contemporary plays with strong female characterscontemporary plays with strong female characters

21 Best Contemporary Dramatic Monologues For Women From Published Plays 1. Themes include contemporary politics, slavery, historical marriages, senior comedy, surreal time-shifts, Shakespeare comedy, campers, birdwatchers, newlyweds, coming of age, participatory plays. 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. She is feminist not just for Shakespeare's standards but for also for today. Playwright: Edward AlbeeLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. who talk to each other. More goes down in the session than music in this riveting portrayal of rage, racism, the self-hate, and exploitation. The staunchly Midwestern Weston family seems normal on the surface. At forty-six and with new flame Mickey Deans at her side, she seems determined to carry it off and recapture her magic. 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. People Who Voted On This List (88) Mary 816 books Its not uplifting the characters anger and bitterness jump off the page but its certainly illuminating. Ken (a man from Nebraska, of course) deals with a spiritual crisis in Tracy Letts play. Its poignant, funny, and worth a read.Playwright: Mark Haddon, adapted by Simon StephensLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. Not Dick Morris's type. Indecent traces the life of the play through history, jumping from the first performance in Berlin to the 1923 Broadway premiere, when the ensemble is arrested on charges of obscenity. She finds unexpected answers and larger questions among the glittering legacies of India's past. Its an interesting, and sometimes opaque, examination of the psychology of modern straight white males. She's been reading a lot of Sam Shepard, Michael Weller (her favorite), and an assortment of titles offered up by her professors ("My Night With Reg" has been humorously-NSFW-cover down on the coffee table for a week or so). Running barefoot in the park would be a start. 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. If youre exhausted from the constant political discourse (were using that term loosely) thats everywhere, maybe give Heroes of the Fourth Turning a pass. Granted, these are all great works and are classics for a reason. Pia, from the New Zealand movie Whale Rider. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 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. Florence Unger and Olive Madison, that is, in Neil Simon's hilarious contemporary comic classic: the female version of The Odd Couple. Drama, drama everywherebut not a play in sight. Shakespeare's strong-willed women From the ruthlessness and ambition of Lady Macbeth and Margaret of Anjou to the confidence and wit of Rosalind, Viola and Portia it is often said that. A remarkably powerful and compassionate portrait of a contemporary American woman striving for grace. Omnium Gatherum not to be confused with the Finnish death metal band of the same name is a fast-paced, funny play. Most have a compelling present-tense action for actors to perform. The genre emerged as a musical expression of the second-wave feminist movement [228] as well as the labour , civil rights , and peace movements . Watch actress Kate Fleetwood perform the famous 'Come, you spirits' scene here: Beatrice. This Pulitzer-winning play isnt saccharine or melodramatic, but heartbreakingly honest; anyone who has ever walked (or crawled) through the valley of the shadow will find connection to the emotional story. Witty and charmingly outlandish, The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow offers a fresh, surprisingly insightful take on the human vs. technology theme. When the parents meet, purportedly to resolve the issue, the discussion devolves into madness. My Tweets Tag: strong female characters The Spanish Tragedy - Act One, Scenes 3-5: "They reck no laws that meditate revenge" Scene Three: In the Portuguese Court, the Viceroy of Portugal mourns his son, Prince Baltazar, who he believes was killed in battle. 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. Livingstones questions force all three women to re-examine the meaning of faith and the power of love, leading to a dramatic, compelling climax. Playwright: Branden Jacobs-JenkinsLicensing: Dramatists Play Service, 47 Best Modern Musicals (Written After 2000). Bunny 10. She is a hardworking tech genius who works terrifically for her nation and the benefits of the citizens. Grace, a feisty 90-year-old cancer patient, has checked herself out of the hospital and returned to her beloved homestead cottage to die alone. Milk Like Sugar by Kirsten Greenidge (US/UK)(Drama / 5f, 2m)It is Annie Desmonds sixteenth birthday and her friends have decided to help her celebrate in style, complete with a brand new tattoo. Samuel Becketts classic absurdism comes to life in this drama about happy days.. Caryl Churchill cleverly uses four chatty, retired British women as the voice that warns of the coming apocalypse. Playwright: Tim J. LordLicensing: Not available (read an excerpt). She is the older sister of Linus and Rerun. Enter Freddie Luna, a high school basketball superstar with a troubled past. The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, Appreciating the Density of Shakespeare in Real Time. When a racist and bigoted pitcher joins the team, everything descends into chaos. 