Titles

Featured image for “Heathers The Musical (High School Edition) Now Available for Licensing Through Samuel French”
March 7, 2017

Heathers The Musical (High School Edition) Now Available for Licensing Through Samuel French

According to Murphy, the Off-Broadway version was R-rated, “If we wanted Heathers to work for high schools, we’d have to find new ways to tell the same story in a PG-13 context. So we wrote and workshopped a brand new draft with the fantastic support of Samuel French and iTheatrics, and were surprised to discover that many of the changes turned out to be improvements.”
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Featured image for “Get to Know Present Laughter”
February 27, 2017

Get to Know Present Laughter

Paddy Briggs writes about the new production of Present Laughter including reporting on extended interviews he had with the Director Stephen Unwin prior to the first rehearsals, at the first night and later in the run when it arrived in Richmond.
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Featured image for “The Waverly Gallery: Kenneth Longergan’s Most Personal Work”
February 22, 2017

The Waverly Gallery: Kenneth Longergan’s Most Personal Work

The Waverly Gallery revolves around a family’s experience as their matriarch slips further and further into dementia. Despite the gravity of the subject matter, the play is filled with comedy and delightful characters.
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Featured image for “Beautiful: The Multi-Generational Draw of Heathers The Musical”
February 3, 2017

Beautiful: The Multi-Generational Draw of Heathers The Musical

A high school student’s perspective on the joy and purpose of performing Heathers The Musical.
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Featured image for “Incomprehensible & Fascinating: Presenting Junior High School Crime Onstage”
February 2, 2017

Incomprehensible & Fascinating: Presenting Junior High School Crime Onstage

In many plays written about young people, some by writers I admire, one can feel the adult hand shaping a moral universe for the characters to inhabit. I chose to avoid this when writing Hazelwood Jr. High. I wanted the play to feel as if it were written by a junior high school student.
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Featured image for “The Accidental Inevitability of the Writing of Caddie Woodlawn”
February 2, 2017

The Accidental Inevitability of the Writing of Caddie Woodlawn

At its core, Caddie Woodlawn is about family. It tells the story of a year in the life of a young pioneer girl, growing up in Wisconsin. Her tomboyish struggles with her strictly traditional mother and her devotion to her more indulgent father are at the heart of this coming-of-age tale. 
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Featured image for “The Journey of BOMB-ITTY”
February 1, 2017

The Journey of BOMB-ITTY

The four-time Emmy nominated, Writer’s Guild Award nominated, and Peabody Award winning writer, Erik Weiner, documents the explosive rise of his college project, The Bomb-itty of Errors.
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Featured image for “SUPER SIDEKICK: A Big-Hearted Adventure for the Whole Family”
January 18, 2017

SUPER SIDEKICK: A Big-Hearted Adventure for the Whole Family

When famous superhero Blackjack the Bold is kidnapped by an evil sorcerer, it’s up to his assistant Inky to step up and save the day!
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Featured image for “Finding Their Voice: A Feminine Ending”
January 12, 2017

Finding Their Voice: A Feminine Ending

Amanda dreamed of being a famous composer – not the daughter of an almost-divorce, the fiancée of an almost-celebrity, the ex of an almost-lover, and the writer of mediocre jingles. Maybe it’s a ridiculous dream – after all, how many brilliant female composers are there?
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Featured image for “His Happy Days: Bringing A Last Dream to Life”
January 10, 2017

His Happy Days: Bringing A Last Dream to Life

A story of a man’s final dream to put on a play. He chose Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days.
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Featured image for “A Resolution for 2017: Don’t Be Afraid To Talk”
January 6, 2017

A Resolution for 2017: Don’t Be Afraid To Talk

Samuel French’s Literary Associate Garrett Anderson discusses Bathsheba Doran’s The Mystery of Love and Sex.
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Featured image for “Tightly Wound, Witty & Mysterious: Steven Dietz’s Fiction”
December 8, 2016

Tightly Wound, Witty & Mysterious: Steven Dietz’s Fiction

Michael and Linda are a married couple, both writers. Michael is a successful household name, while Linda now teaches and has only had one hit book. Near the beginning of the show, Linda is diagnosed with cancer, and her dying wish is to be granted the opportunity to read Michael’s journals.
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Featured image for “A Fascination with Life After Death:  75 Years of Blithe Spirit”
November 4, 2016

A Fascination with Life After Death: 75 Years of Blithe Spirit

Samuel French’s Corporate Communications Associate, Alejandra Venancio, unveils the ghosts of Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit.
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Featured image for “Top Ten Spooky Titles For Halloween”
October 27, 2016

Top Ten Spooky Titles For Halloween

Grab your ghouls and ghosts, and gear up for a night of horror! These ten goosebumps inducing shows are sure to keep you occupied in between trick-or-treaters.
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Featured image for “I Got Something: How The New Black Fest Builds on the Moment of Now”
October 21, 2016

I Got Something: How The New Black Fest Builds on the Moment of Now

Writer and Hip Hop Theatre Artist, Nsangou Njikam, congratulates honoree Keith Josef Adkins of The New Black Fest as part of the Samuel French Awards 2016 Series.
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Featured image for “5 Lesbians Eating A Quiche, or How a Play About Lesbians in a Nuclear Bomb Shelter is for Everyone”
October 11, 2016

