The Playwrights Database
BRUCE GRAHAM
Nationality:
USA
email:
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Website:
n/a
Literary Agent:
Bret Adams Ltd
BRUCe GRaHaM (aUTHOR) -- PLaYS: Burkie, early One evening at the Rainbow Bar & Grille, Moon Over the Brewery, Minor Demons, Belmont avenue Social Club, the Champagne Charlie Stakes, Desperate affection, Coyote on a Fence (Winner of the Rosenthal Prize, Two Drama Desk Nominations - the West end production starred Ben Cross) according to Goldman, Dex and Julie Sittin' in a Tree. Graham recently returned to acting, playing Lenny in his play any Given Monday, which won the 2010 Barrymore award for Best New Play. His one man show, the Philly Fan, plays semi-continuously throughout the Philadelphia area and the recent production of Something Intangible won seven 2009 Barrymore awards including Best New Play. His play, the Outgoing Tide, was commissioned by Northlight and opens in spring of '11 starring Tony Winners John Mahoney and Rondi Reed. a new play, Mister Hart and Mister Brown, opens at People's Light and Theatre in 2012. FILM CReDITS: Dunston Checks In, anastAsia, Steal This Movie. T.V. MOVIeS: Hunt for the Unicorn Killer, the Christmas Secret, Ring of endless Light (HumAnitas award Winner - Best Children's Screenplay) Right on Track, Tiger Cruise, the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. TeLeVISION: RoseAnne, Leg Work and various soap operas. Graham has received grants from the Pew Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Princess Grace Foundation (Statuette award Winner) and the Philadelphia Theatre Initiative. He is a two time winner of the edgerton Foundation award for Best New Play. along with Michele Volansky he is the author of the book, the Collaborative Playwright. Graham is a graduate of Indiana University of PennsylvaniA. He teaches film and Theatre courses at Drexel University
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According To Goldman
Synopsis:
Gavin Miller a former Hollywood script writer now teaches. His wife has settled into the suburban lifestyle. a new student, Jeremiah catches his attention. Jeremiah is in to old films especially Fred astaire ones. Gavin has kept contact with Hollywood and may be about to write the script for an animated version of the ann Frank story.
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1st Produced:
Plays And Players Theater, Philadelphia 2004
Organisations:
Philadelphia Theater Company
1st Published:
Dramatists Play Service, Inc., NY, 2008 -
Music:
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Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 1 Other: -
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Ahhhh Factor, The
Synopsis:
a producer and writer argue over whether they should shoot a sex scene for a beautiful, deaf movie star
- nytheatre.com
Notes:
part of More Of Our Parts: theatre Breaking Through Barriers presents six new plays About disability
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Theatre Breaking Through Barriers
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Genre:
short play
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
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Any Given Monday
Synopsis:
Lenny is a great guy - a good teacher, an excellent Father and a loving husband. So when Lenny's wife leaves him for a smooth-talking lothario who builds Walmarts, his life is shattered. While Lenny consoles himself with pizza and Monday Night Football, his best friend Mick takes matters into his own hands. Now Lenny must decide what he will stand up for and who he will stand up to. How far is too far to get back to happily-ever-after?
