Open Forum

Good morning,

So each year, our school competes in a One Act play district competition. (Also state if we qualify)
We also try and perform for our state festival if it is ready.
There is a TWENTY MINUTE time limit on the play. (I know...TOUGH ONE!)

Each year, I struggle to find a piece suitable for us to use. 
It is so hard to make all pieces of the puzzle fit. (# and demo of students, plus time)

I have one class that participates in the competition.
My numbers have been small the last few years..8-10 students.
This year I have 14! Great for my program, but difficult for this event.
This is coursework for the students, so they need to be in the show to get grades.

I've thought about finding a smaller cast show and have understudies...
But they TAKE the class for more performance opportunities.

Any suggestions?? Or any sites I can look at that may have more one acts to choose from???

That unicorn is difficult to find!

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Erika Trahan
Kaplan High School
LA
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Finding a 20-minute play is definitely not easy... but one thing you may want to do is start by looking for a 30-minute play with a vignette structure. There are some authors who will simply allow you to cut out scenes for time and say so right in the production notes. And even if it's not explicitly stated in the script, you can always contact the publisher for a cutting request. Some titles that may fit this...

"Masterclasses" by Patrick Greene (Stage Partners)

"Knock Knock" by Kathryn Funkhouser & Jason Pizzarello (Stage Partners)

Ian McWethy has a number of plays by a couple of publishers that fit this structure. 

Good luck!

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Brendan Conheady
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Hopeless Hamlet by Wade Bradford

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Jennifer Bennett
Markham Woods Middle School
FL
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julia miles
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-21-2023 20:05
From: Marilynn Zeljeznjak
Subject: Finding that unicorn...

I have cuttings of I never Saw Another Butterfly, A Piece of my Heart, and Laramie Project  (with permission) for competition.  They all have flexible casts.  Check out the plays by Jerome McDonough at Dramatists Play Service. I think we did several of his scripts, but Asylum stands out the most in my memory.

Marilynn S. Zeljeznjak 

Retires CA State Thespian Director

"Life is Brief - Art is Eternal"

Thank you for mentioning Jerome McDonough's work. I just wanted to mention that Dramatic Publishing Company actually licenses his work (people get the two companies confused all of the time!). Hope you are able to find a title that works for you!

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Carrie Blomquist
Professional Leasing Director
Dramatic Publishing Company
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-21-2023 20:05
From: Marilynn Zeljeznjak
Subject: Finding that unicorn...

I have cuttings of I never Saw Another Butterfly, A Piece of my Heart, and Laramie Project  (with permission) for competition.  They all have flexible casts.  Check out the plays by Jerome McDonough at Dramatists Play Service. I think we did several of his scripts, but Asylum stands out the most in my memory.

Marilynn S. Zeljeznjak 

Retires CA State Thespian Director

"Life is Brief - Art is Eternal"

All of these suggestions are wonderful! I will look into them! Thank you!

Any others appreciated also!

Erika

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Erika Trahan
Kaplan High School
LA
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