Her memory is jogged by the fact that she and her four siblings are in their fathers hospital room during his final moments. Almost, Maine has one of the most unusual stories of any contemporary play. Its 1906, and Sholem Asch has just finished writing the shocking God of Vengeance, a play Yiddish play about the love affair between two women. Glorie is tense, unhappy and guilt-ridden, her only child having been killed in an auto accident when she was driving. Between day drinking and teenage drama, everything is going off the rails. When Franklins mother arrives, full of disapproval, conflict ensues. Despite its epic title, God of Carnage revolves around a schoolyard conflict between two boys. Christopher, who is somewhere on the autism spectrum (the story doesnt give a clear diagnosis), is determined to solve the mystery. Stage Kiss by Sarah Ruhl (US/UK)(Comedy / 3f, 4m)Art imitates Life. She became a central figure in the Berlin gay community. Playwrights: Theresa Rebeck, Alexandra Gersten-VassilarosLicensing: Concord Theatricals. Brothers Lincoln and Booth yes, the names are intentional are just trying to stay afloat after a challenging upbringing. As the little teenage sister of the king, her identity doesn't end there. Quinn, a former soldier in the Irish Republican Army, receives a menacing visit from an IRA leader. Acting scripts for two actors. Because it feels like this is Wendy Wasserstein's bag. The storytelling is abstract, so it requires some concentration; get a sense of the vibe here. Single Black Female 9. Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl (US/UK)(Dramatic Comedy / 2f, 5m)Dying too young on her wedding day, Eurydice must journey to the underworld, where she reunites with her father and struggles to remember her lost love. Role of women in The Merchant of Venice. Contemporary romance with a strong, independent female/ heroine, established in her life and in a strong and successful career or self-employed. Will her nana get arrested or worse evicted? A wacky and heartrending look at the effect of senility on a family. As an accountant in Ohio with two children, few would expect her life to be inordinately intricate or moving. "The American Plan" is a comedy by Richard Greenberg that premiered Off-Broadway in 1991 and had a brief Broadway run in 2009, starring Mercedes Ruehl and Lily Rabe. Its shortly after 9/11, and an eclectic assortment of guests has gathered for a Manhattan dinner party. As he perfects his recipe, the chaos of his chosen and biological family swirls around him in the kitchen. Two nuns, a priest, and the mother of a young student tell the story of potential abuse and the doubt that surrounds the accusation. Through the use of virtual reality video game therapy, she builds a breathtaking new world where she can escape her pain. In a truly remarkable feat, Suzan-Lori Parks wrote one play every day for a full year. The ingenue has her time and place, but womens stories extend beyond tales of young innocents. Its decidedly uncomfortable; when it played on Broadway, many audience members simply left the theater. Martin needs names, names like film legends Sylvia Glenn and Leatrice Monsee, for the leads. Playwright: Yasmina Reza (translator: Christopher Hampton) Licensing: Dramatists Play Service 17. A remarkably independent woman, Janie Crawford's strength is in her ability to keep on going, no matter what her life throws at her, and to uphold her dignity throughout. Life imitates Art. Photo: 2018 Playwrights Horizons . Akeelah - Akeelah and the Bee Tweens will love this inspiring drama about a champion speller. The landscape of modern theater is expansive and often bizarre; you never know what youre going to stumble upon. In fact, it won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2002. War Horse is about you guessed it a horse that goes to war. Sharp and more than a little cynical, this fast-paced contemporary comedic play stands out in any theatrical season. Playwright: Richard BeanLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. Civil war is raging in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Mama Nadi is trying to keep her head above water. Mrs. Danvers (Judith Anderson), Rebecca (1940) A warning to second wives and new girlfriends about the importance of tossing out all things and people belonging to your predecessor. What Francis doesnt realize is that the real Roscoe is dead hes actually working for Roscoes sister, Rachel, whos pretending to be her brother. The boys are left to contend with Grandma, with Bella and her secret romance, and with Louie, her brother, a small-time hoodlum in a strange new world called Yonkers. The Zimbabwean-American writes stories about strong women and has won an Obie, Outer Critics Circle Award, Sam Norkin Award and a Tony nomination for the work she's done. His best known works include "Alcestis" , "Medea" , "Hecuba" , "The Trojan Women" and "The Bacchae" , as well as "Cyclops" , the only complete satyr play (an ancient Greek form of tragicomedy, similar to the modern-day burlesque style) known to survive. With contemporary characters, ingenious plot twists, and breathtaking visual effects, the play is a fresh look at a timeless love story. Push through the discomfort, and its not hard to see why this play was a runner-up for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2009. Playwright: Doug WrightLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. Their creativity, depth, and characters have set a new standard for playwrights for generations to come. This beautiful young woman is Wills greatest admirer and will stop at nothing (including breaking the law) to appear in his next play. A savagely funny drama featuring a glorious ensemble of Judy Garland hits and infused with the glamour and the melancholy of stardom. It's on top of my to-read pile, so this is a big of a blind recommendation but I think Simon Stephens'. Whether he is inventing the alphabet or merely saving the world from apocalypse, George and his redoubtable family somehow manage to by the skin of their teeth. SBF 1, an English literature professor, and SBF 2, a corporate lawyer, keep each other balanced as they face their fears of rejection, hopes for romance, and reminisce about black girlhood wounds. Painting Churches 4. Okoye "Black Panther" (2018) Image via Marvel Studios. Its not at all preachy; after speaking out publicly, DHH himself ends up making a poor casting choice and finding a creative way to deal with the consequences. Paul just doesnt understand Corie, as she sees it. Stage Kiss captures Sarah Ruhls singular voice. The premise of The Hot Wing King is simple; Cordell is out to win an annual hot wing competition in Memphis. The power of the writing was clear from the start; August: Osage County won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for drama and ran for nearly two years on Broadway. Shes worked twice as hard to get where she is and wants to take over the agency that she's helped build. What is the competition? 1. Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood by Adam Szymkowicz (US/UK)(Comedy / 4f, 4m, 6 any gender)A gender-bending, patriarchy-smashing, hilarious new take on a classic tale. 9. Women during 16th century had no individual freedom. When Annie tries to make good on her promise to her friends, she is forced to take a good look at the world that surrounds her. When a new "hysterical" patient and her husband bring a wet nurse and their own complicated relationship into the doctor's home, Dr. and Mrs. Givings must examine the nature of their own marriage, and what it truly means to love someone. If you have the chance, catch a live production; its gripping, even in the hands of non-professionals. Teamwork, courage, loyalty, compassion, generosity, and perseverance are just a few of the traits that make Hermione such a memorable and beloved character. Playwright: Nilo CruzLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. But when her beloved son suddenly turns up with an ambitious Reaganite girlfriend and a shocking new conservative world view, Hester must choose between preserving her family and defending the causes she's spent her whole life fighting for. Manage Settings The result is a curious patchwork of sketches and scenes it works best when you accept the unusual form and enjoy the ride. 18. Well, they're all played by women! One Man, Two Guvnors premiered in 2011, but it was originally conceived in 1743. The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion (US)(Drama / 1f) In this dramatic adaptation of her award-winning, bestselling memoir (which The New York Times called "an indelible portrait of loss and griefa haunting portrait of a four-decade-long marriage), Joan Didion transforms the story of the sudden and unexpected loss of her husband and their only daughter into a stunning and powerful one-woman play. Stage Kiss captures Sarah Ruhls singular voice. Its largely a one-woman show playwright Heidi Schreck performed in the original productions that examines issues that face women. The fight must go on. When the parents meet, purportedly to resolve the issue, the discussion devolves into madness. Perhaps the good-natured sweetness and innocent enthusiasm that radiates from each of the 11 vignette-style love stories. Robin Hood is (and has always been) Maid Marian in disguise, and leads a motley group of Merry Men (few of whom are actually men) against the greedy Prince John. After he casually comes out as gay at a press conference, Lemming believes everything will be fine. Like Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes. Poverty is a popular topic for modern playwrights in Sweat, Lynn Nottage follows this trend, examining the lives of a group of struggling blue-collar workers in Reading Pennsylvania. Set at a boys school in England, the plot follows a group of students as they prepare for exams, learning about the ramifications of history and the realities of life along the way. Bunny 10. The show was a smash hit when it premiered in Portland in 2004, but when it transferred to the off-Broadway Daryl Roth Theatre in 2006, it lasted just one month. X-23 (Dafne Keen) in Logan. Rabbit Hole explores the crushing effects of grief on a family. Its an intense, uncomfortable look at the way women are treated, both in this sort-of futuristic place, but also in our modern world. Best Contemporary Monologues for Women 18-35 Lawrence Harbison has selected 100 terrific monologues for women from contemporary plays, all by characters between the ages of 18 and 35. Looking for more? [229] 25. Written by multiple award-winning playwright Jane Shepard. He wants to sell an old piano that has been in his family for generations, but he