Comedy 90 minutes (Optional Intermission)
Flexible cast from 20 to 50 with 20F, 15M, plus multiple gender flexible roles (optional doubling or combining roles)
Sets: Minimal
Jude and a few of her young actor friends have volunteered to clean up the theatre before the load-in of their next production. While in the basement sweeping, Barnaby accidentally knocks open a secret panel in the wall. Inside is a mysterious box wrapped in a tarp and tied with rope. Once unwrapped they discover that it is an ancient prop trunk. The trunk is covered with warnings. “Props… Not yours… Don’t touch!” The temptation is too much for them. They open the trunk and remove some of the props. And that’s when the chaos begins. Whenever a prop is removed, the production using that prop comes alive on the stage. By the time they realize what they have done, multiple productions are happening at the same time. Unfortunately, until the props are returned, the plays continue to run in a loop. To stop the bedlam, they must put themselves in the productions and retrieve the props. This doesn’t go over well with the cast of the plays. Robin Hood and his Merry Band, Prince John and the Sheriff of Rottingham, (“It’s NOTTINGHAM!”) Long John Silver and his pirates, Maid Mary Ann and Ginger, and many more get in on the action in this fast-paced mystery comedy. Lots of roles for young and old and a heck of a lot of fun!!!
Comedy 60 - 70 minutes (Optional Intermission)
Flexible cast from 20 - 50 with 32F, 14 M, plus gender flexible roles (optional doubling or combining roles)
Sets: Minimal
Billie Jean formed the “Poor Theatre Company” to save the arts in her small, sports-obsessed town of Lizard Lick NC. It has been impossible to find a place to perform but the members are all dedicated to the mission, their love for the theatre, and their trust in Billie as their fearless leader. They just want to perform. They have decided to do “Phantom of the Opera”. It will be their first attempt at a musical and their most ambitious endeavor. If they can only find a venue. A surprise call from Billie early on a Saturday morning has piqued their curiosity and they meet her in front of a kudzu-covered building with all the windows boarded up. When they enter, they find themselves inside a perfect replica of the Palais Garnier. It seems her Uncle Horace wanted to recreate the Paris opera house for his beloved wife, Florence, in perfect detail; the curtains, the plush seats, the dressing rooms, copies of the famous statues, every tunnel, every vault, even a secret lair somewhere deep in the bowels of the theatre. When his wife, died he boarded up the building. At the suggestion of her mother, Billie decides to ask her uncle if the Poor Theatre can use the space for their production. To her surprise, he gives her the keys and permission to use any costumes, props, or sets. There are a few caveats that Billie neglects to share with the company. When they try to rehearse, the fun begins. That is the fun for the audience. Every time someone almost sings a note, something happens to stop the rehearsal. A piano with no keys, a keyboard with a broken power cord, a crashing chandelier, blown fuses, a guided tour of the building with tourists that think they are touring a soap opera set, Miss Bessie’s Baby Ballerinas, a group of middle-school ensemble members (“Aren’t they a little young? Yes, but they can SING!), and, of course, a Phantom or two or maybe three, running around wreaking havoc. Lots of action, near misses, and laughs, this farce has everything but music!
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA The NON Musical
PROPS! Not yours, Don't touch
Once Upon A Christmas Eve
Comedy 60 - 70 minutes (Optional Intermission)
Flexible cast from 20 to 50 with 20F, 16 M, plus gender flexible roles (optional doubling or combining roles)
Sets: Minimal
The Drama Club of The St Nicholas Academy finds a beautifully wrapped present waiting for them when they arrive at rehearsal for the annual Christmas play. Inside the box are a Santa hat, a King’s crown, and a note from Mr. Claus their drama teacher. It seems they have no script, no costumes, no set, no props, no director, and one hour to write and produce a play that expresses the true meaning of Christmas. And to complicate the situation they discover Mr. Claus has also invited the girl’s soccer team, the decorating committee for the Christmas party, and the 4-H club to participate. Since they aren’t quite sure how the Santa hat and Crown fit together, they decide to have two acts in their play. Act one will be about Santa, presents, and the commercial side of Christmas. Act two will be about the birth of baby Jesus. Everything is going smoothly with only a few exceptions when a surprise visitor arrives at the Nativity. Complete with reindeer, elves, shepherds, scooter-riding kings, a choir of tiny angels, and a skinny Salvation Army Santa that they’ve borrowed from the corner, their production is filled with music, laughs, and a special Christmas message for young and old.
