Play Suggestions: Most performed plays in community theater

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Most performed plays in community theater

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Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Play Suggestions
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URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4734
Printed Date: 11/25/24 at 5:35pm
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Topic: Most performed plays in community theater

Posted By: fairylyhuman
Subject: Most performed plays in community theater
Date Posted: 7/29/10 at 3:17pm

Hello all,

I am trying to figure out what the most popular plays, both musical and straight, are to perform in various community theaters across the country. Almost like a poll, without a list of options to choose from. If you could please tell me, in your opinion, what the most popular musical and straight-play are to perform in community theater and a brief explanation as to why, I would greatly appreciate it!!

Replies:

Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 7/29/10 at 3:45pm

I don't know about a real list based on actual statistics. I've seen one on here years ago but have not been able to find it recently. Maybe it's on the AACT site?

Anyway, for the purposes of discussion I would guess a lot of Neil Simon would have to be on the list because of name recognition, smaller casts, relatively easy costuming, etc.

Posted By: jtonner
Date Posted: 7/30/10 at 7:38am

I did a list in 2005. In my survey I went through all the seasons of all the community theatres in the US (yes I must be OCD, but what can you do.) I have wanted to update it, but it takes quite a bit of time to do. Here are the top 10 musicals and plays. If anyone wants the entire list in excel, email me ( mailto:jtonner481@aol.com - jtonner481@aol.com ) and I can send you the whole list. It includes 970 different shows.

Musicals

1. Annie

2. Nunsense

3. The Sound of Music

4. Disney's Beauty and the Beast

5. Grease

6. I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change

7. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

8. Seussical, the Musical

9. My Fair Lady

10. Forever Plaid

Plays

1. Proof

2. Steel Magnolias

3. Arsenic and Old Lace

4. A Christmas Story

5. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

6. The Lion in Winter

7. Noises Off!

8. Over the River and Through the Woods

9. Barefoot In the Park

10. Charlotte's Web

John

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John

Posted By: FFootlighters
Date Posted: 7/30/10 at 11:29am

Theatre Communications Groups publishes a list of Top 10 Plays as produced by their member groups. Admittedly, this is not a community theatre group, but the list is interesting, nonetheless.

http://tcg.org/publications/at/attopten.cfm#2009 - TCG Top 10 Most Produced Plays

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

Posted By: ianhornby
Date Posted: 11/26/10 at 4:11am

Viewing this from the UK, since that's where I am, and being a playwright, I contacted UK publishers (including SF and Weinberger) to try to find out what community theatres are doing, so as to be able to tap into that market myself. The list over here is quite different from the ones suggested above, but I'll mention it in case it's of any interest. (Sadly none of mine are in that list, but watch this space.

The most popular is "Allo, Allo" which is derived from the TV Sitcom of the same name, based on the activities of wartime occupied France and a pastiche of the drama "Secret Army". This would probably not transport too well to the USA.

Second in the list is a series known as "The Farndales", based on a women-only drama group "The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society". I think there are 11 in the series, but again they would need some work to get them into USA minds, since I guess you don't have Townswomen's Guilds per se.

Mike Frayn's "Noises Off" is always up there.

Then there's the complete catalogue of Sir Alan Ayckbourn, who loves to play with time and space with some very quirky ideas in there.

Interesting that all the above (apart from some of Sir Alan's) are comedies.

The above list aside, there's my favourite thriller of all time, Susan Hill's "The Woman in Black", a two hander which has not been released for non-professional production as yet, but I'm on the list to direct it (or preferably take a part) when it becomes available.

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I demand a second opinion