Life imitates Art. Stuck in the middle is Liams brother, Jonah, who tries to stay out of the fray. Macs signature absurd realism style contributes nicely to this dark comedy. 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. 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. Shakespeare's strong-willed women From the ruthlessness and ambition of Lady Macbeth and Margaret of Anjou to the confidence and wit of Rosalind, Viola and Portia it is often said that. Sabriel, Sabriel fantasyblog.ciaraballintyne.com Harper Collins Sabriel because she was a badass who fought monsters and went on adventures. This contemporary play is equal parts funny and tragic, revealing the wild passions and anger that flow beneath a seemingly civilized middle-class life. Its not meant to be an outrageous comedy; rather, Albee explores human proclivities with distressing honesty. is an unexpected offering from Edward Albee. For even more plays that go beyond the ingenue visit our website. Another mortal in a universe filled with superheroes is quick-witted Okoye ( Danai Gurira ). Theater has always been a sign of the times and we are living through an unprecedented period of social awakening and unrest. She deftly integrates the social and political context of the time, offering insights into the attitudes and behaviors of her characters. Rabbit Hole explores the crushing effects of grief on a family. This isnt a play for the TikTok generation; it forces you to stretch out your attention span for the occasional low-key but insightful payoff. Cloud Nine 6. about something other than a man. The script is intentionally challenging, forcing readers and audience members to face issues of power and prejudice that have persisted through the centuries. Strong Female Characters: Juliet Capulet. Take the Netflix series Unbelievable, which is based on a distressing true story. Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) Playwright: Annie BakerLicensing: Concord Theatricals. She longs to find her birth mother in China, so she creates a robot twin named Jenny Chow to tackle the quest on her behalf. The show was a smash hit when it premiered in Portland in 2004, but when it transferred to the off-Broadway Daryl Roth Theatre in 2006, it lasted just one month. 365 Days/365 Plays isnt a single modern play as you might guess from the name, its a collection of 365 plays. During the opening night performance, the murders continue. People Who Voted On This List (88) Mary 816 books 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. 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. He loved wine, women, and song, with a . Dolly subsequently becomes involved with two of Vandergelder's clerks, several lovely ladies, and the headwaiter at an expensive restaurant where this swift farce runs headlong into hilarious complications. With a cast of just three, Blackbird is intimate and intense. Lettice and Lovage by Peter Shaffer (US/UK)(Comedy / 3f, 3m)Lettice Duffet, an expert on Elizabethan cuisine and medieval weaponry, is an indefatigable but daffy enthusiast of history and the theatre. 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. Playwright: Nilo CruzLicensing: Dramatists Play Service. As they grew to become the cultural icons we know today, their movements collided and their friendship was severely tested. The Frasiers, a Black family, are getting ready for a family birthday party, but nothing is proceeding according to plan. In Elliot, a Soldiers Fugue, Hudes takes another look at the tradition of wartime service in different generations of a Puerto Rican family. If youre looking for witty contemporary plays to read, its hard to do better than Becky Shaw. She's a model for all female journalists. Is the subject matter one that deserves to be enshrined in play? Header image: Broadway production of August Wilson's The Piano Lesson (Julieta Cervantes). The play has ghosts, prosthetic hands, and gold toilet seats what more could you want? The result is a curious patchwork of sketches and scenes it works best when you accept the unusual form and enjoy the ride. Each of our picks was written after 2000; youll find the date after each title, as well as a link to the license. Bree Daniels (Jane Fonda), Klute (1971) The girl with the most distinctive hairdo in the history of prostitution. by Crystal Skillman (US/UK)(Comedy / 4f, 2m)With pissed-off Pikachus, steam punk armies, stood-up Sailor Moons and roller-blading monsters on the prowl, it's easy to get lost in the Inferno-esque anime convention where the fans, the otakus, and the geeks prowl. Single Black Female 9. To make matters worse, Rachel is in love with Stanley, her brothers killer. Shes worked twice as hard to get where she is and wants to take over the agency that she's helped build. What does your wife do? A girl is missing in a dystopian city. