General Bibliography

Small-Cast One-Act Guide On-line is evolving from the data in 1/2/3/4 for the Show: A Guide to Small-Cast One-Act Plays, the parallel print volume. Data in the print volume come primarily from these sources, which supply the best available data on small-cast one-act plays. They contain information beyond the focus of this index that might be useful to researchers. Annotations amplify the citations with commentary and supplementary data, sometimes giving play examples from the print volume's Title Index to clarify the pertinence of the citation.

Following the primary source citations are supplementary sources that help the researcher to go beyond the scope of the print guide.

Primary Data Sources

[ACP] Art Craft Publishing Company, ed. 1989-90 Catalog of Select Plays and Musicals. Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Art Craft Publishing Company, 1989.

A catalog of nearly 150 scripts by journeymen authors; four of the scripts use casts of four or fewer actors.

[BP] Baker's Plays and Theatre Resource Directory, 1993/94. Boston: Walter H. Baker, 1993/94.

Since 1845, Baker's Plays has supplied playscripts and performance rights, adding through the years theatre books, stage makeup, sound effect and dialect tapes. BP shares some of its annual catalog with Samuel French, Inc., and other publishers. BP enjoys recognition as a preeminent source for scripts and can help production companies staging small-cast plays. Cited in Hunter's drama bibliography.

Cerf, Bennett. At Random: The Reminiscences of Bennett Cerf. New York: Random House, 1977.

0-394-47877-0.

DIALOG Database Catalog. Palo Alto, California: Dialog Information Services, Inc., 1993.

The DIALOG Information Retrieval Service from Dialog Information Services, Inc., has been active since 1972. Its over 400 databases, broad in scope, include sources relevant to theatre research. Even without a special focus on theatre and drama, DIALOG offers references beyond those normally-accessible in print. Many other on-line services are available. Significantly, on-line searches can find items much more quickly than manual searches. Electronic information retrieval is the wave of the future and use of it is often worth the effort.

[DPC] Catalog of Plays and Musicals 1994. New York: Dramatic Publishing Company, 1993.

Script offerings through 1993. Founded in 1885 by Charles Sergal , DPC has grown into one of the best publishing houses, listing many authors of renown.

[DPS] Complete Catalog of Plays 1991-1992. New York: Dramatists Play Service, Inc., 1992.

Script offerings through 1992. Founded in 1936 by prominent playwrights and theatre agents, DPS has become a major play licensing agency. The catalogue includes most of the major American plays since its founding. In 1983, the house expanded beyond only handling nonprofessional leasing rights to include professional leasing rights. Its Obie Award for commitment to the publi- cation of new work signals a laudable bias.

[DPC] Complete New Catalog of Plays and Musicals 1992. Woodstock, Illinois: The Dramatic Publishing Company, 1992.

The complete catalog through 1992. Founded in 1885, DPC has an excellent stable of authors.

[EPC] Eldridge Publishing Company, ed. Eldridge Plays and Musicals 1993-94. Venice, Florida: Eldridge Publishing Company, 1993.

Agent for "I Know This for Sure, a drama by Peggy Welch Marshon (4f); "The Last of Captain Bedford," a drama by Pat Cook (2m2f); and "The Promise," a drama by Joe Robertson (2m2f). No other four-or-fewer casts in plays listed.The address of Eldridge Publishing Company is P. O. Box 1595, Venice, Florida 34284; telephone (800) HI-STAGE; fax (800) 453-5179.

Hall, Donald, ed. The Oxford Book of American Literary Anecdotes. New York: Oxford University Press, 1981.

A handy source for anecdotes, presented by themes. Cited in Preface, p. __.

[HDS] Hansen Drama Shop/Costume Closet. ed. 1989-90 Hansen Drama Shop Catalogue. Salt Lake City, Utah: Hansen Drama Shop/Costume Closet, 1989.

The address of Hansen Drama Shop/Costume Closet is 718 East 3900 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84107; telephone (801) 268-8753.

[HPC] Heuer Publishing Company, ed. 1993-94 Catalog of Select Plays and Musicals. Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Heuer Publishing Company, 1993.

