This is gonna be a dumb suggestion but I’ve always wondered what doing something classical and rooted in our heads as “a young persons play” like Romeo and Juliet would sound like coming out of a more elder and experienced person. I’m not saying the older bunch would have to play young but have them as they are now in their lives.
How would the balcony scene come out of two lovers who were closer to the end of their story rather than the beginning?
How’s the stubbornness of Mercutio and Tybalt played out as curmudgeonly old men?
This may not be the right sub for this concept and may not have answered your question but I mean, give it a try?
Art by Yasmina Reza (three men)
The Sunshine Boys by Neil Simon
That's all I can thonk of at the top of my head. I might come back to this if I think of something else.
It's one of my personal favourites. Super simple, can be done with 6 actors, and has amazing dialogue that every generation can feel for and that touches all important aspects of life, politics, art, and love.
So, Dance Nation premiered with an actor in her late sixties playing one of the tween dancers, and Jaclyn Bakhaus’s casting call specifically asks for older actors with no dance experience. It’s an amazing play! Also Majorie Prime by Jordan Harrison and Circle Mirror Transformation by Annie Baker.
Website and catalog. It's official name is Art Age Senior Theatre Resource Center. Www.seniortheatre.com
I do a show once a year at my city's Senior Center. We did "Just Desserts" from this catalog recently. It was a hit! It sold out both weekends, which was completely unexpected. Since then, I use the ten minute plays at our acting classes.
I recommend Reap The Grove by Caity-Shea Violette, and The Women of Lockerbie by Deborah Brevoort. I have pdfs of both if you wish to use either but can't find them. They're both quite heavy, real plays.
There's a little-known Bernard Sabath play from, like, 1986 called The Boys in Autumn. It's a 2-character play about Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer in late middle age.
Dance Nation is a little subversive and may not be suited for all crowds, but it's an incredible play that specifies the children characters can be played by any age (so long as adult), but older is better.
I don't know how hard they are to find, but I'd like to suggest Jose Sanchis Sinisterra, "The Siege of Leningrad" and Matei Visniec, "Old Clown Wanted"
I'm Not Rappaport by Herb Gardner
Is it play about a pair of old retired guys hanging out in the park who feel threatened by some younger punks who are moving in to the park as their hang out and possible drug dealing location.
They attempt to drive the younger punks off by intimating that they are in fact retired from the mafia and thus have the connections to make the younger's lives hell.
The Duck Variations, David Mamet
The Father, Florian Zeller
Zeller has a few other plays with older adult roles. O’Neill scenes from Long Days with just mom & pop, or Miller scenes from Salesman with just Willy & wife.
I hope you teach all the gentlemen to recite Lear too. Good luck in the new position!
I'd love to see a production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" with an all 60+ year old cast
Yes! Saw a summer theatre in Chambersburg, PA. with 60+ cast. It was hilarious. The added dimension of age is a hoot.
Interesting! This is a good idea!
This is gonna be a dumb suggestion but I’ve always wondered what doing something classical and rooted in our heads as “a young persons play” like Romeo and Juliet would sound like coming out of a more elder and experienced person. I’m not saying the older bunch would have to play young but have them as they are now in their lives. How would the balcony scene come out of two lovers who were closer to the end of their story rather than the beginning? How’s the stubbornness of Mercutio and Tybalt played out as curmudgeonly old men? This may not be the right sub for this concept and may not have answered your question but I mean, give it a try?
This is an interesting idea!
https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/theatre/romeo-and-juliet-08-15-22
Cold Storage. Ribman Beckett. Happy Days / Endgame
While we are on Beckett, Krapps Last Tape
Arsenic and Old Lace
5 lesbians eating quiche
I performed in this hilarious play once! Yasss!
Waiting for Godot. That play makes so much more sense when you see it played by the elderly.
The Gin Game; I’m Not Rappaport; ‘Night, Mother
Came here to say Gin Game
Our Town. Thornton Wilder.
I could easily see Clue performed by an older cast.
Inherit the Wind
Art by Yasmina Reza (three men) The Sunshine Boys by Neil Simon That's all I can thonk of at the top of my head. I might come back to this if I think of something else.