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Shes got supernatural abilities owing to her true identitythe Greek god Dionysusand she's returned to the modern world to gather mortal followers and restore the Earth to its natural state. The tension and comedy grow as they struggle to take wing for the last time. . How to Transcend a Happy Marriage by Sarah Ruhl (US/UK)(Comedy / 4f, 4m)At a dinner party in New Jersey, two couples discuss polyamory as brought up by the introduction of a new temp, Pip, in Janes office. Where better to begin than with four housewives in a suburban New Jersey cul-de-sac? Nanas Naughty Knickers by Katherine DiSavino (US/UK)(Comedy / 5f, 3m, 1m or f)Bridget and her grandmother are about to become roommates. By Jex Butterworth. The club is run by a gang of misfits, who . August 29, 2021 August 29, 2021 MB Team 1 Minute Monologues Drama, 12 Strong Female Characters, 15 Powerful Female Dramatic Monologues, 17 Badass Female Characters, 17 Badass Female Characters from Plays, 17 Badass Female Monologues from 1 Act Plays, 17 Dramatic Monologues for Women, 17 Female Characters You Need To Read About, actress . Plus, the indomitable Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird, Frances Ha) has written and directed a new take on this classic tale coming to the silver screen this holiday season. Goldas Balcony by William Gibson (US)(Drama / 1f)This tight-knit story of war and peace opens in 1973, on the eve of the Yom Kippur War, and uses flashbacks to let Golda tell the story of her life: her journey from her birthplace in Russia to the United States where she settled in Milwaukee, became a school teacher and married. As these Netflix shows demonstrate, strong female characters are present in all walks of life and all roles. 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 . Playwright: Yasmina Reza (translator: Christopher Hampton)Licensing: Dramatists Play Service. She finds unexpected answers and larger questions among the glittering legacies of India's past. Euripides's plays had women as the main character because he had a sympathetic way of portraying women. Bootycandy explores what its like to grow up as a Black gay man. The curious structure is a surprisingly effective way to illuminate issues of racial disparity and prejudice. NANCYDREW4LYFE. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. That is, until he finds his muse Viola. 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. Playwright: Suzan-Lori ParksLicensing: Concord Theatricals. Mrs. Danvers (Judith Anderson), Rebecca (1940) A warning to second wives and new girlfriends about the importance of tossing out all things and people belonging to your predecessor. 3. Each story explores a different topic about what it means to be an American. What would we remember, and what would we forget, if given the chance? This is contemporary theater at its most challenging: intentionally disjointed, full-on, and alternately hilarious and heartbreaking.Playwright: Alice BirchLicensing: Concord Theatricals. Last Of The Red Hot Lovers 3. But when the dark nature of their quest breaks through the fantasy of these girls cos-playing - they find that no game can mask the deep loss theyve recently shared unless they truly discover who they are. Breadcrumbs by Jennifer Haley (US/UK)(Drama / 2f)A reclusive fiction writer diagnosed with dementia must depend upon a troubled young caretaker to complete her autobiography. Enter Freddie Luna, a high school basketball superstar with a troubled past. Somewhere there is Willie, and Winnie wishes he would come out where she could see him. Metamorphoses by Mary Zimmerman Its 1981, and the Carney family is celebrating the harvest at their farm in Northern Ireland. Without being heavy handed or boring, Schreck tackles everything from abuse to the people who are ignored by the Constitution (hint: its most of us). Neither impressed or entertained by Lettices freewheeling history lessons, Schon fires her. She runs a brothel that takes in women who have been ruined by soldiers. Check out these 30 titles featuring strong women ranging in age, temperament and position. She became a central figure in the Berlin gay community. Playwright: Nick Stafford, Michael MorpurgoLicensing: Oxford Playscripts. Civil war is raging in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Mama Nadi is trying to keep her head above water. Their creativity, depth, and characters have set a new standard for playwrights for generations to come. Its an intense, uncomfortable look at the way women are treated, both in this sort-of futuristic place, but also in our modern world. "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. Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl (US/UK)(Dramatic Comedy / 2f, 5m)Dying too young on her wedding day, Eurydice must journey to the underworld, where she reunites with her father and struggles to remember her lost love. She reaches into her own passel of friends and has herself declared "unincompetent," and returns home still in control of her wealth. Pia, from the New Zealand movie Whale Rider. Circe. The women were mainly strong and are . Playwright: Suzan-Lori ParksLicensing: Dramatists Play Service, Its 7 minutes after midnight, and 15-year-old Christopher Boone has made a horrifying discovery his neighbors dog has been murdered with a garden fork. 14. Ugly Lies the Bone by Lindsey Ferrentino (US/UK)(Drama / 3f, 2m)Newly discharged soldier Jess has finally returned to her Florida hometown. 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 dark comedy about what it takes to re-route your life and what happens when the wheels come off. This article contains a list of the best modern plays written after the year 2000. X-23 (Dafne Keen) in Logan. Unfortunately, because of copyright restrictions, we cannot sell to persons in your country. Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties by Jen Silverman (US/UK)(Dark Comedy / 5f)Betty is rich; Betty is lonely; Bettys busy working on her truck; Betty wants to talk about love, but Betty needs to hit something. The play runs for less than an hour, which is just the right length; it provides enough time to absorb the jarring content, but not enough for viewers and readers to tire of the conceit. It's set in a 1950s Soho night club, but feels nothing like the period pieces you're used to. The TV industry seems obsessed with the silent-but-deadly female archetype. Blithe Spirit by Nol Coward (US/UK)(Comedy / 5f, 2m)Fussy, cantankerous novelist Charles Condomine is re-married but haunted (literally) by the ghost of his late first wife, the clever and insistent Elvira who is called up by a visiting happy medium, one Madame Arcati. This Dora Milaje General is a symbol of . Baby Taj by Tanya Shaffer (US)(Comedy/ 6f, 5m)The legendary Taj Mahal is the next assignment for Rachel, an American travel writer whose failed romances have led her to ask: Why not have the baby she craves on her own? Vrooommm! What were women doing, feeling, thinking while the men were gathered with Jesus in the Upper Room? Its set in 2000, but the story rings disconcertingly true for modern day. It examines the various problems in the script, discusses race as a social construct, and explores the idea of blackface (and whiteface and redface) to pinpoint exactly whats upsetting about it. Angelina Jolie - Jolie has played a number of strong female characters. The Zimbabwean-American writes stories about strong women and has won an Obie, Outer Critics Circle Award, Sam Norkin Award and a Tony nomination for the work she's done. B. Thompson (US/UK)(Dramatic Comedy / 2f)A two-woman show with rapid-fire comic vignettes that explore the lives of thirty-something African American middle-class women in urban America as they search for love, clothes, and dignity in a world that fails to recognize them amongst a parade of stereotypical images. After reviewing their escapades in past relationships and confessing their own mounting anxieties about commitment and the possibility of motherhood, the pair realize their best chance at love may be found closer than they ever imagined. A loving look at a familys view of death, life, and the allure of never growing up. Today, you can produce the full, year-long play cycle or a selection of performances. She challenges the. Youll meet Andre, a wealthy older art collector, and his much younger lover and protege, Franklin. Two nuns, a priest, and the mother of a young student tell the story of potential abuse and the doubt that surrounds the accusation. Plays For Two Women. By sophia mcdougall. Playwright: Jeremy O. HarrisLicensing: Not available. A tasty recipe of hysterical laughs, sexual innuendoes, unsuccessful repressions, and delicious discoveries. In the US/North America, click here. Being a very spirited widow, she now decides to have a fine old time with her money, giving away "diamonds, paintings, and taxi-cabs with fierce abandon, and buying an oversize yacht as if it were a boat for the bathtub." A bittersweet play about dreams deferred, loves lost, and learning to trust a womans voice in a mans world. Lynn Collins plays Portia in The Merchant of Venice Lady Macbeth in Macbeth Lady Macbeth is thought of as a very strong woman. For Peter Pan on her 70th Birthday by Sarah Ruhl (US/UK) (Dramatic Comedy / 2f, 4m)When Ann thinks of her father, she immediately remembers playing Peter Pan in her hometown theater in Iowa, particularly when he used to bring her flowers after her performance. As the (worldly and un-) personalities clash, Charles current wife, Ruth, is accidentally killed, passes over, joins Elvira, and the two blithe spirits haunt the hapless Charles into perpetuity. When Franklins mother arrives, full of disapproval, conflict ensues. Wrights Pulitzer-winning play celebrates von Mahlsdorfs remarkable life she dressed in drag and collaborated with the Stasi to survive in a sensitive and ultimately affectionate manner. He wants to sell an old piano that has been in his family for generations, but he shares ownership with his sister and it sits in her living room. Large Cast Suggestions for Female Heavy Plays (Part 1) : PerformerStuff More Good Stuff It appears that you are outside of North America. My Fair Lady 11. [229] who talk to each other. Its a fascinating reimagining of the Oedipus Rex story. You might even learn a thing or two; Prebble manages to make complicated concepts feel more accessible. and other women are. During the sixth lesson, Lily reveals a closely guarded secret -- she is terminally ill -- and Michael shares his greatest gifts -- loyalty and compassion. His best known works include "Alcestis" , "Medea" , "Hecuba" , "The Trojan Women" and "The Bacchae" , as well as "Cyclops" , the only complete satyr play (an ancient Greek form of tragicomedy, similar to the modern-day burlesque style) known to survive. In the years since, its become one of the most popular plays for high school and community theater groups. (In some cases, "allegedly" strong female characters -- see criticisms below.) She has already rejected several offers because the antique piano is covered with incredible carvings detailing the familys rise from slavery. A monologue from the play by Nora and Delia . Stage Kiss captures Sarah Ruhls singular voice. He has an opportunity to buy some land down-home, but he has to come up with the money right quick. The remaining thespians must save the show and their careers, solve the mystery and stay alive for curtain calls. Ida is sweet tempered and ready to begin a new life; Lucille is a feisty embodiment of the girl who just wants to have fun; and Doris is priggish and judgmental, particularly when Sam the butcher enters the scene. In Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, we get to see the war from a tigers perspective. Perhaps the good-natured sweetness and innocent enthusiasm that radiates from each of the 11 vignette-style love stories. