Plays Available For Production
If interested please contact.
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Full Length Plays:
"A Scent of a Rose"
Written with Pamela V. Merkys
A three character/one set new play.
“A Scent of a Rose” was inspired from August Strindberg’s “Miss Julie.” The characters in this play live in a hacienda surrounded by roses, in New Mexico, where class struggles between Latino employees (the chauffer, Miguel and the cook, Maria) and Rose (the daughter of the Anglo employer) take on a deeper and more intimate meaning when some unexpected revelations change the courses of two of their lives..
Like a bolero, the relationships between the three coruscate in a downward spiral leading to unplanned directions, and even disaster. Miguel’s machismo pervades each scene, while we watch him charm the women. Maria's dotes on Miguel naively as she tries to seduce him, unaware of how he uses her. It is one of his manipulations to let her think they are engaged, but never confirms or denies it.
Always the opportunist, Miguel immediately senses an opportunity when Rose presents herself as a pseudo-equal the night she falls off the wagon, and gets completely drunk. It is the night her canceled wedding is celebrated, notwithstanding.
Rose loses her sobriety, and then her dignity when she succumbs to Miguel adept seduction and mind-bending games. The morning after his seduction, he shows only indifference to her rebound passion. Fired by her sudden love for Miguel, Rose desires to flee her secret shame, and is spurred on by Miguel to flee with him to Mexico. He convinces her to put up the money so they can buy a hotel for him to manage. His scheme is so successful; Rose is compelled to plunder her father’s library. When she returns, she brings with her not only the money demanded by Miguel, but a pistol.
Maria awakens the next morning to discover the unfaithfulness of her fiancé, but maintains her dignity when she finally recognizes Miguel’s true nature. She exclaims his worthlessness, and leaves for church enraged.
Now free to carry out their plan, it somehow goes pear-shaped when she discovers the truth about her family’s shameful secret... Confronted with the debasing truth, Rose realizes running away to Mexico with Miguel will not solve her problem, but neither can she continue to live on in society which will rebuke her when the truth is unavoidably revealed. Rose takes the only way out she can, and Miguel goes back to another day of chauffeuring.
“TWICE UPON A TIME”
A new play written with Pamela V. Merkys.
A story about a father who helped his daughter deal with her grandmother’s dementia using magic and a fairy tale. His message was so powerful that later his daughter demonstrated she understood that after the mind has gone, the heart remains to love.
“The Champagne Ladies”
Written with John L. Price
Cast of seven (7 females, 2 males), one set.
The entire action of the play takes place in Dante’s Inferno, a sleazy
stripper bar in a city like Cleveland. The time is one hot summer
weekend in 1983 – because of AIDS – the beginning of the end of the
Sexual Revolution.
The play is about the women who work in this establishment. They are all
B-Girls/Strippers/Prostitutes. Their stories are based on the lives of
40 real-life working girls that the authors have interviewed. The play
is a theatrical, hard-hitting, and realistic look at the “World’s Oldest
Profession.”
This unique play requires seven “earthy” actresses and two actors (the
owner and a drag queen). The play was written to show that the life of a
prostitute is nothing like the life of Juliet Roberts in “Pretty Woman.”
It takes a no-holds bar look at the profession. To make sure of its
accuracy, the national support group for prostitutes, COYOTE as well as
a psychologist who works with “working girls” were consulted in the
writing of this script. They all found the script true to life with
something important to say.
“When Jack Calls”
Two actors, one set.
Written with Edward J. Walsh
Carl and Farmer Boy, cross-dressing hitmen, came to Erie, Pa., to do what they do best— murder for money. They’re doing the job for Mitchell, and afterward will report to Jack, Mitchell’s right-hand man. But the two men are crossed up because their intended victim is already dead, shot to death by an unknown assailant or assailants in an apparent robbery. Carl, however, sees an opportunity to cash in on the murder anyway. All he and his young partner have to do is take credit for the killing, provide some details, and pick up their money from Jack. After that, they plan to head for Vegas, out of sight and out of reach.
The play opens as Farmer Boy returns from the funeral home where the victim is laid out to the motel where Carl waits impatiently. While Farmer Boy struggles to recall the details he has gleaned from his visit to the funeral home, Carl frets and fumes as he searches for imitation pearls that scattered about the floor when the string that held them broke. The two are waiting for a phone call from Jack, who will deliver their money to them at an appointed destination. That is, he’ll deliver their money if their story adds up.
Carl and Farmer Boy know that Jack is smart as well as vicious. And Mitchell is not the forgiving type. Their situation begins to weigh on the two men as they wait for Jack’s call, and the bonds of their partnership show the strain. Whatever trust exists between two men who share cross-dressing and murder is sorely tested, to the point where they vow to go their separate ways once they pick up the cash. But when Jack calls, an unexpected bit of news means that all bets — including Vegas — are off.
“A Night In The Garden of Eden”
Cast of ten (6 males, 4 females)
A new adaptation of the classic Dion Boucicault farce that was regarded as one of the
funniest plays written in the 19th century. In the tradition of the great French farces.
