The black-box theatre is a relatively recent innovation,
consisting of a simple, somewhat unadorned performance
space, usually a large square room with black walls and a flat
floor. Such spaces are easily built and maintained, and are
usually home to plays or other performances with very basic
technical arrangements-- limited sets, simple lighting effects,
and an intimate focus on the story, writing, and performances
rather than technical elements. The seating is typically loose
chairs on platforms, which can be easily moved or removed to
allow the entire space to be adapted to the artistic elements of
a production. Common floorplans include thrust, modified
thrust, and arena.

The black-box theatre is especially favored by colleges and
other theatre training programs because the space is versatile
and easy to change. Many theatre training programs will have
both a large proscenium theatre, as well as a black-box theatre.
Not only does this allow for two productions to be mounted
simultaneously, but they can also have a large extravagant
production in the mainstage while having a small experimental
show in the black box.

Most older black boxes were built more like television studios,
with a low pipe grid overhead. Newer black boxes typically
feature catwalks or tension grids. The latter providing the
flexibility of the pipe grid with the accessibility of a catwalk.

Black-box theatres became popular and wide spread
particularly in the 1960s and 1970s, during which low cost
experimental theatre was being actively practiced as never
before. Since almost any warehouse or open space in any
building can be transformed into a black-box (including
abandoned caf?s and stores), the appeal for nonprofit and low
income artists is high. The black-box is also considered by
many to be a place where more "pure" theatre can be explored,
with the most human and least technical elements being in
focus.

Title: Divorce Sale

Logline: A group of neighbors hold a s?ance to contact the deceased husband of a ditsy mother-in-law.

Genre: Contemporary comedy.  (Ideal for community theatre and dinner theatre venues.)

Set: 1, double-car garage.

Characters: 7 female, 3 male. (1 female and 1 male are cameo roles.)

Running Length: 90 minutes.

Staging: Black box or theatre in the round.  

Copyright ? 1994, 1993.

Production History: 3 stage productions (Honiara, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands; Dalby, Queensland, Australia; and New York City, New York), and 2 staged-readings (San Bernardino, California).  Play is also in circulation through the California branches of the American Association of University Women.

Publication: ProPlay, Canada.  Originally published by Aran Press, Inc.  (All rights reserved by the playwright, including stage performances and royalties.)

Is available online at:  http://www.singlelane.com/proplay/divorcesale.html

 

 

2 plays come immediately to mind....

Waiting for Godot and American Hurrah

Perfect play for black box ... or bare stage with scrims and minimum props:

Title: Divorce Sale

Logline: A group of neighbors hold a s?ance to contact the deceased husband of a ditsy mother-in-law.

Genre: Contemporary comedy.  (Ideal for community theatre and dinner theatre venues.)

 

Set: 1, double-car garage.

 

Characters: 7 female, 3 male.  (2 are cameo roles.)

 

Running Length: 90 minutes.

 

Copyright ? 1994, 1993.

 

Production History: 3 stage productions (Honiara, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands; Dalby, Queensland, Australia; and New York City, New York), and 2 staged-readings (San Bernardino, California).  Play is also in circulation through the California branches of the American Association of University Women.

Publication: ProPlay, Canada.  Originally published by Aran Press, Inc.  (All rights reserved by the playwright, including stage performances and royalties.)

Available online at but you might contact the playwright at artemis1940@hotmail.com  for a copy via emai attachment.

Online at: http://www.singlelane.com/proplay/divorcesale.html