BRENDA SHOSHANNA PLAYWRIGHT
Topspeaker@Yahoo.com
Plays by Brenda Shoshanna that have been produced include:
- T i t l e & V e n u e
- One Candle - Bima Theater
- Ground Zero
Pippin Cultural Center - Messiah
Reading: Ensemble Studio Theatre, Octoberfest - Knots
Love Creek Festival, 1998 - Jakey’s Incredible Family Reunion
Ensemble Studio Theater - Under The Shade Of One Tree
Cleveland Public theater, (Chilcote Award), 1997 - Cappuccino
Ensemble Studio Theater - A Room For The Nite
Ensemble Studio Theater - Let’s Dance
Ensemble Studio Theater - The Regulars
Actor’s Institute, 1991 - Spring Fever
Double Image Festival, 1990 - Double Blessing
Jewish Repertory Theater, 1989 - Ring Around A Rosy
Double Image Festival, 1989
P L A Y W R I G H T I N R E S I D E N C E
Jewish Repertory Theater , New York
Ensemble Studio Theater , New York
A W A R D S
- The Chilcote Award, Cleveland Public Theater, (UNDER THE SHADE OF ONE TREE), 1996
- Eisener Award for the Best Jewish Play of the Year, (runner up), 1989
- Playwright in Residence, Jewish Repertory Theater, 1989-1995
- Playwright in Residence, Ensemble Studio Theater, 1987
- Sewannee Writers Conference – Playwriting Participant, 1995
O T H E R W O R K I N T H E A T E R
Director and Founder; Healing Through Theater; Play Development; Readings;, Mentoring.
Literary Intern, American Place Theater, (Women’s Project Productions.)
1986-87 (Worked with Suzanne Bennett – reading of new plays with analysis.)
E D U C A T I O N
Graduate Playwriting, New York University , Tisch School of the Arts
Professional Playwriting, Ensemble Studio Theater
B.A., Barnard College , 1962, (Honors in Writing)
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Adelphi University.
P R E S E N T L Y A V A I L A B L E P L A Y S
Dr. Shoshanna invites interest in the below titles. Please contact her with any questions, or to receive the play by mail. Thank you.
Full Length
- 3 Women Left At A Bus Stop
- The Lottery of Love
- Under The Shade Of One Tree
- The Teacher Hasn't Come
- Cappuccino
- Let’s Dance
- Messiah
- Double Blessing
- A Room For The Nite
- Solo Full Length - Where Prayers Come True
One Act
- Jakey’s Incredible Family Reunion - (Long)
- A Marriage of Convenience
- One Dance
- The Regulars
- Sanctuary
- Primal Therapy
SOME SYNO P S E S
FULL LENGTH PLAY
THREE WOMEN LEFT AT A BUS STOP
Play takes place at a bus stop on top of a hill at the edge of a dangerous neighborhood in New York City . We meet three women who gather here to wait for the bus upstate to Bloomington , New York . Pia is homeless and lives at the bus stop under the enclosure. She believes that she sees the future and all that is hidden and feels she has a mission to let the truth be known. Another woman, Tamara, arrives in a mink coat early in the afternoon, after being dropped off by Luigi. She refuses to see anything but beauty in the world, and it could be said, lives in a world of dreams. Louanne, the third woman, a suburban housewife, dressed as if she were still in the fifties, arrives with hair fluffed up at the edges and neatly wrapped packages that she is taking on her journey to see her mother in law. Except for Pia, the other two believe that they are simply there waiting for a bus.
Initially these three have a rough time together. However, as a storm arrives, buses pass and a crash takes place at the bottom of the hill, causing state troopers to arrive and suspect an explosion, things between them change. They are forced to interact intensely and discover who they really are, how to care for each other and where they are truly headed on their journey. By the time the play ends, they are no longer the same.
One set; 3 characters (women)
UNDER THE SHADE OF ONE TREE
Under The Shade Of One Tree, which was recipient of the Chilcote Award for best play of the festival at the Cleveland Public Theater.