“The Three Graces”
Cast of eleven (6 males, 5 females)one unit set.
Written with Zane A. Coleman and Pamela V. Merkys.
A new play inspired by Chekhov's,"The Three Sisters." The play now takes place in a segregated army community in
Charleston, South Carolina during World War II. Instead of Moscow, the
three sisters want to return to Washington, D.C., where their father
once served in the Pentagon. Co-author, Zane A. Coleman, served in an all-black army base in Charleston during World War II, which is the setting of our play.
This play takes place during a period of American Military History in which bigotry was going on in this country during World War II.
“Live at Eleven!”
Written with David Manocchio.
Requires 13 actors.
A fast-paced dark comedy about a day in the life of a Cleveland TV news department as various outrageous personalities interact while making decisions that have literally life and death ramifications.
MILT COHEN, President of a for major TV network. Age early to late-50's. "A bully, a tough-guy, revenue is all he cares about."
ROBERT LANDAU, Channel 2's News Director, age early to mid-30's. "Intelligent, ambitious, wants to reach the top working within the system -- never dreaming it might conflict with his moral responsibilities."
NED WHEELER, Channel 2's General Manager, age late-50's, early-60's. "Very gruff, acts tough, doesn't always act moral but at least knows there are such things as ethics."
ROGER LAMB, Channel 2's News Anchor, age mid-40's. "Makes Ted Baxter look like Edward R. Murrow." Probably wears a hairpiece to give him great "anchor hair."
ALISON REYNOLDS, Roger's female co-anchor, age late-20's. "Ruthlessly ambitious, doesn't always look smart but is."
HARVEY NEFF, Channel 2's Sales Manager, age early to mid-30's. "An opportunist -- plays both sides against each other."
T.J. RADER, helicopter pilot, age late-30's, early 40's.
"A total psychopath, heavy into drugs. A poster child for a deranged vet."
THE REVEREND JEREMIAH BATES, age late-50's. "A loose cannon, in the middle of a nervous breakdown. Very intense."
The following parts may be double and triple casted:
WOMAN, prostitute. Age mid-30's.
TED MARSHALL, former News Director. Mid to late-40's.
CARRIE, Floor Manager, age early to late 20's.
TINA NELSON, beauty queen, age early 20's (only on video)
(m or f) TV DIRECTOR
SYLVIA PIERSON, Executive of power company. Age mid-30's.
(m or f) JENSEN, minicam operator, age mid-30's.
MIKE MILLER, field reporter, mid-30's (only on video)
(m or f) TWO SWAT TEAM POLICE OFFICERS
Premiered at John Carroll University Theater and a winner of the Ohio League of Theater’s Playwriting Award.
“Touching Hope”
A new comedy written with Pamela V. Merkys.
Synopsis:
The entire action of the play takes place in 1963 in a once popular Eastern European neighborhood bar, The Silver Bush, in Cleveland’s inner city.
Zolta’n Horvath, the bar’s owner, struggles to keep his bar from going under despite his constant need to give his customers free drinks. He is in love with his barmaid Ewa Bernarski. Unfortunately for Zolta’n, she will give him sex whenever he wants it, but she won’t marry him. Their arrangement does not please the judgmental and temperamental Marijka Popowich, an elderly woman who comes to the bar every day for Hungarian food and her vodka. Roman, her kind-hearted husband, knows exactly how to agitate his wife to get back at her for her nagging: he flirts with Ewa.
Tree, a shell-shocked World War II vet who refuses to get help for his illness, enters the bar very depressed. He has just lost his factory job and doesn’t know what to do about his future. Into this world, enters Andrzej Bernarski, Ewa’s estranged brother whom everyone thought was dead. Andrzej has returned very much alive to try to borrow money from Ewa to open up his own business.
This slice-of-life, semi-autobiographical play is a vivid portrait of everyday lives in the shadow of urban renewal. It is also a play about getting old, reestablishing a family bond and dealing with mental illness.
“Best Intentions”
Six actors. One unit set.
Written with Edward J. Walsh.
Bob, middle-aged groom-to-be. - Kate, 20-something bride-to-be. - Kyle, middle-age best man. - Roz, 20-something maid of honor. - Kate's Mother, same as age Bob. - Kate's Father, same age of Bob.
Romantic comedy about a middle-aged man who is about to marry a much younger woman. Things get complicated when he realizes that his soon-to-be mother-in-law was his Prom Date in high school.
“Tess”
Cast (5 female, 4 males)
Thomas Hardy's famous novel now taking place in early 20'th century in New York City and rural Ohio. Timely story of an abused woman who fights back. Adapted from Thomas Hardy's stage version of this love story gone awry.
“The Phantom of the Opera -- The Play”
Cast (9 males, 6 females, doubling possible)
Written with John Kenley and David Gooding.
