Dael Orlandersmith journeys into the heart and soul of modern-day America--confronting the powerful forces of history, race, and politics. Drawn from interviews following the shooting of a black teenager, Michael Brown, by a white police officer, Darren Wilson, Orlandersmith embodies the many faces of a community rallying for justice and a country still yearning for change.
Two plays from David Adjmi. Marie Antoinette: The eyes of the court are on Marie Antoinette. Times change, and even the most fashionable queens go out of style. Drawing comparison between the gluttonous excess of Marie's era and the decadent materialism of the present day, Marie Antoinette holds up a mirror to our contemporary society, which just might be entertaining itself to death. 3C: The war in Vietnam is over and Brad, an ex-serviceman, lands in L.A. to start a new life. When he winds up trashed in Connie and Linda's kitchen after a wild night of partying, the three strike a deal over an arrangement that has hilarious and devastating consequences for everyone. Inspired by 1970s sitcoms and 1950s existentialist comedy, 3C is a terrifying yet amusing look at a culture that likes to amuse itself--even as it teeters on the brink of ruin.
Set on a chilly Christmas eve during the latter days of the Civil War, Paula Vogel's pageant play for all seasons weaves a tapestry of both fictional and historical characters, such as President and Mrs. Lincoln - together with holiday music, marches, hymns and spirituals of the period - to tell a story of companionship and communal hope arising from one of America's darkest hours. Paul Vogel's play with music A Civil War Christmas: An American Musical Celebration was first staged in this version at Long Wharf Theatre, Connecticut, in 2008.
The Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys is dedicated to the creation of strong, ethical black men. Pharus wants nothing more than to take his rightful place as leader of the school's legendary gospel choir, but can he find his way inside the hallowed halls of this institution if he sings in his own key?
A soldier returns from Iraq and struggles to find his place in the world, while somewhere in a chat room, recovering addicts forge an unbreakable bond. The boundaries of family and friendship are stretched across time and cyberspace in this second installment of Quiara AlegrÃa Hudes's acclaimed trilogy. Water By the Spoonful won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama 2012. It is the second in a three-play cycle which began with Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue and concludes with The Happiest Song Plays Last.
As you select something to perform, you might get ideas for exciting, contemporary work by looking at recent award winning plays, lists of frequently-produced plays, and recent reviews.
There are a number of online resources for actors that index scenes and monologues from plays that can help you get ideas and narrow down possibilities. There are many, many plays not represented in these databases, but they can save you some time in getting started.