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.
Performances in
Performances in
- the U.S. - New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL; Anchorage, AK; San Francisco, CA; Burbank, CA; Pasadena, CA; San Juan Capistrano, CA; Santa Cruz, CA; Pine Mountain Club, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; Milford, CT; Torrington, CT; Westport, CT; Bonita Springs, FL; Miami, FL; Kainaliu, HI; Iowa City, IA; Meridian, ID; Danville, IL; Lexington, KY; Louisville, KY; Owensboro, KY; Burnsville, MN; International Falls, MN; White Bear Lake, MN; Greensboro, NC; Las Vegas, NV; Binghamton, NY; Ithaca, NY; Tulsa, OK; Carnegie, PA; Philadelphia, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; Canistota, SD; Houston, TX; San Antonio, TX; Middleburg, VA; Spokane, WA; Charleston, WV; Huntington, WV
- Canada - Toronto, ON; Annapolis Royal, NS
- the U.K. - London, Aberdeen, Sheffield, Leeds, Colchester, Faversham, Ilkley, Liskeard, Reigate
- Ireland - Claremorris
- France - Le Bugue, Vasles
- Germany - Frankfurt
- Denmark - Copenhagen
- Lithuania - Vilnius
- United Arab Emirates - Dubai
- India - Chennai
- Japan - Tokyo
- Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur
- Australia - Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Emerald (VIC)
- New Zealand - Auckland, Hastings, Palmerston North, Hokitika, Oamaru, Wanaka, Arrowtown, Queenstown
Ebook Meets Treebook won the AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD at Stage It! Center for Performing Arts, Bonita Springs, Florida, April 28-29, 2018.
Eduardo Marin (Pip) and Kayleigh Campo (Ava) in Ebook Meets Treebook, Bonita Springs, Florida
Threatened Panda Fights Back won two awards at Short+Sweet Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand, September 20, 2015.
- BEST COMEDY SCRIPT
- PEOPLE'S CHOICE
Mustaq Missouri (Ling), Georgina Silk (Mrs D), Irasa Siave (Yan), Rex McGregor (writer), Katie Burson (director). Front: Tom Wardle (Mr D)
Claire Stewart-Moore as Wendy in The Girl Who Would Rather Not Grow Up Just Yet (produced as Lock Up Your Chaperone, Short + Sweet Sydney 2014)
Girls on the Brink: Seven female-forward short plays for young adults has been published by YouthPLAYS (Los Angeles).
From a new take on Romeo and Juliet to an Afghan girl whose days as a boy are at an end to a futuristic tale of living forever, these seven diverse plays all explore that precarious moment when young people find themselves on the brink of life.
Includes The Girl Who Would Rather Not Grow Up Just Yet, Refloat Our Whale, Grow Up, Juliet, Twilight of the Grizzly, Aleema the Boy Girl, Sugar Horror & Almost Immortal.
Wendy's opening monologue is published in Go Solo: Contemporary monologues for young actors (YouthPLAYS)
Published in 2017: Proud Mary and Prejudiced Lydia and Who Remembers Éponine’s Sister?
From a new take on Romeo and Juliet to an Afghan girl whose days as a boy are at an end to a futuristic tale of living forever, these seven diverse plays all explore that precarious moment when young people find themselves on the brink of life.
Includes The Girl Who Would Rather Not Grow Up Just Yet, Refloat Our Whale, Grow Up, Juliet, Twilight of the Grizzly, Aleema the Boy Girl, Sugar Horror & Almost Immortal.
Wendy's opening monologue is published in Go Solo: Contemporary monologues for young actors (YouthPLAYS)
Published in 2017: Proud Mary and Prejudiced Lydia and Who Remembers Éponine’s Sister?
