(Or, if Ben Brantley is to be believed, lucid to the point of simple-mindedness. When youre in the right headspace, its a rich and rewarding journey. Theater has always been a sign of the times and we are living through an unprecedented period of social awakening and unrest. Agnes of God by John Pielmeier (US/UK)(Drama/ 3f)Summoned to a convent, Dr. Martha Livingstone, a court-appointed psychiatrist, is charged with assessing the sanity of a novice accused of murdering her newborn. Written by multiple award-winning playwright Jane Shepard. But lasting happiness always eludes some people, and there was never any answer to the question with which Judy ended every show: "If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why, oh, why, can't I?" Will Martin be able to resolve this titanic dilemma? 14. Cost of Living explores the experiences of two physically disabled people, but dont expect an uplifting story of triumph the plot is firmly grounded in reality, with all of its uncomfortable and distressing truths. Like Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes. While embodying a variety of characters, the girlfriends discuss the absurdities of interracial dating, the lure of recreational shopping, and the merits of college reunions for bolstering ones self-esteem. She finds unexpected answers and larger questions among the glittering legacies of India's past. Through the use of virtual reality video game therapy, she builds a breathtaking new world where she can escape her pain. Plus, the indomitable Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird, Frances Ha) has written and directed a new take on this classic tale coming to the silver screen this holiday season. What were women doing, feeling, thinking while the men were gathered with Jesus in the Upper Room? Unsurprisingly, audiences and critics had a mixed reaction to the protracted Chekhovian theatrical experience (the first act alone clocked in at nearly 2 hours), but the strong writing won out; Baker came away with the 2014 Pulitzer. Eleven ( Millie Bobby Brown) in Stranger Things . This is a tale of sibling rivalry the kind that comes with devastating consequences. Recommended for ages 8+ Playwright: John CarianiLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. But she has two lacquered daughters, her own Regan and Goneril, who are covetous of the family fortune and resent the manner in which she is enjoying it. Most have a compelling present-tense action for actors to perform. I don't know if they're recent enough to be considered contemporary, but the plays of Jane Martin (a pseudonym for a never-revealed playwright who may or may not be Jon Jory) are great for interesting female charcters. When reviewing the 2013 Broadway production for the New York Post, Elisabeth Vincentelli commented, this is the kind of full-on comedy thats sadly rare on Broadway and we couldnt agree more! A play about selfishness and selflessness and love deferred and the fight. Dance Nation by Clare Barron (US/UK)(Dramatic Comedy / 9f, 2m)Somewhere in America, an army of pre-teen competitive dancers plots to take over the world. The premise is exactly as devastating as it sounds; its almost unbearable in parts. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. 21 Lesser-Known Musicals: How Many Do You Know? who talk to each other. 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. As the play opens, ne'er-do-well son Eddie deposits his two young sons on the old lady's doorstep. By Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore (US/UK)(Comedy / 3f, 7m)A cast of has-been actors plan to revive their careers in "Drop Dead!," a potboiler murder mystery directed by "Wonder Child of the Broadway Stage" Victor Le Pewe. 1. The true magic of this play happens in the staging, which utilizes puppets with cage-style construction. Slave Play is a fearless and unexpected examination of race and sex. She deftly integrates the social and political context of the time, offering insights into the attitudes and behaviors of her characters. But it was all about to change. Playwright: Rolin JonesLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. (You might recognize the characters; theyre all proxies for well-known cultural icons.) The curious structure is a surprisingly effective way to illuminate issues of racial disparity and prejudice. The storytelling is abstract, so it requires some concentration; get a sense of the vibe here. Playwright: Christopher DurangLicensing: Dramatists Play Service, Madeleine George explores the Watsons of the world as in Sherlock Holmes trusty assistant and the roles they play in the most important developments in human history. Its one of those modern plays thats so easy to watch that the raw moments hit you that much harder. _____ this 19th-century and Edwardian playwright whose plays foreshadowed modern plays _____ his strong-willed characters dominated his tragedies _____ showed new concerns about . She became a central figure in the Berlin gay community. Breadcrumbs by Jennifer Haley (US/UK)(Drama / 2f)A reclusive fiction writer diagnosed with dementia must depend upon a troubled young caretaker to