Every play in this series has been written by a member of the
Play-Writing Class at Vassar College. But each play as printed is the
product of a group-activity. Not merely an individual seated at a desk,
but a community working together in a theater, is responsible for it in
its final form.
Some of these plays have been “tried out” by the Vassar Dramatic
Workshop and some by the Community Theatre of Poughkeepsie, New
York. By the coöperative efforts of all who were associated in these
enterprises--actors, committee workers and financial supporters--these
plays have been given a sympathetic and intelligent production before
audiences also intelligent and sympathetic, whose reaction has afforded
the writers much valuable criticism. In the preliminary readings
and rehearsals, also, occasional weak points which had escaped the
ordeal of class criticism came to light and were strengthened by the
author’s revision. In fact, the plays as they appear in this series
are literally a collaboration of the writers with innumerable friendly
critics in the play-writing class, the cast and the audience. And it
would be ungracious to put the fruits of this collaboration at the
service of the public without grateful acknowledgment to all those who
have in any way helped to establish and carry on the Vassar Dramatic
Workshop or the Community Theatre of Poughkeepsie.
In recent years there has been an increasing demand for well-written,
dramatically effective one-act plays, suitable for production by
semi-professional companies or by amateur organizations of serious
purpose and some degree of training. To aid in supplying this demand
is the purpose of the Vassar Series of Plays. Other plays written by
members of the Play-Writing Class at Vassar College may be secured in
typewritten form by application to The Workshop Bureau of Plays, Vassar
College.
All the plays in this series are protected by copyright. A royalty of
five dollars for each production must be paid to Samuel French, 28-30
West 38th Street, New York City, at least one week before the date of
the performance.