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Drama
Short, 45-50 minutes
5 females, 6 males, 5 either
(7-36 actors possible: 3-18 females, 4-18 males)
$40.00 per performance; $7.99 per book
An emotional journey into the hearts and souls of Hurricane Katrina's survivors, THE KATRINA PROJECT: Hell and High Water is based on actual interviews, collected stories, and found texts, providing a voice for the greatest natural disaster in our country's recorded history. The play follows a diverse group of characters as they reflect on and experience the devastation, heartbreak, anger, and, ultimately, hope of the thousands affected by the Category 5 storm. (All royalties from THE KATRINA PROJECT: Hell and High Water will be donated to hurricane relief charities.)
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Drama
Full-length, 100-110 minutes
7 females, 4 males (11-24 actors possible: 7-12 females, 4-12 males)
$75.00 per performance; $8.99 per book
Under the guidance of their beloved mother, the four young March sisters -- tempestuous Jo, motherly Meg, shy Beth, and spoiled baby Amy -- struggle to keep their family going while Father's away in the Civil War. In this beautifully dramatized adaptation of the classic novel, even as privation, illness, and sibling rivalry cast their shadows, each girl strives to find her true self. (A one-act version of this play is also available.)
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| "The story, as revealed in Chamberlain's deft adaptation, is a warm tale of love, family, and individuality during the American Civil War." |
| --Peter Vaughan, Minneapolis Star and Tribune |
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Play with Music
Full-length, 85-95 minutes
5 females, 6 males (10-18 actors possible: 5-10 females, 5-10 males)
$8.99 per book
Other prices can be calculated by clicking "More Info"
In this beautifully haunting play based on Edgar Lee Masters' Spoon River Anthology, the former residents of Spoon River examine life and the longing for what might have been. As the citizens reflect on the dreams, secrets, and regrets of their lives, they paint a gritty and honest portrait of the town as all of their pasts are illuminated.
For more information, visit the playwright's page for The Spoon River Project.
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| "We may live in a very different world than that of Spoon River, but Masters' truths about the human condition are eternal. The Spoon River Project delivers them with love, care, and rich, enveloping atmosphere. To paraphrase Sally Durant Plummer, I'm so glad I went." |
| --Erik Haagensen, Backstage (Critics' Pick) |
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Comedy
Full-length, 100-110 minutes
12 females, 10 males, 3 either
(18-30 actors possible: 10-20 females, 8-18 males)
$75.00 per performance; $8.99 per book
It's 1961, and ordinary teenager Jane Doe is drafted by the CIA to become a super-secret secret agent. Her mission? Infiltrate an American high school to locate a Russian spy about to send classified space program information to the USSR. But it's not easy being undercover, especially when your spy family consists of a femme fatale "mom," a 40-year-old "younger brother," and the most dashingly narcissistic "dad" ever. Add that to obnoxious fellow students, a blatantly sexist curriculum, and the horror that is prom, and you've got a mission that might be impossible.
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Comedy
Short, 25-35 minutes
15 either (8-100 actors possible: 0-100 females, 0-100 males)
$35.00 per performance; $7.99 per book
Note to self: it's not easy being a teenager. With the help of a rhyming chorus, ten teenagers bring their inner monologues to life in a series of hilarious and candid vignettes. From a cyber-stalking mom and a texting-related fender bender, to a turbocharged caffeine buzz in band class and a run-in with Elvis, it turns out that high school might not be such a breeze after all. These students quickly figure out that the notes they pass in class pale in comparison to the mental notes they make for themselves!
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Drama
Full-length, 90-100 minutes
4 females, 4 males (8-30 actors possible: 4-15 females, 4-15 males)
$75.00 per performance; $8.99 per book
This is the heroic and true story of children coming of age in Terezin, the "Jewish city" established by the Nazis near Prague as a way station before the death camps. In the face of unspeakable horror, these children use their determination and creativity to build lives filled with hope and beauty -- playing, studying, making art, and writing an underground newspaper -- all at the peril of being executed. Their actual poems and stories are woven into a fast-paced drama, evoking the universality of children caught in the insanity of war.
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| "[And a Child Shall Lead] not only sheds light on this dark camp, it's also relevant to modern conflicts around the world." |
| --Christopher Stollar, Bend Bulletin (Oregon) |
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It's a Wonderful Life adapted by Doug Rand
from the screenplay by Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra, and Jo Swerling |
 
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Comedy/Drama
Full-length, 90-110 minutes
18 females, 18 males, 15 either
(20-70 actors possible: 6-35 females, 5-35 males)
$75.00 per performance; $8.99 per book
This faithful, fast-moving stage adaptation of the classic film features fluid scene changes, reasonable set requirements, and scores of beefy roles, particularly for women. It's not only a joyful Christmas tale -- it's the gorgeous love story of George and Mary Bailey, a vivid portrait of the Greatest Generation, a descent into the darkest hour of a man trapped by circumstance, and a powerful meditation on what makes a meaningful life.
