playS and MuSicalS - Contemporary Drama Service

Shakespeare’s Got Talent!
by LAVINIA ROBERTS
A parody of “America’s Got Talent”
Cast: 8F, 8M, 13 M or F (13 with doubling)
Playing time: About 40 minutes
Complete playkit with 10 scripts and
rights to reproduce copies: $22.95
Order #R-P1788
Shakespeare
New!
Shakespeare’s characters come to life in this TV talent
show parody! Hosted by Puck, the mischievous fairy from
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the Fool,
Shakespeare’s characters are silly and humorous when
seen from a contemporary perspective. The judges, King
Duncan, Romeo, and Portia (Brutus’ wife) are even funnier.
Hamlet mocks and threatens the judges, but is challenged
to a pillow fight by Laertes. Macbeth’s three witches refuse
to be voted off stage and predict that Macbeth will become
a judge. Soon after, King Duncan disappears. MacDuff
wants to fight Macbeth to the death with rubber chickens.
None of the contestants are able to finish their acts, so the
hosts and judges do their own dance act and vote
themselves the winners. A fun and entertaining way to
introduce students to Shakespeare. Easy to perform in the
classroom or on stage. One scene, minimal costumes and
props.
Shakespeare’s
Romeo and Juliet
by ROBERT HEROLD
An adaptation of Shakespeare’s
classic for student performance
Cast: 21 to 35 roles, mixed (doubling possible)
Playing time: About 90 minutes
Performance rights for stage or classroom
granted with purchase of 15 or more scripts.
Order #R-R128 Script: $5.95
This modern English adaptation provides a literate and
exciting introduction to Shakespeare. No other play
deals better with the universal concerns of youth:
romantic love, physical desire, conflicts with civil
authorities, impulsive behavior, gangs, honor,
depression and suicide. A bare stage can be enough for
this play of action. Costumes and props can also be
simple. Production notes explain staging and
discussion possibilities for this play, Shakespearean
theatre, suicide and related topics. Shortened and
simplified language makes this version an excellent text
for classroom use.
Shakespeare’s
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
by DR. CAROLYN HARPER
A shortened version of Shakespeare’s
most popular comedy
Cast: 22 players, mixed, plus
optional number of fairies
Playing time: About 90 minutes, 1 act
Performance rights for stage or classroom
granted with purchase of 15 or more scripts.
Order #R-R151 Script: $5.95
Twelfth Night
adapted by CHERYL CAPSHAW
A student’s version of Shakespeare’s
delightful situation comedy
Cast: 10F, 8M
Playing time: About 60 minutes, 2 acts
Performance rights for stage or classroom
granted with purchase of 15 or more scripts.
Order #R-R292 Script: $5.95
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The rollicking good fun of Shakespeare’s famous
comedy remains though a narrator serves to simplify the
lengthy original. Puck’s play-within-a-play and his cast of
silly fellows provide delightful stage action to accompany
the magical mixed-up love affairs of Lysander and
Hermea and Demetrius and Helena. A fast-moving
adaptation that keeps the flavor of Elizabethan dialog but
without confusion or loss of meaning. The cast may be
tailored to suit the availability of performers. The fairies
may be as few as four actors or expanded to many. Most
of the parts can optionally be male or female. Costumes
and staging may be easily simplified as written.
(also available as a one act musical on page 12)
Mistaken identities and mixed-up love affairs!
Shakespeare was more than a writer of beautiful
dialog – he made audiences laugh with comical stage
action, too. Two narrators make this delightful two-act
comedy shorter and more manageable. After a
shipwreck, twins Olivia and Sebastian wash up on the
shore of Illyria. Each thinks the other perished. Viola
disguises herself as a man and becomes the favorite of
Duke Orsino and Countess Olivia. The Duke wants to
marry the Countess, but she prefers Cesario (Viola’s
disguised male identity). Later, Sebastian arrives, and
no one knows who anyone is! Add to this many
hilarious buffoon characters, and you’ll see why this
farce is another Shakespeare classic. Simplified staging
possible.