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Author Topic: Plays for Theater  (Read 5886 times)

Saiokuo

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Plays for Theater
« on: 07 Feb 2008, 20:36 »

First let me apologize if this is in the wrong area but 'movies, tv shows, and books' seemed the closest match.
Basically, I'm beginning a long term assignment in tech theater where we are picking a play and designing every aspect of the production from props and set down to costumes and makeup. Since we aren't putting it on we can pick a play as large or small, detailed or simple as we want. The only catch is it can't be a musical.
Most of the plays I have seen and enjoyed are musicals so I'm at a loss for what to do; and so I come to you for advice. I'd perfer a play thats more fantasical and not a time period piece; Some I've looked at including Dracula, Sleeping Beauty, Brothers Grimm, etc.
Thanks in advance for any and all help.
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Dimmukane

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Re: Plays for Theater
« Reply #1 on: 07 Feb 2008, 20:59 »

I think a Dracula musical would be great.  Even better:  The Dunwich Horror musical.
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Saiokuo

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Re: Plays for Theater
« Reply #2 on: 07 Feb 2008, 21:01 »

Erm, the problem is that I can't do a musical. A dracula musical would be amazing however.
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Dimmukane

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Re: Plays for Theater
« Reply #3 on: 07 Feb 2008, 21:11 »

Still...I think doing The Dunwich Horror could be fun.  Any Discworld novel would be great for plays.  Fantastical and relevant.
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singeivoire

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Re: Plays for Theater
« Reply #4 on: 08 Feb 2008, 07:58 »

This is a bit of a pickle - most of the well-written plays I'm familiar with are period peices: The Man Who Came to Dinner and The Glass Menagerie being personal favorites. The few fantasy plays I've seen or participated in have been real stinkers - a horrid adaptation of Beauty and the Beast comes to mind (shudders at memory).

Of course, if quality of writing isn't an issue with you, just pick up a catalog for Samuel French and you could find any number of possibilities. The online catalog can be found here: http://www.samuelfrench.com/store/index.php

For fantasitical, non-musical, non-craptastic plays, you may have to go back to Shakespeare. I once did a Tech Theatre project on A Midsummer Night's Dream that turned out really well. That would present a number of fun makeup issues at the very least...

I'll keep an eye out for other options!
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celticgeek

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Re: Plays for Theater
« Reply #5 on: 08 Feb 2008, 08:36 »

For something that is truly a challenge, I suggest Tamara, by John Krizanc.  As long as you don't have to actually produce it, it would be fun, I think.

http://business.nmsu.edu/~dboje/tamara/whatistamara.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamara_(play)
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michaelicious

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Re: Plays for Theater
« Reply #6 on: 08 Feb 2008, 09:02 »

Krapp's Last Tape
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ThePQ4

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Re: Plays for Theater
« Reply #7 on: 08 Feb 2008, 13:47 »

Weeeeeelll...It doesn't really fit your criteria, but...
EQUUS!

Even the most crappy play can be made great with the right cast. Check out Samuel French, like was suggested. There are some others, if you just look around the internet, if tyou can't find what you're looking for.
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Doug S. Machina

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Re: Plays for Theater
« Reply #8 on: 08 Feb 2008, 15:30 »

Krapp's Last Tape

I second this. It's a one man play by Samuel Beckett.

Still...I think doing The Dunwich Horror could be fun.  Any Discworld novel would be great for plays.  Fantastical and relevant.

Discworld is the answer. (Is Discworld always the answer?) Several of the Discworld books have been adapted into plays by Steven Briggs, as Google shows us here. They've been performed quite a lot too.
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Trillian

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Re: Plays for Theater
« Reply #9 on: 08 Feb 2008, 16:11 »

Man and Superman by George Bernard Shaw

or

The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marygolds.

I have yet to see either of those performed to my liking and I wish someone would get busy and do it already.  :(
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Cartilage Head

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Re: Plays for Theater
« Reply #10 on: 08 Feb 2008, 16:35 »

I always thought Kevin Smith's Clerks would work well on stage.
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Doug S. Machina

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Re: Plays for Theater
« Reply #11 on: 09 Feb 2008, 02:30 »

I always thought Kevin Smith's Clerks would work well on stage.

Oh yeah. I can see that.


The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marygolds.


The what?

I think the old Lucasarts game Day Of The Tentacle has promise. Something of a challenge, though. Stick to Clerks.
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Saiokuo

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Re: Plays for Theater
« Reply #12 on: 09 Feb 2008, 09:54 »

Thanks for all the ideas; I've actually heard of a few of them (like Equus) from my teacher. The rest I'm looking into.
Thanks again.
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MusicScribbles

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Re: Plays for Theater
« Reply #13 on: 09 Feb 2008, 10:17 »

Try Rhinoceros or maybe Tales of the Los Formicans.
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Joybee

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Re: Plays for Theater
« Reply #14 on: 11 Feb 2008, 17:08 »

The clumsy custard horror show would be fun of your specialty is props or costumes. It's also such a funny play, we wanted to write our own sequel but we never got a reply back from the people who owned the rights.
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singeivoire

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Re: Plays for Theater
« Reply #15 on: 12 Feb 2008, 07:02 »

OOH - I had forgotten about Clumsy Custard - it's good times. I reccommend. Terribly fun and silly.

Also, Gamma Rays is a good show. I second that one as well. It is not, however, really a fantasy play. You could get creative with it, but it's a family drama above all else.
« Last Edit: 12 Feb 2008, 07:09 by singeivoire »
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MusicScribbles

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Re: Plays for Theater
« Reply #16 on: 12 Feb 2008, 13:24 »

Turn Of The Screw is pretty fun, and so are a lot of Pinter plays.
Also, I meant Tales of the Lost Formicans. I just caught the mistake now.
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HellStorm

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Re: Plays for Theater
« Reply #17 on: 22 Feb 2008, 10:31 »

Chicago =D
I love that
Or does it have to be like a book or whatever to adapt?
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flauntit

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Re: Plays for Theater
« Reply #18 on: 22 Feb 2008, 23:55 »

I don't think this really fits what you're looking for, but it's worth a try.  I was involved in a play called Adaptation this fall.  It's a one act play by Elaine May.  The idea behind it is really interesting.  I loved it!
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Mako

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Re: Plays for Theater
« Reply #19 on: 01 Mar 2008, 03:23 »

Being an actor myself, one of the easiest to work with actually, believe it or not, is SHAKESPEARE.

Mid Summers Night Dream is a fantastic/witty play. Much Ado About Nothing is also great. Im actually perorming that play in the spring at my highschool.

Cant go wrong with King Lear either.
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