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Comedy/drama/experimental/political/historic
Full-length, 105-115 minutes
5 either (5-158 actors possible: 0-158 females, 0-158 males)
$75.00 per performance; $9.99 per book
44 Plays For 44 Presidents is a chronological, biographical survey of the lives and presidencies of each of the 44 men who have held the office so far. Their mistakes and successes are celebrated by a company of actors who take turns donning a star-spangled coat that symbolizes the presidency. Beginning with George Washington's almost Eden-like perfection, the scenes shift frequently between the comic and the tragic, from Ben Franklin giving Thomas Jefferson a Borscht Belt-style roast, to the frank portrayal of William Henry Harrison's life as an "Indian slayer," and later the grim onset of the Civil War. Act II starts off the twentieth century with the assassination of William McKinley, moves through a Nixon-praising dance number, a George Bush Sr. mini-musical about dirty campaigning and arrives at a polarized America in both the George W. Bush and Barack Obama plays. Audience members consider their role in shaping the history they've just witnessed, as they are left to ponder where the presidency has gone since its fall from paradise...and where it will go next.
NEWLY UPDATED!
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| "HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: They definitely are on to something in this zany, clever, ambitious and often surprisingly moving historical catalogue." |
| --Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun Times |
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Irena's Vow by Dan Gordon
based on the life of Irena Gut Opdyke |
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Drama
Full-length, 95-100 minutes
4 females, 6 males (10-23 actors possible: 4-16 females, 6-17 males)
$75.00 per performance; $8.99 per book
Through the eyes of a strong-willed woman comes the remarkable true story of Irena Gut Opdyke and the triumphs of the human spirit over devastating tragedy. 19-year-old Irena Gut is promoted to housekeeper in the home of a highly respected Nazi officer when she finds out that the Jewish ghetto is about to be liquidated. Determined to help twelve Jewish workers, she decides to shelter them in the safest place she can think of: the basement of the German commandant's house. Over the next two years, Irena uses her wit, humor, and courage to hide her friends until the end of the German occupation, concealing them in the midst of countless Nazi parties, a blackmail scheme, and even the birth of a child. Her story is one of the most inspiring of our time.
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| "The emotions this stage biography stirs in theatergoers are genuine, a testament to the bravery and tenacity of the woman whose real-life story is being told. Irena's Vow serves as a compelling, heartfelt reminder of her incredible courage." |
| --Michael Kuchwara, Associated Press |
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Comedy
Short, 25-35 minutes
6 females, 4 males, 3 either
(10-22 actors possible: 6-12 females, 4-10 males)
$40.00 per performance; $7.99 per book
It's the morning of the dreaded history exam, and the whole class is on edge. When Mrs. Mangles finally shows up, the test she gives is anything but what her students prepared for. Does she really expect them to tell her what to do about her cheating husband, and can any of them possibly pass this test?
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Drama
Short, 40-45 minutes
10 females, 5 males, 2 either
(8-27 actors possible: 5-15 females, 3-12 males)
$40.00 per performance; $7.99 per book
From 1853 to 1929, The Orphan Trains Project joined adoptive parents with orphans in countless towns throughout the vast American landscape. Based on primary records from the Children's Aid Society of New York, Orphan Trains brings this compelling story of hardships and victories to life, resonating with the authentic voices of a diverse group of children.
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Drama
Short, 35-45 minutes
7 females, 4 males
$40.00 per performance; $7.99 per book
Under the guidance of their beloved mother, the four young March sisters -- tempestuous Jo, motherly Meg, shy Beth, and spoiled baby Amy -- struggle to keep their family going while Father's away in the Civil War. In this beautifully dramatized adaptation of the classic novel, even as privation, illness, and sibling rivalry cast their shadows, each girl strives to find her true self. (A full-length version of this play is also available.)
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| "American playwright Chamberlain has adapted the story flawlessly." |
| --Maclean's |
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Comedy
Short, 15-25 minutes
3 females, 3 males (5-6 actors possible: exactly 3 females, 2-3 males)
$40.00 per performance; $7.99 per book
A small cast attempts to produce a sprawling, historical, century-spanning epic play, in only fifteen minutes. Events start out silly and continue to unravel as our actors fight for the good roles and try to make sense of it all.
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| "A wonderfully camp look at American History." |
| --Paula Shulak, Community News (Hockessin, Delaware) |
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Drama for young audiences
Full-length, 100-120 minutes
13 females, 15 males (20-28 actors possible: 9-13 females, 11-15 males)
$75.00 per performance; $8.99 per book
World War Two. The Nazi Occupation of Poland. Dr. Janusz Korczak -- writer, educator, physician, and passionate advocate for children -- tries to keep the 200 Jewish boys and girls of his famed Warsaw orphanage alive and hopeful in the face of unbelievable deprivation and terror. In the horrible conditions of the Jewish Ghetto, Korczak does everything within his power to make sure his children are fed and clothed, cared for and safe. But there are rumors of a change in the ghetto. Tales of deportations to concentration camps are spreading. And Korczak knows time may be running out. Against the rules of the ghetto, he permits his orphans to stage a magical play -- The Post Office -- to teach them about the one adult subject he has not yet broached with them: death. As the play is rehearsed, the rumors become reality, and Korczak must decide who can be saved and who must go on the final journey together.