This play, which is a comic drama, takes place in a midwestern God fearing town outside of Chicago in the 1940’s. A serial killer has arrived in this town, and has been killing the women and burying them under the shade of one tree. The play opens in the family’s living room where visitors and other family members gather, each one bringing more news. As the terrified father hears what’s going on he finally decides not let anyone leave the home. We not only meet the members of this unusual, extended family, but other important people in the town who arrive as well, not knowing that they will be forced to stay together until the killer is found. As the situation intensifies, and roadblocks are set up outside, the inner life of this family and community become totally exposed.
Soon suspicion arises among them and due to unexpected events that occur, it becomes obvious to all that the killer is someone in the room.
A surprising twist discloses not only the killer, but the source of evil in this town. And then, even more unexpectedly, as the play closes we see that it is possible for truth and compassion to ultimately prevail.
One set; 7 characters - 3 women, 4 men
CAPPUCCINO
Cappuccino takes place in a small, beautiful, all glass cafe on the Rue de les Champs, ruled by the Waiter who only makes Cappuccino for those he accepts into his cafe. Once a place for the rich and famous, the cafe is now a gathering place for has-beens who seek consolation. At four every afternoon, lines of people gather, peering in, waiting to be accepted.
Among those accepted into the cafe are The Woman, a newcomer. She comes to the cafe enticed by the Waiter and the incredible Cappuccinos he makes. There is also the Man, once a financial wizard, now completely dependent upon the Waiter. Before long The Man cannot bear to be parted from the Woman either.
During the course of the play we watch the relationship develop between the Man and Woman, each of whom are struggling for meaning, power and validation in their lives. At a crucial moment, Belle, a former patron, arrives. As soon as Belle appears, the Man dashes to her, to find out where she disappeared to, leaving the Woman behind.
Although he is only present sporadically, all of the characters at the café revolves around the Waiter, waiting for him, craving his approval and longing for his Cappuccinos which he only serves when he is ready, and to whom he chooses.
The play is humorous and surrealistic. At times it has a dance like quality, at other times it is real and gutsy. We watch the characters struggle with themselves, each other and what they are doing here in the cafe. Ultimately, we see their incredible hunger for the peace and consolation the Cappuccinos finally bring.
One set, 4 characters – 2 men, 2 womenPerformed at 18th St. Theater , NY; run extended
LET'S DANCE
This lively, poignant comedy takes place during the course of one night, at a weekly disco party for singles in their thirties and forties, all of whom are looking for that one, perfect dance.
Lights flash, love songs plays, dancers keep dancing, as characters weave in and out, searching for their true love.
Sara, a regular at these parties has been coming for three years. She pretends to be someone else and sits and talks to the bartender, Tony, with whom she's madly in love. She keeps asking Tony to give her a dance, leave the place with her, have a regular date outside.
Tony Marado, half owner of the bar, loves talking to Sara, but turns instead to Mother Mary for what he really needs. He isn't allowed to dance with the customers, is afraid to leave the bar with Sara, but keeps promising it will happen one day. He can't be sure when.
Harold Kapowsky, who intermittently talks on his cell phone to his analyst has been coming to this party for the past few weeks. The victim of three bad marriages, he tells his analyst he knows he'll love again one day when he finds, Sara, his first love.
During this particular evening Harold gets the courage to approach Sara, realizes who she really is – and reminds her where she knows him from. Sara, completely shocked, is now forced to grapple with both her past and who she is today. Tony tries to get rid of Harold, but as he cannot, must now decide the next steps he’ll take.
During the course of this zany night, all dreams of the past see the light of day, and Sara, Harold and Tony finally discover who they really are and how to proceed. At the end of the play, two of them are finally able have a wonderful dance.
