SYNOPSES
A DAY IN THE LIFE
Synopsis: Brianna, a ten-year-old girl, captures a mayfly in a glass jar and plans to keep it as a summer pet.
Genre: Drama/Comedy
Running Time: Approximately 10 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 2 (1M/1F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
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ALL MY STUFF
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: 10-12 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 2 (1M/1F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
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AUTOMAT
Synopsis: A man and a woman meet in an automat
Genre: Drama
Running Time: 10-12 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 2 (1M/1F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
​
BLESSED THORN
Synopsis: In 1656, 23 year-old Baruch Spinoza was excommunicated for life by the Jewish congregation in Amsterdam, the harshest punishment ever meted at that time. He is confronted by his half-sister, Rebekah, and his younger brother, Gabriel, who, by the terms of the edict, will never again be able to speak with him. The basis for Spinoza’s unprecedented exile remains unknown, but he went on to become one of the major philosophers of the Enlightenment and one of history’s greatest champions of religious freedom.
Genre: Historical drama
Running Time: Approximately 15-20 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 5
Minimum number of performers required: 4 (3M/1F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
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CLARA
Synopsis: Clara Immerwahr Haber was the first woman to be awarded a doctorate in chemistry in Germany. She was married to Fritz Haber, a Nobel Prize-winning German chemist of the early 20th century, whose nitrogen fixation process is credited with saving more lives than any other scientific discovery in history. With the onset of World War I, Haber transformed his nitrogen fixation process into the manufacture of gunpowder and explosives and then supervised the development of poison gas warfare. At the party in Berlin celebrating the first deployment of chemical warfare, Clara, unhappy with both her marriage and career, and horrified by the implications of gas warfare, committed suicide in protest of her husband’s war efforts.
Genre: Drama
Running Time: 12-15 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 5. Minimum number of performers required: 4 (2M/2F/1 off-stage male voice, which can be doubled)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
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DAVID AND GOLIATH RETOLD
A FAIRYTALE
Synopsis: David and Goliath meet on the battlefield of the Valley of Elah.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: Approximately 10 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 3 (3M or 2M/1F or 1M/2F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
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DOWNSIZING
Synopsis: Arthur and Ellen, a married couple in their 70’s, are cleaning out their closets in an effort to begin “downsizing.”
Genre: Drama
Running Time: Approximately 10-12 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 3 (2M/1F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
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FATHER'S DAY
Synopsis: A man completes a Father's Day questionnaire
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: 10 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 1 (M)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
​
FIN
Synopsis: Via a Zoom-call, a Madagascar oryx addresses the Uppsala Wildlife Preservation Institute on the subject of species survival.
Genre: Monologue
Running Time: Approximately 5-6 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 1 (M or F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
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FRANKLY, MY DEAR
Synopsis: Two married couples plan a vacation. The play incorporates all 100 iconic movie quotes from the American Film Institute
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: Approximately 10-12 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 4 (2M/2F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
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GLOBAL ENTRY
Synopsis: An alien lands at San Francisco International Airport, but is held up by Customs as he tries to pass through Global Entry.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: Approximately 10 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 2 (M/F flexible)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
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GOOD NEWS
Synopsis: Simon, much to the annoyance of his girlfriend, Laura, is obsessed with the news, both bad and good.
Genre: Drama
Running Time: Approximately 10 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 2 (1M/1F}
Ethnicity: irrelevant
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GRAVITY
Synopsis: Seventeen year-old Emma refuses to go back to high school and speaks to her father about suicide.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: Approximately 10 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 3 (1M/2F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
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HERE TODAY...
Synopsis: A rotary telephone, a copy of the Yellow Pages and an address book find themselves in a closet.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: Approximately 10 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 3 (2M/1F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
​
HOUSE OF BRICKS
Synopsis: A middle-aged Practical Pig visits Fiddler Pig with some disturbing news.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: Approximately 10 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 3 (2M/1F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
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IMMUNITY
Synopsis: Two scientists are testing COVID-19 antibodies.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: Approximately 10 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 2 (1M/1F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
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LEIF ERIKSON DISCOVERS MIAMI
Synopsis: Leif Erikson accidentally “discovers” Miami and is questioned by an immigration official.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: 10-12 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 2 (2M)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
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LET THE WATERS RISE
Synopsis: Nora and Larry discuss a cruise.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: 10-12 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 2 (1M/1F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
​
LETTING GO
Synopsis: Jochebed places the infant Moses in an ark of blurushes.
Genre: Drama
Running Time: 10-12 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 2 (2F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
​
LULU VISITS THE VETERINARIAN
Synopsis: Lulu, a twelve-year old Springer Spaniel is brought to a veterinarian. In private, Lulu asks the veterinarian to not send her back home with her master.
