Down-on-his-luck Francis takes jobs with a gangster named Roscoe and a snooty man named Stanley. 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. Contemporary romance with a strong, independent female/ heroine, established in her life and in a strong and successful career or self-employed. King Liz by Fernanda Coppel (US/UK)(Drama / 3fm, 3m)Sports agent Liz Rico has money and an elite client roster but a woman in a mans industry has to fight to stay on top. Orgasms. 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. Happy Birthday, Jackie Gleason! 23. Its mounted frequently at theaters around the country, cementing its place as one of the most famous modern plays. The Cemetery Club by Ivan Menchell (US/UK)(Dramatic Comedy / 4f, 1m)Three Jewish widows meet once a month for tea before going to visit their husbands graves. A loving look at a familys view of death, life, and the allure of never growing up. They are guilt-stricken when this nearly breaks Idas heart. Geek! Conversation and arguments rise and fall as the cast processes the horrifying events and the broader implications on the world at large. As these Netflix shows demonstrate, strong female characters are present in all walks of life and all roles. The result is a curious patchwork of sketches and scenes it works best when you accept the unusual form and enjoy the ride. Despite the mixed reviews for Daddy, its an interesting and decidedly modern look at race and class conflicts in the world of art. Wealthy woman were highly educated but they had no . Strong Female Characters: Juliet Capulet. Neither impressed or entertained by Lettices freewheeling history lessons, Schon fires her. If youre in search of comedic contemporary plays, Clybourne Park fits the bill it racked up Tony, Olivier, and Pulitzer awards. 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. In one corner is Daphna Feygenbam, a Real Jew who is volatile, self-assured, and unbending. 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. 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. NANCYDREW4LYFE. A monologue from the play by Nora and Delia . Its an intense, uncomfortable look at the way women are treated, both in this sort-of futuristic place, but also in our modern world. Single Black Female by Lisa. Blink is an intimate, quirky little romantic comedy dont worry, its not too sweet. Siblings (and roommates) Vanya and Sonias dull Chekhovian life is tossed upside down when their famous sister Masha comes to visit with her much younger (and much dumber) boyfriend Spike. Inspired by the real childhood of playwright Robert OHara, the script is simultaneously funny and poignant. The ingenue has her time and place, but womens stories extend beyond tales of young innocents. Playwright: Richard BeanLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. Claire Danes - Danes plays bipolar CIA agent Carrie . Day after day they struggle with infertility, and Hannah herself is on the verge of being laid off. re: Plays with mainly female characters. 5. As "men", these characters have more freedom, highlighting the lack of social liberty for women in Shakespeare's time. Bree Daniels (Jane Fonda), Klute (1971) The girl with the most distinctive hairdo in the history of prostitution. How "contemporary" are we talking here? Are you looking for new plays to read or perform? 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. The tool is a great reminder that females, even in a love story, can discuss other matters that don't include a man or romance. Vrooommm! Then comes Act 2 the action begins again, this time observed and commented on by a group of white characters. Despite the fact that a single woman ruled England at the time of Shakespeare, the Elizabethan society was patriarchal. 23 Musical Theater Audition Songs for Tenors, 59 Best Musicals for High School: The Ultimate List, 21 Contemporary Legit Soprano Musical Theatre Songs. At the dress rehearsal the set falls, props break, and the producer and an actor are murdered. Hes too staid, too boring, and she just wants him to be a little more spontaneous. 14. The script offers an intimate look at the actors and the challenges of the day in each production. As he perfects his recipe, the chaos of his chosen and biological family swirls around him in the kitchen. After a six-day honeymoon, they get a surprise visit from Cories loopy mother and decide to play matchmaker during a dinner with their neighbor-in-the-attic, Velasco, where everything that can go wrong, does. The title might be pithy, but A Girl in School Uniform (Walks Into A Bar) is anything but a comedy. (Or, if Ben Brantley is to be believed, lucid to the point of simple-mindedness. He meets the widows while visiting his wifes grave. 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. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The women were mainly strong and are . Watch actress Kate Fleetwood perform the famous 'Come, you spirits' scene here: Beatrice. Its funny, heartbreaking, and more than a little unusual; playwright Phil Porter invented a unique structure that reflects the simplicity and naivete of the characters. Euripides was one of the most well-known playwrights of ancient Greece. 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. "Fefu and her Friends," Mara Irene Forns (1977) "Fefu and her Friends" features Fefu and seven of her female friends during a day in the spring of 1935. Ugly Lies the Bone by Lindsey Ferrentino (US/UK)(Drama / 3f, 2m)Newly discharged soldier Jess has finally returned to her Florida hometown. A summer tea party on the brink of doom is how one production of Escaped Alone described the play. Ma Raineys Black Bottom by August Wilson (US/UK)(Drama / 2f, 8m)It's 1927 in a rundown studio in Chicago where Ma Rainey is recording new sides of old favorites. She uses her sexuality, she taunts him and mocks his lack of courage. The tensions and prejudice they face form this seminal American drama. oppressed and dismissed. Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell are showgirls and best friends who take control of their destinies by choosing to marry rich men. All these plays contain powerful monologues with leading female characters. What does your wife do? Slave Play is a fearless and unexpected examination of race and sex. If part of a series, please only include the first novel unless subsequent novels have different leading characters. With contemporary characters, ingenious plot twists, and breathtaking visual effects, the play is a fresh look at a timeless love story. Its bizarre but entertaining, though the revelation of the womens darkest secrets seems like an unnecessary addition to an already interesting show. Civil war is raging in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Mama Nadi is trying to keep her head above water. 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 . August Osage County, by Tracy Letts. Martin needs names, names like film legends Sylvia Glenn and Leatrice Monsee, for the leads. By Janet Allard (US)(Comedy / 6f)In this breezy "NASComedy" the fast lane is stalled to a screeching halt by the arrival of a woman driver on the NASCAR scene, and egos get bruised as Holly "Legs" Nelson starts stealing the show, driving so fast some think she's cheating. Despite its epic title, God of Carnage revolves around a schoolyard conflict between two boys. She's a Diabolic, created for one purpose onlyto protect her person, Sidonia. Jess soon realizes that things at home have changed even more than she has. 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. This contemporary play is equal parts funny and tragic, revealing the wild passions and anger that flow beneath a seemingly civilized middle-class life. In the end Annies choices propel her onto an irreversible path in this story that combines wit, poetry, and hope. The script, which is designed to feel improvised, has a bit of a Leslie Knope vibe. Tucker green is an award-winning playwright, having established herself in the world of theatre by 2004 with Born Bad, which scooped the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Newcomer Play in that year. After an unthinkable tragedy, the Corbetts struggle to survive, each on their own way. Jackie Gleason certainly went above and beyond to measure up to that sobriquet. Cloud Nine 6. Mulan was one of my personal heroes as a child she's a fearless warrior and genuine delight. 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. Eva Adler's Monologue From 'The American Plan'. The Younger familys heroic struggle to retain dignity in a harsh and changing world is a searing and timeless document of hope and inspiration. "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. Nilo Cruz shows off his magical, almost lyrical, grasp of language in this lovely play. Playwright: Lulu RaczkaPublisher: Bloomsbury. When Liam stakes claim to their grandfather's Chai necklace, a vicious and hilarious brawl over family, faith, and legacy ensues. Hes a straight-as-an-arrow lawyer and shes a free spirit always looking for the latest kick. And now Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara) in The . Its shortly after 9/11, and an eclectic assortment of guests has gathered for a Manhattan dinner party. Unusual Acts Of Devotion 8. There are comic monologues and dramatic monologues. This is not a play for the faint of heart it follows the meeting of a predator and his victim, now grown up. 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. Its not uplifting the characters anger and bitterness jump off the page but its certainly illuminating. Ladies Choice! It continues to a covert reading in Nazi-controlled Poland, and ends with a proposed version at Yale in the 1950s. 15 Best Short Plays with Strong Female Lead DAMAGED GOODS She runs a brothel that takes in women who have been ruined by soldiers. Life imitates Art. As someone who spends a fair amount of time complaining on the internet that there aren't enough female heroes out there, this may seem a strange and out of character thing to say. A hilarious evisceration of the blind eye we all turn to climate change and the bacchanalian catharsis that awaits us, even in our own backyards. In The Daylight 5. Miriam Ruth, the Mother Superior, determinedly keeps young Agnes from the doctor, further arousing Livingstones suspicions. Each of our picks was written after 2000; youll find the date after each title, as well as a link to the license. Playwright: Bruce NorrisLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. Bunny 10. Last Of The Red Hot Lovers 3. Playwright: Tracy LettsLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. There is also an interesting trend of plays depicting older career women taking stock of things . The play has ghosts, prosthetic hands, and gold toilet seats what more could you want? Playwright: Tim J. LordLicensing: Not available (read an excerpt). In Elliot, a Soldiers Fugue, Hudes takes another look at the tradition of wartime service in different generations of a Puerto Rican family. After premiering at the Edinburgh International Festival, this play went on to win the Olivier award for Best New Play and the Tony for Best Revival of a Play. This riveting play is an epic tale told through an unexpected and remarkable perspective. Playwright: Quiara Alegra HudesLicensing: Dramatists Play Service, A corporate collapse might not seem like fertile fodder for a play, but Enron takes it on with glee. Its a big, lively masterpiece of storytelling thats just as enjoyable on the page as it is on stage. Rabbit Hole explores the crushing effects of grief on a family. Since he has produced only one off-Broadway project, something called 'Craps! Check out More Plays & Musicals for Strong Leading Women or browse the Concord Theatricals website in the US or UK. It seems her sweet grandma is running an illegal boutique from her apartment, selling handmade naughty knickers to every senior citizen in the five-borough area! Inside the confining walls of Mount Airy Nursing Home, the two plot an escape to Paris aboard the QE2. With contemporary characters, ingenious plot twists, and breathtaking visual effects, the play is a fresh look at a timeless love story. Women during 16th century had no individual freedom. The young lover is equally certain she really wants to marry him. 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. Monroe's iconic rendition of "Diamonds Are a Girls Best Friend". 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