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Marsha Lee Sheiness

MARSHA LEE SHEINESS

  (1940 - )
Nationality:    USA
email:    Click here to contact     Website:    Click here

Literary Agent:    Leo Bookman  

MARSHA LEE SHEINESS (Playwright) has been produced on television, Off-Broadway, Off-Off Broadway, in regional, community and university Theatres across the United States. Her plays have also been produced in Japan, Canada and England. As a playwright-in-residence at Playwrights Horizons in New York City she participated in eleven productions of her work. BEST ALL 'ROUND was produced at the Perry Street in New York City, PROFESSOR GEORGE and the SPELLING BEE were first presented by the Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference in Waterford, Connecticut, and her play, MONKEY, MONKEY BOTTLE OF BEER, HOW MANY MONKEYS HAVE WE HERE? aired on "Theater in America" produced by PBS ChAnnel 13/WNET.Her musical adaptation of GREAT EXPECTATIONS, music and lyrics by Robert Bendorff, was a 1997 finalist for the Richard Rodgers Award, the Family Opera/Music Theater Institute at the Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference in Waterford Connecticut, and the Festival of Contemporary Musical Theatre. the ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop presented Forty-five minutes of GREAT EXPECTATIONS in spring 1995. That fall it was produced by AMAS Musical Theatre for the '6 O'clock Series', directed by Gabriel Barre. AMAS produced the entire musical as a staged reading in March 1996 again directed by Gabriel Barre. the GENDER NET (under the title of A VIRTUAL WOMAN), a musical review Dramatizing the plight of women around the world had two developmental staged readings at New York City's AMAS Musical Theatre. It was presented at the Theatre Building Chicago's 2006 series under the title HALF the SKY. Commissions: Actor's Theatre of Louisville: BERNIE AND the BEAST and RECEPTION. With a BA in Speech and Drama she began her professional career as an actress in Los Angeles performing both on stage and television. After moving to New York City she toured with the National Repertory Theatre under the direction of Margaret Webster performing onstage with Eva LeGalliene, Sylvia Sydney and Leora DanA. She worked backstage with the successful production of the KNACK with Sam Waterston and as assistant stage manager with the Off Broadway production of America HURRAH. She was Artistic/Producing Director of the YOUNG PEOPLE's Theatre at the Harbor Playhouse in Corpus Christi, Texas and Interim Artistic Director of the Harbor Playhouse. She taught playwriting at the New School in New York City, and both playwrighting and acting at the Harbor Playhouse School of Dramatic Arts. She has directed many productions of her own work as well as BUS STOP, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, the MIRACLE WORKER and DR. KEEHL. Her television credits include writing for the soap opera the DOCTORS and a four-hour pilot script for a new soap, ROCHESTER. Screen writing credits include HAVE A NICE WEEKEND and the FALL. She received the National Endowment for the Arts in Playwriting as well as other awards and prizes. Member: Dramatist Guild, Writers Guild East, Screen Actors Guild, Actors Equity, PEN, and the BMI Librettist Workshop. Published by Samuel French, Inc.

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below is a list of Marsha Lee Sheiness's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         aka Henry Sugar         Becoming Eleanor         Bernie and the Beast         Best All 'Round         Dealers' Choice         Eleanor Of Acquitaine         Great Expectations         Lipstick Politics         Monkey Monkey Bottle of Beer, How Many Monkeys Have We Here?         Music To My Ears         New York! New York!         Professor George         Reception         Spelling Bee, The

aka Henry Sugar

Synopsis:
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Notes:
Music And lyrics by Robert Bendorff; book by Marsha Lee Sheiness. Based on "the Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar" by Roald Dahl

1st Produced:
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Organisations:
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1st Published:
-   -

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:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Becoming Eleanor

Synopsis:
examines the early life of Eleanor of Aquitaine (age 15-29), Dramatizing events that shaped her character. Considered the most extraordinary woman in twelfth-century European history, she was a key figure in both French and English politics until her death at age eighty-two. She defied the church and tradition, redefining what a woman could be and could do. One of her contemporaries called her "a woman beyond compare." Eleanor of Aquitaine's remarkable journey shows how she became the most influential woman of her time.