UPCOMING
Tickle That Dragon One Act Play Festival, Artists' Exchange, Cranston, Rhode Island, July 26 - August 11, 2018, directed by Jessica Chase
I Love an Earthling Summer Shorts, Theatre Workshop of Owensboro, Owensboro, Kentucky, July 20, 22 & 28, 2018, directed by Karen Willis
Boot's Vacation The Road-Trip Monologues, Raw Bites '18, Zephyr Theatre, Los Angeles, July 6-22, 2018, directed by Jane Edwina Seymour
Emma Chelsey (Boot) in Boot's Vacation, Los Angeles
Courtesy Short Attention Span Theatre, The Garfield Center for the Arts at the Prince Theatre, Chestertown, Maryland, June 29-30 & July 6-7
RECENT PRODUCTIONS
Pseudo-Human Resources Future Imperfect, KDC Theatre, Lion & Unicorn Theatre, London, June 19-23, 2018
Her Daughter's Doll (reading) Nouveau Nights: 20 Year Anniversary of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Nouveau Riché, CLF Art Cafe, London, June 14, 2018, directed by Abigail Sewell
Uchenna Chuckwudinma (Caleb),
Loreece Harrison (Retha) &
Siân Benné (Janiece) reading Her Daughter's Doll, London
Miss Imposter (reading) Elephant Ears Reading Series, Elephant Room Productions, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 31, 2018
Flight of the Cows Take Ten Festival 2018, Between Us Productions, Jewel Box Theater, New York, NY, May 16-20, 2018, directed by Susane Lee
Daniela Kaplun (Lucille), George K. Wells (Tiger), Lisa LaGrande (Clover)
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Daniela Kaplun (Lucille), Lisa LaGrande (Clover)
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Daniela Kaplun (Lucille), George K. Wells (Tiger), Lisa LaGrande (Clover) in Flight of the Cows, New York
Becky and Tom (reading) Northport Reader's Theater, The Playhouse at St Paul's, Northport, New York, May 14, 2018
Safe Trip (reading) Pittsburgh New Works Festival Original Play Readings, Higher Voice Studio, Carnegie, Pennsylvania, May 7, 2018
Kaitlin Cliber (Narrator), Lonnie Jantsch (Shirelle), Joel Ambrose (Nick) and Lindsay Goranson (Taz) reading Safe Trip
Courtesy 1:One UAE Theatre Fest, Kilachand Studio Theatre, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, May 4-5, 2018, directed by Siddhartha Jose
Who Remembers Éponine’s Sister? Lit on Fire, Daviess County High School, Owensboro, Kentucky, May 4, 2018
Ebook Meets Treebook Stage It! Center for Performing Arts, Bonita Springs, Florida, April 28-29, 2018, directed by Laura Schueneman
- Winner of the AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
Eduardo Marin (Pip) and Kayleigh Campo (Ava) in Ebook Meets Treebook, Bonita Springs, Florida
Luis Pages (Guy) & Kathryn Huffer (Gal) in Ebook Meets Treebook, Bonita Springs, Florida
Kindness Pays Take Ten, Gemco Players Community Theatre, Gem Community Arts Centre, Emerald, Victoria, Australia, April 13-15, 2018, directed by Evie Housham
Outfox Take Ten, Gemco Players Community Theatre, Gem Community Arts Centre, Emerald, Victoria, Australia, April 13-15, 2018
Three Weird Mornings at the Library (reading) Shakespeare in the 'Burg One-Act Play Competition Winners, Shakespeare in the Square, The Sheila Johnson Center for the Performing Arts, Middleburg, Virginia, April 8, 2018, directed by Dan Hasse
Constantine Malahias (Amir) & Melissa Mahoney (Maje) in Three Weird Mornings at the Library, Middleburg, VA
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Rebecca Miller (Elaine) & Estefania Giraldo (Courtney)