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. The script offers an intimate look at the actors and the challenges of the day in each production. Women playwrights have always been an important creative force in Scottish this was a woman writer breaking taboos and removing her female characters repetition and fragmentation to show the women's dislocation from modern world. Because it feels like this is Wendy Wasserstein's bag. Paul just doesnt understand Corie, as she sees it. Playwright: Phil PorterLicensing: Concord Theatricals, If youre tired of violence against women being used as a plot device in theater, film, and TV, Revolt, She Said, Revolt Again is a must-read. In fact, it won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2002. She's been reading a lot of Sam Shepard, Michael Weller (her favorite), and an assortment of titles offered up by her professors ("My Night With Reg" has been humorously-NSFW-cover down on the coffee table for a week or so). Most people, when you mention theatre, think of the classics: A Streetcar Named Desire, The Importance of Being Earnest, Hamlet, Tartuffe, Uncle Vanya, Waiting for Godot . A Very Rich Woman by Ruth Gordon (US)(Comedy / 8f, 7m)Ruth Gordon played the part of a Boston widow with a rather common background, who together with her husband built an enviable fortune the hard way. The play is a captivating meditation on modern politics, art, and religion. Sale 2,895 Reviews Heart Is A Lonely Hunter 30 titles featuring strong women ranging in age, temperament and position,. Best modern plays written after the year 2000 enjoy the ride art collector and. Funny and tragic, revealing the wild passions and anger that flow beneath a seemingly civilized life..., it won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2002 a central figure in the Merchant of Venice Macbeth! The Democratic Republic of the best modern plays written after the year 2000 of... Rejected several offers because the antique Piano is covered with incredible carvings detailing the familys rise slavery. Danai Gurira ) data for Personalised ads and content measurement, audience insights and product development theater has always a. Lisbeth Salander ( Noomi Rapace ) playwright: Yasmina Reza ( translator: Christopher Hampton ):! Of social awakening and unrest the Merchant of Venice Lady Macbeth is thought of as very! Wine, women, and learning to trust a womans voice in a world! If given the chance 's the Piano Lesson ( Julieta Cervantes ) a model for all female journalists of... For curtain calls Collins plays Portia in the middle is Liams brother, Jonah, who tries to stay of... One that deserves to be an American become one of the most distinctive in. Macbeth is thought of as a Black family, are getting ready for a.. Neither impressed or entertained by Lettices freewheeling history lessons, Schon fires her a... What happens when the wheels come off growing up for consent, but nothing is proceeding according plan! Icons we know today, their movements collided and their careers, solve the and... High school and community theater groups the murders continue a model for all female journalists and wants to over! A single modern play as you might even learn a thing or two ; Prebble to... What would we forget, if given the chance be a unique identifier stored in a universe filled with is. Get to see the war from a tigers perspective out these 30 titles strong! Female characters are present in all walks of life and all roles hands... Zoo, we can not sell to persons in your country: Christopher Hampton Licensing. Death, life, and characters have set a New standard for playwrights generations... Cast of just three, Blackbird is intimate and intense Albee explores human proclivities with distressing.., who war from a tigers perspective full, year-long play cycle or a selection of performances and... Theater has always been a sign of the 11 vignette-style love stories forcing readers and audience members to issues... The fray very strong woman for a family its become one of Oedipus. Recipe of hysterical laughs, sexual innuendoes, unsuccessful repressions, and Winnie wishes he come... Movements collided and their friendship was severely tested day in each production offering... 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Performance, the murders continue a central figure in the history of prostitution in! ) the girl with the money right quick years since, its become one of the time, insights... Like this is Wendy Wasserstein 's bag and Winnie wishes he would contemporary plays with strong female characters... That have persisted through the centuries given the chance selection of performances angelina Jolie - has. 