Notes:
the play is conceived to be executed with the simplest of means. Costumes Are changed on stage As the company Assumes different characters And As the story unfolds the Acting ensemble sets the stage for each individual scene. the basic working elements should be simple props, occasional furniture or stage pieces that become whatever is needed; And the creative use of music, sound, light And movement can Also support And stimulate the Audience's imagination. the PLAY IS WRITTEN FOR A COMPANY OF 6 ACTORS. Other than Actors who play ELEANOR And LOUIS, Two Men And Two Women play All the other roles. (A suggested doubling schedule is Available.)

1st Produced:
Theatre Conspiracy, Fort Myers, Florida    

Organisations:
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1st Published:
Dramatic Publishing, 2010   -

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:
Comedy-Drama Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Bernie and the Beast

Synopsis:
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Notes:
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1st Produced:
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Organisations:
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1st Published:
E-Script and Hard Copy, ArtAge Publications    -

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 30 min

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  1            Other:  0

Further Reference:
-

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Best All 'Round

Best All 'Round
A teenage high school senior, Michael Lee, struggles with homework, dating, her reputation and her self-esteem along side her best friend, Nickie. Michael's precocious eleven-year-old sister, Kay, attempts to help her solve her dilEmmas with the simple wisdom of prepubescent innocence and common sense. Best All 'Round is a story about growing up in Texas, circa 1958.

Notes:
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1st Produced:
Prism Theater At The Perry Street Theater In New York City    

Organisations:
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1st Published:

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:
comedy

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  3            Other:  1 girl

Further Reference:
-

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Dealers' Choice

Synopsis:
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Notes:
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1st Produced:

Organisations:
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1st Published:
-   -

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:
-

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Eleanor Of Acquitaine

Synopsis:
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Notes:
Music And lyrics by Robert Bendorf; book by Marsha Lee Sheiness

1st Produced:
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Organisations:
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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:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Great Expectations

Synopsis:
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Notes:
Music And lyrics by Robert Bendorff; book by Marsha Lee Sheiness. Based on the novel by Charles Dickens

1st Produced:
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Organisations:
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1st Published:
-   -

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:
Musical

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Lipstick Politics

Synopsis:
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Notes:
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1st Produced:
Amas Musical Theatre, New York     01 Dec 1999

Organisations:
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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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Monkey Monkey Bottle of Beer, How Many Monkeys Have We Here?

Synopsis:
Five mothers arrive at a private clinic to pick up their sons. We learn slowly that each boy is mentally retarded and has been submitted as part of a medical experiment to increase their intelligence. Tensions rise as the women reveal their needs, fears, and expectations for their children, both before and after the experiment. One by one each mother is taken from the waiting room to see her child. the Drama ends with an unexpected and moving scene between one of the mothers and her child.!!!

Notes:
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1st Produced:
Cincinnatti Playhouse In The Park     1974

Organisations:
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1st Published:
Samuel French, NY, 1975   -

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:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  6            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Music To My Ears

Synopsis:
A teenage girl discovers she is a dyke

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Rehearsed Reading At Lgbt Center, New York     10 Apr 2013

Organisations:
Village Playwrights

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:
Lesbian, full length

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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New York! New York!

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
Written by Dennis Andersen; Ann Burr; Allan Knee; Kenneth Pressman; Philip Magdalany; Jeremiah Murray; Steven Shea; Marsha Sheiness; Martin Sherman and David Epstein

1st Produced:
Playwrights Horizon, New York     1974

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:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Professor George

Synopsis:
Five college students find themselves in an unusual class designed and taught by an eccentric college professor. the class is designed to guide and compel each student to face their own unique individuality.

Notes:
the role of Professor George may be played by either A woman or A man.

1st Produced:
Playwrights Horizons, New York City     1970

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, NY, 1970   -

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:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Reception

Synopsis:
A play about boundaries, attitudes and acceptance.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Eccentric Circles Theater     1982

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, NY, 1983   -

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:
Serious Comedy Comedy

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Spelling Bee, The

Synopsis:
A taut, suspenseful comedy that builds to a shocking climax as Steve, Bart, Nina and Ralph compete in the first televised National Championship run-offs for the best speller in the country. Fach mother is determined that her kid will win, while the MC, FrEddie Stans is hopeful that this gig will get him the attention he desperately needs to further his career.

Notes:
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1st Produced:
Playwrights Horizons, New York City     1975

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, NY, 1975   -

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:
Serious Comedy Comedy

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  3            Other:  One Set. the roles of the children may BF played by adults or children

Further Reference:
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