Comedy 60 - 70 minutes (Optional Intermission)
Flexible cast from 20 to 45 with 6F, 12 M, plus gender flexible roles (optional doubling or combining roles)
Sets: Unit Set Living Room
“'Twas the Night Before Christmas“ and the storm of the century has shut practically everything down for miles. For some unknown reason, all homes have lost power except for Joe Christmas and his wife Mary. (“Mary Christmas, how cool is that?”) The only lights visible in the storm are Joe’s annual outrageously overdone holiday light show featuring a star that can be seen from outer space. When they finally get their children, Chris and Holly to bed, they “settle down for a long winter’s nap”. They are awakened suddenly “when out on the lawn there arose such clatter, they sprang from their bed” to discover Santa Claus breaking in the front door. Without Rudolph, who is home with a cold, and guided by Joe’s magnificent star, he had to make an emergency landing on Joe’s roof, but the sled slides off and lands in a snow drift. Joe and Mary must help Santa back on his way and save Christmas. Things get complicated when the kids wake up and meet “Uncle Nick from up North”. As the storm rages outside, a bus of angelic orphans, lost in the storm, follows the star to the Christmas home. The Shepherds, Joe’s neighbors, drop in to see what’s up, and just when the orphans realize they will not be home for Santa, there is a surprise delivery by the Wisemen Brothers with gifts for all. “Uncle Nick, you are a saint.” “So, they say.” When Joe’s electricity is finally lost, Uncle Nick calms everyone down by telling his favorite story and the scene becomes a modern-day nativity. *The play has a talent show built-in which is a great way to lengthen the evening and show off the talent of your group.
A Children's Christmas Carol (with apologies to Charles Dickens)
Comedy 60 - 70 minutes (Optional Intermission)
Flexible cast from 25 to 50+ with 25F, 22 M, plus gender flexible roles (optional doubling or combining roles)
Sets: Minimal
This hilarious adaption of Dickens’ classic story is faithful to the novel with a few, well maybe more than a few surprises thrown in to make the play more fun and accessible to young audiences. Ebeneezer Scrooge, the greediest man in town, intends to kick the Widow Whipple and her two children to the street on Christmas day, threatens to put the toy vendor out of business, refuses to donate money to the missionaries for feeding the poor, declines his clerk, Bob Cratchit’s request for a lump of coal to warm up the office, and instructs his nephew, Fred: “Don’t let the door hit you on your way out!” when Fred sings, “why can’t we be friends?” and invites him to Christmas dinner as he does every year. Back in his cold, dimly lit parlor, he discovers no ketchup in his happy meal, even though he asked for extra ketchup. “That’s why I never use the drive-thru” screams an unwelcomed visitor, his dead partner, Jacob Marley, who is doomed to wander the world for eternity in chains that he forged himself in life. Marley has come to warn Scrooge that he has been working on his own chain for the last seven years. “It is a ponderous chain.” Scrooge will be visited by three spirits with the first arriving when the clock strikes one. This is his only chance to alter his future. With the help of Christmas Past, Present, and Future he sees the error of his ways and becomes a new man. A group of Christmas carolers is used to transition between the scenes, making for a smooth-flowing production, and the laughter provides an evening of fun and Christmas spirit. Perfect for youth groups and community theatres. In the original production, Scrooge was the only adult actor. The remaining cast members were young actors.
'Twas the Night Before Christmas
Bobby's Plays
For more information about Bobby's Plays please send us an email at nicole@adventuresintheatre.com
Bobby's Plays are written for success and ease of production. Flexible cast size (20 - 60 characters). Running times vary from 60 - 70 mins.
Bobby's Plays are perfect for Youth Theatres, Schools and Community Theatres.