The 1993-94 catalog offers thirty-seven one-act plays, two for four or fewer actors. Information regarding entries has been improved.

The 1991-92 catalog offered around forty one-act plays, three for four or fewer actors. The information regarding any entry is sparse.

Hitchcock, L. A. "The Play's the Thing . . . If You Can Find It! An Assessment of Play Indexes." RQ 29:248, Winter 1989.

An intensive analysis that is well worth the attention of frequent users of play indexes.

Logasa, Hannah, and Wilfred Ver Nooy, compilers. An Index to One-Act Plays. Boston: F. W. Faxon, 1924.

Bibliography of one-act plays written in English or translated into English, published since 1900. The information regarding any entry is sparse. In Clark Library, San Jose State University, reference center, call #Z5781.L83 The 2nd (1932-1940), 4th (1948-1957), and 5th (1956-1964) Supplements are also in Clark Library. Cited in Hunter's drama bibliography, listed here.

Losey, Jessie Louise. A Selected, Annotated List of One-Act Plays for Festival Use. Emporia, Graduate Division, Kansas State Teachers College, 1955.

Originated as a master's thesis at K.S.T.C., Emporia, 1955. In Clark Library, San Jose State University, reference center, call #Z5781.L85. Annotations are sparse.

[MPL] Meriwether Publishing Ltd., P. O. Box 7710, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80933; telephone (719) 594-4422, (800) 937-5297.

Alternate address is 885 Elkton Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907; (719) 594-4422. Plays, 1988. ISBN 0-916260-53-4.

National Council of Teachers of English. Committee on Playlist. Guide to Play Selection, 2nd ed., New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1958.

The information regarding any entry is sparse. First edition by Milton Myers Smith, 1934. In Clark Library, San Jose State University, reference center, call #Z578.N265 1958.

[IEC] 1993-1994 Catalog of Plays & Musicals. Schulenburg, Texas: I. E. Clark, Inc., 1993.

An offering of over a hundred short plays, including a few by well-known authors. The earlier 1991 Catalog of Plays is an offering of around fifty-six short plays. In addition to children's theatre, there are twenty-seven one-act plays. Founded in 1956, I. E. Clark, Inc., is a family operation self-described as happy where it is.

[PDS] Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., ed. Plays & Musicals: Spring 1994. Denver, Colorado: Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., 1992.

The spring 1994 catalog lists but four small-cast one-act plays. The 1993-94 catalog lists those four above as well as "The Wall," by Richard Lauchman. The spring 1992 catalog of nearly 150 scripts includes only nine one-act plays; one calls for four or fewer actors. Information in entries is not really helpful, as overselling is characteristic.

[SF] Samuel French, Inc., ed. The 1992 Supplement to the Basic Catalog of Plays. Hollywood, California: Samuel French, Inc., 1992.

This supplement to the Basic Catalog (see next two items) lists recently-acquired as well as other selected titles. The reader seeking more must refer to the basic catalog published July, 1991, or to the latest annual or supplement.

_____________. Samuel French's Basic Catalogue of Plays. Hollywood, California: Samuel French, Inc., 1991.

This complete catalog lists all titles published and controlled by Samuel French, Inc., up to and including July, 1991. This is the major source for acting versions of scripts. Founded in 1830, incorporated in 1899, the oldest and largest of drama specialty houses has seven central offices_New York, Hollywood, Toronto, London, Manchester, Nairobi and Sydney. Of note to playwrights is that this company considers any play submitted for publication. Cited in Hunter's drama bibliography, listed here. See items above and below.

_____________. Basic Catalogue of Plays and Musicals. 1994 edition. Hollywood, California: Samuel French, Inc., 1993.

311 pp. See two items above. Supplements to this Basic Catalogue featuring new acquisitions and some popular plays are scheduled for 1995 and 1996.

Scott, Adolphe C., translator. Traditional Chinese Plays, Volume 2. Madison, Wisconsin: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1969.

ISBN 0-299-05370-9/0-299-05374-1. Source for "Ssu Fan/Longing for Worldly Pleasures," a traditional K'unshan one-act play from the Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644. In Books in Print 1990-91 but not in Books in Print 1992-1993, which cites two other books by Adolphe C. Scott on Chinese drama.

