40/40 Project

2015 marked the 40th anniversary of the Samuel French OOB Short Play Festival. To celebrate this milestone in the festival’s history Samuel French launched the “40/40 Project.” With the goal of licensing 40 productions of OOB Festival-winning plays last year, the project celebrated the festival’s history, as well as highlighted the power and versatility of the short play form.

 

In celebration of the festival’s grassroots, hands-on aesthetic, and Samuel French’s creed, “Make Theatre Happen”, producers were encouraged to present these plays everywhere and anywhere, in both traditional venues and theatre spaces, but also in site-specific productions. Licensees who participated in the project were featured on the OOB Festival’s website as well as its social media channels.

 

“The OOB Festival has been an extraordinary launching pad for so many major dramatists in contemporary theater – everyone from Theresa Rebeck, to Steve Yockey, to Rachel Bonds,” says festival co-Artistic Director Amy Rose Marsh. “We are eager to share the amazing work that’s come from the Festival with performing groups around the country and are looking forward to some innovative, adventurous productions.”

 

“Short plays are the perfect vehicle to ease anyone into theatre: new actors, new directors, even audience members new to theatre! The OOB Festival has been instrumental in finding the best new short plays available and bringing them front and center for the general public to access,” says Casey McLain, co-Artistic Director. “The OOB Publication has been bringing top theatre to middle of the country theatres for 40 years.”

 

The 40/40 Project was a tremendous success in bringing OOB plays to new venues. Check out the companies that have participated below! To browse OOB Festival-winning plays, visit the Samuel French website.

  • Actors and Theatre Arts Guild, Hello, Ma! OOB 5th Series
  • Arlington Independent School District, A Closer Look OOB 26th Series
  • The Arts Garage, Dancing Turtle OOB 38th Series
  • Athboy Macra na Feirme (Ireland), A Bench At The Edge OOB 6th Series
  • Backstage (Dubai), Mandate OOB 39th Series
  • Brighton High School, Autumn Leaves OOB 16th Series
  • Broad Run High School, Correct Run OOB 17th Series
  • Cary Players Community Theater, A Blind Date with Mary OOB 14th Series
  • Cary Players Community Theater, Awkward Silence OOB 19th Series
  • City Theatre, Mandate OOB 39th Series
  • Cornwall Collegiate & Vocational School, Tremulous OOB 22nd Series
  • Cross/Fade Theatre, A Bench At The Edge OOB 6th Series
  • Deep End Productions, The Art of Dating OOB 20th Series
  • Edgewood College Theatre, Anniversary OOB 37th Series
  • Edgewood College Theatre, Feet of Clay OOB 29th Series
  • Fulton High School, Just Knots OOB 34th Series
  • Fulton High School, Pizza: A Love Story OOB 19th Series
  • Great River Players, A Bench At The Edge OOB 6th Series
  • JIB Productions, Inc., Mandate OOB 39th Series
  • Kecoughtan High School, Pischer OOB 31st Series
  • Lawrenceville School, Awkward Silence OOB 19th Series
  • Lawrenceville School, Reservations for Two OOB 13th Series
  • Lloydminster Comprehensive High School, The King and the Condemned OOB 29th Series
  • Loyola University New Orleans, A Bench At The Edge OOB 6th Series

  • Maple Ridge Secondary School, Tremulous OOB 22nd Series
  • Niagara University Theatre, Every Man OOB 32nd Series
  • Noble and Greenough School, The Whole Truth OOB 16th Series
  • Noble and Greenough School, A Blind Date with Mary OOB 14th Series
  • Ohio Valley University, A Bench At The Edge OOB 6th Series
  • Orem High School, Three Tables OOB 26th Series
  • Phillips Academy, Ayravana Flies, or A Pretty Dish OOB 33rd Series
  • Rigby High School, Bright. Apple. Crush OOB 32nd Series
  • Southampton University Players, Your Life Is A Feature Film OOB 17th Series
  • St. Peter the Apostle Catholic High School, A Bench At The Edge OOB 6th Series
  • Stage Left Theater Association, The Thread Men OOB 33rd Series
  • Stranraer Drama Club, Three Tables OOB 26th Series
  • The Naples Players, What’s A Girl To Do? OOB 13th Series
  • Theatre of Arts, Family Names OOB 19th Series
  • TRU Actors Workshop Theatre, Wolf Play OOB 37th series
  • University of Nebraska – Lincoln, The Devil’s Parole OOB 27th Series
  • University of Nebraska – Lincoln, A Wake for David’s Fucked Up Face OOB 39th Series
  • Western Oregon University, A Chance Meeting OOB 15th Series
  • Winthrop University Department of Theatre and Dance, Relationship OOB 30th Series
  • Winthrop University Department of Theatre and Dance, Feet of Clay OOB 29th Series
  • Winthrop University Department of Theatre and Dance, Born to Be Blue OOB 27th Series