A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE
Drop Dead!
Full-Length Play, Comedy / 3w, 7m
A cast of has-been actors plan to revive their careers in “Drop Dead!,” a potboiler murder mystery directed by “Wonder Child of the Broadway Stage” Victor Le Pewe (a psychotic, eye-twitching megalomaniac). But when the murders and mysteries exceed those in the script, the thespians must save the show, their careers and their lives!
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Cast Size
3w, 7m -
Duration
120 minutes (2 hours) -
Subgenre
Mystery/Thriller -
Target Audience
Adult, Pre-Teen (Age 11-13), Teen (Age 14-18)
Details
Summary
A non-stop physical comedy that turns the world of theater on its head! A cast of has-been actors plan to revive their careers in “Drop Dead!,” a potboiler murder mystery directed by “Wonder Child of the Broadway Stage” Victor Le Pewe. At the dress rehearsal the set falls apart around them, props break, and the producer and an actor are murdered. But the show must go on! And so it does, but at the opening night performance, the murders continue and the play goes incredibly wrong. The remaining thespians must save the show and their careers, solve the mystery, and somehow survive until the curtain calls.
History
Drop Dead! first opened at The Cort Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on 16 August 1991, starring Adrienne Barbeau ("Grease," "Maude"), Rose Marie ("Dick Van Dyke Show"), Barney Martin ("Seinfeld"), Craig Bierko ("Unreal"), Donny Most ("Happy Days"), Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore. It was produced by Mitch Nedick and Edward P. Vogels. It was directed by author Billy Van Zandt.
Cast Attributes
- Time Period Present Day
- Setting An Off-Off-Off-Off Broadway theater
- Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
- Additional Features Physical Comedy
- Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)
- Cautions
- Gun Shots
- Mild Adult Themes
Media
“A nonstop physical comedy that turns the world of theater on its head!” – Variety
“The audience laughed at everything!” – Los Angeles Times
“Pick of the Month.” – L.A. Magazine
“Drop Dead! will make your jaw drop and your head spin almost simultaneously, but you will be laughing the whole time!” – Peru Tribune
“A wacky slapstick comedy that will have you laughing out loud!” – KBIG
“Critic’s Choice. Totally ludicrous and heartily entertaining!” – L.A. Reader
“Flat-out frenzied fun! Hilarity and craziness prevail! Unabashed foolish fun!” – Dramalogue
“Oh, how the audience loved it!” – The Augusta Chronicle
Music
- Musical Style N/A (Not a musical)
Licensing & Materials
- Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.
Authors
Billy Van Zandt