Dana Singer. Stage Writers Handbook: A Complete Business Guide for

Playwrights, Composers, Lyricists, & Librettists. New York: Theatre Communications Group, 1997, ISBN 1559361166.

Yaakov, Juliette, and John Greenfieldt, ed. Play Index, 1988-1992; An Index to

          4,397 Plays. New York: H. W. Wilson, 1988.

ISBN 0554-3037. Valuable series. Prior volumes cover 1949-1952, 1953-1960, 1961-1967, 1968-1972, 1973-1977, 1978-1982, 1983-1987. The List of Collections Indexed cites anthologies and individual plays in written in or translated into English. The Directory of Publishers and Distributors, pp. 537-42, in Play Index complements the Source Directory for Scripts in 1/2/3/4 for the Show, pp. ___-__.

Young, Glenn, ed. Applause Theatre Book Review and Catalog. New York: Applause Theatre Book Publishers, 1989.

Founded in 1980 as a drama book purveyor, ATB now publishes theatrical literature, too. The attitude is "theatre biz, albeit theatre with a spine." Titles distributed by Grove Press. Notably, it publishes playwrights Beckett, Mamet, Pinter, Rabe, and Stoppard.

Other Data Sources for Ensuing Research

Researchers should consider these additional leads to find small-cast one-act plays, many of which were unavailable to present research.

American Library Association, ed. Subject Index to Children's Plays, Chicago: American Library Association, 1940.

Supplements the Playbills section (Part 4) as a logical second, though limited, source for plays on given themes. Worth remembering is that it is a half-century older than the theme index herein. Cited in Hunter's drama bibliography, listed here.

Ant‘us: Plays in One Act, edited by Daniel Halpern. Ant‘us, 66 (Spring 1991).

ISBN 0-88001-268-4. Published by Ecco Press, 100 West Broad Street, Hopewell, New Jersey 08525.

Austin, Ian. For Ladies Only: Five One-Act Plays with All Women Casts. Ashgrove, Queensland, Australia: Playlab Press, 1988.

ISBN 0-908156-31-6. Foreword by Babette Stephens. The address of Playlab Press is P. O. Box 185, Ashgrove, Queensland, 4060, Australia.

Barnes, Peter. The Spirit of Man and More Barnes' People: Seven Monologues. New York: Methuen & Company, Ltd., 1990.

ISBN 0-413-63130-3. Addresses are 7/8 Kendrick Mews, London SW7 3HG, England, and 29 West 35th Street, New York City, New York 10001.

Benson, E. "The Brock Bibliography of Published Canadian Plays in English, 1766-1978; Wagner, A." Modern Drama 24:116-19, No. 1, 1981, and WLWE-World Literature Written in English 21:127-29, No. 1, 1982.

Unavailable to present research, the bibliography reviewed in these issue of Modern Drama 24:116-19, No. 1, 1981, and WLWE-World Literature Written in English 21:127-29, No. 1, 1982. Opens an unfamiliar door for theatre groups in the United States. From over two hundred years of dramatic achievement in Canada come numerous short, small-cast plays. Production companies should pursue this lead. Dialog on-line citation 00236955 in File 439, Genuine Article #NQ445: Arts & Humanities Search. Corporate Source: University of Guelph, Guelph N1G 2W1, Ontario, Canada.

Berquist, G. William. Three Centuries of English and American Plays: A Check List. New York: Hafner, 1963.

Because of the scope, the information regarding any entry is sparse. It is chiefly useful here to verify the canon of a playwright. Cited in Hunter's drama bibliography, listed here.

The Best Plays, 1894 to date. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1920 to date.

The series set of forty-four volumes to 1976, ISBN 0-405-07637-1, listed in March, 1994, at $1270 from Ayer Company Publications, Inc., P. O. Box 958, Salem, New Hampshire 03079; telephone (603) 669-5933.