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1st Produced:
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1st Published:
Dramatists Play Service, Inc., NY, 2013 978-0822229445
Music:
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Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 2 Other: -
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Belmont Avenue Social Club
Synopsis:
a corrupt councilman has just died, leaving a city council seat to be filled. Fran, head of the all white 51st political ward, chooses Tommy - an all around good guy, party loyalist and, most importantly, close friend of the deceased - to fill the seat. He chooses him above Doug, a well-educated, fast-talking, up-and-comer with strong support from the area's growing Black districts. Doug has been waiting for this post for years, and when the opportunity arises to reveal a past indiscretion of Tommy's, he takes it, under the guise of saving Tommy embarrassment in the public eye. Politics is an intricate system however, and Fran sees Doug's ploy as betrayal, after the many years of support. Fran tricks Doug into revealing his true feelings about power and Black and White politics, the catch being that Doug was caught on tape. Doug's threats to reveal the closed-door workings of the ward become moot when Fran holds the damaging tape. a Black "outsider" is then picked to fill the spot, signalling not only a chang
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1st Published:
Dramatists Play Service, NY, 1998 -
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Genre:
Comedy
Parts:
Male: 5 Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
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Burkie
Synopsis:
the place is South Philadelphia, where ed Burke ("Burkie" to his late wife) has lived for more than thirty years. a plumber by trade, Burkie is now dying of cancer and has become progressively more dependent on his unmarried son, Jon, who still lives at home and whose concern for his father's deteriorating health has led him to drinking more than he should. Summoning his sister, Jess, who is married and living in arizona, Jon makes it clear that his principal concern is to make Burkie's final days as dignified and pleasant as possible and that Jess' last minute involvement cannot atone for the years of neglect that followed her departure. Jon rejects her offer to take Burkie to a clinic near her home in arizona, but as the two siblings come to recognize their mutual love and concern for their father, old enmities are finally put to rest. and, in a final, deeply affecting scene, when Burkie at last escapes from pain into the solace of delusion, brother and sister are united by the knowledge of what they have lost and by their renewed awareness of the ties that still bind them together-and which will be their legacy for the future.
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1st Produced:
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1st Published:
Dramatists Play Service, NY, -
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Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 1 Other: -
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Champagne Charlie Stakes, The
Synopsis:
It's a very special day at the racetrack, where "Champagne" Charlie, a race-track regular, has had a race named in his honor. a dreamer and teller of tall tales, Charlie is accompanied by his wife of fifty-three years, Mary Lee, an incurable romantic, who still finds Charlie very attractive. they are accompanied by Jackie, a family friend and race track bookie, and their daughter, Mary, a divorced high-*school Drama teacher, and the realist in the family who has nervously invited along her long-time boyfriend, Paul, to finally meet her parents. Since this is such a special day, Charlie conspires with Jackie to place the bet of his life-his entire meager savings ("the whole she-bang")-on a long-shot hunch. Mary strenuously objects until Mary Lee tells her that Charlie is ill, and this will be his last season at the track, and she wants this day to be the most wonderful day of his life. Mary relents, the race is run and Charlie loses everything. Jackie, guilt ridden, tries to return the money, but Mary Lee will not hear of it. If Charlie wants to tell the tale of the "whole she-bang," he can't keep the money, so Mary disposes of it in her own way. Charlie, disappointed, apologizes to Mary Lee; just once in his life he wanted to give her things and do something grand for her. She assures Charlie that, for fifty-three years, he's done just fine.
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1st Published:
Dramatists Play Service, NY, -
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Genre:
Comedy Drama Comedy
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 2 Other: -
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Cheap Sentiment
Synopsis:
a Hollywood film director is in Chesapeake to make his latest movie. It needs to be rewritten and he has got a Hollywood old timer script writer to do it. there is a clash between them as the director wants a hard hitting modern film and the writer wants a film full of romance and sentiment
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Genre:
Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
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Coyote On A Fence
Synopsis:
Illiterate but likeable, Bobby Reyburn is a funny young guy who loves to do impressions. He's also a member of the aryan nation, a racist predator convicted of a horrific crime. John Brennan is educated and arrogant, a serious writer who may only be guilty of doing society a favour. as each awaits his fate, one evokes sympathy, the other derision. In vivid scenes, COYOTe ON a FeNCe explores the disturbing question: Can one be innocent though proven guilty? This penetrating new Drama offers no clear verdict, just utterly compelling theatre.
