Rex McGregor is a New Zealand playwright. His short comedies have been produced on four continents from New York and London to Sydney and Chennai.
Website: rexmcgregor.com
_____________________
PLAYS
A Supportive Wife Supports Her Wife
10-minute comedy 2 F, 1 M
After an epic Valentine’s Day fail a ruthless managing editor decides to prove how much she loves her wife.
First performed at Spring One Acts, Manhattan Repertory Theatre, New York, NY, March 18-21, 2015
____________________________
Aleema the Boy Girl
10-minute drama 3 F, 2M
Aleema enjoys being a “bacha posh”— an Afghan girl raised as a boy. But with the onset of puberty her freedom won’t last long.
First performed at 8 in 48 Idaho Short Play Festival, Treasure Valley Children’s Theater, Meridian, Idaho, September 26, 2015
Published in Girls on the Brink (YouthPLAYS, 2016) and Brink Time (YouthPLAYS, 2015)
____________________________
Almost Immortal
10-minute drama 2 F, 1M
In the distant future the sea level has risen so much that hills have become islands. As the environment is destroyed around her, Zen dreads the thought of living on for centuries.
First performed at Queeroism Play Festival, The Vault, Collaboraction, Chicago, IL, July 8-9, 2016
____________________________
Amazons of Tomorrow
10-minute drama 2 F, 1M
The 1939 New York World’s Fair promises to be a huge commercial success. But Eleanor Roosevelt has some grave concerns.
First performed at Park Plays, Queens Theatre, New York, NY, July 28 – August 6, 2017
____________________________
10-minute drama 4 F, 2M
Young Edgar is thrilled when an eccentric widow takes him to Italy to study singing. Nearly a century later Old Edgar recalls the Signora’s mysterious obsession.
First performed at Short+Sweet Sydney 2011, Newtown Theatre, Sydney, Australia, February 5-6, 2011
____________________________
10-minute comedy 2 F
Claws and fangs clash when a Chinese supermom confronts an Indian matriarch.
First performed at A-Squared Theatre Workshop, My Asian Mom, Chicago Dramatists, Chicago, May 2 – June 1, 2014
_______________________
10-minute musical 3 F, 3M
Trish deals with a predicament in the only way she knows how.
First performed at Short+Sweet Song, TAPAC (The Auckland Performing Arts Centre), Auckland, New Zealand, September 9-13, 2014
_______________________
Death for Sophisticates
10-minute comedy 1 F, 1 M
An elegant couple will entertain us on the subject of death — if our recently bereaved pianist doesn’t put a damper on the proceedings.
First performed at Manawatu Festival of New Arts 2010, Massey University and Globe Theatre, Palmerston North, New Zealand
_______________________
10-minute comedy 2 F, 1 M
Sparks fly when two domineering judges meet on a blind date.
First performed at Short+Sweet Auckland 2013, Herald Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand, June 22, 2013
_______________________
10-minute comedy 2 F, 2 M
When an ebook tablet is left on a park bench, an old-fashioned paperback comes to the rescue.
First performed at Stage It! Center for Performing Arts, Bonita Springs, Florida, April 28-29, 2018
- Winner of the AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
- Published in Stage It! 2 : Thirty 10-Minute Plays
_______________________
10-minute comedy 2 F, 2 M
Doug is trying to persuade Sandra to move into an inner-city apartment building. She isn’t keen at all.
First performed at Claremorris Fringe Festival, Half a Breakfast Theatre Group, Claremorris, Ireland, March 6, 2015
_______________________
10-minute comedy 2 F, 1 M
An old-time vaudeville double act will do anything to land a gig.
First performed at Claremorris Fringe Festival, Town Hall, Claremorris, Ireland, March 19, 2016
_______________________
Flight of the Cows
10-minute comedy 1 F, 1 M
Two cows lead an idyllic life. They have a field of succulent grass—and humans to relieve them of their milk. What more could they possibly want?
First performed at Short+Sweet South India, Edouard Michelin Auditorium, Alliance Française of Madras, Chennai, India, July 5-9, 2017
_______________________
10-minute comedy 2 F, 2 M
Grieving Juliet wants to join Romeo in death. But she learns she is the victim of an elaborate hoax. Who is behind it? Surely not Friar Laurence.