shares ownership with his sister and it sits in her living room. Will Martin be able to resolve this titanic dilemma? If you love sports and controversy doesnt hurt to love British football, too Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads is an interesting contemporary read. Lucy is characterized as a "fussbudget", crabby, [1] [2] bossy and opinionated girl who bullies most other characters in . Lost in Yonkers by Neil Simon (US/UK)(Dramatic Comedy / 3f, 4m)Bella is thirty-five years old, mentally challenged, and living at home with her mother, stern Grandma Kurnitz. Only a lot of the plays being suggested in this thread are twenty or thirty years old! Three interracial couples attend an Antebellum Sexual Performance Therapy workshop at the McGregor Plantation. Its set in 2000, but the story rings disconcertingly true for modern day. He was known as a modern playwright because he wrote with realism, and had a doubtful way of portraying the gods in his plays. A girl is missing in a dystopian city. There's Jekyll and Hyde, which has two major female parts (Lucy and Emma) plus several smaller ones (Lady Beaconsfield and another prostitute whose name I can't remember.) (In some cases, "allegedly" strong female characters -- see criticisms below.) It's set in a 1950s Soho night club, but feels nothing like the period pieces you're used to. These plays serve as the very best examples of what drama should be. Then comes Act 2 the action begins again, this time observed and commented on by a group of white characters. Best Modern Plays. She uses her sexuality, she taunts him and mocks his lack of courage. The wildest part about the story is that its based in fact. Top image courtesy A.D. Players at the George under CC BY-ND 2.0. Is the subject matter one that deserves to be enshrined in play? The racist, xenophobic, and misogynist dialogue is uncomfortably familiar. Alive with the sounds and colors of a remarkable country, this bittersweet comedy of mischievous matchmaking raises provocative questions about love, friendship, family, and what it means to be ready to be a parent. Women playwrights have always been an important creative force in Scottish this was a woman writer breaking taboos and removing her female characters repetition and fragmentation to show the women's dislocation from modern world. . A play about ambition, growing up, and how to find our souls in the heat of it all. . The Flick is a monster of a play; it runs for 3 hours. With humor and hope, the play examines how the entertainment industry has dealt with issues of race. Bad Jews by Joshua Harmon (US/UK)(Comedy / 2f, 2m)The night after their grandfathers funeral, three cousins engage in a verbal (and sometimes physical) battle. My Fair Lady 11. Euripides's plays had women as the main character because he had a sympathetic way of portraying women. At the dress rehearsal the set falls, props break, and the producer and an actor are murdered. Check out these 30 titles featuring strong women ranging in age, temperament and position. He loved wine, women, and song, with a . Baby Taj by Tanya Shaffer (US)(Comedy/ 6f, 5m)The legendary Taj Mahal is the next assignment for Rachel, an American travel writer whose failed romances have led her to ask: Why not have the baby she craves on her own? When her deceased husbands insurance money comes through, Mama Lena dreams of moving to a new home and a better neighborhood in Chicago. She describes her role as a socialist Zionist, her emigration to Palestine in 1921, the birth of her two children and the breakup of her marriage. Playwright: Gina GionfriddoLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. Its not uplifting the characters anger and bitterness jump off the page but its certainly illuminating. The Piano Lesson by August Wilson (US/UK)(Drama / 3f, 5m)It is 1936, and Boy Willie arrives in Pittsburgh from the South in a battered truck loaded with watermelons to sell. Energetic and fast-paced, this modern play follows CEO Jeffrey Skilling through the companys wild rise and fall. Unfortunately, because of copyright restrictions, we cannot sell to persons in your country. Its exactly as crushing as you might imagine, but its not without a note of hope. Oedipus isnt the central figure; instead, the story focuses on Mellie, a woman with a disability that has alienated the gods and the town of Thebes. The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? The Waverly Gallery by Kenneth Lonergan (US/UK)(Comedy / 2f, 3m)Gladys, the elderly matriarch of the Green family, has run an art gallery in a small Greenwich Village hotel for many years. Always irascible but now increasingly erratic, Gladys is a cause of concern to her daughter, her son-in-law, and her grandson, from whose point of view this poignant memory play is told. Cited by many as the first feminist Western, Joan Crawford in the role of the saloon-owning Vienna presents a very strong female, to the degree that it confuses the men around her. Set in 16 th -century Verona, the story centres around two young lovers whose families hate each other, and as you can imagine, it really doesn't . Premiered in 2011, but womens stories extend beyond tales of young.! Check out these 30 titles featuring strong women ranging in age, temperament and position begins again, time! 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