Desperate Housewives of Shakespeare

Play #: 2198
Pages: 32 pgs
Cast: 2-3 m, 6 w

Okay, these housewives may not be real, but they are desperate. Shakespeare has been manipulating and twisting their lives for six plays now, and they desperately want to escape his evil machinations. But are they desperate enough to commit murder? Shakespeare has been found dead: stabbed, poisoned, starved, choked, bitten by an asp, and even turned into a baardvark. Lady Macbeth, Juliet, Kate, Rosalind, Cleopatra, and Titania all had the means and the motive to kill Shakespeare, but who really did it? This comic tragedy (or is that tragic comedy?) has all of the action of a Shakespearean play but with none of those angsty monologues about the meaning of life. Great for a strong female cast with some serious comedy chops!

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Productions

NEDROSE PUBLIC SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
MINOT, ND 11/5/2024
ROBIDOUX RESIDENT THEATRE 2 Performance(s)
ST. JOSEPH, MO 11/3/2024
STREATOR TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
STREATOR, IL 11/1/2024
ROCKWOOD SUMMIT HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
HIGH RIDGE, MO 10/3/2024
VALLEY DRAMA SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
WOLFVILLE, CANADA 6/5/2024
MCCLELLAND COLLEGE 2 Performance(s)
KARINGAL, VIC, AUSTRALIA 5/8/2024
THE SAGE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PROVIDENCE, RI 5/5/2024
AMARILLO ISD FINE ARTS 4 Performance(s)
AMARILLO, TX 5/2/2024
SARASOTA COUNTY SCHOOLS 2 Performance(s)
VENICE, FL 4/26/2024
TWIN CEDARS JR-SR HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
BUSSEY, IA 4/26/2024
WBMHS THEATER COMPANY 1 Performance(s)
WEST BOYLSTON, MA 4/3/2024
PAW PAW HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PAW PAW, MI 3/28/2024
EAST PALESTINE CITY SCHOOLS 1 Performance(s)
EAST PALESTINE, OH 3/22/2024
HIALEAH GARDENS HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
HIALEAH GARDENS, FL 3/14/2024
SPANAWAY LAKE HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
SPANAWAY, WA 3/14/2024
DAVIS SCHOOL DISTRICT 2 Performance(s)
FARMINGTON, UT 2/24/2024
BELLEVILLE EAST HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
BELLEVILLE, IL 2/7/2024
NUCLA HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE 2 Performance(s)
NUCLA, CO 12/1/2023
HIALEAH GARDENS HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
HIALEAH GARDENS, FL 11/18/2023
ESPERANCE THEATRE GUILD 5 Performance(s)
ESPERANCE, AUSTRALIA 11/17/2023
ARTHUR COUNTY SCHOOLS 3 Performance(s)
ARTHUR, NE 11/14/2023
HIGHLAND ISD 3 Performance(s)
ROSCOE, TX 11/11/2023
WAUPUN AREA JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
WAUPUN, WI 11/10/2023
RISE REALTY 1 Performance(s)
GLENBURN, ME 11/2/2023
WISHEK 1 Performance(s)
WISHEK, ND 11/2/2023
OGLETHORPE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
LEXINGTON, GA 10/28/2023
POQUOSON HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
POQUOSON, VA 10/13/2023
HUNTERDON ACADEMY OF THE ARTS 1 Performance(s)
FLEMINGTON, NJ 6/20/2023
CIRCLE HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
TOWANDA, KS 5/12/2023
JOEL P JENSEN MIDDLE SCHOOL 4 Performance(s)
WEST JORDAN, UT 3/21/2023
ABILENE ISD 1 Performance(s)
ABILENE, TX 3/17/2023
ROOSEVELT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
MODESTO, CA 3/15/2023
EAST BUTLER PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2 Performance(s)
BRAINARD, NE 3/10/2023
LAINGSBURG HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
LAINGSBURG, MI 1/28/2023
ROBERT C. BYRD HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
CLARKSBURG, WV 1/26/2023
LONG COVE THEATRE 2 Performance(s)
HILTON HEAD, SC 1/24/2023
WARREN SHAKESPEARE CLUB 1 Performance(s)
WARREN, PA 1/24/2023
BELLINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
BELLINGHAM, MA 11/18/2022
USD 297 2 Performance(s)
ST FRANCIS, KS 9/1/2022
HUNTINGTON PARK HIGH 1 Performance(s)
HUNTINGTON PARK, CA 5/27/2022
DESERT VISTA 1 Performance(s)
PHOENIX, AZ 4/22/2022
WHITLEY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
WILLIAMSBURG, KY 3/3/2022
ENGLER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 3 Performance(s)
CHILTON, WI 2/10/2022
PROSPECT HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
MT. PROSPECT, IL 12/2/2021
BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
BURLIGNTON, VT 11/25/2021
SPOTLIGHT YOUTH THEATRE 3 Performance(s)
GLENDALE, AZ 9/4/2021
ARTFACTORY 1 Performance(s)
MANASSAS, VA 6/25/2021
ROCK PORT DRAMA DEPT. 1 Performance(s)
ROCK PORT, MO 5/6/2021
SACRED HEART CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
NEWMARKET, CANADA 4/22/2021
LEE VINING HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
LEE VINING, CA 4/15/2021
CENTER FOR THE ARTS/ART FACTORY 1 Performance(s)
MANASSAS, VA 10/24/2020
NITSCH THEATRE ARTS NFP 2 Performance(s)
EAST PEORIA, IL 7/24/2020
LUMSDEN HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
LUMSDEN, SK 4/8/2020
SERENA HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
SERENA, IL 3/17/2020
SAINT JO ISD 1 Performance(s)
SAINT JO, TX 3/3/2020
PASS CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PASS CHRISTIAN, MS 12/6/2019
BURKE CENTRAL SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
LIGNITE, ND 11/24/2019
DES MOINES SCHOOLS 1 Performance(s)
DES MOINES, NM 11/21/2019
MADISON HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
REXBURG, ID 11/13/2019
BURKE CENTRAL SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
LIGNITE, ND 11/1/2019
MEADOWCREEK HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
NORCROSS, GA 10/24/2019
SWITZERLAND COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA CLUB 2 Performance(s)
VEVAY, IN 10/19/2019
WOODLAWN MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
BATON ROUGE, LA 4/2/2019
OPELOUSAS CATHOLIC SCHOOL DRAMA 4 Performance(s)
OPELOUSAS, LA 2/15/2019
LITTLETON HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA 1 Performance(s)
LITTLETON, NH 1/14/2019
DARTMOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
HEMET, CA 12/11/2018
THEATRE GROUP 3 Performance(s)
MANCHESTER, NH 11/16/2018
EAST HILL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PENSACOLA, FL 11/10/2018
MARQUETTE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
ALTON, IL 11/8/2018
RIB LAKE HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
RIB LAKE, WI 11/2/2018
PATRICK HENRY HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
ASHLAND, VA 10/24/2018
LEWISTON CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS 1 Performance(s)
LEWISTON, NE 10/10/2018
NOJIRI LAKE ASSOCIATION 1 Performance(s)
SHINANOMACHI, 8/10/2018
FORT TOWSON HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
FORT TOWSON, OK 4/28/2018
LUTHERAN HS OF SIOUX FALLS 1 Performance(s)
SIOUX FALLS, SD 4/24/2018
DEER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
GLENDALE, AZ 4/23/2018
ROMULUS CENTRAL SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
ROMULUS, NY 3/9/2018
PAHRUMP CALLEY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PAHRUMP, NV 2/24/2018
ELKHORN VALLEY SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
TILDEN, NE 11/15/2017
DCHS 1 Performance(s)
DICKSON, TN 9/22/2017
ONSTAGE CHILDRENS THEATRE 2 Performance(s)
MOSSYROCK, WA 7/14/2017
SEHS DRAMA CLUB 1 Performance(s)
MILLBROOK, AL 5/4/2017
BADIN HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
HAMILTON, OH 4/29/2017
PIKEVIEW HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PRINCETON, WV 4/15/2017
WISCASSET HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA 3 Performance(s)
WISCASSET , ME 3/2/2017
REEDSBURG PLAYERS 3 Performance(s)
REEDSBURG, WI 2/16/2017
UPPER SANDUSKY DRAMA CLUB 1 Performance(s)
UPPER SANDUSKY, OH 11/17/2016
THE WESTFIELD SCHOOL 4 Performance(s)
PERRY, GA 11/3/2016
PLEASANT GROVE HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
PLEASANT GROVE, AL 10/15/2016
GOLDEN THEATRE PRODUCTIONS 1 Performance(s)
GREELEY , CO 8/24/2016
THEATRE GROUP 1 Performance(s)
ZAGREB, CR 6/1/2016
TOMALES HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
TOMALES, CA 5/12/2016
NEW MARK MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
KANSAS CITY, MO 5/5/2016
THE CLASSICAL ACADEMY HS 3 Performance(s)
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 2/25/2016
PAW PAW HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PAW PAW, MI 1/22/2016
WILTON COMM SCHOOL DISTRICT 1 Performance(s)
WILTON, IA 1/16/2016
UNIVERSITY SCHOOLS 1 Performance(s)
GREELEY, CO 1/8/2016
GROVES HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
BEVERLY HILLS, MI 1/7/2016
THEATRE GROUP 1 Performance(s)
ZAGREB, CR 1/4/2016
NACHES VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
NACHES, WA 12/10/2015
TRINITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 1 Performance(s)
SAN ANTONIO, TX 12/4/2015
WAYNESBORO HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
WAYNESBORO, VA 10/31/2015
MADISON HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
MANSFIELD, OH 10/20/2015
NARRAGANSETT MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
BALDWINVILLE, MA 6/12/2015
HERBERT SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
HERBERT, SK 5/29/2015
DRAMA CLUB 2 Performance(s)
VEVAY, IN 5/15/2015
DOMINION CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
MARIETTA, GA 5/7/2015
KNOB NOSTER HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
KNOB NOSTER, MO 4/23/2015
UNITY COMPOSITE HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
UNITY, SK 3/30/2015
WHITE OAK HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
JACKSONVILLE, NC 3/15/2015
RITTMAN HSMS DRAMA CLUB 3 Performance(s)
WADSWORTH, OH 3/13/2015
DEER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
GLENDALE, AZ 2/26/2015
NORTHWESTERN DRAMA CLUB 3 Performance(s)
ALBION, PA 1/30/2015
ATLEE HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
MECHANICSVILLE, VA 1/29/2015
RUTHVEN-AYRSHIRE CSD 1 Performance(s)
RUTHVEN, IA 1/24/2015
HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
CLARKSVILLE, MO 11/15/2014
FOUNTAIN CENTRAL DRAMA CLUB 4 Performance(s)
VEEDERSBURG, IN 11/14/2014
WOODBRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL 4 Performance(s)
WOODBRIDGE, VA 10/24/2014
EXCEPTIONA;L EDU CENTER 1 Performance(s)
LAGRANGE, GA 5/15/2014
REICHER CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
WACO, TX 5/7/2014
CHIMACUM HIGH SCHOOL 6 Performance(s)
CHIMACUM, WA 5/3/2014
CHEYENNE SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
CHEYENNE, WY 5/1/2014
STUART COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PRINCETON , NJ 5/1/2014
THEATRE GROUP 1 Performance(s)
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, TN 4/10/2014
DANNY JONES MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
MANSFIELD, TX 3/15/2014
OCEAN LAKES HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA 1 Performance(s)
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 2/22/2014
OPELOUSAS HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
OPELOUSAS, LA 2/21/2014
TECUMSEH YOUTH THEATRE 3 Performance(s)
TECUMSEH, MI 2/21/2014
SPARTANBURG HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
LANCASTER, SC 2/11/2014
UNDERWOOD HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
UNDERWOOD, MN 2/1/2014
LEMMON SCHOOL DISTRICT 52-4 2 Performance(s)
LEMMON, SD 1/30/2014
UNDERWOOD ISD 550 1 Performance(s)
UNDERWOOD, MN 1/25/2014
LEMMON SCHOOL DIST. 52-4 3 Performance(s)
LEMMON, SD 1/22/2014
OCEAN LAKES HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA 2 Performance(s)
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 1/10/2014
CADDO HILLS HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
NORMAN, AR 12/6/2013
CREEK WOOD HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
CHARLOTTE, TN 10/2/2013
FRONTIER DRAMA CLUB 1 Performance(s)
CHALMERS, IN 5/2/2013
RUTHVEN-AYRSHIRE CSD 1 Performance(s)
RUTHVEN, IA 2/12/2013
WATERTOWN HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
WATERTOWN, SD 2/6/2013

