Research Guides: Theatre Arts: Finding Plays

Searching the Catalog

Search the library catalog, some good subject headings to get you started are:

These are shelved in two spots on the 3rd floor: PN2080 and PN4305.M6

Audition Arsenal series
These books can help you find a specific type of comedic or dramatic reading

WorldCat (FirstSearch) This link opens in a new window
Sometimes the plays contained in a collection don't show up in the CFL Books search. Double check the name of the play in WorldCat to make sure the library doesn't have it.

New Play Exchange
New Play Exchange is the world's largest digital library of scripts by living writers. Search for plays, people, and organizations using the search tab on the top banner. Searches can be filtered by title, length, age level, genre, subject matter, production history, script availability, cast size and characteristics, playwright, and playwright demographics. You can also create your own profile and save your scripts and script searches, as well as browse and write script recommendations.

Ottemiller's Index to Plays in Collections
Call Number: CFL Floor 3 Book Stacks (Z5781 .O8 2011)
Publication Date: 2011
This may be the only way to discover if we own a particular play so make sure to check this index
Play Index
Call Number: CFL Floor 3 Book Stacks (Z5781 .P53)
Drury's guide to best plays
Call Number: CFL Floor 3 Book Stacks: (Z5781 .D8 1987)
Humana Festival : the Complete Plays
Call Number: CFL Floor 3 Book Stacks (PS634 .H85a )
Published annually by the Actors Theatre of Louisville to highlight contemporary playwrights
New Playwrights
Call Number: CFL Floor 3 Book Stacks (PS634 .N416 )
Contemporary playwrights series annual compilation
"The Best Ten-Minute Plays" book search
Call Number: CFL Floor 3 Book Stacks (PN6110.7 .B4752)
Different titles for various numbers of actors
The Best American Short Plays
Call Number: CFL Floor 3 Book Stacks (PN6111 .B47 )
A collection of one-act plays from American playwrights

Aisle Say
A theatre review source covering major United States productions, with links to regional sites.
Backstage.com Monologue Search
Offers different filters and categories for searches
Doollee.com
Guide to modern playwrights and playscripts (1956 to present)
Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
Since 1936, this service has published new plays and is now one of the major theatrical licensing agencies in the English-speaking world.
Internet Broadway Database
Contains detailed information on theater in New York from its beginnings.
Lortel Archives - the Internet Off-Broadway Database
A catalog of shows produced in NYC Off Broadway
Musicals 101
Includes a history of musical theater, a who's who of performers, and reviews of new productions and recordings.