Plays and Playwrights 2001 [Paperback]

Martin Denton (Author), editor Martin Denton (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2001

Anthology of new works from the New York theatre, all of which premiered during 2000. Includes: "Washington Square Dreams" by Gorilla Repertory Theatre, "Fate" by Elizabeth Horsburgh, "Velvet Ropes" by Joshua Scher, "The Language of Kisses" by Edmund DeSantis, "Word To Your Mama" by Julia Lee Barclay, "Cuban Operator Please..." by Adrian Rodriguez, "The Elephant Man -- The Musical" by Jeff Hylton & Tim Werenko, "House of Trash" by Trav S.D., and "Straight-Jacket" by Richard Day. With an Introduction by Martin Denton and a Preface by Robert Simonson.

Editorial Reviews

Review

(The plays)can all be staged perfectly in the vivid imaginations of readers hungry for a new literary/theater experience. -- Waterbury Republican-American, October 14, 2001

If you simply want to be current on what is new in theater, this book is excellent. -- Greenville Community News, June 26, 2001

From the Publisher

From the Preface by Robert Simonson, editor of Playbill on Line: "Martin Denton is putting new comedies and dramas out where directors, producers, artistic directors, and theatergoers can find them. More than that, he is reinvesting the long moribund world of play publishing with vision and enthusiasm. New plays, it seems are new once more."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: New York Theatre Experience Inc (March 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967023424
• ISBN-13: 978-0967023427
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,930,399 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm the founder and editor of nytheatre.com, a website that provides lots of information about the New York City theatre scene, from Broadway to off-Broadway to the exciting indie theater sector. It was as editor of nytheatre.com that I became interested in bringing new American plays by emerging or unpublished authors to the attention of readers in the "Plays and Playwrights" anthology series. I've been working on nytheatre.com since 1997. I'm also the producer of nytheatrecast, the first weekly podcast series about NYC theatre. I'm a member of the American Theatre Critics Association; I probably see about 300 shows every year. Last year I was proud to receive (with NYTE's Managing Director) the Stewardship Award from the New York Innovative Theatre Foundation, in recognition of my work on nytheatre.com and as editor of the "Plays and Playwrights" books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quite Wonderful, April 17, 2001

By 

"bwilley" (Oceanside, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plays and Playwrights 2001 (Paperback)

Martin Denton has done it again! As a topnotch theatre reviewer, Mr. Denton has thoroughly scoured the New York City theatre scene and has assembled yet another marvelous anthology of the most outstanding new off- and off-off-Broadway plays of the season. There are nine distinctly different works presented in this one volume, and I can honestly say, every one is terrific. These are plays that will touch your heart, and tickle your funny-bone.

"Cuban Operator Please" is a heart wrenching story of a young Cuban-American man's unresolved relationship with his father, while in "The Language of Kisses," an estranged mother and daughter uncover their past and rediscover each other. "The Language of Kisses," by the way, is one of the most moving, stunning plays I've read in a long time. It's a story which will stay with you and haunt you long after you've finished the book -- this work alone is well worth the price of the entire anthology!

Then there are the plays which will make you laugh. "Velvet Ropes" is a laugh-out-loud theatrical delight where two naive souls, trapped in a museum, try to make sense of the artwork; "The Elephant Man - The Musical" (AKA, Pakky Derm, Superstar) is a very funny story of John Merrick's big break on Broadway; "House of Trash" is an uproarious piece with Preacher Bob Maggot, a garbageman moonlighting as a Baptist preacher, trying to hold his wayward family together; "Straight Jacket" is a hilarious satire of one of Hollywood's leading men (Rock Hudson perhaps?), who falls in love with his screenwriter.

"Word To Your Mama" is an awesome stream-of-consciousness journey through the past decade -- it will take your breath away. And, finally the fast paced "Fate" and the eight whimsical short plays that make up "Washington Square Dreams" are delightful.

To top it all off, Mr. Denton's Introduction includes a most brilliant critical essay on each of the plays. PLAYS AND PLAYWRIGHTS 2001 is really quite wonderful! Buy it. Read it. You'll be glad you did.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Denton again finds the very best !!, April 12, 2001

By 

Judy G. Hylton (Clinton, TN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plays and Playwrights 2001 (Paperback)

Having just finished my pre-view copy of Martin Denton's newest anthology of the up-and-coming playwrights of this new century, I am, in a word, impressed. Not just with the obvious talent and re-assurance that theatre is alive and well and will continue to be so in the future, but with the ability of Denton to seek out and discover the best of the best. I often go to NY for theatre week-ends and enjoy seeing the "off-off" Braodway as well as the "on". Denton is certainly the best source I have found for "what to see and why". I applaud his continuing to "get the word out" about all this fabulous young talent. The only play in this current anthology I have seen is "The Elephant Man, the musical", by the multi-talented team of Jeff Hylton and Tim Werenko, and I must say Denton's comments and reviews are "right-on". I too, am "hooked" and a "Jeff Hylton fan", and throughly agree, "the world needs more Jeff Hyltons and Tim Werenkos", and I would feel this was even if I were not Jeff's mother. Reading the other great selections and Denton's reviews make me want to see them all. Thanks Martin Denton...Keep up the good work!!!