LESS IS MORE:

THE PHENOMENON OF THE TEN-MINUTE PLAY

IN TODAY’S AMERICAN THEATRE

 

 

A Thesis

Presented to

The Faculty of the Department of Television, Radio, Film, and Theatre

San Jose State University

 

In Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements for the Degree

Master of Arts

 

 

By

Bryan Martin

December 2006

 

 

 

 

© 2006

 

Bryan Martin

 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

 

ABSTRACT

 

LESS IS MORE:

THE PHENOMENON OF THE TEN-MINUTE PLAY

IN TODAY’S AMERICAN THEATRE

 

by Bryan Martin

 

   This thesis examines the ten-minute play in today’s American theatre from a historical perspective. 

Firstly, antecedents of relevance to the ten-minute play are identified, outlined, and compared.  These antecedents include Futurism and Theatre of the Absurd, Little Theatre and the one-act play, and vaudeville. 

Actors Theatre of Louisville, the company most responsible for the rise of the ten-minute play, is then historically analyzed, emphasizing the origins of the company’s production of the form.   

Finally, the phenomenon of today’s ten-minute play is addressed.  Theatre professionals provide a variety of perspectives and opinions regarding both the form and production of the ten-minute play, and significant festivals in which the form has been produced are identified and outlined.  Key concepts addressed include the ten minute play’s value as an experimental outlet, legitimization as a theatrical form, production value, and relationship to modern attention spans.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

1) INTRODUCTION..............................1
    Players of the Space.....................9
    Statement of Question...................12
    Terminology.............................15
    Methodology.............................17
    The One-Act Express.....................18

2) ANTECEDENTS..............................24
    Futurism and Theatre of the Absurd......24
    Vaudeville..............................30
    Little Theatre and the One-Act Play.....38

3) ACTORS THEATRE OF LOUISVILLE.............47

4) PERSPECTIVES ON TODAY'S TEN-MINUTE PLAY..61
    Form....................................61
    Production..............................72
    Venues..................................81
       Boston Theater Marathon..............87
       Chicago Dramatists...................89
       Collaboraction Theatre Company.......90
       New York Collective..................93
       Theatre Oxford.......................94
       Festival Variations..................95

5) CONCLUSIONS.............................100
    The One-Act Express....................103
    Suggestions for Future Research........108

 

INDEX......................................115

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY...............................119

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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