The Playwrights Database
JOE MANCHESTER
(1932 - )Nationality: USA
email: n/a Website: n/a
Literary Agent: n/a
Born in New London, CT on March 17, 1932. edu-cated at Carnegie Tech (playwriting major) and New York Law School. He has written TV and screenplays in addition to plays. Frequent lec-turer in high schools and colleges on the subject of Theater. Produced the Broadway play, the Deadly Game by Friedrich Duerrenmatt, which was chosen as one of the ten best plays of 1959-60 by Louis Kronenberger.
address (in 1981): P.O. Box 242, Waterford, CT 06385
agent (in 1981): Barry Lee Cohen, 450 Park avenue, New York, NY 10022 (212) 758-4540
Research: Member of the Dramatists Guild of America (as at 2015)
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below is a list of Joe Manchester's plays - click on a Play Title for more information
Balloon Shot Except For Susie Finkel Run, Thief Run! Secret Life Of Walter Mitty, TheBalloon Shot
Synopsis:
the action take place in a prison cell shared by four inmates. One of these is Desmond, whose stories of his prison experiences-and the outlandish escapes he has engineered-are beginning to grate on his cellmates. there is open doubt as to whether he really did slip away from alcatraz in a homemade submarine, or tunneled out of Sing Sing via the warden's wine cellar. His latest scheme, which is to depart from the present premises by balloon, brings on a noisy debate, and the demand that if he is telling the truth he must take the others with him. Two guards arrive to investigate the resulting ruckus, and Desmond's chief antagonist takes pleasure in revealing what all the fuss is about-whereupon Desmond is taken off to see the warden. But in minutes a siren sounds. a prisoner has knocked out a guard and escaped-over the walls and away in a balloon, no less.
Notes:
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1st Produced:
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Organisations:
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1st Published:
Dramatists Play Service, NY,
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
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Genre:
Comedy One act
Parts:
Male: 6 Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
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Top of PageExcept For Susie Finkel
Synopsis:
man enjoys a swinging bachelor life until his Father arranges a marriage with a shy, awkward introvert woman from the Bronx
Notes:
Jonas Fox, swinging bachelor, is enjoying A real life that's better than most people's fantasy life when, one day Shoshana Gluber enters. Shoshana Gluber'?!?! Shy, Awkward, introverted And plain-hardly A candidate for the centerfold of Playboy-this strang
1st Produced:
Cleveland Play House, Oh
Organisations:
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1st Published:
Samuel French, NY,
Music:
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To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Romantic Comedy, full length Comedy
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageRun, Thief Run!
Synopsis:
Tony, fresh out of prison, visits his aunt, who is a housekeeper for two wealthy Manhattan bachelors. He is impressed by their lavish town house and intrigued by his aunt's news that the men are partners in the jewelry business, and keep their gem on the floor above. after his aunt mentions that men are away on a trip and goes off to fix a sandwich, Tony he edges up the stairs. But then there is a clap of thunder, the lights go out, and a man appears on the stairs. It is Mat, one of the partners. He accuses Tony of attempted theft. Tony calls his aunt. . .but there is no response, and Mat says it is she who is out of town. Mat then questions him darkly about his "accomplices." Tony breaks away but is stopped by Harold, the other partner, who has been hiding near by. Harold is impatient to get things over with, their scheme is to kill Tony, report the robbery to the police (with the "accomplices making off with the gems), and then collect insurance on the "loss." Tony pleads desperately, but his efforts are in vain and when he tries to run Harold shoots him down. as Harold calls the police the aunt reappears and congratulates her associates on the success of their plan-in which Tony has been the unknowing pawn.
Notes:
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1st Produced:
-
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
Dramatists Play Service, NY,
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
suspense One act
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 1 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageSecret Life Of Walter Mitty, The
Synopsis:
Upon reaching his fortieth birthday, Walter Mitty, the James Thurber character whose name has become a household word, reflects on his rather drab, or-dinary life. Defeated in his quest for wealth and glory by family responsibilities, a mortgage, a routine job and his own propensity for dreaming rather than doing, Walter creates elaborate fan-tasies in which he, of course, is always the hero.
Notes:
Music by Leon Carr; lyrics by earl Shuman; book by Joe Manchester. Based on the book by James Thurber
1st Produced:
Players Theatre, New York
26 Oct 1964
Organisations:
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1st Published:
Samuel French, NY,
Music:
Original cast recording: Columbia (OS-2720) 1964
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
Musical
Parts:
Male: 11 Female: 13 Other: extras as desired
Further Reference:
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