PLAY CATALOGUE
John O'Hara has written over 30 full length plays, the book for two musicals, and several Children's Plays. You can view a selection of these works on Playscripts, or email bookhousetheatre@comcast.net to request others.
12 CHAIRS
2F
Often funny, sometimes sad, and always engaging, 12 CHAIRS moves us through the lives of Louise and her mother Ann. As Louise empties Ann’s house after her funeral, we experience, chair by chair, and scene by scene, the moments – by turn tender and turbulent -- that are seared into memory. Ann and Louise, and ten more characters played by the two actresses, tell the full life story of this most deep and complex of relationships.
ALICE TUNA MOON
2M, 1F
Alice is dealing with the pandemic, the return of her college aged son and the fact that her beloved father is dying alone in his nursing home. When her father surprises her with a visit, she is blessed with memories and laughter.
BAD RECEPTION
7F
Shortly after the best man has proclaimed his love for the groom during his toast, the bride Kathleen has decided to hide in the back room of the reception hall—forever—while her relatives and the restaurant staff attempt to bring her out.
THE BINGO SISTERS
2M, 7F
Silly comedy about five sisters who were raised to represent the world of Bingo—and how, even in their eighties, they are still the same quintet. Perfect for a senior community.
THE BIG WAVE
4M, 2F
The idyllic lives of two Japanese boys named Kino and Jiya are destroyed by a tidal wave that overwhelms their villages. A story of family, loss and resilience. Based on the Pearl S. Buck award winning novel..
BREAK
1M, 1F
Two coworkers battle for domination in the company break room.
BRIDESMAID A GO-GO
3F
When ‘the bride’ fails to show up, three bridesmaids (a veteran, a loudmouth and a novice) pass the time by telling the ‘worst bridesmaid stories—ever’ in a series of vignettes. Funny and touching. Includes a Male Voiceover.
Pictured left: Amanda Schoonover, Amanda Jill Robinson, and Jenna Kuerzi.
BROADWAY FAIRYTALE
1M, 1F
A silly cabaret for all ages. Two exes (a college professor and a stage performer) retell some of our favorite fairy tales with satirical versions of famous Broadway songs. FORBIDDEN BROADWAY meets INTO THE WOODS. Easy to produce with taped music or a pianist could play live.
COME ROUND BACK
4M, 4F
Visiting a friend backstage after a show is dealt with from every angle—silly, touching, fantastical, historical and hysterical—as a troupe of ‘ushers’ plays everything from William Shakespeare, a caveman, a ‘princess doll’ and everything in between—both on stage and off.
DENOUEMENT
(based on the play FANNY OTCOTT by Thornton Wilder)
3M, 9F
Retired actress Fanny Otcott is attempting to live out her life in peace, but the sins of her past revisit
her in a shocking manner.
DEAR BENJAMIN
3M, 3F
The tragic story of Jane Pierce, wife to President Franklin Pierce, is told from two angles—the White House in 1853 and a modern news studio.
Pictured right: Jo Twiss, Brian Anthony Wilson, Tony Lawton, Peter Schmitz, Grace Gonglewski, Brooke Behmke, & Kala Moses Baxter
THE DUMP THING
5M, 3F
Just your typical science fiction/mob comedy/ghost story. It’s 1981 on Staten Island and the spirit of Lenny Vasalucci (killed in a mob hit) has returned to his family as ‘The Dump Thing’—a monster who has arisen from the landfill—to interfere in the lives of his mother, daughter and grandson. Can Lenny get justice before he returns to ‘the dump’?
FANTASY RABBIT TOUR
3M, 2F, 1 Velveteen Rabbit
Five young actors embark on a tour of RABBIT! (The Velveteen Rabbit musical). Some casts become families. This is not that cast. (Suggested settings. 5 Actors—3 Male, 2 Female, 1 Velveteen Rabbit.)
55 FEET
3M, 4F
Dave Giles, the dying father of three grown daughters, attempts to bring his family together before he passes away by filming them walking down the aisle with him.
FIRST LADIES FIRST
2M, 5F
Four first ladies (one current and three former) bond at a memorial service and they are forced to put aside their petty differences when national security is threatened.
Pictured left: Sharon Alexander, Tom McCarthy, Cynthia Raff, Kelly McCarthy, Annette Kaplafka, John Zak, and Susan Moses
GIBRALTAR MAY TUMBLE
3M, 3F
Wealthy publisher Edward Bellamy loses his wife after almost forty years—and is surprised to fall in love again. The fact that his new love is a man surprises everyone—including Edward.
Pictured left: Joey Abramowicz, Jeff Coon, Barbara McCulloh, Amanda Schoonover, Kelly McCaughan, and Peter DeLaurier
GIRL ON THE AISLE
2M
Interior set. Hotel room.
THE PRODUCERS meets GREATER TUNA! Broadway producer Harrison Witwell and his eager nephew Jasper are bringing back the Broadway legend Viveca Marlow in her smash hit GIRL ON THE AISLE—after 30 years!—and everything is going wrong. Two energetic actors play every role in this fast paced mini-musical extravaganza. Lots of laughs! Simple to produce.
