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  • 1.  Fall show - Comedy

    Posted 08-10-2019 16:46
    Hi there - I'm lookin for recommendations and suggestions for our Fall show.  Looking for a comedy with 8-12 characters and fairly "easy" as I'm beginning my internship while also teaching and directing....already stressing.
    Thank you so much in advance!

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    Lindsay McAloney
    Troupe Director
    Sussex NJ
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  • 2.  RE: Fall show - Comedy

    Posted 08-11-2019 05:40
    While no comedy is "easy", I'd recommend "Fools", by Neil Simon. Although the setting is a small town in the Soviet Union some time in the past, the style will be very familiar since it plays like a sitcom.  You can do a lot with the physicality of the characters and the absurdity of the plot. It's very playful and rather sweet. And audiences love it.

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    Michael Bergman
    Teacher/Director
    The Potomac School
    McLean, VA
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Fall show - Comedy

    Posted 08-11-2019 09:01
    I wish someone would resurrect one of John Mortimer's absurd plays--The Sound of One Hand Clapping and The One Way Pendulum. These are a hoot. As I remember, they are both one-acts but play well together. (I could be wrong on length.) But wildly absurdist and wonderful plays fit for a crazy world. I'd love to see one of them again.

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    Jean Klein
    Playwright/Founder HaveScripts/BlueMoonPlays
    Playwriting Teacher in MFA program, Wilkes University]
    Virginia BeachVA
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Fall show - Comedy

    Posted 08-12-2019 08:56
    I'd recommend "The Curious Savage" by John Patrick or "Arsenic and Old Lace" by Joseph Kesselring. Both are held by Dramatists, with a one-room set and a cast size right within your range.

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    Josh Kauffman
    Teacher
    Winfield AL
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Fall show - Comedy

    Posted 08-12-2019 11:05
    Are you alone on this or will there be someone to help? If you can swing the set requirements I'd say "Musical Comedy Murders of 1940" by John Bishop. I had one of my favorite times directing this piece. You could also look at "Happily Ever Once Upon" by Virginia Kidd. Set requirements aren't too bad and it was another fun piece.

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    Shira Schwartz
    Chandler Unified School District
    Chandler AZ
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Fall show - Comedy

    Posted 08-15-2019 00:35
    What about the short one-acts in David Ives' All In The Timing?

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    Arden Thomas
    Sequoyah High School
    Pasadena CA
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Fall show - Comedy

    Posted 08-15-2019 01:21
    A fun comedy with an easy set is The Nerd.  
    If you could swing the sets I love Rumors and The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 - they are both so much fun!

    Julie Ingram
    Norris Middle School - Room 40
    8th Grade Language Arts & Theatre Teacher
    ASB Advisor

    Parents - please sign-up for classroom notices at classdojo.com
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Fall show - Comedy

    Posted 08-16-2019 15:48
    Right, I did an evening of Ives and during one acts. Went over really well. No set, a few set pieces and props.

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    David Engel
    Theater Department Head
    Fayetteville-Manlius School District
    Manlius NY
    facebook.com/fmthespians
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Fall show - Comedy

    Posted 08-17-2019 09:02
    David Ives is a good one but need to watch some of the language. Another one we did was complete works of William Shakespeare. Although written for 3 there is flexibility for more. It's fast paced and the audience loved it. So did the kids. One with slightly more adult humor that the kids and audience loved was a little hotel on the side by feydeau. Great farce. Larger set but funny with slamming doors and mistaken identities.

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    James Fry
    Director of Student Life and the Malvern Theatre Society
    Malvern, PA
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    Original Message


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