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Tickle That Dragon In the Moment, Creative Circuit Studios, Performing Arts San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, March 23-24, 2018, directed by Sharon Newhardt
Garage Invasion Claremorris Fringe Festival, Hot & Cold Theatre, Town Hall Studio, Claremorris, Ireland, March 18, 2018, directed by Donna Ruane
Contains Nudity (audio comedy) Petaluma Radio Players, Petaluma, California, March 16, 2018, directed by Dori O'Dea
Rehearsing Contains Nudity in Petaluma, CA: Ralph Scott (Producer), Barton Smith (Doug), Dori O'Dea, (Director/Sandra), Ben Kaplan (Pilot), Tom Wilson (Old Man), Shirley Bennett (Alma)
Fingers and Toesies (Reading) Ready, Set, Scratch! The Leather Exchange, London, March 13, 2018
None of Your Blarney PlayList, WoLab, King's Head Theatre, London, March 4-5, 2018, directed by Christopher Adams
Conor Deane performing None of Your Blarney, London
None of Your Blarney Valentine's Day Monologue-A-Looza, Samuel French Bookshop, Los Angeles, California, February 11, 2018, performed by Brittny Roberts
Next Door Nativity (Reading) The Leytonstone Itch, Gerry's, Theatre Royal Stratford East, London, December 9, 2017
Flight of the Cows (Reading) Northport Readers Theater, The Playhouse at St Paul's, Northport, New York, October 30, 2017
Sweet Fright Halloween Monologue-A-Looza, Samuel French Bookshop, Los Angeles, California, October 28, 2017, performed by Linda L. Rand
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Linda L. Rand performing Sweet Fright, Los Angeles
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Pseudo-Human Resources (Reading) Uncommon Core, The Storyhound Theatrical Detective Agency, Scuppernong Books, Greensboro, North Carolina, October 13, 2017
Lullaby for a Librarian Serial Bowl, Midnight Sun Theatre, Alaska Experience Theatre, Anchorage, Alaska, October 6, 2017, directed by Scott Rhode
Chelsea Rose (Elaine), MaryAlice Lovel Larmi (Tara), Courtney Griechen (Courtney), Dave Souza (Alfred) in Lullaby for a Librarian, Anchorage, AK
Tickle That Dragon Pint Sized Plays, Remarkable Theatre, Queenstown & Wanaka, New Zealand, September 21-24, 2017, directed by Emna Ben Amara and Blaise Barham
Tony Willis (Riley), Erin Morgan (Kim), Sarah Barham (Erin) in Tickle That Dragon, Queenstown and Wanaka, New Zealand
Proud Mary and Prejudiced Lydia Pint Sized Plays, Remarkable Theatre, Queenstown & Wanaka, New Zealand, September 21-24, 2017, directed by Jane Robertson
Franziska Maciej (Mary), Vida McCord (Lydia), Jo Spencer (Kitty)
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Proud Mary and Prejudiced Lydia, Queenstown and Wanaka, New Zealand
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Amazons of Tomorrow Park Plays, Queens Theatre, New York, NY, July 28 - August 6, 2017, directed by Evan Cummings
Annette Guarrasi (Eleanor) and Juanita Frederick (Hick) in Amazons of Tomorrow, New York
Threatened Panda Fights Back Ménagerie à Trois, Theatre Hawke's Bay, The Playhouse, Hastings, New Zealand, July 20-29, 2017, directed by Cam Lithgow
Ali Beal (Ling), Nathalie van Egten (Mrs D), Jack Garvey (Mr D), Threatened Panda Fights Back, Hastings, New Zealand
Nathalie van Egten (Mrs D), Peter Berry (Yan), Ali Beal (Ling), Jack Garvey (Mr D)
Trumpettes Anonymous Midtown International Play Festival, Short Play Lab, Jewel Box Theater, New York, NY, July 15-16, 2017, directed by Alice Camarota
- Semi-finalist for NYCPlaywrights project "Women in the Age of Trump."
