John Shanahan, Playwright: Welcome. Namaste.

All of the plays listed below are available for production, and all have been previously produced--they're audience-tested!

For published plays, please contact the publisher or licensor directly.

For all other plays, e-mail me at playwrightj@yahoo.com.

Thank you for your interest in my work!

	Dinner for Several A canceled dinner date turns into a night of laughter, love and longing. A funny look at love and relationships. 4 women, 3 men. Full unit set. 2 hours. >Read the first act! >See production photos >Request a free perusal copy >read the backstory Winner of the 2004 James Sunwall New Play Award. "...quick, comic and perfectly plotted. A thinking person's Friends." --Sidney Homan, Acrosstown Rep "...a laugh-filled take on singlehood and coupling."--Jim Dorman, Patriot Ledger

	One Before Forty Kevin Gable gave himself until 40 to find true love. With his deadline rapidly approaching, the woman he's always waited for has walked into his life...why is that such a bad thing? A full-length romantic comedy. 3 men, 2 women. Simple set. 90 minutes. >Read the first act! >See production photos >Request a free perusal copy >read the backstory

	Bob's Date Bob is going on his first date in two years. In his head, Nerves, Logic, Libido, Confidence, and Bull work out a plan for the night. But then Emotion wakes up--and that definitely wasn't in the plan. 5 men, 2 women. Minimal set. 40 minutes. >read an excerpt >order the script from Heuer >see production photos >read the backstory "For a comedy, it's a lot more touching than you think you're going to get." --Richard Carey, director PUBLISHED BY

	Brushstroke An artist is one brushstroke away from completing a brilliant painting. But he can't--or won't--take the final step. 2 men, simple set. Drama. 10 minutes. >read an excerpt >http://www.smithandkraus.com/htdocs/store.php?n=10 >license this play from Smith & Kraus >read the backstory Available in the Smith & Kraus anthology, Best 10-minute Plays of 2007, 2 Actors.

	Waiting for the End of the World In a small city park, three of the Four Horsemen gather for the start of the Apocalypse. But Famine is running late and isn't answering his cell phone. 2 men, 1 woman. Simple set. 20 minutes. >read an excerpt >see production photos >request a free perusal copy >read the backstory

	Owen & George Play Chess Owen and George are playing chess in a park when George announces that he could kill Owen. Right now. A dark, quirky comedy. 2 men. Simple set. 12-15 minutes. >read an excerpt >see production photos >request a free perusal copy >read the backstory

	Grievance Dennis Kavanaugh won the lottery and then was shot dead. Obviously, God is to blame, so it's time for a little head-to-head chat with Him. 2 men or 1 man and 1 woman. Simple set. 15 minutes. >read an excerpt >request a free perusal copy >read the backstory "...marvelously intimate and monumentally important at the same time." --Judd Lear Silverman, playwright.

	The Worst Possible Time for Writer's Block Peter is dying. All he wants to do is write one more poem. But the clock is ticking, and it doesn't help that a Minion of Death is in the corner, being a smartass. Will Peter find one last poem? Can his sister bargain with death for more time? 2 men, 1 woman. Minimal set. 10 minutes. >read an excerpt >order or license this play from Heuer >read the backstory "The moment I started reading it, I started laughing. It's simply perfect." --Mary Locker, Heartlande Theatre Co. "...makes a major, if comedic, statement about perception and value and treasure versus trash." --Kathleen Kirby, Flint Journal PUBLISHED BY

	Dance in Venice Every vacation has to end sometime, right? Rachel doesn't think so. Now all she needs to do is convince her husband to not return to their old life back home. 1 man, 1 woman. 15 minutes. >read an excerpt >request a free perusal copy >read the backstory Voted audience favorite, Paw Paw Village Players' ONE-ACTS 10.5 FESTIVAL, 2007

	First Time for Everything Ben and Dorie just did it for the first time--and their waitress knows it. A 10-minute laugh-out-loud comedy for 1 man and 3 women. Voted audience favorite, Rapscallions Theatre Collective Salute UR Shorts 2008. This play will appear in the Smith & Kraus anthology, Best 10-Minute Plays of 2009, 3 or More Actors. "Very funny, with a blackout ending that took me completely by surprise." --Mike Folie, playwright >read an excerpt >request a free perusal copy >read the backstory

	Tall Order Breakfast is the most important meal of the day--even moreso when it's New Years' Day and your menu choice will determine the outcome of your whole year. 2 men, 1 woman. 10 minutes. Winner of "The Charlie" Audience Choice Award, Acme New Works Winter Fest 2008 >read an excerpt >request a free perusal copy >read the backstory

	One Last Thing Alex got hit by a bus and died...more or less. Now he's "looping," and it's going to keep happening until he figures out why. 2 men, 1 woman. Simple set. 15 minutes. Winner of "Outstanding Author" honors at the 2nd Annual Chester Horn Short Play Fest, NYC. >read an excerpt >request a free perusal copy >read the backstory

	That Thing Carl remembers it. Linda does, too. Problem is, only one of them enjoyed it--and the other's never bothered to mention that they didn't. 1 man, 1 woman. 10 minutes. >read an excerpt >order the anthology >license this play from Smith & Kraus >read the backstory Available in the Smith & Kraus anthology, Best 10-minute Plays of 2008, 2 Actors. . "...age and sex, lovingly and wittily discussed!"--Larry Stark, Theater Mirror.

	Still Life with Elephant Problems don't go away if you ignore them. Instead, they wait in the living room for you to get home. Hope you brought food. 2 men, 1 woman. 10 minutes. >read an excerpt >request a free perusal copy >read the backstory