Barbara’s Plays

“VERZET AMSTERDAM [RESISTANCE AMSTERDAM]” is a drama based on a group of artists in World War II Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, who banded together to save Jews in danger of deportation and death. Theater for the New City. (2018)

“GHOST LIGHT NOW & THEN” A time-fluid drama follows a contemporary lesbian couple who find themselves in 1920’s Greenwich Village. Theater for the New City. (2017)

“WHERE DO ALL THE GHOSTS GO?” is a dark comedy about the ghosts of significant people who face homelessness when a historic New York City building is demolished and the living lesbian couple that assists them. Theater for the New City. (2019)

“THE THREE MILE LIMIT” A historical drama aboard a transatlantic ship in 1927. Celebrities encounter other passengers and crew with mixed results. Theater for the new City. (2016)

“WOMEN OF THE WIND” (historical drama about the making of the movie Gone with the Wind). Theater for the New City (2015)

“ISLAND GIRLS” (historical musical drama about inmates of the NY Women’s Penitentiary in 1927) Co-authored and music by Noelle LuSane. Theater for the New City (2014)

“CROSSING PATHS IN WASHINGTON SQUARE” (historical drama set in New York City’s famous Greenwich Village park in 1913) Theater for the New City (2013)

“UNREACHABLE EDEN” (stand alone musical sequel to The Spring and Fall of Eve Adams, following Eve’s story from 1920’s New York to France before and during World War II). Theater for the New City. Music composed by Arthur Abrams. (2012)

“BIRDS ON FIRE” (historical musical drama about the 1911 Triangle Waist Company fire in Greenwich Village). Music by Allison Tartalia. Theater for the New City. (2011)

“THE SPRING AND FALL OF EVE ADAMS” (historical drama based on a true story in 1926 New York City). Theater for the New City. (2010)

“WALKING FROM RUMANIA” (drama about Jewish women planning to escape oppression in 1899 Rumania). Theater for the New City (2009)

“THE GHOSTS OF 14TH STREET” (silent movie making and vaudeville in New York in 1908). Theater for the New City (2008)

“1918: A HOUSE DIVIDED” (a musical about New York’s Greenwich Village during World War One) Theater for the New City (2007)

“LONG TIME PASSING” (an anti war fable set in the ruins of New York’s Central Park during an endless war). Theater for the New City (2006).

“PYRATES! THE COURTSHIP CHRONICLES” (a musical about real-life pirates in 1720 Jamaica) Theater for the New City. (2004)

“THE BALLAD OF BAXTER STREET” (a play with music about the notorious Five Points neighborhood in 1855 New York City) Theater for the New City. (2005)

“THE LADY WAS A GENTLEMAN” (a docu-comedy about 19th century actress Charlotte Cushman ) Theater for the New City.  (2003).

“WAR BONDS” (WWII drama about women pilots and WACs).Theater for the New City. (2002).

“THE TEMPEST-TOSSED” (post WWII drama). Theater for the New City. (2001)

“JOANNA” (Lower East Side lesbian love fable) Theater for the New City. (2000)

“HEAVEN AND EARTH” (historical drama) Theater For the New City, February-March (1999).

“WHITHER THOU GOEST” (historical drama) Theater For the New City, February-March (1997).
Published in Making A Scene: The Contemporary Drama of Jewish-American Women, Syracuse Univ Press, 1997

“UNORTHODOX BEHAVIOR” (historical drama inspired by genealogical research)
Theater For the New City, NY (1995). Reading: Moving Parts Theatre Group, Paris, France (2003).

“CROSSINGS: Where W.11th Meets W.4th St., Greenwich Village” (lesbian romantic comedy vignettes)
Theater For the New City, March (1998).

“SEATING AND OTHER ARRANGEMENTS” (lesbian romantic comedy)
Labrys Theatre, San Diego, CA (1992), Wings Theatre, NY (1994), Triangle Theatre, Boston, MA (1996).

“PEN PALS” (political drama inspired by Amnesty International) Theater for the New City, NY (1994), The Fresh Fruit Festival (2005) Winner: Best Playwright.

“THE FORGOTTEN TRUTHS” (historical drama about George Sand, with Colleen Curtis)
New York Public Library (1982), Calico Productions at The Acting Studio, NY. (1987), Segment of “Daughters, Mothers, Sisters and Others…” (one-act version) at Madison Avenue Theatre, NY (1994).