Hamelot or Before there was Spam There was Ham
Comedy 60 - 70 minutes (Optional Intermission)
Flexible cast from 20 -50 with 25F, 12 M, plus gender flexible roles (optional doubling or combining roles)
Sets: Minimal
Paul McCarty has always wanted to play the role of Hamlet. His one opportunity was lost after his family had to relocate from Connecticut to a small town in the south. In his new much smaller school, the masquerader's drama club, with a few stipulations, has finally been given the opportunity to use the only auditorium in town for their production. The club president, Gwen, a triple “threat”, wants to do the musical, Camelot. Paul wants to do Hamlet but is outvoted. When he challenges the curse of the “Scottish play” he is knocked unconscious by a “light bar flying in”. When he wakes up with a knot on his head the size of a golf ball, he is confronted by Sir Dancelot and his Page named Paige. He soon realizes that he has been transported back in time to the age of King Arthur and the aromatic kingdom of Hamelot…wait, what?? After proving that his “magic” is more powerful than the evil wizard Marlin; “It’s Merlin!” Paul is given the title “Sir Boss”. He immediately changes the name of the kingdom from Hamelot to Camelot and with the help of Sir Elton of John, Sir Charles of Barkley (the Knights with the round table), and his friends Sandy and Clarence, he begins the process of modernizing the kingdom, with factories, telegraphs, telephones, female knights and equal pay! He invents sneakers and blue jeans to the delight of the Damsels in Distressed Jeans. He builds a medieval dinner theatre serving turkey legs and wine where the first production is Hamlet starring you know who. There are lots of great roles, elaborate costumes and sets, and even a little hip-hop in this hilariously funny adaption of Mark Twain’s, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (with sincere apologies to Mark), this play promises medieval merriment for all.
Robin Hood and His Merry, Merry Men
Comedy 60 - 70 minutes (Optional Intermission)
Flexible cast from 20 to 50 with 21F, 7 M, plus gender flexible roles (optional doubling or combining roles)
Sets: Minimal
Robin Hood is the most courageous and misunderstood outlaw in literature. We know that he stole from the rich and gave to the poor and was the best archer in the land. But did you know that he wore glasses? Robin is forced into hiding by the Evil Prince John and “not-such-a-nice-guy” the Sheriff of Rottingham. When the Sherwood Gazette, the local newspaper, reports that Robin has been captured and executed, most of his men split up what’s left of Prince John’s gold and move to Myrtle Beach. Robin is forced to hold an audition for new Merry Men but unfortunately, no men show up. Since Sherwood Forest does not discriminate he enlists the merriest women from the audition to join his group. Prince John and the Sheriff concoct a plan to draw Robin out of hiding. They will hold an archery contest and invite every archer in the land to enter. The winner will win the hand of Robin’s true love, Maid Maryann, against her will of course. But they soon learn that no one has ever defeated Robin in such a contest. Unaware that Robin has lost his glasses, the Prince changes the event to a lip-synching contest. Robin and his remaining Merry Men; Little Big John, Friar Tuck, and Will Scarlet, along with the Merry Women, and the Medieval Merry Maids must rescue Maryann, her Lady Ginger, and the “Ladies Who Are Tired of Waiting”. They attend the contest disguised as peasant farmers. There are several contestants, including Maryann, who competes for her own hand. Robin, using the name Milli Vanilli, wins and reveals himself to his love. Before the Prince’s men can capture Robin, King Richard arrives to save the day. He has learned the truth from Skipper and Gilligan. He exiles the Sheriff and sentences Prince John to 1000 hours of community service feeding the poor. Lots of great roles for young and older actors, lots of cultural references, and laughs make this a must for large groups. Ideal for youth or community theatres.