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. A Very Rich Woman by Ruth Gordon (US)(Comedy / 8f, 7m)Ruth Gordon played the part of a Boston widow with a rather common background, who together with her husband built an enviable fortune the hard way. If part of a series, please only include the first novel unless subsequent novels have different leading characters. Yes, you read that correctly. With contemporary characters, ingenious plot twists, and breathtaking visual effects, the play is a fresh look at a timeless love story. The Pidgeon sisters have been replaced by the two Constanzuela brothers. Its set in 2000, but the story rings disconcertingly true for modern day. Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks by Richard Alfieri (US/UK)(Comedy / 1f, 1m) Lily, an aging but formidable retiree, hires Michael, an acerbic dance instructor, to give her dance lessons in her condo in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida. Mary Page Marlowe by Tracy Letts (US/UK)(Drama / 11f, 6m, 1 girl)Mary Page Marlowe leads an unremarkable life. It's set in a 1950s Soho night club, but feels nothing like the period pieces you're used to. What would we remember, and what would we forget, if given the chance? The tensions and prejudice they face form this seminal American drama. The wildest part about the story is that its based in fact. These details form an intriguing backdrop for a dramatic look at idealism, power and the strength it takes to shape the destiny of a nation. 4000 Miles by Amy Herzog (US/UK)(Dramatic Comedy / 3f, 1m)After suffering a major loss while he was on a cross-country bike trip, 21 year-old Leo seeks solace from his feisty 91 year-old grandmother Vera in her West Village apartment. Brothers Lincoln and Booth yes, the names are intentional are just trying to stay afloat after a challenging upbringing. 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. As they grew to become the cultural icons we know today, their movements collided and their friendship was severely tested. She challenges the. The fight must go on. 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. He is financially strapped and taking to the road as a salesman. A hilarious, touching play. Rosalind in As You Like it and Viola in Twelfth Night both dress as men. Contemporary romance with a strong, independent female/ heroine, established in her life and in a strong and successful career or self-employed. End of the Rainbow by Peter Quilter (US)(Drama / 1f, 3m)A musical drama of Judy Garland's "come-back" concerts Christmas 1968: with a six-week booking at London's Talk of the Town, it looks like Judy Garland is set firmly on the comeback trail. Not paranormal, fantasy. Perhaps the good-natured sweetness and innocent enthusiasm that radiates from each of the 11 vignette-style love stories. How to Transcend a Happy Marriage blurs the lines of monogamy and asks how deeply friends, lovers, and strangers connect. Playwright: Nick Stafford, Michael MorpurgoLicensing: Oxford Playscripts. The true magic of this play happens in the staging, which utilizes puppets with cage-style construction. 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?" Large Cast Suggestions for Female Heavy Plays (Part 1) : PerformerStuff More Good Stuff It appears that you are outside of North America. Then there's Wilde's Lady Bracknell, Shaw's Mrs Warren and many characters by Michel Tremblay. But as Sharon begins to uncover Robyns secrets, they encourage her own deep-seated desire to transform her life completely. 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. Check out More Plays & Musicals for Strong Leading Women or browse the Concord Theatricals website in the US or UK. Despite the fact that a single woman ruled England at the time of Shakespeare, the Elizabethan society was patriarchal. That is, until he finds his muse Viola. Her rival, Hotshot, wants to sabotage her success, which results in a fast-paced story of NASCAR drivers and their kooky fans, all in pursuit of high-octane glory. However, feel free to browse tips and download any public domain (free) monologues on our site. Bootycandy explores what its like to grow up as a Black gay man. Jess soon realizes that things at home have changed even more than she has. 14.) Posted: 3/30/09 at 12:41pm. The four are all contending with different life issues, all the while fully aware of their privileged position (thanks to the absent mother). 