Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

This thread is for dropping ideas, questions, resources, comments, and discussion about Task 23: Read a Play.

A few resources to get you started:

http://bookriot.com/2015/07/03/after-...

http://bookriot.com/2014/07/16/case-r...

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...

I have a collection of Shakespeare's plays and have picked As You Like It to read.

I plan on reading probably because a new movie is coming out. But I am not using it toward that goal.

I just picked up A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry from my library so I'm reading that :)

I think I'll try Sequoyah and His Talking Leaves: A Play about the Cherokee Syllabary by Wim Coleman and also count it as a book for middle grades. I love books about developing writing systems for and deciphering languages, so this looks right up my alley.

I'm doing a Shakespeare one too. I haven't read very many of his plays, so I am going to try As You Like It.

I tend to shy away from Shakespeare but am thinking I might try one of his anyway. Maybe Much Ado About Nothing

I'd like to do something besides Shakespeare. Maybe Lettice And Lovage and Yonadab or 'night, Mother.

Ahh plays, never really enjoyed reading them ...I was going to try and find a local play that was on sometime during 2016 and then read the play before watching it....so I guess that will be dictated by what is showing ;)

I would do a Shakespeare play to coincide with the release of books from the Hogarth Shakespeare series, but I think I've read the plays upon which the 2016 books are based: The Merchant of Venice, The Taming of the Shrew, and The Tempest. Do rereadings count for the Book Riot challenge?

If not, then I will read Long Day's Journey into Night.

The Vagina Monologues - it's been on my tbr shelf for aaaages.

I've been sitting (not literally) on Craos since I saw it performed. This'll be a good chance to actually read it through.

Maybe Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

For humor you can always go with Oscar Wilde or Neil Simon.

Leslie Ann wrote: "I would do a Shakespeare play to coincide with the release of books from the Hogarth Shakespeare series, but I think I've read the plays upon which the 2016 books are based: [book: The Merchant of ..."

I've read those as well but I'm definitely gonna be riding the Hogarth Shakespeare wave and just read something else by the Bard. Not sure which play. All's Well That Ends Well is one I haven't read/seen before...

PS I'm sure a reread is fine, but you just don't get that same satisfaction do you?

A Streetcar Named Desire.

I'm going with A Midsummer Night's Dream. I've wanted to read it since middle grade, just never made my way around to it.

I'll be reading Wit. I've seen bits and pieces of it (back from my high school speech club days) but I've never seen/read the whole thing.

Man I wish the "Cursed Child" script was being released with the play.

One of the plays in August Wilson's The Century Cycle.

"The History Boys" by Alan Bennett

I'm going with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, which I've been meaning to read for a long time. I might read August: Osage County and The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, too, since those are other plays I've had on my shelf for practically forever.

I'd love to get the script for the musical Hamilton, but I don't know if it's been published.

I think I'm going with something more contemporary, like

The History Boys or The Pillowman

I'm thinking of reading Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street for this one!

I'll probably go with something by Shakespeare, I've got this complete collection of his works that I haven't finished yet... Same with Oscar Wilde. And there's a ton of stuff I still have to/want to/should read for my classes, so I definitely won't run out of material for this category :D

I'm thinking of reading The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. It will also check off a book less than 100 pages.

Robin wrote: "I'd love to get the script for the musical Hamilton, but I don't know if it's been published."

Lin Manuel Miranda is going to be publishing a Hamilton book in April of next year, iirc. I think he said it's going to have all the lyrics in it!

Wendy wrote: "I'm thinking of reading The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. It will also check off a book less than 100 pages."

Such a fun read. And it could also fit the books->movie category as well. "A handbaaaaaaaag!?"

Robin wrote: "I'd love to get the script for the musical Hamilton, but I don't know if it's been published."

The lyrics accompany the physical CD in two booklets, but I doubt it counts as a published book. The Hamilton book coming out next year looks like it'll be a cross between a biography and a musical companion. But I'd say if the entire script is included in its pages, it should definitely count for the play category. I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

There are SOOOO many great plays out there to read. Reading Shakespeare is awesome and perfect in all ways but if you want something else, you can check out so many wonderful things. Playscripts is a publisher where you can read the good majority of their plays online and there are many escript purchasing options. I recommend Is he Dead? by Mark Twain and adapted by David Ives and The Lost Boy by Ronald Gabriel Paolillo.

There are so many scripts out there from various publisher. If you want more recs, old or brand new, let me know. I spent 14 years teaching high school theater so I have a few "swiss army pics."

My mother has a beautiful collectors edition of all the works of August Wilson and she let me borrow it. I'll be reading on of those, probably Fences.

Deera wrote: "My mother has a beautiful collectors edition of all the works of August Wilson and she let me borrow it. I'll be reading on of those, probably Fences."
Ooh, great idea. I have been wondering about what to read for this one. I've seen one August Wilson play years ago and would love to read one.

Currently considering The Invisible Hand, The Normal Heart, and Arcadia.

Some other ones to consider:
August: Osage County(Do not watch the movie. Despite the start-studded cast, the movie sucks all the humor out of this dark comedy and the humor is what I love about this play. I was incredibly disappointed.)
Proof is another that just blew my mind. The movie was pretty good but I still love the play.
Compleat Female Stage Beauty - Acting Edition is one that is historical, heartbreaking, and beautiful. I actually never saw the movie, Stage Beauty.

I will be reading August Wilson as well!

I'm thinking of going with one of the longer plays by Eugene O'Neill—most likely Long Day's Journey Into Night.

Shakespeare it is for me, too... The Winter's Tale in my case.

I don't believe I already own a play, oh wait, I may have Shakespeare's collected works, or something from school, but I am going to borrow Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett since I already have it on my TBR list.

waiting for godot is available for free on Samuel Beckett's website :) it's super short, too, so you can easily read our in one sitting :)

This is the task that will push me farthest outside my comfort zone. Read a play? The thought actually makes me cringe. One day after this challenge was published though, one of my GR friends posted a glowing review of a play called Doubt by John Patrick Shanley. I looked it up, and found it was only 59 pages! I took that as a sign. A copy was available at the library, and i have it in my hot little hands so that I can make this my first read in 2016. I really hope I prove myself wrong, and enjoy it.

Leaning toward The Phantom of the Opera.

Going with Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw for this task.

Will do one of these three: Macbeth, The God of Carnage or Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Bea wrote: "I tend to shy away from Shakespeare but am thinking I might try one of his anyway. Maybe Much Ado About Nothing"

You couldn't pick a better one, one of the plays that's easiest to understand and it's very funny (at least I think so!).

Read a Play.
Inherit the Wind !!!
Angels in America
No Exit
Our Town
Night Mother
Noises Off

I'm planning on An American Daughter, since I loved The Heidi Chronicles: Uncommon Women and Others & Isn't It Romantic in high school.

We read As You Like It on New Year's Eve....Then saw the production by the wonderful Atlanta Shakespeare Company the next evening!

Going to read Master Harold'......and the Boys for this one! "Master Harold"...and the boys

Sher wrote: "We read As You Like It on New Year's Eve....Then saw the production by the wonderful Atlanta Shakespeare Company the next evening!"

Love the Shakespeare Tavern! What a great way to ring in the new year.