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For the past three years, our school has produced a one-act with a cast of 25 students, and we've challenged ourselves to have every student stay on stage the entire show. Our ensemble moves fluidly and often play a lot of functions: townspeople, set pieces, used to convey and heighten emotional material, etc.  We love this style and want to explore more shows that we can use this with. The shows we've produced in this style are Don Zolidis's "Monster," Robert Schenkkan's "Fire in the Hole," an original show "Son of Liberty." We're currently producing "Peter and the Starcatcher" as our spring show, so that option is out. "Radium Girls" is produced quite frequently in our festival, so trying to stay away from that show. No musical can be considered, so what ideas can we explore? What's worked for you?

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Jessica Harms
Theatre Director
Acton MA
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Check to see if you could do a cutting of THE LARAMIE PROJECT.  I did the full show with a cast of 20 with excellent response.

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Floyd Nash
[Theatre teacher]
Deerfield Beach High
Deerfield Beach, FL
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-11-2018 18:20
From: Jessica Harms
Subject: One-Acts with Ensembles?

For the past three years, our school has produced a one-act with a cast of 25 students, and we've challenged ourselves to have every student stay on stage the entire show. Our ensemble moves fluidly and often play a lot of functions: townspeople, set pieces, used to convey and heighten emotional material, etc.  We love this style and want to explore more shows that we can use this with. The shows we've produced in this style are Don Zolidis's "Monster," Robert Schenkkan's "Fire in the Hole," an original show "Son of Liberty." We're currently producing "Peter and the Starcatcher" as our spring show, so that option is out. "Radium Girls" is produced quite frequently in our festival, so trying to stay away from that show. No musical can be considered, so what ideas can we explore? What's worked for you?

------------------------------
Jessica Harms
Theatre Director
Acton MA
------------------------------

There is a cut version of LETTERS TO SALA not yet published, but I'm happy to send to you. Flexible cast size, mostly women.

Also, since you mention the wonderful RADIUM GIRLS, did you know that D. W. Gregory has another play for similar casts and audiences? Here's the information on it.



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Arlene Hutton
The Barrow Group
New York, NY
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-11-2018 18:20
From: Jessica Harms
Subject: One-Acts with Ensembles?

For the past three years, our school has produced a one-act with a cast of 25 students, and we've challenged ourselves to have every student stay on stage the entire show. Our ensemble moves fluidly and often play a lot of functions: townspeople, set pieces, used to convey and heighten emotional material, etc.  We love this style and want to explore more shows that we can use this with. The shows we've produced in this style are Don Zolidis's "Monster," Robert Schenkkan's "Fire in the Hole," an original show "Son of Liberty." We're currently producing "Peter and the Starcatcher" as our spring show, so that option is out. "Radium Girls" is produced quite frequently in our festival, so trying to stay away from that show. No musical can be considered, so what ideas can we explore? What's worked for you?

------------------------------
Jessica Harms
Theatre Director
Acton MA
------------------------------

"Us & Them" by David Campton - Dramatic Publishing

https://www.dramaticpublishing.com/us-and-them

------------------------------
Ann Hileman
Indiana Executive Board
Maconaquah High School
Bunker Hill, IN
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-11-2018 18:20
From: Jessica Harms
Subject: One-Acts with Ensembles?

For the past three years, our school has produced a one-act with a cast of 25 students, and we've challenged ourselves to have every student stay on stage the entire show. Our ensemble moves fluidly and often play a lot of functions: townspeople, set pieces, used to convey and heighten emotional material, etc.  We love this style and want to explore more shows that we can use this with. The shows we've produced in this style are Don Zolidis's "Monster," Robert Schenkkan's "Fire in the Hole," an original show "Son of Liberty." We're currently producing "Peter and the Starcatcher" as our spring show, so that option is out. "Radium Girls" is produced quite frequently in our festival, so trying to stay away from that show. No musical can be considered, so what ideas can we explore? What's worked for you?

------------------------------
Jessica Harms
Theatre Director
Acton MA
------------------------------

In loking for works to do with my intro classes, I found a number of one-acts that fit this requirement, depending on your audience. I really Liked Hoodie from Theatrefolk.  definitely for a middle school type audience, but lots of room to play with an ensemble. I liked Box and Anonymous for the same reasons.  Big ensemble, relevant issues for teens. Some opportunity for leads.