The series, of course, has changed editors and titles over the past century. The merit of each annual in this series varies according the wisdom of its editor. Volumes are not anthologies, as the current title might suggest, nor are they compilations of synopses. The series features play abridgements, allowing the reader to catch much of the essence of a play. Supplementary sections of each volume document then-current theatre. Emphasis is on popular, commercial theatre; hence, coverage of one-act plays is peripheral. Nevertheless, close study of one-act bills can prove useful to theatres seeking scripts for small casts. Not all of the cited titles reach publication, but knowledge of where they were produced can help one to search for scripts and staging rights. Cited in Hunter's drama bibliography, listed here.

Bollow, Ludmilla. One-Acts and Monologues for Women. New York: Broadway Play Publishers, 1983.

Address of Broadway Play Publishers is 249 West 29th Street, New York City, New York 10001.

Carpenter, C. A. "10 Modern Irish Playwrights_A Comprehensive Annotated Bibliography; King, K.," Modern Drama 24:116-19, No. 1, 1981.

Unavailable to present research, the book reviewed in this issue of Modern Drama shows great promise of containing most helpful annotations. There is a strong legacy of meritorious small-cast plays in Irish theatre, many of which audiences in the United States have found accessible. Dialog on-line citation 00113287 in File 439, Genuine Article #LK208: Arts & Humanities Search. Corporate Source: State University of New York, Binghamton, New York, 13901.

__________. "20 Modern British Playwrights_A Bibliography, 1956 to 1976; King, K." Modern Drama 24:116-19, No. 1, 1981.

Unavailable to present research, this bibliography reviewed in Modern Drama shows great promise of containing most helpful annotations and probable inclusion of one-act British plays. Dialog on-line citation 00113286 in File 439: Arts & Humanities Search 1980-199111W1. Corporate Source: State University of New York, Binghamton, New York, 13901.

Chicorel, Marietta, ed. Chicorel Theatre Index to Plays in Anthologies, Periodicals, Discs and Tapes, Vol. 1. New York: Chicorel Library Publishing Company, 1970.

SBN 87729-001-6. LC 71-106198. This 1970 Chicorel index lists possible sources, but clear designations of one-act small-cast plays are few.

See also Marietta Chicorel's Chicorel Theatre Index to Plays in Anthologies & Collections, 1970-1976, Volume 25. American Library Publishing Company, 1976. Text edition $125.00 ISBN 0-934598-68-1. The American Library Publishing Company is listed in Books in Print: Publishers 1992-1993.

Corrigan, Beatrice. Catalogue of Italian Plays, 1500-1700, in the Library of the University of Toronto. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1961.

The two dominant Italian styles of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, commedia erudita and commedia dell'arte, emphasized plot over complexity of character and of motive and emotion. Commedia dell'arte companies often had few actors and staged shows of four-or-fewer roles. The number plays is great. The difficulty is finding acting scripts, which makes Corrigan's catalogue worth investigating. Giovanni Rucellai (1475-1525), Pietro Aretino (1492-1556) Giambattista Giraldi (1504-73), and Giacinto Andrea Cicognini (1606-60) are playwrights to note in that outpouring of Italian drama. Much of the product from that time does not achieve literary status, but revivals have historic value and can often find an appreciative modern audience, particularly for farce. Cited in Hunter's drama bibliography, listed here.

Davies, R. "The Brock Bibliography of Published Canadian Plays in English, 1766-1978; Wagner, A.," Canadian Theatre Review 31:144-45, Summer, 1981.

Unavailable to present research, the bibliography reviewed in this issue of Canadian Theatre Review opens an unfamiliar door for theatre groups in the United States. From over two hundred years of dramatic achievement in Canada come numerous short, small-cast plays. Production companies should pursue this lead. Dialog on-line citation 00324170 in File 439: Arts & Humanities Search. Genuine Article#: QF885. Corporate Source: Queens University, Kingston K7L 3N6, Ontario, Canada.

Erdmenger, M.; Priessnitz, H.; and Rowlands, D. "Additions to Bibliography of English Radio Plays. Anglia-Zeitschrift fur Englische Philologie 101:117-40, Nos. 1-2, 1983.