Behind The Scenes

PLAYWRIGHTS JANE AND JIM JEFFRIES TALK ABOUT

“DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES OF SHAKESPEARE”

 

Q: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS PLAY?

A: Since we usually have more talented female actors audition, we really wanted a play that would let our female leads have the majority of funny lines. However, we have found that the man playing Lord Macbeth can steal the show. Also, we are huge fans of Shakespeare and parody is the funniest form of flattery.

 

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART OR LINE IN THE PLAY? WHY?

A: I like the following lines because they sum up much of the play. Shakespeare is not very kind to his female protagonists. It is time that they got revenge.

 

TREMBLELANCE: Interesting. Shakespeare was injured by a wrestling hold, but that wasn’t all.

LADY MACBETH: Really? How did he die?

TREMBLELANCE: (Pulls out list and starts to read it.) He was starved, put in a sleeper hold, given hallucinogenic fairy dust, poisoned, bitten by an asp, and stabbed multiple times.

 

(Awkward pause.)

 

TITANIA: My, someone went to a lot of effort.

JULIET: He must be awfully hard to kill.

TREMBLELANCE: High school drama departments have been trying for centuries. It’s curious that everyone in this room has a motive for killing William Shakespeare.

TITANIA: What motive could that be?

TREMBLELANCE: Revenge! He has manipulated each of you, in turn, for his own profit and amusement.

CLEOPATRA: No one manipulates me!

TITANIA: Wow. Talk about the queen of d’ Nile. (Pronounced “denial.”)

 

Q: TELL US MORE ABOUT THE CHARACTERS.

A: Obviously, the characters are the strongest women from Shakespeare’s plays. We just made them self-aware that they were in a play and controlled by Shakespeare.

 

Q: WHAT DID YOU TRY TO ACHIEVE WITH THIS PLAY?

A: We mostly wanted to make people laugh. We also really do love all of Shakespeare’s plays (with the possible exception of “Troilus and Cressida.”) This is our twisted form of a tribute.

 

Q: DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?

A: We think that women are very funny and this play gives them a chance to shine.