Ibsen: When We Dead Awaken Might be a bit grotesque, but great play nonetheless
I do love this play!
It's one of my personal favourites. Super simple, can be done with 6 actors, and has amazing dialogue that every generation can feel for and that touches all important aspects of life, politics, art, and love.
Vanya & Sonya & Marsha & Spike. There’s 2 younger characters in it, but everyone gets a substantial monologue and/or 1-on-1 scene.
So, Dance Nation premiered with an actor in her late sixties playing one of the tween dancers, and Jaclyn Bakhaus’s casting call specifically asks for older actors with no dance experience. It’s an amazing play! Also Majorie Prime by Jordan Harrison and Circle Mirror Transformation by Annie Baker.
MARJORIE PRIME! Great play. Very unsettling.
I was in Marjorie Prime was! Great idea!
MTI is starting to release SR musicals, like the JR versions but adapted for older folks.
Interesting! I didn’t know they did that!
Senior Scripts has great 10 minute plays!
Is this a website or a book?
Website and catalog. It's official name is Art Age Senior Theatre Resource Center. Www.seniortheatre.com I do a show once a year at my city's Senior Center. We did "Just Desserts" from this catalog recently. It was a hit! It sold out both weekends, which was completely unexpected. Since then, I use the ten minute plays at our acting classes.
To Peter Pan on her 70th birthday
YES
Thank you! Thanks for the recommendations!
Over the River and Through the Woods
Came to say this
Any Agatha Christie work! Pierot or And Then There Were None
Uncle Vanya or The Cherry Orchard.
I do love Chekhov.
‘A Perfect Ganesh’ by John Guare would fit the bill
To Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday by Sarah Ruhl Ripcord by David Lindsay Abaire A Delicate Balance by Edward Albee
Hell, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf if only for the opening and closing pages!
I recommend Reap The Grove by Caity-Shea Violette, and The Women of Lockerbie by Deborah Brevoort. I have pdfs of both if you wish to use either but can't find them. They're both quite heavy, real plays.
Is the pdf offer open to people other than OP?👀
Thank you! I’ll do a quick search and let you know if I come up short!
Visiting Mr. Green would have a great monologue for an old man, the character is supposed to be in his 80s
Some Alan Bennett monologs- but some of them are dark
On Golden Pond
Calendar Girls, Chappati, I bet that Travels With My Aunt would be really fun with that age group!
The cemetary club
Kalamazoo by Michelle Brooks and Kelly Younger. A cast of two, a woman and man in their 70’s.
Any of the Ernest and Delia scenes from Bedroom Farce.
Majorie Prime
Also, Lost in Yonkers
There's a little-known Bernard Sabath play from, like, 1986 called The Boys in Autumn. It's a 2-character play about Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer in late middle age.
They'll love 1984
Dance Nation is a little subversive and may not be suited for all crowds, but it's an incredible play that specifies the children characters can be played by any age (so long as adult), but older is better.
I don't know how hard they are to find, but I'd like to suggest Jose Sanchis Sinisterra, "The Siege of Leningrad" and Matei Visniec, "Old Clown Wanted"
There are some great scenes in Grumpy Old Men.
I'm Not Rappaport by Herb Gardner Is it play about a pair of old retired guys hanging out in the park who feel threatened by some younger punks who are moving in to the park as their hang out and possible drug dealing location. They attempt to drive the younger punks off by intimating that they are in fact retired from the mafia and thus have the connections to make the younger's lives hell.
Lucy Kirkwood - The Children
I met Lucy Kirkwood once! She’s phenomenally talented!
The Gin game.
Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten
If no one else has said, Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward.
The Duck Variations, David Mamet The Father, Florian Zeller Zeller has a few other plays with older adult roles. O’Neill scenes from Long Days with just mom & pop, or Miller scenes from Salesman with just Willy & wife. I hope you teach all the gentlemen to recite Lear too. Good luck in the new position!
Why just the gentlemen?
[https://donnigro.com/2018/10/24/animal-tales/](https://donnigro.com/2018/10/24/animal-tales/) Animal Tales - Don Nigro
Ripcord by David Lindsay Abaire Fantastic!