GO MAKE YOU READY
3M, 4F, 1 Non-Binary
Isabel Wing, a respected actress and teacher, has returned to the stage after the death of her partner, and is finding it difficult to balance career, age, memories, fantasy, love and reality.
GREATEST ONE MAN SHOW... EVER!
2M, 1F
3 performers (using their own names) introduce your audience to the ‘greatest one man show ever’. A silly romp. Meant to play with O HAPPY DAGGER.
Pictured left: Tim Hill, Griffin Stanton-Amiesen, Jessica DalCanton
KEN AGAIN
2M, 5F
Joanne Danneke is struggling with her husband Ken’s dementia—and her ambivalence about ‘remarrying’ him in a staged wedding to please her family and friends. A sentimental comedy about love and memories.
KING OF THE TRASH CAN
5M, 2F
Charlie Deegan, an irascible guy in his late sixties, is troubled by a lot of things in life but his one joy is meeting his friends outside of a convenience store—drinking coffee and complaining about the world. Sadly, things are quickly changing and Charlie is struggling to keep up. Funny and sentimental.
LITTLE BIRD
2M, 4F
Albertina ‘Bird’ Gibson is a proud African-American woman who has never dealt with the rejection of her white mother Gloria, who gave her up out of shame and embarrassment. Loosely based on the true story of June Cross
LOVE...AND HOW TO LEARN IT
1M, 6F, 1 Unspecified
Feisty middle schooler Missy wants to learn about love, but will Professor Hart teach her to slow down and take her time?
NANA/NONNA
3M, 2F
Susan Duran’s ‘perfect life’ with her husband Bill changes when their son gets engaged to the daughter of Natalie Vasallo, a vulgar loudmouth, who turns her life upside down. When Natalie announces that a baby is on the way--it’s war!
PRINCESS MEALY MOUTH
2M, 2F
A chance encounter at a fast food restaurant brings a strange man and a young mother together to connect and discover what they have in common. A story about family, lies and memories.
O HAPPY DAGGER: MY 35 YEARS AS SHAKESPEARE'S FAVORITE HEROINE BY SUSANNA STARR
2M, 1F,
Susanna Starr, the world’s greatest Juliet, is pursued by a nameless fan (named Him) who destroys her life. A silly backstage cabaret comedy—especially when the actor playing Him also plays Susanna. Meant to play with GREATEST ONE MAN SHOW.
PURSUED BY A BEAR
5M, 1F
Jack struggles to find a guardian for his young daughter Maggie by asking his brother, his childhood friend and his college roommate to raise her, but the three men are overwhelmed and clash with Jack’s nemesis Aunt Nancy. A play about family, trust and what to do when time runs out.
Pictured left: Brendan Moser, Nakia Dillard, Rob Tucker, Brian Anthony Wilson Amanda Schoonover, Charlie Roney, Lindsay Smiling
RENEWAL
1M, 7F
Kathryn Comstock, is the leading lady of LIVE AND LOVE, America’s second favorite soap opera, who has come to a crossroads both professionally and personally.
ROSALINE, SUSAN, & NELL
1M, 4F
As the battle between the Capulets and Montagues is continuing to burn, the beautiful Rosaline and her servant girl Nell hide in the Capulet chapel and encounter a strange young man named Adamo who is searching for his mother. The play is written in verse.
SCARRED
2M, 3F
Dan and his strange roommate Harry are trapped by a mystery from their past as a teen runaway named Cindy attempts to find a home with them. When their slatternly landlady Mrs. Brunner is murdered, what could happen next?
SEVEN DEADLY TIMS
1M, 2F
As Gussie longs to find her true love, she is trapped in a coffee shop where she encounters all of her past relationships—who were all named Tim! A all seeing Waitress oversees her search and offers advice and comfort.
SISTERS OF SOUL
1F
A one woman show where our leading actress portrays several ‘great ladies of song’ (such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Gladys Knight), tells stories and performs some of their greatest music.
S N A P
3M, 3F
A series of vignettes—happy and sad, tragic and comic, fantastical and very human come together in one night that shows how interconnected we are with each other.
A THOUSAND FIREWORKS
3M, 3F
When 14 year old Alyssa is shot accidentally, she is trapped in a dreamscape of her life—her family, her friends, strangers—that leads us to contemplate what might have been. A mind-blowing twist of an ending.
TREASURE ISLAND: A PANTO MOST PIRATICAL
9M, 3F, 1 Parrot
The famous adventure tale is told through the wacky ‘panto’ style where girls are boys, men are women and nothing is what it seems to be—but there’s slapstick and pretty girls and candy for the kids. Pure silliness.
UNFINISHED SONG
2M, 2F
Ivy has been asked to produce a play for a wealthy man who is grieving his son and she contacts her college love to be part of it.
VANISHING TESS
6F
Tess’ surprise party is a disaster when she fails to show up—but she has been hiding in the back of the restaurant rather than face her family and friends and the hardships and sorrows of her worst year possible.
VIKING FUNERAL
2M, 4F (including 1 child)
When Nicholas Conover succumbs to cancer, his family struggles to accept his death. As Nicholas’ ‘guide’ arrives to help him on his journey, his wife Lisa clashes with his mother Margaret in her quest to celebrate her husband’s death.