This Italian-language book review and bibliography focuses on English scripts for radio. As imaginative stage direction can easily and economically transfer radio plays to the theatre, this listing of one hundred and ninety-two such scripts is a potential gold mine for a production company. Four-or-fewer actors certainly can handle multiple roles in production. Dialog on-line citation 00338050 in File 439: Arts & Humanities Search. Genuine Article#: QL585.

Firkins, Ina Ten Eyck, compiler. Index to Plays 1800-1926. New York: H. W. Wilson, 1935.

Unavailable to present research, this index spanning one hundred and twenty-six years of plays might include one-acts. One should note the 1935 publication date as a major limitation for suiting the needs of most production companies for more-current scripts. Cited in Hunter's drama bibliography, listed here.

Foster, D. W. "A Bibliography of Contemporary Hispano-American Plays_Spanish; Neglia, E., Ordas, L." Chasqui-Revista de Literature Latinoamericana 10:92, No. 1, 1980.

This English-language review in the Spanish-language journal Chasqui-Revista de Literature Latinoamericana describes a bibliography directly touching the distinct need for contemporary Hispano-American one-act scripts. With the growing Hispanic/Latino demographics in the United States, such sources as this are increasingly useful. Dialog on-line citation 00220966 in File 439: Arts & Humanities Search. Genuine Article#: NE744.

Gosher, Sydney Paul. A Historical and Critical Survey of the South African One-Act Play Written in English. Pretoria: University of South Africa, 1988.

Unavailable to present research and not available from University Microfilms International. Gosher's abstract follows here as a lead for dramas treating ethnic issues in a strife-torn society, with resonances for American audiences. A paucity of such plays might be supplemented by citations in Gosher's work. There is no clue about cast size/gender, but chances are favorable that some short plays for four or fewer characters can be found through this lead.

The aim of this thesis is to trace the history of the South African one-act play in English and detail its progress to the present day. In order to do this, it was first necessary in Chapter One to chart the somewhat nebulous history of the one-acter in Western Europe, from its earliest beginnings in classical Greece to its use as an after-piece and finally as a curtain-raiser. Chapter One also deals with the history of the one-act play in the twentieth century, and concludes with a discussion of its characteristics and criteria.

Chapter Two surveys the early history of the South African one-acter (up to 1930). The contribution of Boniface, who wrote the first recorded South African one-act play in English, is assessed and plays by Black and Goudvis are deemed to have considerable merit.

The first part of Chapter Three (1931-1949) deals with the contribution, among others, of H. I. E. Dhlomo, Baneshik, Masson, and Sowden, while the second part presents an account of the establishment of FATSSA and the substantial influence it exerted on the growth of the one-act play. Chapters Four and Five, which contain the main body of the thesis, attempt to locate plays within socio-historic contexts and focus upon fundamental political changes affecting the framework of South African society.

The effect of censorship is scrutinized in Chapter Four and important dramatists of the 1950s and 1960s_Laite, Fugard, Krige and Rive_are examined.

In the fifth chapter, five issues are investigated: one-act plays are assessed not only as literary texts but also as they appear in performance; the problem of the evaluation of the protest play receives attention; the operation of dominant political and social themes is demonstrated; the contribution of the amateur stage to the development of the one-act play is considered; and, finally, the conclusion is drawn that the state of the one-act play is sound and its strength shown by the social and cultural heterogeneity of theme displayed.

Appendices giving details of playwrights and play collections, a bibliography, and an index are included at the end of the thesis.

Promoter: E. Pereira. Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Vol. 50/09-A, p. 2707. Item (0596).

Garvor, Juliet. One-Act Dramas. Franklin, Ohio: Eldridge Publishing Company, 1986.

The address of Eldridge Publishing Company is P. O. Drawer 216, Franklin, Ohio 45005.

Hart, C. "The Brock Bibliography of Published Canadian Plays in English, 1766-1978; Wagner, A." Theatre Research International 6:228, No. 3, 1981.

Unavailable to present research, the bibliography reviewed in this issue of Theatre Research International' opens an unfamiliar door for theatre groups in the United States. From over two hundred years of dramatic achievement in Canada come numerous short, small-cast plays. Production companies should pursue this lead. English-language book review. Dialog on-line citation 00171164 in File 439: Arts & Humanities Search. Genuine Article#: MK979.

