Open Forum

My students have put on a good three-year run with Almost, Maine, Dearly Departed, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.  The latter just closed on Saturday and was extremely well received and our most successful to date.

What should I look at for next year?  Looking for comedies that have some literary merit like those above.  I am not interested in plays written for high schools.  Something of similar cast size would be ideal.

Your suggestions are appreciated.

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K Lang
Ticonderoga NY
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This calls for a larger cast, but one of my favorites is The Madwoman of Chaillot by Jean Giraudoux. A fantasy / satire published in 1943 and set in "the spring of next year", it has a contemporary feel: a group of corrupt men discover there is oil underneath Paris and plan to raze the city. Their plot is overheard by a local eccentric (the title character) who devises her own scheme get rid of them. There are lots of great characters and a fun set challenge in Act II. My kids had a great time doing it a couple years ago.

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Elizabeth Wotherspoon
FHS Drama Director
Fairfield IA
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-10-2019 15:49
From: K Lang
Subject: Need Suggestions-Comedy

My students have put on a good three-year run with Almost, Maine, Dearly Departed, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.  The latter just closed on Saturday and was extremely well received and our most successful to date.

What should I look at for next year?  Looking for comedies that have some literary merit like those above.  I am not interested in plays written for high schools.  Something of similar cast size would be ideal.

Your suggestions are appreciated.

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K Lang
Ticonderoga NY
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If your up for a tragi-comedy, consider Durrenmatt's The Visit.  Definitely has literary merit, and not written for high school, but I have directed it with high schoolers, and they loved it.  Someone else also mentioned it recently in another thread.

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Kristin Hall
Drama Director
Lincoln Public Schools
Arlington MA
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-10-2019 15:49
From: K Lang
Subject: Need Suggestions-Comedy

My students have put on a good three-year run with Almost, Maine, Dearly Departed, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.  The latter just closed on Saturday and was extremely well received and our most successful to date.

What should I look at for next year?  Looking for comedies that have some literary merit like those above.  I am not interested in plays written for high schools.  Something of similar cast size would be ideal.

Your suggestions are appreciated.

------------------------------
K Lang
Ticonderoga NY
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The Curious Savage by John Patrick

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Holly Thompson
Worthington OH
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-10-2019 15:49
From: K Lang
Subject: Need Suggestions-Comedy

My students have put on a good three-year run with Almost, Maine, Dearly Departed, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.  The latter just closed on Saturday and was extremely well received and our most successful to date.

What should I look at for next year?  Looking for comedies that have some literary merit like those above.  I am not interested in plays written for high schools.  Something of similar cast size would be ideal.

Your suggestions are appreciated.

------------------------------
K Lang
Ticonderoga NY
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Maybe the Importance of Being Earnest? 5M, 4W.

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Ken Buswell
Drama Teacher
Peachtree City, GA
http://mcintoshtheater.org/

Theater kills ignorance
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-11-2019 09:47
From: Holly Thompson
Subject: Need Suggestions-Comedy

The Curious Savage by John Patrick

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Holly Thompson
Worthington OH

Original Message:
Sent: 04-10-2019 15:49
From: K Lang
Subject: Need Suggestions-Comedy

My students have put on a good three-year run with Almost, Maine, Dearly Departed, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.  The latter just closed on Saturday and was extremely well received and our most successful to date.

What should I look at for next year?  Looking for comedies that have some literary merit like those above.  I am not interested in plays written for high schools.  Something of similar cast size would be ideal.

Your suggestions are appreciated.

------------------------------
K Lang
Ticonderoga NY
------------------------------

Consider She Kills Monsters (3m, 6w). More women than men, always a plus. Literary merit: C+, but the play, while not written for high school, speaks to high school students, Lots of humor and pathos and girls sword fighting.

Caution: There is a fair amount of profanity (PG13), but if you did Cuckoos Nest you should be okay. There are gay themes, including a mild make-out moment between two girls.

Description from Samuel French: "A comedic romp into the world of fantasy role-playing games, She Kills Monsters tells the story of Agnes Evans as she leaves her childhood home in Ohio following the death of her teenage sister, Tilly. When Agnes finds Tilly's Dungeons & Dragons notebook, however, she stumbles into a journey of discovery and action-packed adventure in the imaginary world that was Tilly's refuge. In this high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres, and 90s pop culture, acclaimed young playwright Qui Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all."

Hals- und Beinbruch

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James Van Leishout
Olympia WA
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-10-2019 15:49
From: K Lang
Subject: Need Suggestions-Comedy

My students have put on a good three-year run with Almost, Maine, Dearly Departed, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.  The latter just closed on Saturday and was extremely well received and our most successful to date.

What should I look at for next year?  Looking for comedies that have some literary merit like those above.  I am not interested in plays written for high schools.  Something of similar cast size would be ideal.

Your suggestions are appreciated.

