A one-act playadapted from "The Dead" in James Joyce’s “Dubliners”
During an annual Christmas celebration, Gabriel Conroy has to cope with his doddering aunts, discover the true nature of his relationship with his wife, Gretta, and confront his own academic pedantry. He condescends to the provincialism of his friends, family, and his wife. But a big surprise about Gretta awaits him after he retires for the night.
In The Devil’s Due, a one-act drama/comedy, an artist, Eric Talmadge, confronts the decline of his aesthetic powers and the possible dissolution of his marriage. In a satiric tour de force, a visitor—possibly a neighboring psychiatrist and possibly a more fearsome presence—offers him a possible way out of his dilemma. Is M. Boudreaux really an unorthodox psychiatrist practicing from his apartment in NYC or does he represent a power other than the mind? And what choice does he give Eric in order to regain his peace of mind and his artistic abilities?
41 Plays-On-A-Page convey slices of sometimes fantastical life. Sometimes biting social commentary, sometimes whimsical asides. These short dramas and comedies leave the audience guessing about their own lives and the world around them. William Heyen, National Book Award Finalist and major American poet, has turned his pen to the stage, with stellar results.
A Poetry Collection For Spoken Word Theater. A moving, insightful autobiography combining poetry and reflection reveals the emerging life and art of a poet. Can be used selectively to construct short one-act plays. The poems are superb for spoken word theater, solo acting scripts, one-person shows, monologue plays scripts. See the script extract.
A one-act, satirical caricature on the practice of medicine, Human nature is revealed and pilloried in this comedy which skillfully skewers the medical profession, a narcissistic patient, and his conniving wife. The Hypochondriac (also known as The Imaginary Invalid) is as germane today as it was in Moliere's France.
Easy to produce on stage or in a classroom as reader's theater. (We have special copying rates for classroom use.)
“The Legacy of an Invisible Father” is a 10-min drama within Monique Franz’s play series “Legacy of a Father.” The short play highlights one woman’s futile attempt to locate a father through a private investigator. Angela’s lifelong loss of a father figure is further complicated by her biracial identity and her struggles with an unloving mother. Within the script, Angela must come to the terms that fate hadn’t been cruel to her at all, that maybe the absence of her father was the heavens working in her favor.
A one-act children’s morality play based on a Malaysian folk tale. A group of unruly and rowdy forest characters give a group of greedy monkeys their comeuppance. Set in a hot tropical jungle, this is a comic tale around the relative values of sloth and industry. Can be performed for and/or by children. Great for classroom readings.
Aesop's Fable The Tortoise and the Hare meets an African Ibo legend . This one-act comedy play script for kids reveals what inquiring minds have always wanted to know - the inside scoop behind Aesop's most famous Fable and why tortoises have cracked, lumpy shells.
A one-act family comedy for 5 actors. A woman is pushed to the limits by the needs of her family. Her husband is overwhelmed by a new business venture, two of her children are self-absorbed, and her eldest son copes, with her help, with mild mental retardation. What will they do when she goes on strike?
Great for middle school, high school, community theater, school competitions, and groups for women. Downloadable, printable PDF available.
In ancient times, Eldad, a gem merchant hears rumors of a magnificent pearl. He spends his life seeking for this marvelous jewel. Throughout his travels——and travails——he encounters both the splendor and the baseness of humanity. When his riches and health, and even his sight are finally gone, he discovers that the rumored pearl is, in fact, a man named Jesus, the true pearl beyond price.
A full-length fantasy play for five characters, based on Oscar Wilde's Story The Selfish Giant. This adventure tells the enchanting story of a group of city kids who discover a beautiful house and garden in the middle of their cement and broken glass environment. But they are chased off by the selfish giant, Gorgon, who places a 'No Trespassing' sign on the gate. Because of his selfishness, the elements of Frost, Snow, and Hail invade his garden and transform it into a place where Spring is banished.
This 60-minute Christmas play for the whole family is adapted by Gillette Elvgren from "The Snow Queen" story by Hans Christian Anderson. Follow the adventures of the young girl Gerda as she strives to free her best friend Kay from the icy grip of the Snow Queen. A modern version with optional audience participation, for Children's Theatre or students to perform for family audiences.
Jeff, a college student who, in his words, "has honorable intentions, a good future, and works out 3 times a week" asks his friend Bob for advice on women after he learns that Veronica can't stomach him. He wonders if he's asked the right person when he discovers that Bob doesn't even know how Marvin Gaye died. Alicia puts it all into perspective.
A 45-minute appealing comedy adaptation of The Tempest to be relished. It has all the exciting elements: of the original play: shipwrecks, a love story, an evil plot, and the fun exploits of the spirits Ariel and her adversary, the rebellious fish-man, Caliban. The flexible cast roles ensures a part for everyone. A must-see for young audiences.
A man is about to board a mysterious train when he is stopped because of the size of his luggage. What is in his trunk that he is so reluctant to part with? And where is the train going? In this 15-minute play, L. Elizabeth Powers bears witness to the fact that it's never too late to take a different path.
A full-length touching and funny 'dramedy' by Mickey Coburn, about a newly widowed woman and her changing relationships with her grown children. Yetta's family expect her to remain 'mama': dependent and indecisive but Yetta has ideas of her own. After years of marriage, she wants to live for herself. But when the suitors begin to appear!!!! Will Yetta be able to emancipate herself from the role of "Jewish Mother"? Even if her new beau is the "likker" salesman?
Great for community and regional theaters. Downloadable PDF available.
