Suggestions for Small Cast (up to 5)
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Play Suggestions
Forum Discription: Need help finding a show that's right for your theater? Ask here.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1383
Printed Date: 5/02/24 at 4:10pm
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Topic: Suggestions for Small Cast (up to 5)
Posted By: ipspea
Subject: Suggestions for Small Cast (up to 5)
Date Posted: 5/03/05 at 7:28am
| In looking at shows for next season, we need some ideas for small casts. I'd say up to 5 - but the board is looking strongly at 2 person shows as well. Thanks for the help! |
Replies:
Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 5/03/05 at 10:20am
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two of my favorite five character plays are "Who's Happy Now?"
by Oliver Hailey - a very strange comedy about domestic abuse (you gotta read it LOL), and Charles Ludlam's "The Artificial Jungle," which I've always thought was far funnier than his popular "Mystery of Irma Vep." If you have a theatre-savvy audience, check out two one-acts by Christopher Durang - "Medea" (a wacky send up of "Medea") and "For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls" (an outrageously funny parody of "The Glass Menagerie"). The two plays produced in one night make for an absolutely hysterical evening in the theatre - and both plays are directors' and actors' dreams - LOTS of opportunity for creativity and originality. |
Posted By: P&M Sales
Date Posted: 5/03/05 at 12:25pm
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If your board is doubly adventurous, we have a superb full-length play for two females in our catalogue. Called 'The Audition', it is modern, addresses current-day issues and pulls no punches. Synopsis How far will an actress go to get a part? How far does the Director need to push? A psychological drama exploring the relationship between Director and actress at an audition where the normal rules and etiquette have been dispensed with. A most unusual play. You can find more details in 'Plays', 'Two Act', on our website ... http://www.playsandmusicals.co.uk - www.playsandmusicals.co.uk ... and also download the first act to read at your leisure. The other part of the adventure? We're a British rights-holder and publisher. Dare to be different! regards David Sales Team |
Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 5/03/05 at 3:02pm
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"Talley's Folley" by Lanford Wilson is 2 person. (one
male - 40's, one female 30's) "The Middle Ages" by A.R. Gurnery is 4 person. (2 male, 2 female aging from teens to senior citizens) Both are single set with no changes. ------------- "None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone |
Posted By: Shanahan
Date Posted: 5/04/05 at 11:34am
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If you're looking for a new piece, please check out my latest romantic comedy, "One Before Forty." 3 men, 2 women, and a very simple set. Excerpt online at http://shanahan.netfirms.com/plays.htm |
Posted By: Juliet
Date Posted: 5/18/05 at 4:07pm
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There's an uncommon serious play called "kindertransport," that i did lasty october. The cast calls for two teens three women, and one man, and it's a difficult play, but it is amazing. It doesn't call for a big set, just an attic scene, but it calls for german and british accents from the adults and teens. |
Posted By: MoonlightFlame
Date Posted: 7/25/05 at 3:21pm
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Funny that someone mentioned Christopher Durang. I am currently Stage Managing one of his plays. It's a 2 person show called Laughing Wild. It's great, I love it! Our run time is about 2:10... give or take. It's funny, but for some people it may be a bit edgy. It does deal with some sensitive issues, (homosexuality, religion, etc) However, it's very funny! Ashlie |
Posted By: Shatcher
Date Posted: 7/25/05 at 3:54pm
| There is a great play called A Walk In The Woods. It is 2 men an american and a russian diplomat. the play follows these men through several meetings. 2 great parts for guys and 1 easy set: tree and bench |
Posted By: MoonlightFlame
Date Posted: 7/26/05 at 2:30pm
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Oh, other small play, also by Christopher Durang, called Beyond Therapy. It's a 4 person cast, and very funny.
Ashlie |
Posted By: charlz
Date Posted: 7/26/05 at 4:49pm
| Proof by David Auburn. 4 people, one unit set. |
Posted By: dougb
Date Posted: 7/27/05 at 11:25am
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"Art" 3 men "Love Letters" 1 man, 1 woman "Valley Song" 1 older man, 1 teenaged girl "The Gin Game" 1 man, 1 woman "Sylvia" 2 men, 2 women "Chapter Two" 2 men, 2 women "Dining with Friends" 2 men, 2 women "Over the River and Through the Woods" 3 men, 3 women "Last Train to Nibrock" 1 man, 1 woman Any of the Neil Simon "Suites" - Plaza Suite, California Suite, London Suite, Hotel Suite For a musical look at "Always, Patsy Cline" 2 women I have directed or been involved with all of these and can vouch for them. |
Posted By: charlz
Date Posted: 7/27/05 at 2:13pm
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And one more.....
