In these pages you will find a rich and varied selection of scenes from recent plays, for a wide variety of age groups. Many are comic (laughs), many are dramatic (generally, no laughs). Some are rather short, some are rather long. All represent the best in contemporary playwriting. Several of these pieces are by playwrights whose work may be familiar to you such as Don Nigro, Theresa Rebeck, Adam Bock, José Rivera, Peter Parnell and Aaron Sorkin; others are by exciting up-and-comers like Jim Knable, Hilary Bettis, Rogelio Martinez, Mike Batistick, Catherine Trieschmann, Anne Garcia-Romero, Jenny Lyn Bader and David Davalos. All are representative of the best of contemporary writing for the stage. Most of the plays from which these scenes have been culled have been published and, hence, are readily available either from the publisher/licensor or from a theatrical book store such as Drama Book Shop in New York. A few plays may not be published for a while, in which case contact the author or his agent for a copy of the entire text of the play which suits your fancy. Information on publishers/rights holders may be found in the Rights and Permissions section in the back of this anthology. Break a leg in that audition! Knock 'em dead in class! Lawrence Harbison Brooklyn, NY

For over thirty years Lawrence Harbison was in charge of new play acquisition for Samuel French, Inc., during which time he was responsible for the first publication of such luminaries as Jane Martin, Don Nigro, Tina Howe, Theresa Rebeck, José Rivera, William Mastrosimone, Charles Fuller, and Ken Ludwig, among many others; and the acquisition of musicals such as SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN, PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES, A¿MY NAME IS ALICE, and THREE GUYS NAKED FROM THE WAIST DOWN. He is currently Senior Editor for Smith & Kraus, Inc., the nation's largest theatrical trade publisher, for whom he edits annual anthologies of best plays by new playwrights, best ten-minute plays, best monologues for men and for women and best stage scenes. He has for many years written a weekly column on his adventures in the theater for two Manhattan Newspapers, The Chelsea News and The Westsider, which will be posted on Smith & Kraus' website (www.smithandkraus.com) starting in September of 2008. He has also served as literary manager or literary consults for several theatres, such as Urban Stages and American Jewish Theatre. He is a member of the NYC press corps and is an Outer Critics Circle member. He has served many times over the years as a judge and commentator for various national play contests and lectures regularly at colleges and universities.

In these pages you will find a rich and varied selection of scenes from recent plays, for a wide variety of age groups. Many are comic (laughs), many are dramatic (generally, no laughs). Some are rather short, some are rather long. All represent the best in contemporary playwriting. Several of these pieces are by playwrights whose work may be familiar to you such as Don Nigro, Theresa Rebeck, Adam Bock, José Rivera, Peter Parnell and Aaron Sorkin; others are by exciting up-and-comers like Jim Knable, Hilary Bettis, Rogelio Martinez, Mike Batistick, Catherine Trieschmann, Anne Garcia-Romero, Jenny Lyn Bader and David Davalos. All are representative of the best of contemporary writing for the stage. Most of the plays from which these scenes have been culled have been published and, hence, are readily available either from the publisher/licensor or from a theatrical book store such as Drama Book Shop in New York. A few plays may not be published for a while, in which case contact the author or his agent for a copy of the entire text of the play which suits your fancy. Information on publishers/rights holders may be found in the Rights and Permissions section in the back of this anthology. Break a leg in that audition! Knock 'em dead in class! Lawrence Harbison Brooklyn, NY

This latest in Smith and Kraus?s popular series is a terrific collection of scenes for two men, for two women, and for one man and one woman, all from plays first published and/or produced in 2005?2006 and most are appropriate for use by young actors.A partial list includes:Almost, Maine John CarianiIndoor/Outdoor Kenny FinkleModern Orthodox Daniel GoldfarbThe Scene Theresa RebeckBoar?s Head Don NigroTwenty Years Ago Frederick StroppelFrame 312 Keith ReddinNatural Selection Eric CobleAre We There Yet? Garth WingfieldTheatre District Richard KramerD. L. LEPIDUS is a freelance critic and editor who has covered the New York theater scene for more than twenty-five years. Since 1993, his work has appeared in theater columns for Chelsea Clinton News and the Westsider.