Afternoon at the Improv One-act Play Script

Afternoon at the Improv is a comedy about the audition process of a major television improvisation show. Actors of all types, experiences, and backgrounds are waiting for their chance to dazzle the directors with their talents. The play invites the performers to insert their own preferences and talents into the story and even encourages audience participation. This is a great play for non-traditional spaces and a favorite of audiences and student actors!

Elizabeth Rapoza first began writing plays for and with children over 30 years ago. The first thing she noticed was that there were few plays for children with rewarding roles for every actor. Liz felt that each student deserved (and frequently paid) to have the same experience, she began "Backyard Dramatics", a youth self-scripting curriculum. In these workshops, student actors create plots and characters based on stories invented by the students. These are then carefully scripted by Ms. Rapoza and performed by the students. Liz's plays are kid and audience tested across the country and around the globe. Her youth play, "Perstephanie Goes Underground" won the Boston Public Schools Short Play Development Award. Her adult radio comedy "The Amazing Adventures of Pajamazon" was a in winner in Mae West Fest of Seattle's search for the Ultimate Female Protagonist. Her plays have been performed at venues such as SlamBoston and the Factory Theater Boston. In addition, Liz is a professional actor, dancer, musician/vocalist, puppeteer and costumer. She has taught college theater courses since 2003 and currently teaches at Cape Cod Community College. Contact Liz at: [email protected].

Excerpt from the play:

CAST OF CHARACTERS

AUDITIONERS:
Rose– Small-town farm girl hoping for her big break
Jesse– Rose’s brother. Cowboy type. Also hoping for big break.
Chloe– Gum-smacking Jersey girl
MaryAnne – Untalented but enthusiastic hopeful
Jack– Old pro on the improv circuit
Billy– Another old pro and crony of Jack
Jody– A tough, native New Yorker
Rachel– Another tough, native New Yorker
Bette– Model, aspiring actress. New-age airhead
Marilyn– Model, aspiring actress. Vain and self-absorbed</span
Denny– Scruffy-looking street person. Former improv star

PRODUCTION STAFF:
Mr. Farrell – The Director
Mr. Darrow – The Producer
Ms. Merrill – The Production Assistant. Uppity and efficient

SET: A television studio. Any open space works. Couches and chairs are arranged around the stage area. There is a desk with pens and applications on clipboards stage right.

COSTUMES: Each character is a bit of a stereotype and their clothing should reflect that. It’s fun to let the students decide what costume pieces bring that character to life. Wigs and hats are also fun.

NOTES:
* This play is designed to give student actors the opportunity to work with broad characterizations and regional dialects. They should be encouraged to jump into these wholeheartedly.

*The play ends with the actual auditions. Auditions can be a showcase for any actor’s prepared song, dance, monologue, or other legitimate talent. Auditions can also be deliberately terrible and comically bad. Again, their audition should be appropriate for their character. Example: Rose and Jesse do the Cotton-eyed Joe.

Scene I
(Merrill stands behind the desk handing out applications and pens to the auditionees, who wait in a line. Actors may also enter in groups according to scenes)

MERRILL
(To each auditionee as they enter) Please fill this out and give it back to me. Attach your resume and headshot…(pause, looks over auditionees) if you have one. We’ll call you when it’s your turn. (Auditionees scatter around the room to fill out their forms. Rose, Jesse, and Chloe sit together at a table)

ROSE
This is so exciting! I’ve never been so nervous in my life. Not even when I was crowned Miss Fried Pork Rinds at the 4H Fair.

JESSE
Me neither! I couldn’t sleep at all last night. I was tossin’ and turnin', turnin' and tossin’, tossin’ and turnin’ all night.

CHLOE
I couldn’t sleep either! I so wanted to be well-rested for today, but oh well…

JESSE
(To Chloe) What are y’all doin’ for your prepared piece in this here audition?

CHLOE
Oh, I’m doing (actor’s choice). I do it at every audition. It’s my favorite.

ROSE
You’re kidding! I was almost going to do that! Boy, am I glad that I decided to do something else instead.

CHLOE
So what are you doing instead?

ROSE
I’m doing (actor’s choice), but only because I can (verb describing choice) really well.

JESSE
(Guffaws) You should see her! I wish I could (same verb as above) like that. (Pause. To Chloe) Hey, you know how part of the audition is in groups of three or four? What say we try and go in together?

CHLOE
(Somewhat reluctantly) Sure… I guess.

JESSE
Great! I’m Jesse and this here’s my sister Rosie. (Shakes her hand vigorously)

ROSE
Rose, not Rosie! Cut it out, Jesse! You make us sound like a couple of hicks.

JESSE
Well heck, Rose, we are a couple o’ hicks.

CHLOE
(Snapping her gum) Pleased to meet ya Jesse and Rose. I‘m Chloe. Is this your first time in the big city?

ROSE
(Embarrassed) Does it show that much?

JESSE
She can probably smell the cow manure stuck to our boots. (Guffaw)

ROSE
(Glaring) I said cut it out, Jesse. (Pause) I guess maybe we just look too healthy and rosie-cheeked to be city slickers. We stick out like a sore thumb.

CHLOE
Honey, I’m from Jersey and let me tell you, we got lots worse smells than cow manure in certain sections of the “Garden State”.