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. LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE . This debut play from playwright-of-the-minute Jez Butterworth (Jerusalem, The Ferryman) is a dream for a university aged actors. Danger is everywhere, and mysterious blackouts are setting residents on edge. A Feminine Ending by Sarah Treem (US)(Dark Comedy / 2f, 3m)Having recently graduated from a major conservatory, and with a rocker boyfriend on the brink of stardom, aspiring composer Amanda Blues extraordinary life seems to be all mapped out. A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry (US/UK)(Drama / 3f, 7m, 1 boy)Set on Chicagos South Side, the plot revolves around the divergent dreams and conflicts within three generations of the Younger family: Walter Lee, his wife Ruth, his sister Beneatha, his son Travis, and matriarch Lena. One Man, Two Guvnors premiered in 2011, but it was originally conceived in 1743. The play has ghosts, prosthetic hands, and gold toilet seats what more could you want? The City of Conversation by Anthony Giardina (US/UK)(Drama / 4fm, 4m, 1 boy)In 1979, Washington D.C. was a place where people actually talked to each otherwhere adversaries fought it out on the Senate floor and then smoothed it out over drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Playwright: Lynn NottageLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. After an unthinkable tragedy, the Corbetts struggle to survive, each on their own way. Photo: 2018 Playwrights Horizons production of Dance Nation (Joan Marcus), More Plays & Musicals for Strong Leading Women. She longs to find her birth mother in China, so she creates a robot twin named Jenny Chow to tackle the quest on her behalf. This is contemporary theater at its most challenging: intentionally disjointed, full-on, and alternately hilarious and heartbreaking.Playwright: Alice BirchLicensing: Concord Theatricals. Playwright: Bruce NorrisLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. But at what price? The Flick is a monster of a play; it runs for 3 hours. Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell are showgirls and best friends who take control of their destinies by choosing to marry rich men. Robyn, also in her mid-fifties, needs a place to hide and a chance to start over. Glorie is tense, unhappy and guilt-ridden, her only child having been killed in an auto accident when she was driving. His younger sibling has come out as transgender, and the two are on a mission to take down the patriarchy. She certainly exercises power over her husband, Macbeth, in the first half of the play, as she encourages him to murder Duncan. Though the script dives into racial issues and prejudice, it does so with a deft hand; Norris manages to create a riotously funny, deliciously witty story. When the patriarch disappears, however, the crew gathers, and the truth bubbles hilariously to the surface. There are just two characters, and they never interact or meet face-to-face; all communication happens over a baby monitor. Her memory is jogged by the fact that she and her four siblings are in their fathers hospital room during his final moments. Our leading lady is Jennifer, a young, agoraphobic tech whiz whos afraid to leave her room. for kids, celebrity aura and morality plays. If Martin can sign them he can get the money. 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. Emotion, history, and passion combine in this remarkable theatrical accomplishment. The Roommate by Jen Silverman (US/UK)(Dark Comedy / 2f)Sharon, in her mid-fifties, is recently divorced and needs a roommate to share her Iowa home. 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. Women during 16th century had no individual freedom. If you have the chance, catch a live production; its gripping, even in the hands of non-professionals. Ariane Lange 4.. The failed marriages, the suicide attempts, and the addictions are all behind her. Its 1981, and the Carney family is celebrating the harvest at their farm in Northern Ireland. The characters are flawed and funnyand youll be glad you dont have to hang out with them in real life. During the opening night performance, the murders continue. 365 Days/365 Plays isnt a single modern play as you might guess from the name, its a collection of 365 plays. The economic collapse has affected Hannah and David's relationship, and Moore's comedy subversively captures the truth buried beneath the laughs. Drop Dead! 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. Kincaid. Always the fight. Metamorphoses by Mary Zimmerman and other women are. The Lower Room by Pat Wooley (US)(Drama / 9f, 2m)Pat Wooley's fascinating play retells the story of Jesus' passion through the eyes of those who were the last of the followers at the cross, and the first at the tomb: women. Rest by Samuel D. Hunter (US/UK)(Drama / 3f, 4m)A retirement home in northern Idaho is being shut down, and only three residents and a bare-bones staff remain. 