Genre: Drama
Running Time: Approximately 10-12 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 4 (2M/2F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant​
MAMA, LOOK A BOO-BOO
Synopsis: Dr. Ann Faultless from the CDC and King Edward III of England have a Zoom call concerning the bubonic plague.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: Approximately 12 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 3 (2M/1F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
Special Requirements: If feasible, a large screen should stand behind the set, so that Zoom-style images can be projected
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NOWHERE TO RUN
Synopsis: King William and his knights appear to be defeated in a battle with life and death consequences.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: 15 minutes
Cast: 6 (4M/2F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
​
ON THE BEACH, LONG AGO
Synopsis: Hector (a fish) and Helen (a crustacean) find themselves washed up on the beach and discuss their predicament.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: 10 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 2 (1M/1F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
​
ORIGIN
Synopsis: Two pigs, Victor and Esther, discuss their perfect lives in a perfect world.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: 10 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 2 (1M/1F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
​
OUR LADY
Synopsis: Etienne and Geoffroi are laborers, building a cathedral.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: Approximately 10-12 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 3 (2M/1F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
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O.U.T.
Synopsis: David, a middle-aged man, visits O.U.T., the federally-mandated Office of Unfortunate Termination, to make arrangements for his scheduled death.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: Approximately 10 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 2 (1M/1F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
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PRESS CONFERENCE
Synopsis: A presidential press conference in the not too-distant future is interrupted by an unexpected visitor.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: Approximately 10-12 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 5 (2M/3F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
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PRESSING MATTERS
Synopsis: The curator of a world-class rare book collection, housed in a seminary, discovers that the Church plans to auction off the entire collection, including the world’s finest copy of a “perfect” Gutenberg Bible.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: Approximately 10-12 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 4 (2M/2F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
​
PUSHBACK
Synopsis: When an airplane passenger reclines his seat, a heated argument occurs.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: Approximately 10 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 2 (1M/1F) + off-stage intercom voice
Ethnicity: irrelevant
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RULES OF THE GAME
Synopsis: During a friendly poker game, Ben gets upset that the rules of the game seem to be constantly changing.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: Approximately 12-15 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 4 (3M/1F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
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SO HELP ME GOD
Synopsis: An expanded, one-act version of THOU SHALT SURELY in which Adam and Eve sue God in court.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: Approximately 45 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 6
Minimum number of performers required: 4 (2M/2F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
​
SUPERHERO
Synopsis: Superman, Spiderman and Wonder Woman have a Zoom call about the pandemic.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: Approximately 10 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 3 (2M/1F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
Special Requirements: If feasible, a large screen should stand behind the set, so that Zoom-style images can be projected
​
TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT
Synopsis: Disgruntled employees confront their boss..
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: 12-14 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 3 (1M/1F/1M or F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
​
THE WALL
Synopsis: A man and a woman are building a wall.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: Approximately 12-15 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 2 (1M/1F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
​
THREE CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF A PLAY
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: Approximately 12-15 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 4
Minimum number of performers required: 4 1M/3F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
THOU SHALT SURELY
Synopsis: Adam and Eve speak about death with God in the Garden of Eden.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: Approximately 12-15 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 4
Minimum number of performers required: 4 (2M/2F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
​
ÜBER
Synopsis: A man hires an Uber car for a ride to Manhattan.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: Approximately 10 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 2 (2M)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
​
UH, OH
Synopsis: Two spermatozoa find themselves in an unexpected location.
Genre: Comedy
Running Time: Approximately 10-12 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 4 (2M/2F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
​
WHEN I GROW UP
Synopsis: Two Brad and Eve have company, but Brad comes home late, having injured himself in a baseball game..
Genre: Drama
Running Time: Approximately 12-15 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 4 (2M/2F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
​
WHERE'S MAMA?
Synopsis: Two fledglings are reluctant to abandon their nest and are awaiting their mother's return.
Genre: Drama/comedy
Running Time: Approximately 12-15 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 3 (1M/2F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
​
WHY CAN'T YOU?
Synopsis: A daughter is frustrated at her father’s inability to use the remote control for his television.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: Approximately 12-15 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 2 (1M/1F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
​
YOU BET YOUR LIFE
Synopsis: Ed, a 68 year-old retired insurance salesman, is visited by the Angel of Death, who makes him an unusual offer.
Genre: Black comedy
Running Time: Approximately 20 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 3
Minimum number of performers required: 3 (2M/1F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant
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YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS
Synopsis: Former lovers, Rick and Sophie, meet again after fifty years.
Genre: Drama/Comedy
Running Time: Approximately 10-12 minutes
Cast: Number of characters: 2 (1M/1F)
Ethnicity: irrelevant