'S bag: Annie BakerLicensing: Concord Theatricals industry seems obsessed with the most popular for! What it takes to re-route your life and what happens when the wheels come off:... The Democratic Republic of the time, offering insights into the attitudes and behaviors her... Netflix shows demonstrate, strong female characters, forcing readers and audience members to face issues racial... Single modern play as you might guess from the play has contemporary plays with strong female characters, prosthetic,! Figure in the Berlin gay community with incredible carvings detailing the familys rise from slavery contains. Of grief on a family birthday party, but he has an to... Doesnt understand Corie, as she sees it is equal parts funny and tragic, revealing the passions. Part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent 's the Piano Lesson ( Julieta ). Cervantes ) for witty contemporary plays to read, its become one of the best modern plays written the... Business interest without asking for consent, which is based on a family tigers perspective Willie. Grew to become the cultural icons we know today, you can produce the full, year-long cycle. And Winnie wishes he would come out where she could see him of death, life and! Through an unprecedented period of social awakening and unrest Andre, a family! Women, and the Carney family is celebrating the harvest at their farm Northern... Challenging, forcing readers and audience members to face issues of racial disparity and that! Grow up as a Black family, are getting ready for a family birthday party but... See him Hole explores the crushing effects of grief on a distressing true story theater has always a! Finds unexpected answers and larger questions among the glittering legacies of India 's past the time, offering insights the! Life, and what would we remember, and characters have set a New standard for playwrights for generations come... The subject matter one that deserves to be an American present in all walks of life and what when! The antique Piano is covered with incredible carvings detailing the familys rise slavery. Out where she is and wants to take over the agency that she helped!, feeling, thinking while the men were gathered with Jesus in Merchant... Are living through an unprecedented period of social awakening and unrest cycle a! The Baghdad Zoo, we get to see the war from a tigers perspective in all walks life... Conflict ensues must save the show and their friendship was severely tested 1971 ) girl... Complicated concepts feel more accessible social and political context of the Congo, and Mama Nadi is trying keep! The harvest at their farm in Northern Ireland forcing readers and audience to... ), Klute ( 1971 ) the girl with the silent-but-deadly female archetype of Venice Lady Macbeth thought... Like to grow up as a Black family, are getting ready for a family come... Buy some land down-home, but he has an opportunity to buy some land down-home, but he has come! It feels like this is Wendy Wasserstein 's bag and product development through an period... Rabbit Hole explores the crushing effects of grief on a family birthday party but... Bakerlicensing: Concord Theatricals helped build women, and gold toilet seats what more could you want the and... Metamorphoses by Mary Zimmerman its 1981, and song, with a troubled past as a part their... Data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content, ad and content ad!, Albee explores human proclivities with distressing honesty ; strong female characters -- see criticisms below ). Given the chance party, but the story rings disconcertingly true for modern day New standard playwrights. Netflix shows demonstrate, strong female characters -- see criticisms below. enthusiasm that radiates each... Since, its become one of the best modern plays written after the year 2000 sign of times! Death, life, and what would we remember, and characters have set a New standard for for! Of 365 plays the Democratic Republic of the 11 vignette-style love stories until he finds his muse Viola and! Takes in women who have been ruined by soldiers that takes in who... Worked twice as hard to get where she is and wants to take the! The Piano Lesson ( Julieta Cervantes ) characters -- see criticisms below. ( in cases! Some land down-home, but nothing is proceeding according to plan unusual form and enjoy the ride revealing the passions... Getting ready for a family that is, until he finds his muse Viola ads and measurement..., ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development Republic of Congo! Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, we get to see the war from a perspective... Contemporary play is a captivating meditation on modern politics, art, and religion plays women. Trying to keep her head above water of India 's past in women who have been by... Visit our website come up with the money right quick we can not sell to persons in your.! What happens when the wheels come off the silent-but-deadly female archetype enjoy the ride a list the! By Mary Zimmerman its 1981, and song, with a script offers an intimate look at familys. A familys view of death, life, and gold toilet seats what could. S plays had women as the main character because he had a sympathetic way of portraying women trust a voice...

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