By: donzolidis
Date Posted: 7/06/10 at 2:41pm

Yeah, I think Showgirls when I hear NC-17.

So if you have limited F-bombs, then Durang is probably out, Fuddy Meers and Compleat Works are still okay, and The World's Largest Rodent is out.

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www.donzolidis.com

Posted By: RaYhoLiO
Date Posted: 7/06/10 at 4:46pm

Thanks again!

For my 1st show, I'm thinking that Picasso will be the easiest to get accepted by my directing board, as it's purty conventional... I've seen clips of almost all of the other shows on youtube, and they look GREAT! :) I especially liked fuddy meers. I'm thinking I should probably go with the safest choice I can for the 1st one... not from a directing standpoint... but just to get a show accepted.. they have a lot of 'older' people on the board here..

Anyhow.. I need some info on Picasso.. I've seen several clips online, and they look great. Only concern is 7m How many of those seven men are small parts? I can probably get 2-4 talanted men.... and a few not-so-talanted... 7 gets difficult though... any advice?

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-RayHoli0!

Posted By: donzolidis
Date Posted: 7/06/10 at 5:44pm

Picasso is a fun show. A little light on plot, but it should be easily approved by your board. (After all, Steve Martin wrote it, and he's getting up there in years too.)

As I remember, there are two leads, Picasso and Einstein, which need capable actors. The bartender, also male, is a pretty major part. And then you have Elvis and Schemdiman, who are significant parts, but not that huge. The female parts are smaller and not quite as good.

I don't think there's any way to cross-cast it, there might be one part, Sagot, the art dealer, who could be played by a woman, but I don't have the script in front of me. As I recall, there's a lot of banter about women in there that wouldn't make sense with cross-casting.

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www.donzolidis.com

Posted By: HongKongCV
Date Posted: 7/09/10 at 2:57pm

Have you looked at a show called Flaming Idiots, by Tom Rooney? It's a farce, and it's incredibly funny.

We put that on about two years ago, and it got a good review from a man who usualy doesn't like farces! The audience howled with laughter.

It's a fairly small cast (8 people, if memory serves) with one set and two male leads.

Posted By: mark_j
Date Posted: 7/13/10 at 9:55am

I'd throw in Dearly Departed.

Posted By: FFootlighters
Date Posted: 7/13/10 at 1:29pm

I'd look at Moonlight and Magnolias. 3M/1W and one set...but lots and lots of bananas and peanuts.

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Fairfield Footlighters
Fairfield, OH
http://www.fairfield-footlighters.org

Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 7/14/10 at 3:15pm

I would suggest you look at Jeff Daniels' "Escanaba in da Moonlight". It's about a family of men in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and deer camp. Definately not like many other shows. If you saw Dumb and Dumber and laughed at the toilet scene, you will find this show ammusing. If you are offended by belching, farting, drinking, aliens, mythical creatures, God and disfunctional families you may want to pass.

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Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

Posted By: GoldCanyonLady
Date Posted: 7/17/10 at 9:02pm

What about Faith County. It is hilarious. Also a great comedy is one we want to do soon Lover's Leap also Let's Murder Marsha. We did Faith County and it was a good show. Full length and not in a living room---out doors at a fair ground. Silly characters but oh so fun.

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Barb Hofmeister,
MountainBrook Village Players, Gold Canyon, Arizona.

Posted By: RaYhoLiO
Date Posted: 7/19/10 at 1:01am

A lot of REALLY great plays here... I've been lookin' thru 'em... I gave the production staff 3 choices... The Foreigner.. been about 10 years since it was done out here.. Picasso... I'm too big of a steve martin fan. :) And the one I've always wanted to do.. 1984. Not a comedy... but I think it would really draw a crowd with our current political climate... So it's in their hands now....

They wern't really as modern as I'd like.. but i feel that the 3 range from very safe, to very risky.. and for my 1st show, they can choose how much faith they want to have in me. :)

I'm allready reading scripts for the next years show... and I just have to give a shout out to Faith County.. LOVE that show.. it was done very recently here though... and I was in it :)

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-RayHoli0!

Posted By: ianhornby
Date Posted: 11/26/10 at 5:38am

Take a look at http://www.plays4theatre.com/bookdetails.php?pr=248 - http://www.plays4theatre.com/bookdetails.php?pr=248

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I demand a second opinion