Tell us a little more about what you are looking for: Adult cast or not? Heavy on men or women? Available cast ages? Multiple sets? Full set or suggested set? Comedy or drama? Contemporary, period piece or classical? Lots of fancy costumes or current fashions? Mainstream author? How important is name recognition (author or play)?

"Class" leads me to think High School. Here are some lesser known (and not so lesser known) suggestions:

Over the River and Through The Woods (Joe Dipietro - "I Love you, Your Perfect, Now Change) - two pairs of Grandparents, the Grandson and the Grandsons love interest. Runs 90 minutes - absolutely great!!! Lots of humor and drama too!!! everyone should do this play - it has a wonderful message for all ages particularly younger audiences!!!

Tribute (Bernard Slade - "Same Time, Next Year") - 3 men, 4 women. Lots of humor and drama - calls for slight nudity but can be worked around.

To Gillian and Her 37th Birthday. (Michael Brady) - 2 men, 5 women. First show I ever directed - still have a soft spot for it. Some say the male lead (David) is written whiney and self centered but it doesn't have to be played that way. Ignore the movie - not the same play.

Love, Sex and the IRS (One of many, many by Milmore and Van Zandt) - 5 men and 3 women. Typical Milmore/Van Zandt farce.

M Butterfly (just kidding)

The Deer and the Antelope Play (Mark Dunn) - 4 women. Has good message for kids - Has strong language and adult situations but script allows editing language and situations.

Spoon River Anthology (Charles Aidman) - Very flexible cast - series of monologues. Good individual work for students.

Getting along Famously (Michael Jacobs) - 5 men, 2 woman. Light fun fare - Heard it was only available in manuscript from BPPI.

Our Town (Thornton Wilder) - Large Cast - I think I read somewhere that everyone has to be involved with this play at least three times in their life.

Odd Couple (female version) - (Neil Simon) - 2 men, 6 women. Most recent (and best) play I have directed - is far better on its feet than it reads.

Crimes of the Heart (Beth Henley) 2 men, 4 women. Becoming a classic (or is it already a classic?) - works for younger casts.


Good luck.

Doug

When you talk larger cast, that means classics to me - today's plays seem to run to smaller casts. When you go to the classics, you go to plays heavily weighted with men. Sign of the times I guess.

Here we go:

Arsenic and Old Lace - still plays well. 11m, 3w

You Can't Take It With You (Kauffman & Hart) - 9m, 7w - quirky - fun - and strange all at once.

Almost any Noel Coward - look at Waiting in the Wings - 5m, 12w.

For Christmas - Miracle on 34th street - large cast - most can be men or women.

Ring Around the Moon - Anouilh - 6m, 6w - Interesting role for leading man - saw it in NYC a few years ago. Plays well

The Rainmaker - mostly men but the movie was great - play is good too.

The Desk Set - 8m, 8w - good movie - I have never seen the play but the script reads well

The Lion in Winter 5m, 2w but very good.

A Man for All Seasons - 11m, 3w

Born Yesterday - more men than women but several roles can be done as women.

One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest - again mostly men.

David and Lisa - script made from movie - 11m, 11w - some might be changed. The play is very much like a movie - many very short scenes.

That about exhausts my suggestions - if I come up with anything else, I'll let you know.

Doug

Last year, our High School did a production of "Death by Chocolate" by Paul Freed. I think our director found it on the Baker's Plays Website. It's a murder Mystery/Comedy. Great show!