Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: I am Looking for a Large Cast Comedy

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Martin
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Joined: 4/02/06
Location: United States
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Posts: 13

Topic: I am Looking for a Large Cast Comedy
Posted: 4/06/06 at 11:32am

I am a high school drama director, planning my next year's
theatre season, and am looking for a large cast, non-musical,
comedy or murder mystery (15+ 20+ roles). I am currently in
rehearsals for Once Upon a Mattress, and recent projects have
included: Our Town, Hello Dolly, Pride and Prejudice, A Murder
is Announced, Anything Goes. I have a talented group of young
actors and actresses here, who enjoy a good challenge. Any
suggestions for large cast comedies (non-musical) or murder
mysteries would be gratefully appreciated.
Many thanks, Martin Collin

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Playwright
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Joined: 4/01/06
Location: Canada
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Posts: 126

Posted: 4/06/06 at 1:18pm

The play 'You Can't Take It With You' has a cast of about 16 or 17. It's an old play and might be somewhat dated. It takes place around the depression era in 1930's or so. It has a lot of character roles in it. A girl who dreams of being a ballerina and wears a tutu, a Russian dance teacher who pounds the floor with a walking stjick, a Russian Contessa, G-men., a mother her fancies herself a writer and an artist just to name a few. At the end of one of the acts a whole bunch of 'fireworks' goes off so an opporttunity for some cool FX. They made it into a movie.

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Joined: 1/27/05
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Posted: 4/06/06 at 2:45pm

"Once in a Lifetime" (also by Kaufman and Hart) has an ENORMOUS cast -- 38 speaking parts! -- many of which can be doubled (or triple-cast).

It takes place in the 1920's when silent movies were switching over to sound -- basically the same plot as "Singin' in the Rain" but without the music.

Three main leads (2 male, 1 female) numerous "character parts" including a Louie B. Mayer-type producer and a Hedda Hopper-like gossip columnist and dozens of one-liners, walk-ons and "extras" (bellhops, cigarette girls, maitre' d's, porters, screenwriters, secretaries and the like.)

It's a lot of fun to do.

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

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charlz
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Joined: 7/07/05
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Posts: 26

Posted: 4/06/06 at 11:34pm

Try looking at: Sly Fox (very funny Gelbart at his best), Man Who
Came To Dinner (a classic comedy) -- published by French.
M*A*S*H (the audience liked it), The Somewhat True Tale of Robin
Hood (very funny, a little like Monty Python), Cheaper by the Dozen
(very cute) -- published by Dramatic Publishing. Then there's just
about any version of a Christmas Carol.

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padfoot13
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Joined: 5/23/05
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Posts: 24

Posted: 4/08/06 at 12:00am

Where can I order a script for "Once in a Lifetime"?

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Topper
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Joined: 1/27/05
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Posts: 543

Posted: 4/08/06 at 1:32am

"Once in a Lifetime" is available thru Samuel French, Inc.

25 W. 45th Street, New York, NY 10036.

But you may also find it on the shelf at your major public library.

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

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Shanahan
Walk-On
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Joined: 5/08/04
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1

Posted: 4/10/06 at 11:04pm

Try something new! Mike Legge's ridiculously funny "Shake-A-Spear" combines the Bard with Abbot & Costello, puns, broad visual humor and slapstick. 22 (or so) parts, large and small. Available from JAC Publishing and Promotions.

Laughter guaranteed. Plays by John Shanahan

http://www.johnshanahan.net
Dinner for Several
One Before Forty
Bob's Date
Brushstroke
Worst Possible Time for Writer's Block
& more!