This love story thriller has been adapted from the original novel by Gaston Leroux and the famous Lon Chaney motion picture. It tells the full story of the mysterious masked terror who inhabits the cellars of the Paris Opera House. The entire play is musically underscored. The singing is done live. The organ playing is recorded but can be done live, if the actor playing the Phantom is capable.
Audio tapes containing all accompaniment music, incidental music and sound cues are available on cassettes or reel to reel here:
samuelfrench.com
One Act Plays:
“Dinner with Mother”
Three actors ( 2 females, 1 male)One Set
A lesbian daughter tries one last time to get her conservative mother to accept her lifestyle.
Premiered at The Theatre-Studio, 8th Avenue, New York City.
“Famous”
Three actors (2 male, 1 female)One Set
In the middle of a city park, two homeless people challenge a frustrated artist about his need to be famous. Premiered at The Theatre-Studio, 8th Avenue, New York City.
“Beloved Friend”
Three actors. One Set.
Peter Tchaikovsky in his 30s. His wife, late teens, early 20s. His benefactor, middle-aged.
Based on letters between Peter Tchaikovsky and his benefactor who never met and his young wife who drove him mad.
Premiered at The Theatre-Studio, 8th Avenue, New York City and John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio.
Children's Plays:
“Oliver Twist”
A new adaptation. Premiered at Dallas Children’s Theater. Later published by Dramatic Publishing. Over 40 different productions over the past few years. Available through Dramatic Publishing
Click Here
“ “BALTO -- THE DOG THAT SAVED NOME, ALASKA" ”
Written with Bill Hoffman. Music and lyrics by Bill Hoffman.
Three actors (male and/or female)or a cast of up to 13, one set.
In February 1925, stricken by a diphtheria epidemic, the mining town of
Nome, Alaska was saved by twenty dog teams who delivered 300,000 units
of serum over 674 miles of treacherous terrain. Balto lead the last
53-miles and became a media sensation. A few years later, Cleveland
School children did some rescuing of their own to aussre Balto live out
his life in luxury at the Cleveland Zoo. An inspirational true story of
adventure, courage and compassion.
"Balto" premiered at The
Cleveland Play House in April 2005. Available through dramatic publishing.
Click Here
National tour to begin Fall 2006. Produced by Main Stage
“A Hawaiian Tale: The Bravest Menehune”
Three actors,plus one drummer or a cast of 12 or more. Unit or bare stage.
Once upon a time on the Island Paradise known as Hawaii, a brave menehune (menehunes are the little people of Hawaii) saves his family from the evil Mr. Sun.
“Pied Piper”
Premiered at The Cleveland Play House. Later published by Baker’s Plays. Over 50 different productions. Recently translated into Dutch.
“Pied Piper of Hamelin”
The musical (book and lyrics) with music by Peter J. Wilson, premiered at Musicarnival in Cleveland, Ohio. A revised version later premiered at the Cleveland Play House. Later published by Baker’s Plays. Dozens of different productions. Available through Baker’s Plays.
Click Here
“Circus Time!”
Flexible cast of 14/extras / one set
The children’s musical, “CIRCUS TIME!” written with The New York
Times’ David Pogue. . The three theaters that produced it so far were
thrilled that every performance was a sellout. The late Richard Oberlin, Artistic Director of The Cleveland
Play House, producer of the world premiere of “CIRCUS TIME!” at the Play
House told me that in his thirty-five years there, my musical was the
best children’s show ever produced there.
now available through
Dramatic Publishing
Click Here
“Billie and her Hillbilly Barnyard Band”
A musical written with playwright Cassandra Wolfe and songwriter David
Pogue, premiered at The Cleveland Play House. Won Enchanted Playhouse national competition for Best new children’s play.
This colorful musical comedy is about Billie and her attempt to save the farm from the bankers. In order to do this, Billie must organize her barnyard animals to perform a benefic concert. Filled with country-music.
“'Tis the Season”
Cast of 12, with an ensemble.
A holiday musical about who two children kidnapped and how the community comes together to rescue them.
Featuring a holiday score. First performed at Kent State University.
Latino Themed Plays:
"A Scent of a Rose"
Written with Pamela V. Merkys
A three character/one set new play.
(Inspired by Strindberg's "Miss Julie"). This sensual story about a spoiled heiress, with a forbidding past. When Life throws her a curve, she turns to the Mexican-American chauffeur for solace. She discovers life changes only to stay the same, with tragic results.
African American Plays:
“The Three Graces”
Cast of eleven (6 males, 5 females)one unit set.
Written with Zane A. Coleman and Pamela V. Merkys.
A new play inspired by Chekhov's,"The Three Sisters." The play now takes place in a segregated army community in
Charleston, South Carolina during World War II. Instead of Moscow, the
three sisters want to return to Washington, D.C., where their father
once served in the Pentagon. Co-author, Zane A. Coleman, served in an all-black army base in Charleston during World War II, which is the setting of our play.
This play takes place during a period of American Military History in which bigotry was going on in this country during World War II.
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