------------------------------
Scott Hasbrouck
George Washington HS
Denver, CO
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-12-2018 11:01
From: Ann Hileman
Subject: One-Acts with Ensembles?

"Us & Them" by David Campton - Dramatic Publishing

https://www.dramaticpublishing.com/us-and-them

------------------------------
Ann Hileman
Indiana Executive Board
Maconaquah High School
Bunker Hill, IN

Original Message:
Sent: 03-11-2018 18:20
From: Jessica Harms
Subject: One-Acts with Ensembles?

For the past three years, our school has produced a one-act with a cast of 25 students, and we've challenged ourselves to have every student stay on stage the entire show. Our ensemble moves fluidly and often play a lot of functions: townspeople, set pieces, used to convey and heighten emotional material, etc.  We love this style and want to explore more shows that we can use this with. The shows we've produced in this style are Don Zolidis's "Monster," Robert Schenkkan's "Fire in the Hole," an original show "Son of Liberty." We're currently producing "Peter and the Starcatcher" as our spring show, so that option is out. "Radium Girls" is produced quite frequently in our festival, so trying to stay away from that show. No musical can be considered, so what ideas can we explore? What's worked for you?

------------------------------
Jessica Harms
Theatre Director
Acton MA
------------------------------

Maybe the Spirit of Life? It's a series of short scenes about individual experiences in the Holocaust. It's listed as 3m 6w, but that's a minimum and it could easily handle a cast of 25. 

The Spirit of Life

Samuelfrench		remove preview
The Spirit of Life "Your play showed that human nature was not narrow-minded and through that whole experience the good of the human soul did triumph over evil." - Jennifer L., student "The Spirit of Life is a great portrayal of the Jewish experience." - Melissa J., student View this on Samuelfrench >

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Ken Buswell
Drama Teacher
Peachtree City, GA
http://mcintoshtheater.org/

Theater kills ignorance
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-12-2018 11:04
From: Scott Hasbrouck
Subject: One-Acts with Ensembles?

In loking for works to do with my intro classes, I found a number of one-acts that fit this requirement, depending on your audience. I really Liked Hoodie from Theatrefolk.  definitely for a middle school type audience, but lots of room to play with an ensemble. I liked Box and Anonymous for the same reasons.  Big ensemble, relevant issues for teens. Some opportunity for leads.

------------------------------
Scott Hasbrouck
George Washington HS
Denver, CO

Original Message:
Sent: 03-12-2018 11:01
From: Ann Hileman
Subject: One-Acts with Ensembles?

"Us & Them" by David Campton - Dramatic Publishing

https://www.dramaticpublishing.com/us-and-them

------------------------------
Ann Hileman
Indiana Executive Board
Maconaquah High School
Bunker Hill, IN

Original Message:
Sent: 03-11-2018 18:20
From: Jessica Harms
Subject: One-Acts with Ensembles?

For the past three years, our school has produced a one-act with a cast of 25 students, and we've challenged ourselves to have every student stay on stage the entire show. Our ensemble moves fluidly and often play a lot of functions: townspeople, set pieces, used to convey and heighten emotional material, etc.  We love this style and want to explore more shows that we can use this with. The shows we've produced in this style are Don Zolidis's "Monster," Robert Schenkkan's "Fire in the Hole," an original show "Son of Liberty." We're currently producing "Peter and the Starcatcher" as our spring show, so that option is out. "Radium Girls" is produced quite frequently in our festival, so trying to stay away from that show. No musical can be considered, so what ideas can we explore? What's worked for you?

------------------------------
Jessica Harms
Theatre Director
Acton MA
------------------------------

Original Message------

For the past three years, our school has produced a one-act with a cast of 25 students, and we've challenged ourselves to have every student stay on stage the entire show. Our ensemble moves fluidly and often play a lot of functions: townspeople, set pieces, used to convey and heighten emotional material, etc.  We love this style and want to explore more shows that we can use this with. The shows we've produced in this style are Don Zolidis's "Monster," Robert Schenkkan's "Fire in the Hole," an original show "Son of Liberty." We're currently producing "Peter and the Starcatcher" as our spring show, so that option is out. "Radium Girls" is produced quite frequently in our festival, so trying to stay away from that show. No musical can be considered, so what ideas can we explore? What's worked for you?