5 Lesbians Eating A Quiche, or How a Play About Lesbians in a Nuclear Bomb Shelter is for Everyone

Literary Associate Garrett Anderson explains why you, too, will love Linder & Hobgood’s hysterical play set in a bomb shelter.
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Featured image for “Who’s The Fairest at the Prom: How Mirror, Mirror Casts Snow White in a 21st Century Light”
October 11, 2016

Who’s The Fairest at the Prom: How Mirror, Mirror Casts Snow White in a 21st Century Light

Contributor Eliza Skidgel gives her take on Treem’s Mirror, Mirror.
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Featured image for “A Nightmare Odyssey: Spotlight on BENT”
October 11, 2016

A Nightmare Odyssey: Spotlight on BENT

This show tells the truth about the persecution of gays in Nazi Germany. It centers around two soldiers, Max, and his lover, Rudy. 
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Featured image for “For THE CLEAN HOUSE on Her 10th Birthday”
October 5, 2016

For THE CLEAN HOUSE on Her 10th Birthday

In the spirit of Sarah Ruhl’s affinity for love letters, Derick Edgren has written a love letter of his own in praise of The Clean House.
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Featured image for “The Last Smoker In America: The Journey to the Stage”
August 24, 2016

The Last Smoker In America: The Journey to the Stage

Playwright and Lyricist Bill Russell (Side Show, Pageant, Elegies for Angels, Punks, and Raging Queens) tells the story of the development of his newest musical comedy, The Last Smoker in America.
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Featured image for “Elections and Politics: 10 Plays Fit for this Season”
August 22, 2016

Elections and Politics: 10 Plays Fit for this Season

We’ve picked 10 titles that center around the political mayhem of American civilization, from overzealous politicians to scandal and controversy. And watch out, because some of these titles may hit a little too close to home.
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Featured image for “From Maureen Lipman to Meryl Streep: The Story of the Worst Singer in the World”
August 18, 2016

From Maureen Lipman to Meryl Streep: The Story of the Worst Singer in the World

Peter Quilter discusses his comedy Glorious!, which explores the hilarious and remarkable story of the world’s worst opera singer Florence Foster Jenkins.
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Featured image for “The Shift of Cultural Conversation: Father Comes Home From The Wars”
August 11, 2016

The Shift of Cultural Conversation: Father Comes Home From The Wars

Contributor Ben Coleman gives his take on Suzan Lori-Parks’ Father Comes Home From The Wars Parts 1, 2 & 3.
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Featured image for “Beauty and Standards: Everything You Touch”
July 26, 2016

Beauty and Standards: Everything You Touch

In the 1970s, we follow Victor and Esme, a ruthless fashion designer and his gorgeous appearance obsessed muse. When a simple Midwestern woman enters their lives, she begins to transform Victor, his thoughts on fashion, and his relationship with Esme. Meanwhile in the present day, we follow Jessica, who is dealing with a large sense of self-loathing as she makes the journey to say goodbye to her estranged mother.
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Featured image for “Top 10 Plays Adapted from Novels”
July 22, 2016

Top 10 Plays Adapted from Novels

We’ve gathered a list of titles that best exemplify the strength of theatre as a medium for the adaptation of novels.
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Featured image for “Nosferatu, Frankenstein & Music: Monster Makers”
July 20, 2016

Nosferatu, Frankenstein & Music: Monster Makers

Three mini-musicals each take a glimpse at a behind the scenes moment of some of history’s most iconic horror films.
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Featured image for “Signature In Schools”
July 14, 2016

Signature In Schools

Playwright Joe Calarco discusses writing for the Signature In Schools program, and the challenges it gives to students.
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Featured image for “Celebrate TUCK EVERLASTING Album Release with Cast, Creators at Barnes & Noble on 7/14”
July 11, 2016

Celebrate TUCK EVERLASTING Album Release with Cast, Creators at Barnes & Noble on 7/14

We are thrilled to welcome Tuck Everlasting into the Samuel French family, and can’t wait to celebrate their album release this Thursday!
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Featured image for “Top 5 Teen Collections”
July 11, 2016

Top 5 Teen Collections

Check out these five amazing collections of plays perfect for growing young artists!
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Featured image for “Summertime Reads”
June 30, 2016

Summertime Reads

Our team put our heads together (maybe over some bowls of ice cream) to create a list of summertime reading just for you. In the below, you’ll find all the adventures, romances, and even comical mishaps that summer can bring.
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Featured image for “Marilyn at 90”
June 29, 2016

Marilyn at 90

On June 1, 2016, Marilyn Monroe would have turned 90. To commemorate this event, a play by Rosary O’Neill titled Marilyn/God took Kansas City by storm. The piece focuses on the final moments of the beautiful actress’ life and her last thoughts before losing consciousness.
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Featured image for “ANTHONY ROSENTHAL, TRACIE THOMS, BRANDON URANOWITZ AND BETSY WOLFE TO JOIN “FALSETTOS””
June 28, 2016

ANTHONY ROSENTHAL, TRACIE THOMS, BRANDON URANOWITZ AND BETSY WOLFE TO JOIN “FALSETTOS”

FALSETTOS will begin previews Thursday, September 29, and run for 14 weeks only at the Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48 Street). Opening night will be Thursday, October 27.
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