Hill, Frank Pierce, compiler. American Plays Printed, 1714-1830; A Bibliographical Record. Stanford: Stanford University, 1934.

This listing of American plays from pre-Revolutionary and post-Revolutionary half-centuries might be a valuable lode for mining by production companies. Plays from the era deserve more attention than they have gotten. American theatre by 1714 had active theatre as far-flung as Charles-Town, South Carolina, Williamsburg, Virginia, and New York. By 1750, more towns had become cities and enjoyed theatre. In the sixty years after the Revolution, splendid theatre buildings arose to house burgeoning attendance, and playwriting kept pace in varied genres. One-act scripts for small casts are there for the finding. Cited in Hunter's drama bibliography, listed here.

Hunter, Frederick J., compiler. Drama Bibliography: A Short-Title Guide to Extended Reading in Dramatic Art for the English-Speaking Audience and Students of Theatre. Boston: G. K. Hall & Company, 1971.

Although two decades older than the present guide, Hunter's bibliography has many promising leads. It is the source for several items listed here to aid ensuing research. The lack of annotations limits its helpfulness.

Hecht, L. "Polish Plays in Translation_An Annotated Bibliography; Gerould, D., Taborski, B., Hart, S., Kobialka, M." Slavic and East European Journal 29:99-100, No. 1, 1985.

English-language book review. Dialog on-line citation 00595204 in File 439: Arts & Humanities Search. Genuine Article#: ALF95.

_____________. "Soviet Plays in Translation_An Annotated Bibliography; Law, A. H., Goslett, P." Slavic and East European Journal 29:99-100, No. 1, 1985.

English-language book review. Dialog on-line citation 00595203 in File 439: Arts & Humanities Search. Genuine Article#: ALF95. Corporate Source: George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia 22030.

Katrak, K. H. "Soyinka, Wole_Bibliography, Biography, Playography; Page, M." Research in African Literatures 12:553-63, No. 4, 1981.

English-language book review. Dialog on-line citation 00186385 in File 439: Arts & Humanities Search. Genuine Article#: MT885. Corporate Source: Columbia University, Barnard College, New York, New York 10027.

Kennedy, Adrienne. Adrienne Kennedy in One Act. Minneapolis, Minnesota: University of Minnesota Press, 1988.

ISBN 0-8166-1691-4; 0-8166-1692-2. Address is 2037 University Avenue, S.E., Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455-3092.

Lamb, Ruth S. Bibliograpfia del Teatro Mexicano del Siglo XX/Bibliography of Twentieth-Century Mexican Theatre. M‚xico, D.F.: Ediciones de Andrea, 1962.

This Spanish-language annotated bibliography includes works written by Mexicans and by some foreigners supporting the modern theatre movement in Mexico. Each citation begins with the name of the author or pseudonym, if any. The titles of the dramas are unedited; appearances in reviews, periodicals, and anthologies until 1961 are noted. This work complements the compiler's Breve historia del teatro mexicano/Brief History of the Mexican Theatre (M‚xico: Studium, 1958). The scope is twentieth century drama in Mexico. This bibliography is an obligatory source for anyone studying modern Mexican theatre. The contact is Libreria Studium, Apartado Postal 20979_Admn. 32, M‚xico 1, D. F., M‚xico. Available in the North Salinas High School library, NSHS 16399.

Litto, Frederic M. American Dissertations on the Drama and the Theatre: A Bibliography. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 1969.

This dissertation illustrates the major gap in scholarship regarding the one-act play form. American One-Act Plays or a synonym is missing as a search term in the key-word-in-context index. The search term monologue-drama shows but a single work, one by Cornelia Otis Skinner.

Macmillan, Dougald, compiler. Catalogue of the Larpent Plays in the Huntington Library. San Marino, California: The Huntington Library, 1919.

Recommended only for the adventurous. As the Huntington Library is a treasure trove of obscure scripts, there is an outside possibility this catalogue reveals short scripts for small casts. Cited in Hunter's drama bibliography, listed here.