The Best Western Melodrama Ever or Home Alone... on the Range
Comedy 60 - 70 minutes (Optional Intermission)
Flexible cast from 20 - 50 with 17F, 12M, plus gender flexible roles (optional doubling or combining roles)
Sets: Minimal
Old west melodramas are unique and truly an American art form. This fast-paced, action-packed, zany comedy filled with a plethora of hilarious characters has fun roles for all. The good guys are really good and the bad guys are really bad. Black Jack and his Hole in the Head gang are determined to take over all of Red Rock. He already owns the Ponderosa, Hickory Farm, and the Hidden Valley Ranch (“How did he even find it?”) He will soon take over possession of the Little House on the Prarie and evict Granny Smith, Truly Sweet, her little daughter (some say possessed) Lulu and Truly’s “not so bright” brother, Chester unless Truly consents to marry Black Jack. Bessie Bates, owner of the Bates Hotel has sent for US Marshall Rory Rogers to come to the rescue while her nephew, Wilbur is out trying to raise the mortgage payment by selling his horse, Ed. Throw in Texas Pete, the Harvey Girls; Betty Cracker, Marfa Stewart, and Little Debbie, and their invisible 6-foot-tall Jackrabbit, an attempted kidnapping, a heroine tied to the railroad tracks, and a villain that will seemingly stop at nothing to get his bride and the action never stops. Everything comes to a climax when Black Jack and his gang show up at the annual roundup to compete for the total ownership of the Red Rock. The audience will cheer the heroes and heroines and boo the villain in this rip-snortin’, rootin’-tootin’ spoof of the old west. Add in some old-time western sing-a-long tunes, something that may or may not look like a square dance, and of course a surprise ending for good measure. This play is easy to produce and a lot of fun for all. It works well for youth theatre and community theatres.
Treasure Island Arrrr Comedy
Comedy 60 - 70 minutes (Optional Intermission)
Flexible cast from 20 to 30 with 7F, 7M, plus gender flexible roles (optional doubling or combining roles)
Sets: Minimal
This comedic adaptation is faithful to the classic Robert Louis Stevenson novel. Well sort of. It begins at the Admiral Benbow Inn on the coast of England where Jim Hawkins, a brave lass (she was named Jim after her grandmother), is determined to save the Inn for her and her mother. After a visit from Bill Bones, she finds herself in possession of the only map to the legendary Captain Flint’s buried treasure. Pursued by a group of pirates, she enlists the help of her friend Lady Trewlawney. They hire a ship and a suspicious crew to sail to Coney Island and find the gold. When the crew turns out to be the very pirates, Jim and Lady Trewlawney are fleeing, a mutiny ensues and their adventure quickly becomes a tale of treachery and mayhem featuring a host of legendary swashbucklers, including the “not so sane” Ben Gunn, the sinister Israel Hands, the brassy female pirate Anne Bonney and her sidekick Clyde, Bluebeard, No Beard, Crazy Eye (always wears his patch on the wrong eye), Black Dog, Calico Jane, Mary Readswell, P-ew and perhaps the most famous hero-villain of all time, Long John Silver. This play is salty and silly and guaranteed to thrill the soul of anyone that has ever longed for treasure and adventure on the high seas.
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Mystery @ Sunset
Mystery Comedy 60 - 70 minutes (Optional Intermission)
Flexible cast from 20 to 50 with 20F, 13 M, plus gender flexible roles (optional doubling or combining roles)
Sets: Minimal
Who doesn’t love a good mystery comedy? The kids at Saint Nicholas Academy are at it again! Someone wants to tear down the old movie house in town and turn it into a parking deck. The drama club has been using the old theatre for their productions since their school drama program was cancelled due to a lack of funds. In an old volume of Shakespeare discovered in the school library they find a piece of parchment with, what they believe, is a clue to a treasure hidden somewhere in the old theatre. They decide to sneak into the building after midnight, find the treasure, and save the theatre and their drama club. BUT…does the girls’ soccer team, the 4-H club, and just about everybody else in the school know about their secret plan? There are lots of twists, turns, and laughs as they all search for the treasure. But is there really a treasure? Is the theatre haunted? Is that really a body in the costume shop? Why do kids keep disappearing inside the “asparagus” (it’s a sarcophagus)? And who is really behind the sinister plot to scare the kids? Could it be Baldrick Barkwater, a local real estate magnate who dislikes theatre, music, dance, and soccer, with the help of his sidekicks, Moose and Squirrel? This play is a real audience pleaser, easy to produce and as always there are a plethora of characters providing roles for all.