To have a better chance at being cast in any of those amazing plays, you should read them first. 3.74 avg rating 2,424,993 ratings. Home Theater Musicals and Plays 51 Contemporary Plays Written After 2000. Playwright: Jeremy O. HarrisLicensing: Not available. 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. Hamlet, Horatio, and Ophelia for strong characters having to deal with. Dorine (the spritely comic maid) and Tartuffe for sheer hilarity. Its shortly after 9/11, and an eclectic assortment of guests has gathered for a Manhattan dinner party. A blood feud prevents them from publicly announcing their relationship, so they get married in secret. Edmund for intelligence, grace, and personal struggle with family. A Snow White Christmas. Its mounted frequently at theaters around the country, cementing its place as one of the most famous modern plays. In a truly remarkable feat, Suzan-Lori Parks wrote one play every day for a full year. If youre exhausted from the constant political discourse (were using that term loosely) thats everywhere, maybe give Heroes of the Fourth Turning a pass. Martha and Karen, two friends who have built a boarding school from an old farm house, are accused of having a lesbian affair when one of their students, Mary, becomes enraged at being punished and concocts a lie to get revenge. Playwright: Tim J. LordLicensing: Not available (read an excerpt). The script offers an intimate look at the actors and the challenges of the day in each production. The part of Abigail Williams, in particular, is an opportunity for a young female star to really shine. A total of six schools across Bucks are currently ranked as 'inadequate' by inspectors. 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 Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which is based on the Mark Haddon novel of the same name, gives readers a peek into Christophers ultra-logical view of the world. Best Character: The middle sister, Masha, for wit, intelligence, and a biting sense of humor. His friend, Algernon, becomes interested in Cecily and travels to the country to visit her, taking on the name Ernest. Set in yet another dystopian future where firemen are employed to burn books and the houses that contain them, Fahrenheit 451 tells the story of a fireman who begins to wonder what books have to offer. Below are 31 books to read in high school that will help you prepare for college and beyond. She became a central figure in the Berlin gay community. Productions (63) Comedy. A Christmas Peter Pan. When Ernest (Jack) tells everyone at the country estate that his brother Ernest in the city has died, confusion takes over and the farce deepens. They are all well-written, good literature and have been successfully Walter Lee, a chauffeur, has other plans: buying a liquor store and being his own man. Each of our picks was written after 2000; youll find the date after each title, as well as a link to the license. A Girl in School Uniform (Walks Into A Bar) (2018) A girl is missing in a dystopian city. Brutus for experiencing one of the most difficult decisions ever faced in theatre. Required Reading in High School 1 To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 4.27 2 Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare 3 The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 4 Lord of the Flies by William Golding 3.6 5 Animal Farm by George Orwell 3.96 avg ra 14 more rows This is, all around, a classic piece of literature, and one with which to be familiar. Its essential for students to understand this part of United States history. As the title character returns from a second tour in Iraq at age 19, he discovers how his trauma parallels that of his father and grandfather. Its Christmas, and four you guessed it straight white men have gathered in their middle-class Midwestern home to celebrate. Having the qualities that are desirable or distinguishing in a particular thing: a good exterior paint; a good joke. The characters appear in a succession of little two or three-person scenes, like a G-rated version of Arthur Schnitzler's La Ronde. It so impressed John F. Kennedy while he was a Democratic senator that he sent a copy to each and every one of his Senate colleagues. It took Sam Hubbard less than 5 seconds Sunday night to describe his career-defining fumble return for a touchdown. He describes a world where everything is monitored, right down to citizens thoughts, and where any opposition to the ruling class is punishable by extreme measures. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. Summary: The story revolves around the last days of Willy Loman, a failing salesman, who cannot understand how he failed to win success and happiness. He encounters a number of varied setbacks along the way, and the trouble isnt over when he gets home. In fact, to make it more fun, read the play out loud with a friend or two and decide which characters youd be best for! The hero When the book was first published, many passages that her father, Otto Frank, found too long, unflattering, or inappropriate were excluded. 110 - 130 minutes. This unusual and witty play jumps around in time, showcasing four different Watsons (both real and fictional, human and computer) and their Holmes-inspired counterparts. (And it doesnt stop there.) He tells people that he has a reckless wanton younger brother in London named Ernest. CINCINNATI . 