Southampton - A volume of "Best American Short Plays" (Hardcover/$32.99, 350 pages; Softcover/$18.99, 350 pages - Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, an imprint of Hal Leonard, is like a mobile of miniature worlds - each play spins separately with its own distinct voice and dynamic setting; taken together they make up a complex work of art, more than the sum of its parts. Just as readers eagerly await annual releases of short story compilations, fans of contemporary American literature will devour these collections of one-act plays penned by some of today's most promising playwrights. These diverse, cutting-edge dramas are short on time, short on words, short on breath - but not short on the magnitude of human experience.

The Best American Short Plays 2008-2009

Edited by Barbara Parisi - The most recent volume of "The Best American Short Plays," highlighting the greatest plays of 2008 and 2009, brings the series completely up to date with a wide variety of pieces that range from dramatized memoirs to improvised collaborations. A sampling is below:

 • St. Francis wakes in a desert to find himself the prospective dinner of a couple of hungry vultures with whom he engages in theological banter concerning his imminent demise. ("St. Francis Preaches to the Birds" by David Ives).

 • Two lovers stand on a train platform. At the last second, Jess decides she doesn't want to go away for the weekend and she unravels the entire illicit relationship in front of everyone at Grand Central Station. ("A Second of Pleasure" by Tony-nominated Neil LaBute).

 • An 82-year-old man invites three of his closest friends, all recently deceased, to spend the evening with him. ("Naked Old Man" by Murray Schisgal).

This volume also includes plays by Carey Lovelace, Eric Lane, Adam Kraar, Filimon, Tasnim Mansur, Billy Aronson, Meg Miroshnik, Emily Conbere, Polly Frost, Ray Sawhill, James Armstrong, Maria Del Collins, Joe Salvatore, Lewis Gardner, Rick Pulos, and Amy Herzog.

About The Editor
Barbara Parisi is Professor of Theatre and Performance Studies at Long Island University's Brooklyn campus. She founded and is the executive director of the non-profit Ryan Repertory Company at the Harry Warren Theatre in Brooklyn.

The Applause Libretto Library Series

Most of the plays and musicals that premiered on Broadway in the middle of the 20th century were also published as books - they were meant to be read as well as seen. Those editions, which omitted distracting technical information and guidelines for the director, were perfect for reading like a novel. Now, with "The Applause Libretto Library Series," Applause Theatre & Cinema Books has revived the tradition of publishing great Broadway musicals in editions meant to be read and savored.

Did the "Avenue Q" jokes come at you too fast? Do you need to know every word to "Hairspray" so you can sing in the shower? Or is it just easier to relive your favorite stories without having to wait for them to return to Broadway?
Each title in "The Applause Libretto Library Series" is equipped with the complete dialogue and lyrics to the show, plus an introduction, a foreword by a renowned Broadway musical expert, and a beautiful color photo insert.

For the series, Applause Books has selected, and continues to select, the most important and the most popular Broadway musicals, including "A Chorus Line," "City of Angels," "The Fantasticks," "The Full Monty," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Grey Gardens," "Hairspray," "Passing Strange," "Rent," and "tick, tick…BOOM!" Additionally, Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music," "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," "Sunday in the Park with George," and "Sweeney Todd" can be bought separately or in one complete volume, "Four by Sondheim." The latest additions to the series, all published in 2010 are "Avenue Q," "Oklahoma!" (Rodgers & Hammerstein's first musical) and "The Sound of Music" (their last).

"Avenue Q:" The Musical
Princeton is a bright-eyed college grad. He has big dreams and a tiny bank account. He's a new resident of New York City. And he's a puppet. Broadway has never seen anything like "Avenue Q," a mischievous and often raunchy look at the adult challenges of living in New York City, told mostly through the lives of puppets. "Avenue Q" won three Tony Awards in 2004 and has been produced all over the world. It ran on Broadway for six years and is currently playing Off Broadway. Book by Jeff Whitty, lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx. Paperback/$16.99, 160 pages, with color photo insert $16.99.

"Oklahoma!"
The road to true love never runs smoothly. With Curly, a handsome cowboy, and Laurey, a winsome farm girl, holding the reins, love's journey is a bumpy ride down a country road, but the new life they make together will begin in this brand-new state. Rodgers & Hammerstein's first collaboration set the standards and established the rules of musical theatre that are still being followed today. Music by Richard Rodgers, book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, based on the play by Lynn Riggs. Paperback/$16.99, 130 pages, with color photo insert $16.99.

"The Sound of Music"
Maria, the new governess for the seven children of a widowed naval captain, introduces the children to music. After she and the captain marry, Austria is annexed by Nazi Germany, and the family must escape over the mountains into Switzerland on the eve of World War II. This stellar collaboration was destined to become the world's most beloved musical, complete with the most thrilling and inspirational finale ever presented in theatre. Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II - suggested by "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers." Hardcover/$32.99, 226 pages; Softcover/$18.99, 226 pages; Paperback/$16.99, 150 pages, with color photo insert $16.99.

Please note that these books are intended for reading purposes only. They lack vital information for productions and do not give permission for staging a performance or rehearsal. If you wish to produce any of these plays, please obtain permission from the play's dramatic performing rights licensing agent.