Visiting Mr. Green by Jeff Baron This is a 2 person cast. |
Posted By: pauliebonn
Date Posted: 7/29/05 at 12:13am
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Murder at the Howard Johnson is an excellent 3 person cast The Gin game is a cast of 2 Love Letters is a good show, and has 2 people in the cast Could always go w/ waiting for Godot |
Posted By: bernster74
Date Posted: 3/25/06 at 1:04pm
| This is an old thread but I have to put in my vote for Three Viewings. Three people. Three 30-minute monologues. A set that can be as artistic and full or minimal and spare as you like. Audiences love this show. It has comedy. It has drama. The actors speak to the audience. It's a one of a kind. It's what I would call an edgy piece if you're used to doing all Neil Simon all the time, but if the tone matches what you are looking for, don't delay. |
Posted By: CruiseM
Date Posted: 3/27/06 at 5:45pm
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SEPARATE BEDS is a laugh out loud romantic comedy for 2 actors who play 4 people. The audiences love it. Email me if you are interested in receiving a script. mailto:mjcruise@cogeco.ca - mjcruise@cogeco.ca
------------- MJ |
Posted By: red diva
Date Posted: 5/16/06 at 3:05pm
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How about :
'Night, Mother (2F) Agnes of God (3F) That Championship Season (5M) Death and the Maiden (2M,1F) (admittedly not knee-slappers, but quality, challenging pieces) ------------- "I've worked long and hard to earn the right to be called Diva!" |
Posted By: John Luzaich
Date Posted: 3/07/08 at 12:29pm
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One of the great small cast (5) comedies rarely seen is Here Lies Jeremy Troy. ------------- John cfct@cfu.net http://www.osterregent.org http://www.facebook.com/osterregent |
Posted By: theatreforlife
Date Posted: 3/08/08 at 5:42pm
Our drama department just starred at state as a one-act with Proof. Also, we've done Two Rooms, which is 2 female, 2 male. Starred at State with that one too
 ------------- Being in theatre is very similar to be being unemployed. |
Posted By: tdsands
Date Posted: 3/14/08 at 11:45pm
|
"Rounding Third" by Richard Dresser 2 men Norm Foster plays;
"Here on the Flightpath" 1 man 3 women
"Looking" 2 men 2 women
"The Foursome 4 men
------------- tdsands @ NRT |
Posted By: stockhamlj
Date Posted: 3/15/08 at 7:39pm
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An excellent 2-character play that falls within the "Love Letters" genre is Robert Yowell's "Montana Love Story." The two characters are American artist Charles Russell and his wife. Robert Yowell is the director of theatre at Northern Arizona University. You can reach him there.
Another excellent small cast play is Terrance Rattigan's "The Deep Blue Sea," as well as Noel Cowards' "Private Lives." ------------- Linda Stockham |
Posted By: Ogreking4
Date Posted: 3/18/08 at 11:26am
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I particularly like Neil Simon's "Star-Spangled Girl".... Quite funny. |
Posted By: Carol
Date Posted: 3/23/08 at 6:32pm
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Current favourite is Neil Simon's "I ought to be in Pictures" - which I guess that I'm currently still directing with the Kincardine theatre guild. We just won the Western Ontario Drama League festival, and are taking it to the Theatre Ontario festival in May.
It's cast is 1 male Herb (large role) (about 45), female Steffy(smaller role)(about 39), female Libby(large role) (about 19).
At the WODL festival we won Best ensemble, my young actress(18) won Outstanding performance by an Actress in a major Role, "Herb" was nominated for best actor, "Steffy" for best newcomer, we won Outstanding visual presentation, and I won best director.
It's a great show - lots of depth when you get into it, and we had them laughing and then crying the next minute. It may not read the best, but it plays beautifully!!
|
Posted By: Carol
Date Posted: 3/23/08 at 8:45pm
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OOPS - when I reread the post it sounded kind of stuck-up. Sorry! I'm just really excited.....and proud of the team... It is a great show..... |
Posted By: theatremonkey
Date Posted: 6/04/08 at 2:25pm
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driving miss daisy
there goes the bride
lend me a tenor ------------- theatre monkey |
Posted By: stockhamlj
Date Posted: 6/06/08 at 4:26pm
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"Love Letters" and "Montana Love Story" are great two-character plays. (You can get a copy of MLS through the playwright Robert Yowell at Northern Arizona University's Department of Theatre.) For 5 characters or less, Noel Coward has a few. I do, too. Some are listed on the Doollee Website at http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsS/stockham-linda.html
------------- Linda Stockham |