Sarah Hewitt (Windy), Brie Brewer (Jel), Aimee Thrasher (Bony), Lexie Marceron (Crusty) in Trumpettes Anonymous, New York
Janie Steele (Margarine), Sarah Hewitt (Windy), Brie Brewer (Jel), Aimee Thrasher (Bony), Lexie Marceron (Crusty)
Flight of the Cows Short+Sweet South India, Edouard Michelin Auditorium, Alliance Française of Madras, Chennai, India, July 5-9, 2017, directed by Sushant Alexander
Sushant Alexander (director), Candice Rozario (Lucille), Anandhakrishnan Janakiraman (Tiger), Madhumeetha B (Clover). Flight of the Cows, Chennai, India
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Tickle That Dragon The Potter Plays, Majestic Repertory Theatre, Las Vegas, Nevada, June 22 - July 8, 2017, directed by Troy Heard
Christy Ward (Kim), Rex McGregor (playwright), Coral Benedetti (Erin) & Noah Keeling (Riley), Tickle That Dragon, Las Vegas
Threatened Panda Fights Back Cutting Edge Comedy, Hokitika Dramatic Society, Old Lodge Theatre, Hokitika, New Zealand, June 22 - July 1, 2017, directed by Sue Asplin
Jim Butzbach and Raewyn Cooper, Threatened Panda Fights Back, Hokitika, New Zealand
Raewyn Cooper (Yan), Jason Thompson (Mr D), Terry Michele Gee (Mrs D), Jim Butzbach (Ling)
Flight of the Cows King's Shorts, King's Theatre, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, Canada, June 16-18, 2017, directed by Shelley Vaughan
Shelley Vaughan (director), Grace Gillighan (Lucille), Gloria Saesura (Clover) and Gordon Keel (Tiger), Flight of the Cows, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
Threatened Panda Fights Back The British Theatre Challenge Act II, Sky Blue Theatre Company, Lost Theatre, London, April 7, 2017, directed by Stacey Norris
Josie Mills (Yan) & Tom Hall (Ling) In Threatened Panda Fights Back, London
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Helen Watkinson (Mrs D), David Eaton (Mr D), Josie Mills (Yan) & Tom Hall (Ling)
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Flight of the Cows Take Ten Play Writers' Season, Gemco Players Community Theatre, Gem Community Arts Centre, Emerald, Victoria, Australia, April 7-9, 2017
Sunshine in Every Window East Side Stories, Metropolitan Playhouse, New York, NY, April 6, 8, 12, 15, 21, 23, 2017, directed by Michael Hardart
Ben Gougeon (Fiorello H. La Guardia) & Deborah Green (Eleanor Roosevelt) in Sunshine in Every Window, New York
Lianne Kressin (Mary) & Regina Gibson (Bianca). Photos by Josh Gulotta
Proud Mary and Prejudiced Lydia Take Ten Festival 2017, Between Us Productions, Jewel Box Theater, New York, NY, April 5, 7 & 8, 2017, directed by Susane Lee
Sonja Gabrielsen (Kitty), Carmen Nikae (Lydia), Patrina Caruana (Mary) in Proud Mary and Prejudiced Lydia, New York
Patrina Caruana (Mary)
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Carmen Nikae (Lydia), Sonja Gabrielsen (Kitty)
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Surfing in Munich (reading) Celtic Calling Playwriting Contest, The Boulevard Tavern, Charleston, West Virginia, March 5, 2017
Played for a Sap Short+Sweet Theatre Dubai, The Junction, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, February 18, 2017, Independent Theatre Company: Heriot-Watt University, directed by Shifa Ahsan
Played for a Sap, Dubai
Grandis, Juliette (reading) Cervantes Shakespeare, Porte de la Vézère, Le Bugue, France, January 27-28, 2017, produced by Isabelle Normand
Garage Invasion Fade to Black Reading Series, Matchbox 3, John P. McGovern Foundation Theater, Houston, Texas, January 13-14, 2017, directed by Ananka Kohnitz
Dave Shepard (Donnie), Tonyai Palmer (narrator), Ananka Kohnitz (Blair), Garage Invasion, Houston, TX
Next Door Nativity The Night Before Christmas scratch night, Aberdeen Performing Arts, The Lemon Tree Lounge, Aberdeen, Scotland, December 13, 2016
Best Chance Café (reading) New Works Festival, Arts Resources of the Tri-State, Renaissance Theatre, Huntington, West Virginia, December 3, 2016
The Power of Enchantment Playwrights and Artists Festival, KNOW Theatre, Binghamton, New York, November 26 & December 4, 2016, directed by Josh Sedelmeyer
None of Your Blarney Just Do Right, Atramental Theatre, Nailour Hall & Jean Stokes Community Hall, London, November 20-25, 2016, directed by Rory Devlin
Her Daughter's Doll 6'10: A Showcase of African American Theater, Smoked Apple Theatre Group, 1619 Flux, Louisville, Kentucky, November 19, 2016, directed by Gwendolyn Atkinson-Sample
Her Daughter's Doll in Louisville, Kentucky. Front: Anthony Murrell (Caleb), Stacey Hopson (Jeniece), Shay Smith (Retha), Gwendolyn Atkinson-Sample (director). Back: Tiffany Johnson & Bryanne Kelly