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. Acting scripts for two actors. As the little teenage sister of the king, her identity doesn't end there. Despite its epic title, God of Carnage revolves around a schoolyard conflict between two boys. Stuck in the middle is Liams brother, Jonah, who tries to stay out of the fray. (And it doesnt stop there.) It continues to a covert reading in Nazi-controlled Poland, and ends with a proposed version at Yale in the 1950s. Ladies Choice! Last Dance by Marsha Norman (US)(Comedy / 2f, 2m) Claiming that she is tired of love, an aging but still beautiful poet from the American South who now lives on the coast of France has decided to give away her young lover. As a tour guide at Fustian House, one of the least stately of Londons stately homes, she theatrically embellishes its historical past, ultimately coming up on the radar of Lotte Schon, an inspector from the Preservation Trust. infusing her plays with strong mythic, chimerical elements, and using folkloric Scottish Women Playwrights Against Zero Visibility Life imitates Art. Below is a tip of the wonderful iceberg of plays by women. Who killed the infant, and who is the father? 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. Well, heres a plot point you wont be expecting a man falls in love with a goat. The Younger familys heroic struggle to retain dignity in a harsh and changing world is a searing and timeless document of hope and inspiration. August Osage County, by Tracy Letts. Through the use of virtual reality video game therapy, she builds a breathtaking new world where she can escape her pain. Its bizarre but entertaining, though the revelation of the womens darkest secrets seems like an unnecessary addition to an already interesting show. Beneatha dreams of medical school. The script, which is designed to feel improvised, has a bit of a Leslie Knope vibe. Playwright: Robert OHaraLicensing: Concord Theatricals. Playwright: David Henry HwangLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. When a record-breaking blizzard blows into town and an elderly resident disappears into the storm, everyone is brought to face their own mortality. A bittersweet play about dreams deferred, loves lost, and learning to trust a womans voice in a mans world. 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. Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) River Tam (Summer Glau) Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) The Bride (Uma Thurman) Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) 10. Directed by Nicholas Ray, the film basically flips the gender roles of older Westerns.the men become supporting characters to two female leads who will meet in a . Are you looking for new plays to read or perform? 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. You might even learn a thing or two; Prebble manages to make complicated concepts feel more accessible. The Skin of Our Teeth by Thornton Wilder (US/UK)(Comedy / 4f, 4m)Meet George and Maggie Antrobus of Excelsior, New Jersey, a suburban commuter-town couple (married for 5,000 years); the two Antrobus children, Gladys (perfect in every way, of course) and Henry (who likes to throw rocks and was formerly known as Cain); and their garrulous maid, Sabina (the eternal seductress), who takes it upon herself to break out of character and interrupt the course of the drama at every opportunity (I dont understand a word of this play!). Shes got supernatural abilities owing to her true identitythe Greek god Dionysusand she's returned to the modern world to gather mortal followers and restore the Earth to its natural state. Its a fascinating and engaging tale that offers a slightly lighter, yet still tragic, perspective. 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. However, what Bridget saw as a unique opportunity to stay with her favorite Nana in New York for the summer quickly turns into an experience shell never forget. God Gave Us Aunts 7. The play is set at a Catskills resort in 1960, where the widowed Eva Adler is vacationing with her 20-year-old daughter, Lili. Take the Netflix series Unbelievable, which is based on a distressing true story. In the US/North America, click here. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Based on the wild life of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, I Am My Own Wife is a one-person play about a German transvestite who lived from 1928-2002. The Kilroys List: 97 Monologues and Scenes by Female and Trans Playwrights This first book isn't technically a play, but no list of plays by women would be complete without mention of The Kilroys List . Silent Sky- Lauren Gunderson (4w,1m) --Could double cast if you have more students. (You might recognize the characters; theyre all proxies for well-known cultural icons.) Inside the confining walls of Mount Airy Nursing Home, the two plot an escape to Paris aboard the QE2. Playwrights: Theresa Rebeck, Alexandra Gersten-VassilarosLicensing: Concord Theatricals. Lettice and Lovage by Peter Shaffer (US/UK)(Comedy / 3f, 3m)Lettice Duffet, an expert on Elizabethan cuisine and medieval weaponry, is an indefatigable but daffy enthusiast of history and the theatre. As the (worldly and un-) personalities clash, Charles current wife, Ruth, is accidentally killed, passes over, joins Elvira, and the two blithe spirits haunt the hapless Charles into perpetuity. And of course, I love all sorts of female characters who exhibit great resilience and courage. All have 2-woman casts, with age flexible roles, and each play, in very different ways, looks at the tender, funny, sometimes harrowing search for meaning.

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