Marino, J. A. G. "An Annotated Bibliography of Play and Literature," Canadian Review of Comparative Literature/Revue Canadienne de Litterature Comparee. 12:306-58, No. 2, 1985.

English-language book review. Dialog on-line citation 00693232 in File 439: Arts & Humanities Search.

Nicoll, Allardyce. History of English Drama, 6 Vols. London: Cambridge University Press, 1962.

Nicoll, as the preeminent theatre scholar of his generation, alludes to many significant short plays, giving their dramaturgical and historical context. Cited in Hunter's drama bibliography, listed here.

Ottemiller, John Henry. Index to Plays in Collections; An Author and Title Index to Plays Appearing in Collections Published Between 1900-1962. 4th ed. New York: Scarecrow Press, 1964.

The first six decades of the twentieth century provided a vast number of short plays. Having appeared in collections, these plays more often than not were not separately published or issued by play-publication houses in their catalogs. Therefore, research in such collections should serendipitously disclose usable scripts for small casts. Cited in Hunter's drama bibliography, listed here.

Padovano, Anthony T. Conscience and Conflict; A Trilogy of One-Actor Plays: Thomas Merton, Pope John XXIII [and] Martin Luther. Mahwah, New Jersey: Paulist Press, 1988.

ISBN 0-8091-3001-7. The address of Paulist Press is 997 MacArthur Boulevard, Mahwah, New Jersey 07430.

Pape, Ralph. Girls We Have Known, and Other One Act Plays. New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1984.

Not cited in Books in Print 1992-1993. International Standard Book Number unavailable. Library of Congress number is 84-223003.

Patitucci, Karen. Three-Minute Dramas for Worship. San Jose, California: Resource Publications, Inc., 1989.

ISBN 0-89390-143-1. The address of Resource Publications, Inc., is 160 East Virginia Street, Suite 290, San Jose, California 95112.

Peacock, G. "The Brock Bibliography of Published Canadian Plays in English 1766 to 1978; Wagner, A.," Theatre History in Canada/Histoire du Theatre au Canada 5:96-97, No. 1, 1984.

Unavailable to present research, the bibliography reviewed in this issue of Theatre History in Canada/Histoire du Theatre au Canada opens an unfamiliar door for theatre groups in the United States. From over two hundred years of dramatic achievement in Canada come numerous short, small-cast plays. Production companies should pursue this lead. Dialog on-line citation 00489275 in File 439: Arts & Humanities Search. Corporate Source: University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2E1, Alberta, Canada.

Pence, James H. The Magazine and the Drama; An Index. New York: The Dunlap Society, 1896.

This index could offer obscure scripts, because short plays frequently reach print in magazines rather than through publication houses. Consequently, these scripts regularly are missed by bibliographers. Cited in Hunter's drama bibliography, listed here.

Pfanner, H. F. "Expressionism in Switzerland; Volume 1, Narrative Prose, Mixed Genres, Poetry; Volume 2, Plays, Essays_Editorial Report, Bio-Bibliography; Epilogue_German; Stern, M." Literature Music Fine Arts 17:48-49, No. 1, 1984.

This English-language book review in Literature Music Fine Arts cites Swiss expressionistic plays. Playwrights of short plays frequently have employed that genre, so the possibility of finding such scripts is good. Dialog on-line citation 00461647 in File 439: Arts & Humanities Search. Genuine Article#: SS450.

The Players Library, the Catalogue of the Library of the British Drama League with Supplements. London: Faber & Faber, 1950-1953.

The British Drama League speaks for playwrights in the United Kingdom and controls rights to many of their long and short plays. Cited in Hunter's drama bibliography, listed here.

"Polish Plays in Translation_An Annotated Bibliography; Gerould, D.; Taborski, B.; Hart, S.; Kobialka, M." Theatre en Pologne/Theatre in Poland 26:24, No. 5, 1984.

Unavailable to present research, the English-language book review in Theatre en Pologne/Theatre in Poland describes a bibliography that offers intriguing potential in the search for short, small-cast scripts. Jerzy Grotowsky and other Polish directors have forged exciting theatre before and since liberation in 1990. They have been on the cutting edge of international theatre. Much of their work has been in one-act format. Dialog on-line citation 00508150 in File 439: Arts & Humanities Search. Genuine Article#: TM270.