“HELL’S KITCHEN HAS A TUB IN IT” (romantic comedy) Calico Productions at Studio 603, NY (1988).

“GRAVEDIGGERS” (musical comedy, with Ray Hagen) (book and some lyrics) LaMaMa E.T.C., NY (1972)

One-acts and Monologues


`SUMMER IN THE CITY’ (series of monologues) segment of: EEGO’s “Midsummer Revels”–Southampton, NY. 1982; “Out…In Our Town”–The Duplex, NY. 1993; The Crystal Quilt, NY. 1993; “Miracle On East 4th Street”–W.O.W. Cafe, NY. 1994. One monologue published in Even More Monologues by Women for Women (Heinemann) 2001.

“THE WEAVER” (prologue for the theatre) Westbeth Theatre Center, NY–Westbeth 20th anniversary; Strolling Players: Abbey of Regina Laudis, Bethlehem, CT. 1991.

“SIX DEGREES OF GRADUATE STUDY IN THE AMERICAN THEATRE” (skit)
Gala in honor of Joe Cino (Caffe Cino) at Theater for the New City. 1992.

“SEATING AND OTHER ARRANGEMENTS” Love Creek Productions (one-act version) Nat Horne Theatre, NY; Phoenix Ensemble’s Fire Festival (one-act version) NY. 1995; Arts Project of Cherry Grove, Fire Island (one-act version). 1998.

“CO-OP” Commissioned and produced by Theater for the New City for the 1st Annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts. 1996; W.O.W. Cafe, NY. 1996.

“CO-OP: The Next Generation” Commissioned and produced by Theater for the New City for the 2nd Annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts. 1997.

“CO-OP” (a combination of above two plays) Philadelphia Fringe Festival. 1998. Short version presented at The Fresh Fruit Festival at the Cherry Lane Theater. 2009. Downtown Urban Theatre Festival at HERE Arts Center, NYC 2012.

“ANNIE GET YOUR PUN” Commissioned and produced by Theater for the New City for the 4th Annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts. 1999

“A DAY TO REMEMBER: The Staten Island Ferry” 3rd Annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts.

“10014” Commissioned and produced by Miranda Theatre Company for “Manhattan Zip.” 1996. Triangle Theatre, Boston, MA. 1996.

“THE CAT’S MEOW” Commissioned and produced by Miranda Theatre Co. 1996.

“LIFELINE” Reading at Village Playwrights. 1997; First Look Series, Goldman Y, NY. 1998. Woodstock Theatre Co. Theatre Festival 2002

“STRAY CATS” 5th Annual LES Festival of the Arts. 2000.

“VANILLE: The Lost (Last) Xena Episode.” 6th Annual LES Festival. 2001.

“CYMA’S STORY” One woman adaptation of trilogy. Philadelphia Fringe Festival 1999; Expanded Arts, NY, 1999; Jewish Women’s Theatre Project, Los Angeles, 2002. NOHO (North Hollywood) Theater Festival 2003; University of Gutenberg, Mainz, Germany, 2003. Published in Harrington Lesbian Fiction Quarterly (Haworth Press) 2001.

“LAW & ORDER; P.I.” (a film noir satire about detectives and dames on the Lower East Side) 10th Annual Lower East Side Festival. 2005.

“LOST AND FOUND” (people are stranded on an island following a mysterious plane crash). 11th Annual Lower East Side Festival. 2006.

LAW & ORDER: I.C.E. A COLD CASE” Satire written for the 12th LES Festival. (2007) Music by Allison Tartalia.

LAW & ORDER: ESL” Satire written for the 13th LES Festival (2008)

LAW & ORDER: ER” Satire written for the 14th LES Festival (2009)

“LAW &ORDER: CRIMINAL INTERRUPTION.” 15TH LES Festival (2010)

“THE BOOK OF MERMAN.” 16TH LES Festival. (2011).

“PIRATES OF THE HI C’s.” 17TH LES Festival. (2012)

“LES L.E.S.” A silly satire. Music by Allison Tartalia. 18th LES Festival. (2013)

“THAWED: A TURKEY MELT. Spoof of the hit movie Frozen, Music by Allison Tartalia. 19th LES Festival. (2014).

“DOWNTOWN ABBY: ADVICE MAVEN OF THE LOWER EAST SIDE” Music by Allison Tartalia. 20th LES Festival. (2015)

“A MELODY PLAYED IN A PENNY ARCADE”  21st LES Festival. (2016)