Zany Planets (staged reading) New Play Contest, The Chameleon Theatre Circle, Ames Center, Burnsville, Minnesota, November 5, 2016, directed by Jenny Marie Midnight-Thunder Moeller
- Winner of the THEATRE FOR YOUTH category
Love Those Cockroaches Short+Sweet Theatre, TAPAC (The Auckland Performing Arts Centre), Auckland, New Zealand, September 10, 2016, directed by David Blakey
Romain Mereau (Tim), Rozi Parry (Fern), Mandy Clark (Darya) in Love Those Cockroaches, Auckland
Mandy Clark (Darya), David Blakey (director), Romain Mereau (Tim), Rex McGregor (writer), Rozi Parry (Fern)
Threatened Panda Fights Back Play Time, Second Sons Theatre Company, Theatre N16, London, September 2, 2016, directed by Samson Hawkins
Alex Knott & Samantha Van Dyk in Threatened Panda Fights Back, London
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Samantha Van Dyk (Yan), Alex Knott (Ling)
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Ebook Meets Treebook (staged reading) Original Play Festival, Aloha Peforming Arts Company, Aloha Theatre, Kainaliu, Hawaii, August 17, 2016, directed by Renee Monell
This Particular Crevasse (audio play) Onstage/Offstage, Ithaca, New York, August 6, 2016, produced by George Sapio
Almost Immortal Queeroism Play Festival, The Vault, Collaboraction, Chicago, IL, July 8-9, 2016, directed by Leah Cassella
Sarah Menke (Kloë), Lauren Partch (Zen) in Almost Immortal, Chicago
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Gaby Fernandez (Ray), Lauren Partch (Zen)
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Lauren Partch (Zen), Sarah Menke (Kloë)
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Gaby Fernandez (Ray), Sarah Menke (Kloë), Lauren Partch (Zen)
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President Charles Evans Hughes Presidential Election Shorts, Hollywood Fringe, The Lounge Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, June 3 & 10, 2016, directed by John Fingal O’Donnell
Becky and Tom (staged reading) First Stage Playwrights Express, Eclectic Company Theatre, Los Angeles, California, May 21, 2016, directed by JC O'Connell
This Particular Crevasse (audio play) AIRPlay, OnAir Players, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 9, 2016, produced by Rachel Love
Threatened Panda Fights Back Take Ten Festival 2016, Between Us Productions, 13th Street Repertory Theatre, New York, NY, April 27, 29 & 30, 2016, directed by Susane Lee
Roger Dale Stude (Ling), Morgan Patton (Mrs D), Patrick Harman (Mr D) & Julie Baber (Yan) in Threatened Panda Fights Back, New York
Julie Baber (Yan) & Roger Dale Stude (Ling) rehearsing
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Morgan Patton (Mrs D) & Patrick Harman (Mr D)
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Sugar Horror Canistota High School, Canistota, South Dakota, April 16, 2016, directed by John Delle
Threatened Panda Fights Back (staged reading) Saving Endangered Species International Playwriting Prize, Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, Los Angeles, California, April 4, 2016, directed by Michele Spears
Mark Anthony Williams (Ling)
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Sonia Jackson (Yan)
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Andre Mathieu (Mr D)
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Anita Borcia (Mrs D)
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Fingers and Toesies Claremorris Fringe Festival, Town Hall Theatre, Claremorris, Ireland, March 19, 2016, directed by Joan King
Threatened Panda Fights Back 10-Minute Play Festival, Cutler Bay Community Theater, Artistic Vibes, Miami, Florida, March 18-19, 2016, directed by Maggie Eubanks
Front: John Eubanks (Ling), Melissa Billings (Mrs D). Back: J.J. Greenstein (Mr D), Pam St. John (Yan). Threatened Panda Fights Back, Miami, Florida
Pam St. John (Yan), John Eubanks (Ling)
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Melissa Billings (Mrs D), J.J. Greenstein (Mr D)
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None of Your Blarney (staged reading) Fast and Furious III, Stage Left Theater, Spokane, Washington, January 30-31, 2016, produced by Sandra Hosking
Scott Finlayson in None of Your Blarney, Spokane, Washington
Three Weird Mornings at the Library (staged reading) Sterts Theatre One-Act Play Competition, Liskeard, Cornwall, UK, January 29, 2016, directed by Tracey Kerr
- The script was Runner-Up in the Competition.
