James Venhaus
James Venhaus is the author of 18 plays including The Temple of Dionysus and Weird Sisters and, Stocking Stuffers, a collection of holiday themed 10-minute plays. His Shakespeare adaptations for young actors, Bitterroot, Romeo and Juliet at Verona High, and A Great Big Deal Over Nothing, have been produced over 100 times in schools and theatre across the United States and in nine other countries. He lives in Savannah Georgia with his wife and daughters.
So Rude! A Riff on "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" New Release
Comedy by James Venhaus
31 pages
2 m, 4 w
“So Rude!” is a modern adaptation of the Rude Mechanicals scenes from Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Erin is the leader of her high school drama club, and her senior project is to mount a production of “Pyramus and Thysby.” Everything that can go wrong does, from missing actors, flubbed lines, and malfunctioning costumes and props. By the time the curtain goes up, it could be a triumph or a tragedy. Or both!
Bitterroot
Comedy Shakespeare by James Venhaus
51 pages
2 m, 2 w, 10 either (expandable to 20)
Magic, mayhem, and madness unfold in this classic story of love, revenge, and forgiveness. Based on The Tempest by William Shakespeare, Bitterroot is a modern adaptation set in the American West. Prospero and his daughter Miranda have been stranded in the Montana wilderness for twelve years. When fate brings Prospero’s evil brother to Montana, Prospero must decide whether to exact his revenge or forgive his enemies. But can Prospero accept that his daughter wants to marry the son of an enemy? And can he forgive himself for th...