First performed at Short Play Lab, Roy Arias Studios, Stage II, New York, NY, April 26-27, 2014
____________________________
10-minute drama 2 F, 1 M
After experiencing her first Black Lives Matter rally, a young teacher is galvanized to take further political action against racism. But how staunch is she prepared to be?
First performed at 6’10: A Showcase of African American Theater, Smoked Apple Theatre Group, 1619 Flux, Louisville, Kentucky, November 19, 2016
________________________________
10-minute comedy 2 F, 2 M
Owing to excessive theatrical ambition beyond our control, three of this evening’s plays will be performed simultaneously. They are — in no particular order (and that’s putting it mildly) — Pseudo-Human Resources, Time Is Money and Chest-Beating for Gentlemen. We sincerely hope you will understand.
First performed at Short+Sweet Sydney 2013, King Street Theatre, Sydney, Australia, January 23-37, 2013
________________________________
One-act comedy 2 F, 1 M
An intergalactic traveler has fallen in love with a human being. The way he plans to show it will literally make the earth move.
First performed at Summer Shorts, Theatre Workshop of Owensboro, Trinity Center, Owensboro, Kentucky, July 20, 22 & 28, 2018.
- Winner of the AUDIENCE FAVORITE AWARD
________________________________
Lady Godiva Doesn’t Ride Again
One-act comedy 3 F, 2 M
The story of Lady Godiva’s ride has made her famous and popular. But it has had the unintended consequence of publicly humiliating her husband. When the Earl makes a pathetic attempt at revenge, Godiva must decide how far she is prepared to go to save the marriage.
First performed at Oamaru Repertory Society, Oamaru, New Zealand, April 20-27, 2013
________________________________
10-minute comedy 2 F, 1 M
Wendy is a spoilt 16-year-old. Like her namesake in Peter Pan she enjoys having a Newfoundland dog for a nanny.
First performed at Short+Sweet Sydney, King Street Theatre, Sydney, Australia, January 22-26, 2014
________________________________
10-minute comedy 2 F, 1 M
A dedicated vegan plans to shut down a restaurant that offers “vegan meats.”
First performed at Short+Sweet Theatre, TAPAC (The Auckland Performing Arts Centre), Auckland, New Zealand, September 10, 2016
________________________________
10-minute comedy 4F, 1 M
Another morning at the library and Tara still can’t sleep.
First performed at FIVES New Play Festival, Black Box Theatre, Colorado Springs, Colorado, June 25-27, 2015
________________________________________
Margaret Thatcher Changes the World
One-act comedy 2 F, 2 M
The 13th Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh four years ago were a disaster. 32 countries stayed away. Now in 1990 the 14th Games in Auckland look set to be a success. Nearly every eligible country is taking part. But that’s not enough for Margaret Thatcher. She wants more.
First performed at British Theatre Challenge, Sky Blue Theatre Company, Lost Theatre, London, October 23, 2015
______________________________
10-minute comedy 2 F, 2 M
Treeza, alias Empathy Woman, runs a support group for dysfunctional superhumans. Her annoying superpower lets her feel what others feel. She agrees with you in finding this premise only mildly intriguing. And she shares your cynical hope that the play will be a whole lot better than the synopsis.
First performed at Between Us Productions, Take Ten Festival 2014, Roy Arias Studios, Stage II, New York, NY, April 10-12, 2014
______________________________
10-minute film noir drama 2 F, 2 M
A woman persuades a private eye to blackmail her husband. But things don’t go as planned. Or do they?
First performed at Short+Sweet Theatre Dubai, The Junction, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, February 18, 2017
________________________
10-minute comedy 1 M, 1 F
Keen to be prepared for any global catastrophe, a wealthy American is installing a bunker on remote farmland in New Zealand. He believes this will be the safest place in the world to protect his family—until he meets a local.
First performed at One Act Festival, Stage Door Productions, Fredericksburg, Virginia, April 5-7 & 12-14, 2019
________________________
Proud Mary and Prejudiced Lydia
10-minute comedy 3 F
To teach her insolent youngest sister a lesson, Mary Bennet has challenged Lydia to a duel with pistols. She only intends to wound her slightly. But this is still too much for their anxious sister Kitty.
