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Alan Rossett

ALAN ROSSETT

  
Nationality:    USA
email:    Click here to contact     Website:    n/a

Literary Agent:    n/a

"Cocteau meets Woody Allen" was film-director Jean Delannoy's comment on Alan Rossett, the only American to have French language plays produced regularly in France. . .and to receive awards from the Centre National des Lettres. Born in Detroit, he began his career as an actor in New York, where he appeared for a season with the Living Theatre and also as James Earl Jones' first Iago. Relocating in Paris, he wrote and directed an evocation of Montmartre "Light and Shade" with Charles Boyer. then his comedy "High Time" went from London to Sydney to New York (at the Actors Studio) and wound up, translated, in a Parisian cafe Theatre before transferring to La Bruyere, a Broadway category house. Rossett made the language cross-over into French with two plays set in restaurants which he staged in the midst of diners at a show biz hang-out, running 200 performances. Many other productions followed, including "How It Happened", "Cat As Cat Can", "Love On Ice", "Calamity Jane" and "Au Pair Girls", premiered in Paris and revived successfully at the Avignon Festival where it was nominated for a PIAF as comedy of the year. His French plays are published by Avant-Scene Theatre, Editions des quatre-vents, Editions Art et Comedie et Librairie theatrale. He has adapted into English many of his own works as well as a series of plays by colleagues that have received grants from the Beaumarchais Association of the French Author's Society. Rossett has done English versions as well of Alain Decaux's historical pagaents ("Chateau Blois Comes To Life" and "De Gaulle : the Man Who Said NO"). As an actor, he has appeared in films of Marcel Carne, Woody Allen and over 50 others,.

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below is a list of Alan Rossett's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         Amour frappe         Au Pair Girls         Cat As Cat Can         Double Dreamburger         Girl At Her Mirror         How It Happened         Is Shakespeare Gay?         La Specialite         Le jeune fille a son miroir         Les Sans-Attaches         Love On Ice         Multiple Choice         Tug of War

Amour frappe

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Theatre du Nord-Ouest, Paris    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

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:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Au Pair Girls

Synopsis:
Beware of au pair girls! Annie, first-time mother at 35 goes to work with the help of au pair girls. . .each more disquieting than the last. Bibi, 18, flies off to Paris, throwing herself into Annie's world, and the others after Annie. "Witty wicked wild"( Elle Magazine)."Tender, cruel and hilarious"( France-Soir). Premiered in France, often revived, the author's English version has been seen at the UBU theatre, NY, and Genoa Mothers theatre, Denver.

Notes:

1st Produced:
Paris, France    1985

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Librairie theatrale (as "Annie Bettie etcetera" in French), 1985   -

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:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  2            Other:  2 or 8 (multiple parts)

Further Reference:
-

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Cat As Cat Can

Synopsis:
To escape a wicked queen's hired killers, a particularly uncharming Prince Charming turns into a cat and is plunged into the horrors of modern existence. Filing clerks, ardent adepts of S and M, nobility and hobos are mixed together and served up to the bewitched and bothered pussy. "Fresh, funny, will enchant cat lovers and non-cat lovers alike" Figaro (24-4 -88) "A delirious, irresistible fairy tale.) Femme d'aujourd'hui (5-9-88) "Rossett writes about love and politics with lots of humor and a refreshing innocence. " Quotidien de Paris (28-4-88).

Notes:

1st Produced:
Paris, France    1988

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Editions Art et Comedie (in French as "Chat qui peut"), 1999   -

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:
Surrealistic comedy Comedy. - - Gay, theme/character full length

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  2            Other:  playing multiple parts: 7 male 6 female

Further Reference:
-

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Double Dreamburger

Synopsis:
the mid-West, 1950: a delightful irreproachable American family: behind the facade the teenage son is gay, his younger sister pregnant, Dad is dying of a heart condition and Mom keeping everybody in line. Twenty years later, she's still getting them to conform - to dope addiction, flower power and sexual group therapy. "Colour this cartoon black and funny" Daily Mail. "Infectious gay spirits" Sydney Morning Herald. "the most irresistibly wild play of the season." Quotidien de Paris. "One wonder if serious Brechtian Drama has so well captured the microscopic churning of the modern world. comedy here has the last word on the subject." Esprit on the 2002 Paris revival.