Threatened Panda Fights Back 8 Tens @ 8 Festival, Actors' Theatre, Santa Cruz, California, January 8 - February 7, 2016, directed by Helene Simkin Jara
Karin Babbitt (Yan), Chad Davies (Ling), Anita Natale (Mrs D), and Jim Schultz (Mr D) in Threatened Panda Fights Back, Santa Cruz, California
The Mama and the Papa 6’10 : A Showcase of African American Theater, Smoked Apple Theatre Group, The Vault 1031, Louisville, Kentucky, December 19-20, 2015, directed by Leslie Pryor
Marquita Howerton and Kronski Jones in The Mama and the Papa, Louisville, Kentucky
Three Weird Mornings at the Library (staged reading) Sterts Theatre One-Act Play Competition, Liskeard, Cornwall, UK, December 5, 2015, directed by Tracey Kerr
- The script was Runner-Up in the Competition.
Margaret Thatcher Changes the World British Theatre Challenge, Sky Blue Theatre Company, Lost Theatre, London, October 23, 2015, directed by John Mitton
- Script published by Lazy Bee Scripts, UK, 2015
Conor Cook (Les), Robert Anthony (Tomas) & Yvette Bruin (Margaret) in Margaret Thatcher Changes the World, London
Robert Anthony (Tomas), Yvette Bruin (Margaret), Josie Mills (Bar), Conor Cook (Les)
Threatened Panda Fights Back 10-Minute Play Festival, TheatriVasles, Salle du Théâtre, Vasles, France, October 16-17, 2015, directed by Tim Fitzgerald
Debbie Adamson (Mrs D) & Jim Luff (Mr D) in Threatened Panda Fights Back, Vasles, France
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Alan Peel (Ling) & Lynn Vaux (Yan)
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Wayward Seniors Re.Boot the Big reTHiNK, Te Pou, Auckland, New Zealand, October 6, 2015, directed by Ashton Brown
Aleema the Boy Girl 8 in 48 Idaho Short Play Festival, Treasure Valley Children's Theater, Meridian, Idaho, September 26, 2015, directed by Valerie Baugh-Schlossberg.
- The script won the SCREENER'S CHOICE AWARD.
