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  • 1.  One act theme night..ideas needed!

    Posted 04-14-2014 18:38
    Hi! Looking to get some ideas from out there. I teach high school theater and direct a fall production and a musical. Next year I want to do a theme of one acts to get more kids involved. A few years ago we did a Shakespeare spoof night with 'Seussificatiin of Romeo and Juliet" as act one and then "rules of Comedy" for act two. Even farther back I did the odd couple 'date' scenes...female version as act one and male version act two. The audience liked a change of pace from a regular full length play. ( we recently did Almost Maine, Any Number can Die, and It's a Wonderful life as full lengths). Anyway can anyone think of some one acts that would make a nice theme evening? I was thinking of ...insanity theme (with insanity of Mary girard as one of the plays) but what else? Horror? Help! Any other themes (and one act play titles) would be great. (We have done a lot of the 'dating' theme one acts on playscripts for a spring festival..so looking for something different. If you have any suggestions for me I'd be grateful! Thanks ------------------------------------------- Lorie Baldwin Richboro PA -------------------------------------------


  • 2.  RE:One act theme night..ideas needed!

    Posted 04-14-2014 21:31
    HI, Lorie!

    We do a great deal of one-acts in our theatre program and purely by accident, this spring's Theatre 1 one-acts are prom themed.  The Prom Game & Rejection! Or Will Date for Food - and just now, I've decided to give a discount to anyone who comes in prom attire to the performances!  Honestly, just now! 

    Other ideas:  Military one-acts:  WOMEN and WAR (Sam French)  Booby Trap (Playscripts) and other.
    Twisted Tales:  there are so many options of Fairy tales turned around...you can find them at Theatrefolk, Playscripts, and so many others.
    Shakespeare Adaptations - Lindsay Price and Theatrefolk have quite a few, so does Playscripts.

    Why not an evening by one playwright? Pick one of your favorites and do an evening of their work.  One year, before I even knew her, I did an evening of Lindsay Price's work.  The Snow Show, Wait Wait Bo Bait, and Skid Marks.  All three were ensemble/vignette pieces, so they worked well together. 

    Hope some of those ideas help...you've definitely helped me come up with some ideas!

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    Carolyn Greer
    Kentucky Thespian Society
    Owensboro HS
    Owensboro, KY
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  • 3.  RE:One act theme night..ideas needed!

    Posted 04-14-2014 23:54
    I have done an evening of Antibully plays followed by Talk With the Cast/crew and led by counselors..Very effective

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    Gai Jones
    Ojai CA
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  • 4.  RE:One act theme night..ideas needed!

    Posted 04-15-2014 14:01
    Gai,
    What anti-bullying plays did you produce as a themed evening?

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    Helen Dixon
    Oakley CA
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  • 5.  RE:One act theme night..ideas needed!

    Posted 04-15-2014 08:58
    I also want to do more one-acts next year and am thinking of a "school" theme of some sort.  We read "This is a Test" in the beginning class next year and that show really hold up. The class loved it and this was not a class filled with thespians.  I am thinking of that for act one and then an similar show for act two.
    I am eager to have more students involved too.  I see the one-act idea as a way to release me from my fruitless searches for shows with large female casts.
    Your post gave me some encouragement to give this a go!

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    Jan Jensen
    Tucker GA
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  • 6.  RE:One act theme night..ideas needed!

    Posted 04-15-2014 11:54
    I find that school based themes work pretty. We're doing The End of Civilization As We Know It by Mark D. Kaufmann. It's pretty funny but has a really good message about blindly following along. It might pair with Face Forward: Growing Up In Nazi Germany

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    Shira Schwartz
    Chandler Unified School District
    Chandler AZ
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