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. The Wolves. It is essential for students to understand the seriousness of mental illness as it is so earnestly portrayed in this book. Danger is everywhere, Readers should be warned that the "n-word" is used liberally throughout the novel, which tends to be jarring to many a modern ear. This novel is an ode to literacy, and, while it has its tragic moments, it ultimately leaves readers with a message of hope. After an unthinkable tragedy, the Corbetts struggle to survive, each on their own way. The off-Broadway cast did this so well, it earned a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble. Playwright: Gina GionfriddoLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. A raucous good time for all involved with a happy ending. When done correctly, audiences have been known to laugh until tears well in their eyes. Best Character: Biff Loman for a strong conflict between his personal goals and what his father wants. Playwright: Rajiv JosephLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. Sense and Sensibility This is a contemporary play set in Victorian times, when male doctors lavished the diagnosis of hysteria on female patients. (This is the story where a man accidentally kills his father and marries his mother.). If youre looking for witty contemporary plays to read, its hard to do better than Becky Shaw. Natasha, a local woman, has hopes of a better future for herself. Huxley wrote this novel earlier than Orwell wrote his, and yet both deal with dystopian concepts. Web1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars. He disregards this warning. (You might recognize the characters; theyre all proxies for well-known cultural icons.) With humor and hope, the play examines how the entertainment industry has dealt with issues of race. Your registration has been updated. This is an awesome opportunity for readers to get exposure to poetry in a very relevant and theatrical form. Its a chilling warning of the dangers of nationalism. The book focuses on four mother and four daughters across four sections of the novel for a total of sixteen stories that come together to complete this total work. Playwright: Young Jean leeLicensing: Dramatists Play Service, The all-male Take Me Out tells the story of baseball player Darren Lemming. While it is somewhat loosely based on the Salem witch trials of 1692, and while it is likely intended as an allegory to McCarthys rooting out of suspected Communists at the time of the plays writing, the issues it touches on are much more broadly applicable. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? Choose from one of the choices below. Then theres the thematic material, which includes obedience, fate, and rash decisions, among others. Summary: Probably the wittiest comedy in the English language. The novel Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston has been much criticized over the course of its history, and yet it stands as one of the great classics of American literature. Dont let the sharp wit and breezy dialogue of The History Boys food you this charming play has plenty to say. Playwrights: Theresa Rebeck, Alexandra Gersten-VassilarosLicensing: Concord Theatricals. A medieval English morality play that has the capability to be performed in any time period. Its set in 2000, but the story rings disconcertingly true for modern day. Rabbit Hole explores the crushing effects of grief on a family. While we're on the topic of literature, why don't you take a moment to read some recommendations on which English classes you should take during your high school career? Iago sets up a ruse to make Othello think that Desdemona cheats on him, and Othello suffocates Desdemona with the pillows of their marriage bed. The middle sister, Masha, for wit, intelligence, and a biting sense of humor. First off, lets all be clear: as some will already know, Frankenstein is not a monster. Readers will find that they resonate with some books more than others, and that's fine; the point is that all of these books have important messages to communicate, and I encourage readers to be open to finding out what those messages are. ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score, How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League, Is the ACT easier than the SAT? Its dark subject matter, and nothing good comes of it, as you may well suspect. Open a book, and you'll find all sorts of messages! While the acclaimed off-Broadway production used 10 actors doubling roles, the play can be expanded to include 17 total performers or contracted to just seven (the costume changes alone would certainly add to the energetic zaniness of the staging). With her first husband, she is absolutely miserable; with her second husband, its more bearable, for a time; and with her third man, she finds happiness. Playwright: Lynn NottageLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. This dystopian novel by George Orwell was written 35 years before the date referenced by the title. Dee Brown covers a lot of historical ground in this book. The play takes place in four acts over the course of one day, and its a beautiful doozy of a play. 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. 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