------------------------------
K Lang
Ticonderoga NY
------------------------------

Original Message------

My students have put on a good three-year run with Almost, Maine, Dearly Departed, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.  The latter just closed on Saturday and was extremely well received and our most successful to date.

What should I look at for next year?  Looking for comedies that have some literary merit like those above.  I am not interested in plays written for high schools.  Something of similar cast size would be ideal.

Your suggestions are appreciated.

------------------------------
K Lang
Ticonderoga NY
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Thanks for the suggestions, all.  I will add that something contemporary is my preference.  I know I did not say musical, but I think Sister Act would be great considering my cast.  However, the recorded music looks like almost 1K.  That would be a deterrent, but worth considering.

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K Lang
Ticonderoga NY
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-11-2019 12:50
From: Rob Duval
Subject: Need Suggestions-Comedy

Maybe a classical text? Greek (Lysistrata), Italian (The Servant of Two Masters), Shakespeare (any), Moliere (any)? What about a children's show like Charlotte's Web? Or an adventure like The Three Musketeers?

Original Message------

My students have put on a good three-year run with Almost, Maine, Dearly Departed, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.  The latter just closed on Saturday and was extremely well received and our most successful to date.

What should I look at for next year?  Looking for comedies that have some literary merit like those above.  I am not interested in plays written for high schools.  Something of similar cast size would be ideal.

Your suggestions are appreciated.

------------------------------
K Lang
Ticonderoga NY
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Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
All in the Timing
The Curious Savage
The Importance of Being Earnest

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Lizzy Brannan
Theatre/Musical Theater/ Tech Theatre Teacher
Orlando, FL
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 04-10-2019 15:49
From: K Lang
Subject: Need Suggestions-Comedy

My students have put on a good three-year run with Almost, Maine, Dearly Departed, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.  The latter just closed on Saturday and was extremely well received and our most successful to date.

What should I look at for next year?  Looking for comedies that have some literary merit like those above.  I am not interested in plays written for high schools.  Something of similar cast size would be ideal.

Your suggestions are appreciated.

------------------------------
K Lang
Ticonderoga NY
------------------------------

I'm a big fan of The Birds by Don Zolidis, adapted from the Aristophanes. It's a great adaptation, lots of parts that can be cast f/m, and some good costume challenges. My kids loved it and we sold out. Don's The Frogs also has some great actor challenges!  We premiered The Frogs at Atherton High School.
She Kills Monsters, by Qui Nguyen is great, too but I would only do the "adult" script. The Young Adventurers version changes the plot is ways I didn't like. You might look at Qui Nguyen's other works, too.

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John Perry
Retired Theatre Teacher
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-10-2019 15:49
From: K Lang
Subject: Need Suggestions-Comedy

My students have put on a good three-year run with Almost, Maine, Dearly Departed, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.  The latter just closed on Saturday and was extremely well received and our most successful to date.

What should I look at for next year?  Looking for comedies that have some literary merit like those above.  I am not interested in plays written for high schools.  Something of similar cast size would be ideal.

Your suggestions are appreciated.

------------------------------
K Lang
Ticonderoga NY
------------------------------

​I agree with The Madwoman of Chaillot. There are a couple of absurd comedies by John Mortimer from the '70's which haven't gotten much play lately--The One Way Pendulum in which all of the characters a bit nuts. And from the same era, there is Live Like Pigs by John Arden. And what about a Moliere adaptation? The Hypochondriac by George Freek runs about an hour, which might be a bit shorter than you want--but if you paired it with another shortish adaptation . . .

I'm glad to see you reaching out for more literary plays. I think high school drama can sometimes do double duty.

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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:
Sent: 04-10-2019 15:49
From: K Lang
Subject: Need Suggestions-Comedy

My students have put on a good three-year run with Almost, Maine, Dearly Departed, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.  The latter just closed on Saturday and was extremely well received and our most successful to date.

What should I look at for next year?  Looking for comedies that have some literary merit like those above.  I am not interested in plays written for high schools.  Something of similar cast size would be ideal.

Your suggestions are appreciated.

------------------------------
K Lang
Ticonderoga NY
------------------------------

May I suggest taking a look at "JOAN" -- a modern retelling of the story of Joan of Arc with a lot of comedic elements.  More info and script here.  https://www.youthplays.com/play/joan-by-donna-kaz-118&ref=search.php%3Fquicksearchbox%3DJOAN%2Bdonna%2BKaz

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Donna Kaz
New York NY
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-10-2019 15:49
From: K Lang
Subject: Need Suggestions-Comedy

My students have put on a good three-year run with Almost, Maine, Dearly Departed, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.  The latter just closed on Saturday and was extremely well received and our most successful to date.

What should I look at for next year?  Looking for comedies that have some literary merit like those above.  I am not interested in plays written for high schools.  Something of similar cast size would be ideal.

Your suggestions are appreciated.

------------------------------
K Lang
Ticonderoga NY
------------------------------