complete her autobiography. (Maybe a little too sentimental, but that can be forgiven considering the source material.) She is the older sister of Linus and Rerun. about something other than a man. Shuri (from Black Panther) Shuri from Wakanda is one of the most underrated female fictional characters in the Marvel Universe. This bittersweet comedy of manners is a tribute to the grandeur of Southern style and a musing on what a smart woman might really want toward the end of her life. Bootycandy explores what its like to grow up as a Black gay man. Ida is sweet tempered and ready to begin a new life; Lucille is a feisty embodiment of the girl who just wants to have fun; and Doris is priggish and judgmental, particularly when Sam the butcher enters the scene. Sharp and more than a little cynical, this fast-paced contemporary comedic play stands out in any theatrical season. A girl is missing in a dystopian city. The plot centers on a first date and the bizarre relationship that follows. Its not meant to be an outrageous comedy; rather, Albee explores human proclivities with distressing honesty. Today, you can produce the full, year-long play cycle or a selection of performances. It's on top of my to-read pile, so this is a big of a blind recommendation but I think Simon Stephens'. Playwright: Nick Stafford, Michael MorpurgoLicensing: Oxford Playscripts. Chasing Manet by Tina Howe (US/UK)(Comedy / 4f, 3m)A rebellious painter from a distinguished family in Boston and an ebullient Jewish woman with a huge adoring family form an unlikely bond. 365 Days/365 Plays isnt a single modern play as you might guess from the name, its a collection of 365 plays. Playwright: Richard BeanLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. Rabbit Hole explores the crushing effects of grief on a family. She reaches into her own passel of friends and has herself declared "unincompetent," and returns home still in control of her wealth. for kids, celebrity aura and morality plays. This debut play from playwright-of-the-minute Jez Butterworth (Jerusalem, The Ferryman) is a dream for a university aged actors. Shakespeare in Love by Lee Hall and Tom Stoppard (US/UK)(Dramatic Comedy / 6f, 18m)Young Will Shakespeare has writer's block the deadline for his new play is fast approaching but he's in desperate need of inspiration. 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. She challenges the. In the other is her equally stubborn cousin Liam, a secular and entitled young man, who has his shiska girlfriend, Melody, in tow. His younger sibling has come out as transgender, and the two are on a mission to take down the patriarchy. "If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't . If you have the mental space however, this insightful play is well worth a read. Livingstones questions force all three women to re-examine the meaning of faith and the power of love, leading to a dramatic, compelling climax. Since the men have failed the city, Mellie and the other women must become its saviors. February 6, 2016 jowritesstuff. But to score a rare meeting with their comic book idol, teenage outcasts Dayna and Honey will take on obsessive magic players, Jedis and elfs, cosplayers and convention guards - through all nine flights of Ohio's Dante's Fire-Con. Playwright: David Henry HwangLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. Join 8,027 readers in helping fund MetaFilter. She's a Diabolic, created for one purpose onlyto protect her person, Sidonia. As you work long hours at this tedious job, a man called a lector reads aloud to you from the front of the room. As she attempts to care for and comfort the cantankerous Grace, the sophisticated Glorie gains new perspectives on values and life's highs and lows. 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? Its largely a one-woman show playwright Heidi Schreck performed in the original productions that examines issues that face women. Stuck in the middle is Liams brother, Jonah, who tries to stay out of the fray. 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. When the parents meet, purportedly to resolve the issue, the discussion devolves into madness. What is the cost of revealing your true self in a time of trouble? Inspired by Lynn Nottages interviews with real-life survivors in Africa, the story explores the impossibly complex and questionable decisions that women must make to survive in a world destroyed by men. B. Thompson (US/UK)(Dramatic Comedy / 2f)A two-woman show with rapid-fire comic vignettes that explore the lives of thirty-something African American middle-class women in urban America as they search for love, clothes, and dignity in a world that fails to recognize them amongst a parade of stereotypical images. Modern playwrights are dogged in their exploration of bleak, unpleasant material, but in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Christopher Durang offers us a respite. Playwright: Tim J. LordLicensing: Not available (read an excerpt). But as Sharon begins to uncover Robyns secrets, they encourage her own deep-seated desire to transform her life completely. 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