Roden, Robert F. Later American Plays, 1831-1900; Being a Compilation of the Titles of Plays by American Authors Published and Performed in America Since 1831. New York: The Dunlap Society, 1900.

Seventy years of nineteenth-century American plays must contain a substantial number of short plays, some at least with small casts. This is a good bet for ensuing research. Cited in Hunter's drama bibliography, listed here.

Salem, James M., ed. Drury's Guide to Best Plays, 4th ed., Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1987.

ISBN 0-8108-1980-5. Unavailable to this writer, the title appears a likely source, perhaps with references to one-act plays. It should aid ensuing research. The 1969 second edition is cited in Hunter's drama bibliography, listed here. Cited in Books in Print 1992-1993.

Vincent, T. "Fugard, Athol_Bibliography, Biography, Playography; Vanderbroucke, R." Research in African Literatures 15:458-61, No. 3, 1984.

Unavailable to the present writer, the playography in this English-language book review of this South African's work has possibilities for further research regarding short scripts. His recurring theme of apartheid continues to resonate with audiences even after radical changes in the political structure of the Union of South Africa. Dialog on-line citation 00491039 in File 439: Arts & Humanities Search. Genuine Article#: TD177. Corporate Source: University of Lagos, Department of English, Lagos, Nigeria.

Wertheim, A. "10 Modern American Playwrights, an Annotated Bibliography; King, K." Literary Research Newsletter 8:21-22, No. 1, 1983.

This English-language book review in the Literary Research Newsletter covers modern American playwrights who characteristically have experimented with the short format. Often, these playwrights' later famous works echo their one-act probings; study of the one-act headwaters contributes to understanding the wider flow of their full-length works. Edward Albee, William Inge, Tennessee Williams, and Arthur Miller all have written of their high regard for short plays. Hence, this source has good potential for ensuing research, particularly with the help of the annotations. Dialog on-line citation 00398961 in File 439: Arts & Humanities Search. Genuine Article#: RP304. Corporate Source: Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47401.

Wright, D. A. One-Person Puppet Plays. Englewood, Colorado: Teacher Ideas Press, 1990.

ISBN 0-87287-742-6. Illustrations by John Wright. The address of Teacher Ideas Press is P. O. Box 3988, Englewood, Colorado 80155-3988.

This Website continues under construction and welcomes new citations and comments.

Page updated June 13, 1998, by the site Webmaster.

There is a there there with a correct click. Quick Connections to Major Sections of this Guide Preliminaries | Welcome | Contents | Acknowledgments | | Foreword | Preface | Introduction | Body | Author Index | Cast Size/Gender Index | Title Index | | Glossary of Genres | Bibliography for Playwrights | Playbills by Themes | | Eighty Script Analyses (in Print Volume) | Source Directory for Scripts | Sundries | Visits Counter | Success Stories | | Form for Submitting New Citation | | Form for Ordering 1/2/3/4 for the Show | | Present Web Links | Adding Web Links | | Guest Book | Disclaimer | General Bibliography | | About the Author |

Quick Connections to Cast Size/Gender Menus 1 Actor | One-Male Plays | One-Female Plays | 2 Actors | One-Male-One-Female Plays | Two-Male Plays | Two-Female Plays | 3 Actors | One-Male-Two-Female Plays | Two-Male-One-Female Plays | Three-Male Plays | | Three-Female Plays | 4 Actors | One-Male-Three-Female Plays | Two-Male-Two-Female Plays | | Three-Male-One-Female Plays | Four-Male Plays | Four-Female Plays |

Small-Cast One-Act Guide On-line complements the print volume

1/2/3/4 for the Show: A Guide to Small-Cast One-Act Plays

by Lewis W. Heniford (Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1995), ISBN 0-8108-2985-1, $39.50, plus s/h Scarecrow Press, 4720 Boston Way, Lanham, MD 20706 telephone 800-462-6420 or 301-459-3366, fax 301-459-2118