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Make 'Em Laugh (Sitcom Length)
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Type of Show
Short Play
Performance Type
Live
Digital
Acts
1 act
Duration
30 min
Performing Groups
Professional Theatre
Community Theatre
College/University
High School/Secondary
Tech Requirements
Flexible
Cast Summary
7-21 performers, any age or gender
License it
Overview
Ah, the classic story of the budding writer who finds themselves trapped in an alternate sitcom multiverse. Tale as old as time. And told in only 30 minutes!

What do you get when you mix an homage to Noises Off, Pleasantville, and classic episodes of Friends, Will & Grace and The Golden Girls? You get MAKE ‘EM LAUGH! by Emmy nominee Jason Odell Williams. This fresh comedy explores what it means to find one's passion (all while figuring out how to escape being stuck inside the TV).

Time to brush up on your late night sitcoms, people.  

Looking for the full, 75 minute version? Here you go.
Plot
After declaring that college would be a waste of time and money, and that their one-time dream to be a comedy writer is an impractical pipe-dream, a high school student gets trapped in an alternate sitcom multiverse and can’t find their way out. After some frustrating and hilarious encounters with the casts of shows that look a LOT like Friends, Will & Grace, and The Golden Girls, and getting some sage advice from legendary producer and godfather of sitcoms Norman Lear, they discover their true passion: writing comedy. 

Script Versions
Standard: the original masterpiece.
TV-G Rating: clean language and content.
Casting
7-21 performers, any age or gender
A NOTE ON CASTING:
The play can be cast with anywhere from 7-21 performers. How roles are doubled, tripled or even quadrupled is left to the creative team (for instance, Gran and Norman can be played by the same person, and it gives the play an extra layer of meaning). The ages, genders and races of the performers don't matter. They can be high school students, or college students, or in their 40s, or senior citizens, or anything in between with any combination of all of the above. There even are opportunities for cameos and surprise casting. If the cast size is in the smaller range which means there is a lot of doubling and tripling, don't worry about trying to fool the audience or make the characters changes backstage. Character/costume changes can happen in full view of the audience and be done with a simple wig, prop, costume piece and the accent/attitude of the new character.
PRESENT DAY
GRAN, KID, PROMPT 1, PROMPT 2, PROMPT 3, SHADOWY FIGURE / NORMAN LEAR.
1990'S SITCOM ABOUT SIX FRIENDS LIVING IN NEW YORK CITY
JIMMY, MELISSA, FRANKIE.
1990'S SITCOM ABOUT A WOMAN WITH A GAY ROOMMATE IN NYC
CHASE, JACQUES, KATHLEEN.
1980'S SITCOM ABOUT FOUR OLDER WOMEN LIVING TOGETHER IN FLORIDA
BLAIR, RUTH, SYLVIA.
CATCHPHRASE MASH-UPS FROM CLASSIC SITCOMS
CATCHPHRASE 1, CATCHPHRASE 2, CATCHPHRASE 3, CATCHPHRASE 4, CATCHPHRASE 5, CATCHPHRASE 6.
Uproar Theatrics 2024