One set, 5 characters – 2 women, 3 menWorkshoped at Ensemble Studio Theater
MESSIAH
This takes place in the home of a Hasidic Rabbi in Williamsburg , Brooklyn., where homeless people and beggars surround the neighborhood and there is a sense of unpredictability.. At the time the play opens not only the Rabbi’s family, but the entire community eagerly await and expect the coming of Messiah any day now.
The Rabbi’s family consists of Mother, who is just recovering from a high fever, the brother Yankel, who stays home all day praying, Hy, the renegade brother who comes for Shabbos meals,and Shayna the lively daughter who studies Talmud, worries about the homeless in the neighborhood and desperately tries to understand what God truly wants from them all.
Suddenly, in the midst of a Sabbath meal, Fendelson, the vegetable store owner, bursts in bringing news from Israel that top Rabbis believe the Messiah has arrived. The rest of the play deals with the way the family and community greet the news of Messiah, how it affects their relationships with themselves, one another and the homeless man who now comes knocking persistently on their door. This play deals with the issue of where Messiah truly is and how we bring him/her.
One set; 6 characters – 4 men, 2 women Directed by Edward M. Cohen, former associate director of The Jewish Repertory Theater was read at Jewish Repertory Theater , N.Y. , and workshopped at Ensemble Studio Theater , New York .
DOUBLE BLESSING Produced at Jewish Repertory Theater , N.Y.
Comedy-drama. Takes place in Borough Park Brooklyn in a Hasidic Jewish family, where the family tries to marry off a young, rebellious daughter, Chana. She scares her suitors away by talking dirty to them over the phone. Mother is distraught by her behavior and leans upon her own unmarried suitor of years HaGoodnick. Finally, all the family come to celebrate the announcement of her engagement to someone Chana is about to meet for the first time. The suitor never arrives, but sends his best friend in his place, a strange, lovely, non-religious violinist, who can’t figure out how to get in the house and climbs in through the window in the middle of the party. He and Chana promptly fall in love and her mother and HaGoodnick try to pretend to whole family that he is someone else. At a surprise twist in the play, HaGoodnick reveals secrets of his past, steps in to fight to Chana’s marriage to the musician, and at the close of the play, there is a double blessing for all to enjoy.
Mood: Charming, fun, touching, light hearted.Characters: Four. Mother, Chana, Morris and Mother's Suitor.Performed: This play had a full performance at the Jewish Repertory Theater, NYC, where it was a hit. Run extended. Full performance by Equity Company.
SOLO FULL LENGTH PLAY
WHERE PRAYERS COME TRUE
This one woman play is a humorous and poignant piece which depicts a modern woman’s struggle between contemporary society and her yearning to return to her Jewish roots. We watch Rivkah as she struggles with her Jewish identity, compulsively going back and forth to a small orthodox synagogue hidden admist the shops, cafes and tall buildings on the upper East Side of Manhattan . As she tries to join in and become part of the community, we meet a host of different characters some of whom horrify and repel Rivkah and some who deeply touch and inspire her, including a beautiful, powerful, unapproachable Rabbi who is complete in his dedication to God.
Large parts of the play take place in the synagogue. We hear the prayers, see the relationships in the women’s section, and listen to the Rabbi’s talks which mesmerize Rivkah and offer a completely different perspective on all aspects of life. The stark contrast between the secular and religious point of view and its moral and spiritual implications is explored. This play, which is particularly timely now has moments of intense surrealism, mixed with sorrow, humor and joy. In essence it asks and struggles with the question of our true place and purpose in life.
One set, One characterThis play was finalist in Dorothy Silver Playwriting Contest and The Streisand Festival.
ONE ACTS
JAKEY'S INCREDIBLE FAMILY REUNION
The play, a semi comic burlesque which includes high drama, takes place on the Lower East Side in the 1940's, in the small insurance offices of Manny and Jakey, two older men, business partners for years, who start receiving crank phone calls, demanding that Jakey write an opera and put it on. Jakey, the practical partner who works in the back, behind the scenes, adamantly refuses to have anything to do with this crazy request.
