About the Plays:

Some great pieces for scene work or performance.

The acclaimed Samuel French Off Off Broadway Original Short Play Festival in Manhattan (commonly referred to as OOB) is America's leading short play festival. The annual OOB Festival originated in 1975 and has since attracted US and international short plays that may be up to 15 pages in length from countries like Canada, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

Off Off Broadway Festival Plays, 20th Series is a collection of short plays selected by a panel of judges that included New York playwrights, artistic directors, and industry leaders as the most important plays of the 20th OOB Festival. Winning authors include: Luigi Jannuzzi, Scott Elwell, Le Wilhelm, Sally Dixon Wiener, Anne V. Sawyer, and Henry Miller.

The Appointment is a ten-minute comedy by Luigi Jannuzzi: This is a very popular comedy about Mr. Toemeali who has a 3 o'clock appointment with God. In the waiting room he becomes upset when he meets two women who also have 3 o'clock appointments. Macho Tomeali tries to manipulate God's receptionist but only manages to miss God, who is one of the women. Macho is left to deal with himself in the waiting room. An excellent play to showcase the results of bullying and pre-judging. Great for high schools and used often by religious organizations. (Cast: 1 female, 3 male)

The Art of Dating is a short comedy by Scott Elwell: No matter the arrangement, you can't escape the true nature of love. Two lawyers meet for lunch to discuss terms for their respective clients. As information is revealed about the man and women they represent, the lawyers begin to take an interest in each other. (Cast: 1 female, 2 male)

Life Comes to the Old Maid is a short comedy by Le Wilhelm: A reclusive old lady is visited by a woman who remembers things that she is too young to have experienced: hayrides, dances and the final farewell of a boyfriend on a river bank. In a photograph album she recognizes the younger woman as her younger self. (Cast: 2 female)

Pavane is a short dramatic comedy by Sally Dixon Wiener: Two gay couples perform a pavane to produce one child: a radiant, magical being who changes their lives forever. Fast paced with tart tongued dialogue and rich in laughter, tears and insight, Pavane is a glowing tribute to human strength and love. The play is simply staged with four moving chairs the only props; it is also suitable for reader's theater. (Cast: 2 female, 2 male)

Snow Stars is a short comedy by Anne V. Sawyer: On a winter night with snow in the air a homeless old couple feast on the left overs of fruit vendors and dream of far away warmth, maneuvering with arms around each other in a cardboard shelter. (Cast: 1 female, 1 male)

A Winter Reunion is a short drama by Henry Miller: On Christmas eve a church sexton in Harlem welcomes his grandson. After some good hearted banter about such things as grandmother who left to marry an undertaker, the boy tries to reconcile the old man with his mother – the daughter who long ago went wrong with dope and high living. Now she is desperately in need of help. It is a moving and heartfelt encounter. (Cast: 1 female, 2 male)