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  • 1.  One Act Plays for Compeition

    Posted 05-25-2015 09:52
    Edited by Ginny Butsch 05-26-2015 14:42

    Hello Friends,


    I started a new group next year that will be predominantly focused on competing for the first semester. I am struggling to find material that I think will challenge my students. Here in MS, I've seen most other directors write their own one acts. I'm looking for a one act of any genre really that isn't too long. Any suggestions would be helpful. 

    Many Thanks,

    ------------------------------
    Erick Weeks
    Theatre Director
    Pearl High School
    Pearl MS
    ------------------------------



  • 2.  RE: One Act Plays for Compeition

    Posted 05-26-2015 07:23

    Hi, Erick!

    Competition can be a daunting thing, but as long as you remind your students it is about the storytelling and not the hardware (trophies) it can be a wonderful experience. 

    How many actors are we talking about?  That can make a huge difference.  Are you wanting them to be one-acts to begin with or are you willing to make cuts (with approval, of course!)

    My very first suggestion is Women and War by Jack Hilton Cunningham - Samuel French - the full length is created for reader's theatre, but the one-act version was fully staged and with a larger cast.  The great thing is, this play can be as small as needed. 

    Other suggestions:(all based on shows I've used for competition, or seen there!)

    The Diviners - SF - cutting

    Anatomy of Gray - SF - cutting

    Among Friends and Clutter - cuttings Theatrefolk

    Almost, Maine - selected scenes - Dramatic Publishing

    Jenny Saint Joan - has cuttings already included in the script by the playwright - Playscripts,Inc.

    Rock of Ages - NOT the musical - Playscripts - warning 1 male/7 females!!

    The Elephant's Grave Yard - cutting - SF

    Leaving Iowa - cutting Dramatics - I think

    The Amish Project - cutting

    If you are looking for vignette plays good for competition - look at Theatrefolk.com - they have many!

    Best Wishes!

    ------------------------------
    Carolyn Cork Greer
    Owensboro KY
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: One Act Plays for Compeition

    Posted 2 hours ago

    Do you still have the cutting for Anatomy of Gray and Diviners? I am trying to cut those myself and I am looking for inspiration.



    ------------------------------
    Donald Lukus Dement
    Theatre/Speech Teacher
    Potosi High School
    MO
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: One Act Plays for Compeition

    Posted 05-26-2015 08:24

    I find many one-acts in my Plays Magazine subscription. I get a collection of one-acts once a month and I've used many of them in my 6th-12th grade classes. It's my most valuable source for classroom scripts by far.

    Also, check out Playscripts. You can search for just one-acts and they have many that aren't too long.

    ------------------------------
    Gail Bartell
    Altamonte Springs FL
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: One Act Plays for Compeition

    Posted 05-26-2015 11:22

    This year my group did The True Stories of the So-Called Big Bad Wolves for our One-Act.  You can find it through Heuer Publishing. The play has the Big Bad Wolves from Red Riding Hood, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, and The Three Little Pigs go on strike until they can tell their sides of the story.  They each tell the story that you are familiar with and then tell their comical retelling of the story from their perspective.  It allows for big cartoon characters and a good switch between the wolves being bad and then good.  

    The one-act was a hit with the audiences and it was the highest scoring one-act at the Southern Arizona Festival of Theatre and the top scoring one-act at the Arizona State One Act Competition winning us the State Championship.  The one act can be performed by 6-12 actors and is a lot of fun with minimum set and some fun props and costumes.

    ------------------------------
    Richard Gremel
    Theatre Teacher
    Tucson AZ
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: One Act Plays for Compeition

    Posted 05-26-2015 12:05

    I have several you might consider, depending on the makeup of your participants. I have been teaching middle school theatre for 19 years. All of these plays can be performed in 30 minutes or so. I have not had any close calls at festival due to time. These are all excellent vehicles for middle school students.

    DRAMATIC works

    Country Gothic by Tim Kelly  (Samuel French, 7f, 7m)

    Victoria at 18,    by Tim Kelly   (Dramatic Publishing, 9f, 2m)

    The Waiting Room, by Robert Lehan (Pioneer, 3f 3m w/1 more m non-speaking male to remove "body")

    The Lottery, Brainerd Duffield (Dramatic Publishing, 5f, 8m, extras)

    A Memory of Harold, by Ev Miller (Pioneer, 5f, 6m)

    COMEDIC works

    Frumpled Fairy Tales by Springer (Eldridge Publishing flexible casting of 3 stories)

    Final Dress Rehearsal by Jack Frakes (Samuel French, 13 f   NO  males .... we used 2)

    A Mad Breakfast by Isabel McReynolds Gray (Samuel French, 5f, 5m)

    Carol * A Christmas by Jerome McDonough (Dramatic Publishing, 15-25 flexible characters)


    ------------------------------
    Ed Fitzgerald
    teacher
    Virginia Beach City Public Schools
    Virginia Beach VA
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    Original Message


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