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RachelB
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Joined: 4/19/06
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 4/19/06 at 8:53pm

Have you looked at the new comedy by the playwright who wrote "Dearly Departed?" The new one is hilarious - I'm a major fan - and is called "Dearly Beloved." Just been published by Dramatists Play Service in NYC. I keep going to the playwright's website - lotsa information there - AND there's a sequel to "Dearly Beloved" that's already scheduled for its world premiere. "Dearly Beloved" rocks! Break a leg! Rachel B

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Author	Message
Martin Player Joined: 4/02/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Topic: I am Looking for a Large Cast Comedy Posted: 4/06/06 at 11:32am
	I am a high school drama director, planning my next year's theatre season, and am looking for a large cast, non-musical, comedy or murder mystery (15+ 20+ roles). I am currently in rehearsals for Once Upon a Mattress, and recent projects have included: Our Town, Hello Dolly, Pride and Prejudice, A Murder is Announced, Anything Goes. I have a talented group of young actors and actresses here, who enjoy a good challenge. Any suggestions for large cast comedies (non-musical) or murder mysteries would be gratefully appreciated. Many thanks, Martin Collin

	IP Logged

Playwright Celebrity Joined: 4/01/06 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 126	Posted: 4/06/06 at 1:18pm
	The play 'You Can't Take It With You' has a cast of about 16 or 17. It's an old play and might be somewhat dated. It takes place around the depression era in 1930's or so. It has a lot of character roles in it. A girl who dreams of being a ballerina and wears a tutu, a Russian dance teacher who pounds the floor with a walking stjick, a Russian Contessa, G-men., a mother her fancies herself a writer and an artist just to name a few. At the end of one of the acts a whole bunch of 'fireworks' goes off so an opporttunity for some cool FX. They made it into a movie.
	IP Logged

Topper Celebrity Joined: 1/27/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 543	Posted: 4/06/06 at 2:45pm
	"Once in a Lifetime" (also by Kaufman and Hart) has an ENORMOUS cast -- 38 speaking parts! -- many of which can be doubled (or triple-cast). It takes place in the 1920's when silent movies were switching over to sound -- basically the same plot as "Singin' in the Rain" but without the music. Three main leads (2 male, 1 female) numerous "character parts" including a Louie B. Mayer-type producer and a Hedda Hopper-like gossip columnist and dozens of one-liners, walk-ons and "extras" (bellhops, cigarette girls, maitre' d's, porters, screenwriters, secretaries and the like.) It's a lot of fun to do.
	"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
	IP Logged

charlz Player Joined: 7/07/05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 26	Posted: 4/06/06 at 11:34pm
	Try looking at: Sly Fox (very funny Gelbart at his best), Man Who Came To Dinner (a classic comedy) -- published by French. MAS*H (the audience liked it), The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood (very funny, a little like Monty Python), Cheaper by the Dozen (very cute) -- published by Dramatic Publishing. Then there's just about any version of a Christmas Carol.
	IP Logged

padfoot13 Player Joined: 5/23/05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 24	Posted: 4/08/06 at 12:00am
	Where can I order a script for "Once in a Lifetime"?
	IP Logged

Topper Celebrity Joined: 1/27/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 543	Posted: 4/08/06 at 1:32am
	"Once in a Lifetime" is available thru Samuel French, Inc. 25 W. 45th Street, New York, NY 10036. But you may also find it on the shelf at your major public library.
	"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
	IP Logged

Shanahan Walk-On Joined: 5/08/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Posted: 4/10/06 at 11:04pm
	Try something new! Mike Legge's ridiculously funny "Shake-A-Spear" combines the Bard with Abbot & Costello, puns, broad visual humor and slapstick. 22 (or so) parts, large and small. Available from JAC Publishing and Promotions.
	Laughter guaranteed. Plays by John Shanahan http://www.johnshanahan.net Dinner for Several One Before Forty Bob's Date Brushstroke Worst Possible Time for Writer's Block & more!
	IP Logged

RachelB Player Joined: 4/19/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 4/19/06 at 8:53pm
	Have you looked at the new comedy by the playwright who wrote "Dearly Departed?" The new one is hilarious - I'm a major fan - and is called "Dearly Beloved." Just been published by Dramatists Play Service in NYC. I keep going to the playwright's website - lotsa information there - AND there's a sequel to "Dearly Beloved" that's already scheduled for its world premiere. "Dearly Beloved" rocks! Break a leg! Rachel B
	IP Logged

Topic: I am Looking for a Large Cast Comedy( Topic Closed)