------------------------------
Jessica Harms
Theatre Director
Acton MA
------------------------------

Does anyone know if the "THE TRIANGLE FACTORY FIRE PROJECT" is cuttable for a one-act? I certainly appreciate all the suggestions, but because of our festival rules, our show can only be 40 minutes. 

------------------------------
Jessica Harms
Theatre Director
Acton MA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-12-2018 20:39
From: Nancy Bernhard
Subject: One-Acts with Ensembles?

If you want to go full-length, I suggest THE TRIANGLE FACTORY FIRE PROJECT, by Christopher Piehler. It predate RADIUM GIRLS by a number of years, and (heresy!!), it's a better show. There are some 47 characters in the show, some of whom are constant and some of whom come and go. For an extra challenge you can employ accents: New York, Irish, Yiddish, Italian among them.

Most, if not all, of your actors can remain on stage in some capacity.

It's tightly written, fast-paced, and much of it is taken from transcripts of eyewitness accounts and the subsequent trial.You might even be able to trim it to just over an hour.

You can produce it with a suggestive set. We used platforms and staircases to create the areas.

Original Message------

For the past three years, our school has produced a one-act with a cast of 25 students, and we've challenged ourselves to have every student stay on stage the entire show. Our ensemble moves fluidly and often play a lot of functions: townspeople, set pieces, used to convey and heighten emotional material, etc.  We love this style and want to explore more shows that we can use this with. The shows we've produced in this style are Don Zolidis's "Monster," Robert Schenkkan's "Fire in the Hole," an original show "Son of Liberty." We're currently producing "Peter and the Starcatcher" as our spring show, so that option is out. "Radium Girls" is produced quite frequently in our festival, so trying to stay away from that show. No musical can be considered, so what ideas can we explore? What's worked for you?

------------------------------
Jessica Harms
Theatre Director
Acton MA
------------------------------

It must be because it has been done in Texas for UIL theatre contest many times. But always check with the publisher or author for the rights to do it.

break a leg and may all your theatre seats be filled.

Kelly Thomas
Poteet High School
Mesquite, Texas


Original Message------

Does anyone know if the "THE TRIANGLE FACTORY FIRE PROJECT" is cuttable for a one-act? I certainly appreciate all the suggestions, but because of our festival rules, our show can only be 40 minutes. 

------------------------------
Jessica Harms
Theatre Director
Acton MA
------------------------------

Original Message------

Does anyone know if the "THE TRIANGLE FACTORY FIRE PROJECT" is cuttable for a one-act? I certainly appreciate all the suggestions, but because of our festival rules, our show can only be 40 minutes. 

------------------------------
Jessica Harms
Theatre Director
Acton MA
------------------------------

Lots of great suggestions...I'd like to add a few more.

If you are looking for vignette ensemble shows, I'd look at Wait Wait Bo Bait & The Snow Show  & other already mentioned, by Lindsay Price.  If you are looking for full stories, I'd also look at Lindsay's Cobweb Dreams & The Hope and Heartache Diner.  Lindsay's scripts are with Theatrefolk.  

If you are looking for a show that is primarily females, I'd look at the one-act version of Women and War by Jack Hilton Cunningham at Samuel French. 

Wishing you the best!

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Carolyn Cork Greer
Owensboro KY
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-16-2018 21:54
From: Nancy Bernhard
Subject: One-Acts with Ensembles?

I would suggest sending a request to cut it to Dramatists Play Service, which licenses the play. Conceivably, you could only do the first act, which deals just with the fire, itself.

Original Message------

Does anyone know if the "THE TRIANGLE FACTORY FIRE PROJECT" is cuttable for a one-act? I certainly appreciate all the suggestions, but because of our festival rules, our show can only be 40 minutes. 

------------------------------
Jessica Harms
Theatre Director
Acton MA
------------------------------