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1st Published:
Dramatists Play Service, NY, 2000 -
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Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
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Desperate Affection
Synopsis:
Maddie is an actress pushing forty, who specializes in commercials for household products. Happy because she's been dating a great guy, Richard, for the last few months, she is also nervous, sure that he must have a fatal flaw soon to be revealed. Richard is good looking, successful and loving, though a bit too clean. He even tells Maddie he loves her. But Maddie's instinct is right: Richard's flaw is that he's a professional assassin who plans to shoot the President from her bathroom window! When the time comes, Richard handcuffs Maddie and meticulously removes all traces of his presence from her apartment. Maddie tries various means of escape or dissuasion-including telling Richard she is pregnant-but nothing seems to work until they struggle and end up making love. Now Richard has a big problem: He's fallen completely in love with Maddie despite the fact that he only starting dating her for her window. But it is unprofessional to leave witnesses, and if he doesn't fulfill his contract he will be the next target. So he comes up with a plan. Maddie can come with him. She agrees but tells Richard this is his last job. He agrees, but then there is a disturbance outside. Someone has tried shooting at the President and now his limo has fled the scene before Richard had his chance. there will be no shot at the President for him. He is upset, but Maddie breaks out the champagne. When Richard reminds her she can't drink if she's pregnant, Maddie admits she's not. Maddie wonders if he is angry at her, Richard says he's relieved, but then shoots her, and takes his leave.
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1st Produced:
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1st Published:
Dramatists Play Service, NY, 1998 -
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Genre:
Comedy Drama Comedy
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
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Dex And Julie Sittin' In A Tree
Synopsis:
at college they were an item. She was in love - he walked away. Years later Julie is a professor at the college she studied at. She arranges for an honour to be bestowed on Dex - who is now a high flying lawyer. He stays at her house the night before the ceremony
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Genre:
-
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
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Early One Evening At the Rainbow Bar & Grill
Synopsis:
nuclear bombs have destroyed much of the U.S. and various denizens of a working class bar are trying to decide what to do
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1st Produced:
Philadelphia Festival For New Plays -
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1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 1989 -
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Genre:
Comedy
Parts:
Male: 5 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
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Funnyman
Synopsis:
A failing comic tries to revive his career
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1st Produced:
Northlight Theatre, Stokie, IL 2015
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1st Published:
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Genre:
Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
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Minor Demons
Synopsis:
Deke Winters has returned to the small town outside of Pittsburgh where he grew up in an attempt to reclaim his life. For many years he was a high-powered lawyer for the Mob in Philadelphia, where he twisted the truth to free guilty clients, tried cases in the media and was often paid in cocaine. the years he spent on top have taken a tremendous toll on him: He has lost his wife, his fortune and he has forgone all custody rights to his six-year-old daughter. Now, all he wants to do is put the high-profile cases behind him, live a decent life and practice simple, boring law. But the first case to come along is a terrible murder and sexual assault, in which Deke must defend Kenny, a fifteen-year-old boy who has admitted to killing a thirteen-year-old girl. Deke's reticence in handling the case is compounded by the fact that his oldest and best friend, Vince, is now the chief of police in the town. Kenny is a particularly sick young man, but in talking with him Deke discovers that Vince did not read Kenny his rights until after the boy confessed to the killing. Kenny is guilty, but Deke can get him off on a technicality. Deke is torn between his recent vow to stay honest and follow the law-which would free a murderer and get his best friend thrown off of the police force, or lying-which would protect his friend and put a dangerous man behind bars. But lying is what Deke came home to get away from, and he feels he must tell the truth, even if it means terrible consequences. In the end, Kenny does get off. Forced out of his job, Vince also moves away, and Deke is left haunted by his choice.
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1st Produced:
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1st Published:
Dramatists Play Service, NY, -
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Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 5 Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
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Mister Hart And Mister Brown
Synopsis:
Prohibition Era in Nebraska. Two Gun Hart is the lawman. An antiques dealer from Baltimore shows up. Ambrose who works for the local newspaper thinks there is a story here. But is it worth dying for?