As the calls come more and more frequently, Jakey faces the loss of both his business and his sanity. Manny, the jovial partner, the front man, begs Jakey to reconsider, to write the opera and invite his estranged family to come and play the parts. “What’s in me to write an opera about?” Jakey cries. “Write it and see,” Manny demands.
As the calls continue we watch Jakey’s relationship both with Manny and his overly devoted secretary Vivien unravel in front of our eyes. The truth of their lives together becomes exposed. Jakey is finally forced to write an opera, call his estranged family to be in it, and then put it on for the callers to see. As work on the opera proceeds, Jakey confronts his life completely.
The play has both real and surrealistic elements. Slides of scenes from the forties are intermittently shown in the background to connect events in Jakey'’ life with what is happening in the outside world. Finally, as the opera is about to go on, a mysterious visit takes place, which compeltely turns Jakey’s life around. He then realizes who the callers are and what they really want from him.
Play workshopped at Jewish Repertory Theater and Ensemble Studio TheaterOne set; Four characters – two men, two women
THE CURE
The Cure is a comic drama about two women, Dr. Clara Bronson, accomplished psychiatrist who is desperate for a Cure, and her prime patient, Berta Shannon, one time Spokeswoman for the Woman's Movement, who could no longer go on.In this wild, sometimes surrealistic play, we see the two women struggling for power, identity, reality and above all, love. Dr. Bronson is to be the main speaker in a nationwide Conference on Schizophrenia, where she is to bring a Cure. Berta is the patient she is bringing. A few days before the conference, when the play opens, Berta starts acting up, claiming once again that she is being followed by the victims of the war.As Dr. Bronson struggles to prepare Berta for the conference, we see Berta's reality and as the play continues, the question emerges about which one of the two women is really crazy, and what it really means to have a Cure.
Play performed at Double Image FestivalOne set, Two characters - women
SANCTUARY
Paul goes to confession every morning with the new Priest in town. He constantly asks for forgiveness for his obsession with other women, though he loves and lives with Loretta. During course of play, Paul falls in love with Priest and begs him to leave his parish and run away with him. After much turmoil, inner revelations about he Priests’s life come forth and both he and Paul have a deeper understanding about serving God.
Performed: Samuel French One Act Play Festival; 19972 sets, Characters: Three; Paul, Loretta and Father Midion.
THE REGULARS
Takes place at a bench in the zoo, near the wild bird sanctuary. Fred, a regular at the zoo, hangs out at the bench, talks to the Parrots, and tries, unsuccessfully to pick up girls. Alice comes along to meet a date, who is late. While she waits, she and Fred start to talk despite the fact that Fred’s best friend Carmine, the Zoo Keeper comes along, tries to interrupt and warns that Fred is damaged and Alice better move along. In a surprise move, Alice behaves in a way no girl every has with Fred and turns both her and his life around.
One set, Characters, 4 – 3 men, one womanPerformed: One-Act Theater Company. Non-Equity.
TEN MINUTE PLAYS
GROUND ZERO
A woman who is unable to forget what happened at Ground Zero goes down to the site every night to talk to the spirits of those who have died. She meets a wonderful old man there who brings her comfort. Performed at Pippin FestivalOne set, 2 characters
LOOKING FOR RAINBOWS
This play takes place in the Center for Intense Primal Therapy, where Herman’s mother is waiting for him to be through with his session. She waits for him three times a week, over the past 12 years. All this time he has not improved, does not speak, brings flowers for his therapist Gregor (the Center’s Director) hoping he will be loved. We meet some other Primal therapists, trained by Gregor, an ex Priest and ex dancer. Today Herman is late for his session and his mother had enough. She tries to get the other therapists to help, and when Herman finally comes out, a dramatic, unexpected event takes place, which stuns everyone. Although lively and humorous the play deals with who is responsible for suffering and how to bring it to an end.