First performed at Take Ten Festival 2017, Between Us Productions, Jewel Box Theater, New York, NY, April 5, 7 & 8, 2017
Published in Lit on Fire: Twelve Short Parodies of Reading List Classics
________________________
10-minute comedy 2 F, 1 M
Trick-or-treaters Ansel and Retta are lured by irresistible candy. Will they ever go home again?
First performed at Pint-Size Plays, Remarkable Theatre, Wanaka, New Zealand, March 1, 2015
_______________________
One-act comedy 3 F, 2 M
In 1935, on East 3rd Street, Eleanor Roosevelt opened New York’s first public housing project. This is the story of how another woman overcame multiple obstacles to establish First Houses as a prime example of neighborhood revitalization.
First performed at East Side Stories, Metropolitan Playhouse, New York, NY, April 6, 8, 12, 15, 21, 23, 2017
________________________________
10-minute comedy 2 F, 1 M
As Paddy says when he meets Sarah at an airport baggage claim carousel, “Tings can happen in the most unlikeliest o’ places”.
First performed at Short+Sweet Brisbane 2015, Powerhouse, Brisbane, Australia, July 9-11, 2015
Published in Stage Journeys: 10 short plays from New Zealand
_______________________________
10-minute comedy 3 F, 3 M
This should be the happiest day of Lara’s life. Her father has spent a fortune on a marquee. Bruce’s parents have arrived from Perth. How can she back out now?
First performed at Short+Sweet Auckland 2011, Herald Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand, July 16, 2011
_______________________________
10-minute comedy 1 F, 1 M
June 25, 1967: the night of the first live international satellite television broadcast. The Beatles have just sung “All You Need is Love” to an audience of 400 million people. Hippie culture is sweeping the globe. Mama Nature celebrates in a San Francisco bar. But someone isn’t happy.
First performed at 6’10 : A Showcase of African American Theater, Smoked Apple Theatre Group, The Vault 1031, Louisville, Kentucky, December 19-20, 2015
________________________________
10-minute comedy 1 F, 1 M
A New York couple are on an adventure vacation in the South Island of New Zealand. While hiking in a restricted area on a glacier, they come across a deep crevasse. Holly wants to jump across. But Nick considers it too dangerous.
First performed at 10-Minute Play Festival, Lakeshore Players Theatre, White Bear Lake, Minnesota, June 4-14, 2015
________________________________
10-minute comedy 2 F, 2 M
As the World Wildlife Fund’s poster boy for endangered animals, Ling enjoys a comfortable life full of adulation and all the bamboo he can eat. But when a rival species challenges him for the role, he risks losing everything.
First performed at King’s Shorts Festival of 10-Minute Plays, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, Canada, June 12-14, 2015
_______________________
Tickle That Dragon
10-minute drama 2 F, 1M
Potter Purists is an exclusive club for dedicated Harry Potter addicts. With an encyclopedic knowledge of the books, Riley is an ideal candidate for membership. There’s just one problem.
First performed at The Potter Plays, Majestic Repertory Theatre, Las Vegas, Nevada, June 22 – July 8, 2017
_______________________
Trumpettes Anonymous
10-minute comedy 5 F
Five women have formed a support group for recovering Trump voters. At tonight’s meeting one of them makes a surprise announcement
First performed at Midtown International Play Festival, Short Play Lab, Jewel Box Theater, New York, NY, July 15-16, 2017
_______________________
Wayward Seniors
10-minute comedy 3 F, 2 M
Alma is playing up again. Her grandson, Doug, expects the rest home to take better care of her. But he’s in for the shock of his life when he learns how far they’re prepared to go.
First performed at The Big reTHiNK, Q Theatre, Auckland, 3 October 2012
_______________________
Welcome to Belarus
10-minute comedy 1 F, 1 M
Miles is a tour guide leading a coachload of passengers through Eastern Europe. At least, that’s the plan.
First performed at Belarusian Dream Theater, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Vilnius & Pasadena CA, 25 March 2014
_______________________
Agent: Playmarket
Playwrights Association of New Zealand (Inc) 