Notes:

1st Produced:
London,England (as "High Time")    1972

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
published As High Times, Aran Press (USA only), 1990   -

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:
Comedy. - - Gay, theme/character full length

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Girl At Her Mirror

Synopsis:
Mirror, faithful companion of every woman, successively flattering, ironic and cruel, witness of an entire life. Two actresses, one yourng, one old, trace the journey of a woman, from her conventional beginnings in the French provinces, through her tumultous collisions with the art world. . .her first affair with a macho cubist. . .her marriage to a portraitist specialising in beautiful women. . .the Paradise that turns into Hell for both of them. At the age of 70, Olivia Damiane tells all to a national television audience. "A lovely comedy in which the impatient young girl gives way to the woman, still beautiful, still caustic, defying time and tide. Very moving." Dumastheatre "Talented; brilliant, intelligent." Figaroscope "Striking accuracy and finely-honed humour. the duet of two actresses is superb, buoyantly bringing off this light, funny and utterly charmling comedy. Culture France 2

Notes:

1st Produced:
Paris, France    2009

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
L'Harmattan (in French as "La jeune fille a son miroir"), 2009   -

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:
Dramatic Comedy

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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How It Happened

Synopsis:
Paris: Albert sets out to win the favours of a delectable young lady by writing her a "bestseller". . . using as "plot" the sizzling secrets of his closest friends. the game of transforming real people into fictional characters turns out to be extremely dangerous. Fragile human relationships are thrust against the creative impulse. Dahlia decides to get even. "With elegance, startling theatricality and brio, Rossett lowers us into the bubbling cauldron of the literary world" France2 (6-22-04) "An utterly engrossing play written with shattering lucidity." France-Soir (6-25-04) "Rossett's craft resembles the tailoring of a great high fashion designer." Valeurs Actuelles (6-25-04).

Notes:

1st Produced:
Paris, France    2004

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
L'Avant-Scene Theatre (in French as "Les Sans-Attaches"), 2004   -

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:
Dramatic Comedy. - - Gay, theme/character full length

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Is Shakespeare Gay?

Synopsis:
London, the present: William Shakespeare prepares the world premiere of "Anthony and Cleopatra". Enter Amanda Cruikshank, inexperienced actress and hardened terrorist. . .followed by Tony Trumble. Both are determined to play Cleopatra

Notes:

1st Produced:
Paris, France    2002

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

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:
Gay, theme/character full length Comedy

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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La Specialite

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Theatre Poterne des Peupliers, Paris    2014

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

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:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Le jeune fille a son miroir

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
Musee Leblanc-Duvernoy to commemorate les Journees du patrimoin

1st Produced:
Centre Culturel des Bates, Dreux    2014

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

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:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Les Sans-Attaches

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Theatre du Temps, Paris    2013

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

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:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Love On Ice

Synopsis:
Harold dreams of murdering his wife. . .until Robert comes along. . . with plants, champagne and bedroom eyes. . . "Who'll untrap who and how? . . .trust the author of this wild comedy to unravel all the multiple knots." La Vie Ouvriere (30-12-91) "Bursting with high spirits and charm, very moving and particularly well acted." Figaroscope (12-91) "A lot of humour and real depth" La Voie du Nord (4-11-03)

Notes:

1st Produced:
Paris, France    1991

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Edition des quatre-vents (in French as "Amour Frappe"), 1991   -

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:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Multiple Choice

Synopsis:
A millionaire with suicidal tendencies returns to his home town and meets a helpful psychic medium - or is she rather a dangerous quack out for what she can get? "At last a comedy that really is funny - not so frequent these days." France Culture (3-17-97) "Bursting with humour and tenderness" Le Journal du Dimanche (4-13-97) "Hilariously funny and ultimately very moving. . .its detective story plot in itself intriguing."

Notes:

1st Produced:
Paris, France    1997

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
L'Avant-Scene Theatre (in French as "Pudeur et outrage"), 1997   -

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:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Tug of War

Synopsis:
Menace, masks, melodrama in a haunted French country house. Under her alluring façade of a well-heeled young American, Mopsy loves games, preferably those that end in murder. She decides to have a go at Liliane, a seemingly vain self-indulgent lady deserving a good slap. . .in reality, fleeing her past in a long distant concentration camp. "Amused", Mopsy set to work, using the services of Peter, a desperately broke adolescent, ready to obey all orders.

Notes:

1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

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:
Melodrama. Gay, theme/character full length

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
National Library of Scotland ref: Traverse - Dep.256/Box 57/4

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