The Best American Short Plays 2007-2008 [Hardcover]

Barbara Parisi (Author, Editor), Clay McLeod Chapman (Contributor)

Book Description

Series: Best American Short Plays | Publication Date: July 1, 2009

Applause is proud to continue the series that for over 60 years has been the standard of excellence for one-act plays in America. Our editor Barbara Parisi has selected the following 14 plays: A Roz by Any Other Name and Weird, by B. T. Ryback; Bricklayers Poet, by Joe Maruzzo; Laundry and Lies, by Adam Kraar; Light, by Jeni Mahoney; House of the Holy Moment, by Cary Pepper; The Disruptive, Discursive Delusions of Donald, by Michael Roderick; The Perfect Relationship, by Jill Elaine Hughes; The Hysterical Misogynist, by Murray Schisgal; The Perfect Medium, by Eileen Fischer; Outsourced, by Laura Shaine Cunningham; Elvis of Nazareth, by Jay Huling; Dead Trees, by Rick Pulos; Five Story Walkup, by Daniel Gallant, including his own play and others by John Guare, Neil LaBute, Quincy Long, Laura Shaine Cunningham, Clay McLeod Chapman, and Daniel Frederick Levin; and G.C., by Theodore Mann.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Barbara Parisi (Brooklyn, NY) is professor of theatre and performance studies at Long Island University's Brooklyn campus. She founded and is the executive director of the nonprofit Ryan Repertory Company at the Harry Warren Theatre in Brooklyn.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Applause Books (July 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557837503
• ISBN-13: 978-1557837509
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #474,860 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Clay McLeod Chapman is the creator of the rigorous storytelling session The Pumpkin Pie Show. He is the author of REST AREA, a collection of short stories, and MISS CORPUS, a novel, published by Hyperion books. He teaches writing at The Actors Studio MFA Program at Pace University.

Currently, he is writing a trilogy of children's novels titled THE TRIBE--book one, HOMEROOM HEADHUNTERS, is slated to hit the shelves in 2013, published by Hyperion books.

Visit him at: www.pumpkinpieshow.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly the Best of the Best, February 27, 2010

By 

Scott Heyward (Cincinnati, OH) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Best American Short Plays 2007-2008 (Hardcover)

This is a fantastic collection of the best one-act plays from very talented and expressive American playwrights. Highlights include Joe Maruzzo's wonderfully poignant "Bricklayers Poet," the witty and vulnerable "The Perfect Relationship" by Jill Elaine Hughes, and Cary Pepper's challenging and confrontational "House of the Holy Moment." As good as all the plays are, the very best is Jay Huling's bombastic and laugh-out-loud funny "Elvis of Nazareth." Huling places his Elvis Presley in a biblical fantasy that manages to show both reverence and near-blasphamy in almost the same breath. Other impressive playwrights in this work include Murray Schisgal, who wrote the screenplay for the motion picture "Tootsie," Theodore Mann, who co-founded New York's famous Circle in the Square Theatre, and the often-produced and multi-award winning Laura Shaine. All of these plays -- from Jay Huling's "Elvis of Nazareth" to Jeni Mahoney's very witty "Light" would make an excellent evening of theatre that would entertain and inspire audiences. At the very least, it's an enjoyable and easy read.

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Entertaining Plays That Are Easy to Produce, September 25, 2010

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Glenn Tyler (Tennessee, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Best American Short Plays 2007-2008 (Hardcover)

Every one of these short plays hits a homerun in their own way. And they all need only a small cast, have uncomplicated sets, and offer very good roles for men and women. Outstanding works by Adam Kraar, Michael Roderick, and Rick Pulos. "Elvis of Nazereth" by Jay Huling was very funny, and I got to meet Mr. Huling at the Tennessee Stage Company when they were producing one of his more well-known comedies. If you are looking for plays that are a quick read, offer a variety of comedy and drama, and have a freshness from the most cutting-edge voices in American theatre, this book is a great choice.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More good plays, August 25, 2009

By 

Lee A. Jacobus "Author of Volcanic Jesus" (Clinton, CT USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Best American Short Plays 2007-2008 (Paperback)

Another good collection. I liked Eileen Fischer's Perfect Medium, on a "revival" of Oscar Wilde.