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| "Although the subject of Korczak is dark and painful, Hatcher's play is packed with the humor and vigor of children living in an enclosed world that feels separated from the darkness lapping around it...Korczak's Children is a timely and significant play for children old enough to grapple with the consequences of war and deep-seated prejudice." |
| --Elizabeth Weir, Talkin' Broadway |
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Dear Harvey by Patricia Loughrey
with music by Thomas Hodges |
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Drama
Full-length, 60-70 minutes
3 females, 4 males (7-21 actors possible: 3-10 females, 4-11 males)
$100.00 per performance; $8.99 per book
Extensively researched and beautifully constructed, this documentary-style ensemble play recounts the life and lasting impact of groundbreaking LGBT activist and politician Harvey Milk, as told by the people who knew him best. Spoken word combines with multimedia and music as an ensemble cast moves in and out of the identities of real-world figures whose lives were forever altered by Milk's too-short career. This spirited play reaffirms his impact and the continued relevance of his campaign towards equality, three decades after his assassination.
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Drama
Full-length, 107-115 minutes
6 females, 4 males (8-14 actors possible: 5-7 females, 3-7 males)
$75.00 per performance; $8.99 per book
An adaptation of Sabina Zimering's memoir, Hiding in the Open tells the true story of two Jewish sisters from Poland who assume false Catholic identities and work in a Nazi hotel during World War II. Living in constant fear of having their identities revealed, the sisters bravely face danger and the challenges of growing up while keeping their heritage a secret. Thrilling and heart-warming, this story of survival and teenage courage examines the bonds of family and human kindness in the face of great atrocities.
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| "A disturbing, true tale of double lives...demonstrates the power of truth-telling and the art that shapes it." |
| --Lisa Brock, Star Tribune (Minnesota) |
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| HA! by Rich Orloff |
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Comedy
Full-length, 100-120 minutes
2 females, 4 males (6-16 actors possible: 2-6 females, 3-10 males)
$75.00 per performance; $8.99 per book
NOTE: Book contains three one-act plays
HA! is a collection of Rich Orloff's three most popular one-act comedies, including Oedi (a spoof of Oedipus Rex), The News from St. Petersburg (a Chekhovian parody), and The Whole Shebang (which asks the question, "What if the entire universe was simply one student's science project?"). Together the three pieces create a hilarious full-length show. (Oedi, The News from St. Petersburg, and The Whole Shebang can also be purchased and performed separately.)
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| "Deliciously satisfying. Buoyant, funny and occasionally quite touching.
Somewhere between Mel Brooks and Christopher Durang lies the talented Rich Orloff, and the world is all the better for it." |
| --Theater Online |
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Theatrical documentary
Full-length, 120 minutes
5 females, 6 males (8-40 actors possible: 4-35 females, 4-36 males)
$75.00 per performance; $8.99 per book
Vietnam 101: The War on Campus is a documentary theater piece about one college community's journey during the Vietnam War years. Based on recollections of over one hundred students at Oberlin College in Ohio, the play recreates a time when people were asking the same questions that are being asked today about our government and our responsibilities. Combining monologues with Story Theater-type scenes, the play covers the years 1964 to 1970, from Lyndon Johnson's promise not to expand the war (and early, well-behaved protests) to Kent State (when the entire campus shut down), and finally an epilogue from the present.
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| "A thoughtful, impassioned look at one of the most divisive eras in American history. [The play] gives the audience a 'you are there' feel for the times." |
| --The Daily Sentinel (Colorado) |
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Comedy/Drama
Full-length, 120-135 minutes
3 females, 4 males
$100.00 per performance; $8.99 per book
In this hilarious, heartfelt sequel to Over the Tavern, the Pazinski family has left the conservative 1950s for the rebellious 1960s. But prior knowledge of this working-class family is not a prerequisite to appreciating their ongoing trials and triumphs. As Apollo 11 is about to land on the moon, the family gathers to honor their late father's memory, and they quickly become entangled in each others' problems -- Rudy is re-thinking the priesthood, Eddie is preparing for fatherhood and Vietnam, and Annie is contemplating divorce as their mother Ellen considers a new romance. There's rarely a quiet moment in the Pazinski household as they hurtle towards the next decade.
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| "Winces with pain and winks with joy. In its easy accessibility, this is a play that sometimes feels like an all-American musical comedy without the music." |
| --Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun Times |
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Trumbo
Red, White & Blacklisted
by Christopher Trumbo
based on the letters of Dalton Trumbo |
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Comedy/Drama
Full-length, 85-95 minutes
2 males
$75.00 per performance; $8.99 per book
When legendary screenwriter Dalton Trumbo stood up to the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947, he was thrown in prison and blacklisted as one of the "Hollywood Ten." Based on his brilliant and razor-sharp letters to friends, former friends, and family, Trumbo reveals how the author of Spartacus, Roman Holiday, and Exodus took on Congress, Hollywood, and the Red Scare -- and won.
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| "Positively sizzles with wit...sweet, sad and ultimately uplifting, Trumbo is a great history lesson and a reminder that, many years ago, people wrote letters, and, on occasion, the craft of those letters ascended to art." |
| --Variety |
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