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1st Produced:
People's Light And Theatre 2012
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1st Published:
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Music:
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Genre:
Drama
Parts:
Male: 4 Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
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Moon Over the Brewery
Synopsis:
Miriam Lipsky, unmarried and living with her thirteen-year-old daughter, amanda, works as a waitress to pay the bills, but it is her painting that really matters to her. Good subjects are scarce in the drab Pennsylvania coal town where they live, so Miriam dons a miner's lamp and paints at night, when moonlight softens and transforms the stark landscape. Miriam is also desirous of male companionship, a need which the precocious amanda (she has an IQ of 160) has discouraged by driving away suitor after suitor with her barbed comments. amanda, compensating for the lack of a father, has also created an imaginary friend, Randolph, who appears (only to her) in a resplendent white suit and provides mischievous advice and guidance. Matters come to a head when Miriam brings home Warren Zimmerman, a rather unprepossessing, somewhat paunchy mailman who, at first, appears to be a perfect target for amanda's (and Randolph's) caustic remarks and demeaning intelligence tests. Until, that is, he quietly but firmly beats amanda at her own game. In fact it is the surprisingly resourceful Warren who is able, at last, to wean amanda away from her dependence on Randolph and into reality-and who, in time, may also be the one able to fill the aching needs of both amanda and her lonely mother.
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1st Produced:
Philadelphia Festival Theater For New Plays -
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1st Published:
Dramatists Play Service, NY, -
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Genre:
Comedy Drama Comedy
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
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North Of The Boulevard
Synopsis:
Four men work at an auto-repair shop - it is on the wrong side of the boulevard the middle classes are leaving and the whole area is in decline. A questionable opportunity to make money arises - are they corrupt enough to take it
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Genre:
Drama
Parts:
Male: 4 Female: - Other: -
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Outgoing Tide, The
Synopsis:
In a summer cottage on Chesapeake Bay, Gunner has hatched an unorthodox plan to secure his family's future but meets with resistance from his wife and son, who have plans of their own. As winter approaches, the three must quickly find common ground and come to an understandingbefore the tide goes out. This drama hums with dark humor and powerful emotion.
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1st Published:
Dramatists Play service, Inc 978-0822229421
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Genre:
drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
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Philly Fan
Synopsis:
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1st Produced:
Christ Church Neighborhood House, Philadelphia 14 Dec 2005
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Genre:
Monologue play
Parts:
Male: 1 Female: - Other: -
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Something Intangible
Synopsis:
It's Hollywood, 1941. Two very different brothers - one an extravagant visionary, the other a plain-speaking numbers man - run a movie studio famous for its cartoon dog, Petey Pup. Gifted Tony longs to move beyond Petey and create a feature-length animated film set to classical music. His loyal brother Dale manages everything: unrealistic budgets, unpredictable Tony and unrelenting deadlines while trying not to lose himself or his family in the wake of Tony's feverish genius. Humming with humor and brimming with humanity, Dale and Tony show the remarkable ways brothers support each other - in spite of it all.
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1st Produced:
Arden Theatre Company, Philadelphia, Pa 2009
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1st Published:
Dramatists Play Service, Inc. NY (2011) 978-0822225355
Music:
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Genre:
comedy Drama
Parts:
Male: 4 Female: 1 Other: -
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Stella and Lou
Synopsis:
On a quiet night at Lou's Bar, two kindred spirits seek solace as they navigate changing times and relationships past. From the author of THE OUTGOING TIDE comes an intimate exploration of friendship, forgiveness, and the longing for companionship that grows with the passage of time.
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1st Published:
Dramatists Play Service, Inc. NY (2015) 978-0822233183
Music:
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Genre:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 1 Other: -
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White Guy On The Bus
Synopsis:
A successful white business man takes the bus every Saturday. He befriends a young black woman who is putting herself through college and looking after a son
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Genre:
Drama
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 3 Other: -
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