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Looking for a diverse play with strong women leads

  • 1.  Looking for a diverse play with strong women leads

    Posted 08-28-2015 14:31

    Hi All,

    I know lots has been asked about this topic, but I am still seeking a great play for my fall show. I need it to be about 20 characters or more, something with diversity and strong women leads prefered. I have a big program with great boys and girls. This is my final year of teaching, so I need a great show with lots of parts. I would like a drama over a comedy...something more current. Asking for the moon, I know!


    ------------------------------
    Susan Cortesi
    Director of Theatre
    District 87
    Bloomington IL
    ------------------------------



  • 2.  RE: Looking for a diverse play with strong women leads

    Posted 08-29-2015 09:47

    Women of Troy is a one act with strong females if you are looking for a period piece.

    Had a great state competition piece about school shootings and the administration shut us down.  I am looking for a strong one-act that has 11 or so women and 5 or so men.  Need strong characterization, no swearing or sketchy topics.  I know, what is left if theatre cannot represent life.  Comedy or drama would be fine.  Any suggestions?

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    Sonja Shetler
    Bear River WY
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Looking for a diverse play with strong women leads

    Posted 08-31-2015 10:18

    I really need a full length play...but will give it a look.

    ------------------------------
    Susan Cortesi
    Director of Theatre
    District 87
    Bloomington IL
    ------------------------------


    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Looking for a diverse play with strong women leads

    Posted 08-29-2015 10:16

    Do you know The Good Times Are Killing Me by Lynda Barry?

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    Rosalind Flynn
    Head of the M.A. in Theatre Education
    The Catholic University of America
    Silver Spring MD
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Looking for a diverse play with strong women leads

    Posted 08-29-2015 10:41

    Well, current is relative, but here's what jumped out at me.

    Try Thornton Wilder's Skin Of Our Teeth.  Monster mother/eve role, and a wonderful seductress, plus a female Tiresias style prophet.  And two excellent boy roles as well ... plus a big chorus.  



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    Jeremy Goldson
    Denver CO
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Looking for a diverse play with strong women leads

    Posted 08-31-2015 10:45

    Try It Happens Every Summer. It's an ensemble cast with diverse roles. Mostly African-American and White roles, but many female roles.Not sure of the playwright because I'm away from my script library right now. It should be easy enough to find. Have fun!

    JZ
    ------------------------------
    Jessica Zottneck
    Theatre Teacher
    CARLSBAD NM
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Looking for a diverse play with strong women leads

    Posted 08-29-2015 15:01

    have you considered Mary Zimmerman's Arabian Nights?



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    Ron Parker
    Appleton WI
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Looking for a diverse play with strong women leads

    Posted 08-31-2015 10:19

    I love Mary Zimmerman. I did this show in 2007. It was a wonderful script for exploration. I would suggest it to anyone looking for an ensemble show....great minds... :)

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    Susan Cortesi
    Director of Theatre
    District 87
    Bloomington IL
    ------------------------------


    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Looking for a diverse play with strong women leads

    Posted 08-30-2015 20:12

    Check out "Las Hermanas Padilla" by Tony Meneses. It has 10 women who are sister's in law, and it is encouraged that the casting be very diverse. 

    It is a fantastic play. 


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    Alex Moore
    Theatre Arts Director
    St. Louis MO
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    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Looking for a diverse play with strong women leads

    Posted 08-31-2015 10:17

    Thank you...I will check it out!

    ------------------------------
    Susan Cortesi
    Director of Theatre
    District 87
    Bloomington IL
    ------------------------------


    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: Looking for a diverse play with strong women leads

    Posted 08-31-2015 10:24

    Thank you for all the ideas. I am ordering a few of these to peruse. I had a few people send me ideas via email and messaging as well. Thank you to all! I needed some sparking to think. I just didn't find any scripts that were working for my students. I have somewhere to look now.

    ------------------------------
    Susan Cortesi
    Director of Theatre
    District 87
    Bloomington IL
    ------------------------------


    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: Looking for a diverse play with strong women leads

    Posted 08-31-2015 14:00

    The Sins of Sor Juana

    Trojan Women (various versions)



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    Abra Chusid
    Theatre Director
    Buffalo Grove IL
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    Original Message


  • 13.  RE: Looking for a diverse play with strong women leads

    Posted 09-01-2015 10:19

    I am ordering The Sins of Sor Juana...looks intriguing. Thank you! I have the Trojan Women on my short list.

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    Susan Cortesi
    Director of Theatre
    District 87
    Bloomington IL
    ------------------------------


    Original Message


  • 14.  RE: Looking for a diverse play with strong women leads

    Posted 09-01-2015 10:30

    We did an obscure British farce a few years ago "No Time For Fig Leaves."  A nuclear accident has killed all the men in the world and the women are running everything--then two men are discovered alive and the possibilities of repopulating the earth cause chaos.  It's surprisingly clean (with mostly innuendo) and a real ensemble piece.  

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    Debbie MacKinney
    Theatre Teacher, CTE Technical Theater, Troupe 7334 Advisor
    Tanque Verde Unified School District
    Tucson AZ
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    Original Message


  • 15.  RE: Looking for a diverse play with strong women leads

    Posted 08-31-2015 16:06

    Last year we did Radium Girls (you can find the script PDF online if you google it). I ended up casting Charlie Lee (the vice-president) as a woman "Charlotte Lee" and it was incredibly powerful and created an amazing dynamic.   The actress used inspiration from '20s female business owners like Coco Chanel, etc.  I cast 23, I think? Great roles, especially the president's wife, the main female, and the female reporter. 

    If you end up doing it, feel free to message me to ask about the "glow in the dark" stuff because I tried a few things and ended up with success!

    Good luck!


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    Kandace Arens
    Drama Teacher
    Bellingham WA
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    Original Message


  • 16.  RE: Looking for a diverse play with strong women leads

    Posted 09-01-2015 10:15

    I actually just read the play. I love These Shining Lives which is the same story about the same subject in a town near us in Illinois. Radium Girls just does not stand up against that script. I wanted to love it. Did you have doubling or did you have different people in all of the parts?

    ------------------------------
    Susan Cortesi
    Director of Theatre
    District 87
    Bloomington IL
    ------------------------------


    Original Message


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