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  • 1.  Non-traditional Female Lead

    Posted 09-04-2025 11:38

    I am searching out a comedy one act where my fun quirky, loud, high energy female can take the lead for next season. I'm thinking Arlecchino, Scapino, Imaginary Invalid, but female?? Or gender neutral role? Does this exist?  I also have experience in adapting classic texts/literature, if any of those come to mind (other than what I listed above).

    Thanks!

    Analiese



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    Analiese Hamm
    ECS Performing Arts Director
    Echols County High School
    Statenville GA
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  • 2.  RE: Non-traditional Female Lead

    Posted 09-04-2025 11:45

    I'm trying to get Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood off the ground for the fall at my school -that could be a good one for her! 
    Sounds like she'd also be a great Jo March! Or Molly in Peter and the Starcatcher!



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    Annie Crowley
    Upper School Theatre Director
    Bay Ridge Preparatory High School
    Brooklyn, NY
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Non-traditional Female Lead

    Posted 09-04-2025 15:02

    It sounds like your loud, high energy female might be a good fit to play the part of Hera in the one-act comedy "The One True Goddess of Acropolis High" which is available from Big Dog Publishing here:  The One True Goddess of Acropolis High    

    Hera is the head of the Titan cheerleaders, the goddesses who rule Acropolis High.  When a new student, Medusa, wants to join the ranks of Hera and her cheerleading squad, Hera summarily tells the snake-haired wannabe that she doesn't belong.  But when their Titan football team clashes with the rival Zombies of the new Apocalypse High, heads begin to roll and the power rankings are in for a jolt.



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    Hans Offenfrish
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Non-traditional Female Lead

    Posted 09-05-2025 05:50

    Try the one act version of Once Upon a Mattress.
    https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/65849/once-upon-a-mattress-youth-edition



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    Josh Ruben, M. Ed.
    Fine Arts Head
    Northwest Whitfield HS (dba, The Northwest Theatre Co.)
    Tunnel Hill, GA
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Non-traditional Female Lead

    Posted 09-05-2025 08:56

    You might take a look at these one-acts that TRW publishes:

    FOURTEEN by Amy Crider
    4 women, or 3 women, 1 nonbinary
    https://www.theatricalrights.com/show/fourteen/
    WINNER OF THE 2021 TENNESSEE WILLIAMS ONE-ACT COMPETITION
    In the near future, a robot named Laura has joined a high school to see if it can learn as humans do. Two girls, Ruth and Teri, decide that the superiority of computers would make Laura the perfect class president. When Laura helps Madison, the school bully, with her math homework, she adopts Laura as her best (and perhaps only) friend, and joins the campaign. After a disastrous assembly ends their election dreams, Madison learns that loneliness can't be answered by a machine.

    JANE AUSTEN IN 39+MINUTES by Syrie James
    4 women, 3 men (more actors may also be used)
    https://www.theatricalrights.com/show/jane-austen-in-39-minutes/
    In this uproarious, clever, engaging comedy, narrator Jane Austen and a madcap cast of ladies and gents deliver condensed versions of all six of Jane Austen's beloved novels at a lightning pace, including modern day zingers about Austen's fame-and fandom. Jane Austen enthusiasts will be delighted, although no knowledge of her work is required to enjoy the play, which basks in the glory of Austen's major works, while also poking fun at their pitfalls-a hilarious and loving homage to the celebrated English writer whose insightful wit and romantic stories are treasured across the world today.



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    Craig Pospisil
    Vice President - TRW
    TRW - Theatrical Rights Worldwide
    New York NY
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Non-traditional Female Lead

    Posted 09-05-2025 10:09

    Your commedia and Moliere ideas are very good.  I did Moliere's version of Don Juan with a female Sganarelle, and it worked great.  It added a lot of side-eye to Don Juan's antics.  That play could be adapted to a one-act pretty easily by removing underplots and just doing the essence.



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    Robert Brooks
    Mississippi School of the Arts
    MS
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Non-traditional Female Lead

    Posted 09-05-2025 12:56

    I think The Goosegirl would be a great fit. It's a laugh-out-loud fairy-tale adaptation where a hilariously vain, loud, high-energy diva Princess switches places with her maid. There's a lot of wit as well as physical comedy. And at the end there's a great lesson about humility and kindness. Read it for free here.

    More options that are nontraditional and would let your actor shine are Year of Thirteen Moons and The Lion on the Left. The former follows a spunky "old soul" 13-year-old Sam Baron as she navigates through the year she leaves childhood behind. You can read Year of Thirteen Moons for free here. The latter follows Veronica, a spirited teen and devoted superhero fan, who discovers that the bronze lion outside her great-uncle's department store can listen, speak, and even fly. You can read The Lion on the Left for free here.

    Let me know if you have any questions or need anything at all :-) 



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    Jason Sebacher
    Founder, Managing Editor
    Gitelman & Good Publishers
    Chicago, IL
    jason@gitelmangoodpublishers.com
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    Original Message


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