Chris Bohme (Tabesh)
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Riley Zuschlag (Azad), Sheila McCoy (Aleema) and Savannah Haislip (Mursal) in Aleema the Boy Girl (Aleema Wants a Haircut), Meridian, Idaho
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Chris Bohme (Tabesh), Savannah Haislip (Mursal) and Sheila McCoy (Aleema)
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Sheila McCoy (Aleema) and Chris Bohme (Tabesh)
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Possible Fathers Short+Sweet Musical Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, September 23-26, 2015, directed by Richard Chua
Izen Kong (Nigel), Shenah Low Xuan, Nabilah Hamid (Jess) & Phraveen Arikiah (Dunc) in Possible Fathers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Izen Kong, Phraveen Arikiah, Shenah Low Xuan & Nabilah Hamid
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Surfing in Munich Bites (Playwrights Association of New Zealand Competition Festival), Skin Theatre, The Dark Room, Palmerston North, New Zealand, September 17-19 & 24-26, 2015, directed by Tracey-Lynne Cody
Jess McLean (Sarah) and Toby Lockhart (Paddy) in Surfing in Munich, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Threatened Panda Fights Back Short+Sweet Theatre, TAPAC (The Auckland Performing Arts Centre), Auckland, New Zealand, September 8-12 & 20, 2015, directed by Katie Burson
Mustaq Missouri (Ling) and Irasa Siave (Yan) in Threatened Panda Fights Back, Auckland, New Zealand. Shovik Nandi Photography
Tom Wardle (Mr D), Georgina Silk (Mrs D), Mustaq Missouri (Ling) and Irasa Siave (Yan)
Review
"Before a word of Threatened Panda Fights Back! is spoken, the audience is laughing loudly, and it continues throughout this play. It's due to an hilarious scenario created by Auckland playwright Rex McGregor, and assisted by great direction from Katie Burson. The four actors (Mustaq Missouri, Georgina Silk, Siave Irasa, Tom Wardle) are all very good, but there's no doubt the show is stolen by Mustaq Missouri's Panda. What a dilemma he must resolve: as the face of the World Wildlife Fund's Endangered Species programme, breeding would threaten his position. On the other hand…" - Bronwyn Elsmore, Theatreview
Review
"If you do catch this week’s show, it is worth it for Threatened Panda Fights Back! Written by Short+Sweet veteran Rex McGregor (is there any year that he has missed?), director Katie Burson employs her clowning nous for an imaginative piece about a Panda threatened, not by extinction, but the new hot thing in animal conversation. Mustaq Missouri’s Panda is full of his own self-importance, a rock star and poster boy for WWF. His mate (Irasa Siave) tries many tactics to pique his sexual interest, but he stubbornly refuses: too many Pandas, and they’ll lose what makes them special. His thinking is challenged when very special birds Mr D (Tom Wardle) and Mrs D (Georgina Silk) appear on the scene and lay claim to the enclosure. It’s a great idea, great script, and made vibrant by the cast’s playful and physically astute performances. I’d love to see this enlarged and for Katie Burson to keep an entire zoo." - James Wenley, Theatre Scenes
Review
"Rex McGregor's crowd-favourite Threatened Panda Fights Back, a laugh-out-loud exercise in anthropomorphic absurdity directed by Katie Burson." - Nik Smythe, Theatreview
Threatened Panda Fights Back Studio Players' I0-Minute Play Festival, Carriage House Theatre, Lexington, Kentucky, July 31-August 2 & August 7-9, 2015, directed by Marty Wayman
Kody Kiser (Ling) and Sherry Jackson Thompson (Yan) in Threatened Panda Fights Back, Lexington, Kentucky
Review
"Delightfully weird and a little risqué"- Candace Chaney, Lexington Herald-Leader
Mike Van Zant (Mr D), Shannon Baker (Mrs D), Sherry Jackson Thompson (Yan), Kody Kiser (Ling)
Grow Up, Juliet The Short Short Play Festival, The Social Capital Theatre, Toronto, Canada, July 22 & 24, 2015, directed by Anand Rajaram
Director Anand Rajaram with Taylor Trowbridge, Sunnie James and Tahirih Vejdani preparing for Grow Up, Juliet in Toronto
Lady Godiva Womans Up Summer One Acts, Red Mask Players, Danville, Illinois, July 16-19, 2015, directed by Drake Taylor
Kelli Carlton (Florence), Lauren Elizabeth Hous (Madge), Bryan Schroeder (Leofric), Shannon Bireline Schroeder (Lady Godiva), Karrin Estes (Edwina), Molly Smith (Erica) and Patrick Linn (Thomas) in Lady Godiva Womans Up, Danville, IL
Threatened Panda Fights Back Short+Sweet Brisbane 2015, Powerhouse, Brisbane, Australia, July 16-18, 2015, directed by Kate Murphy
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Trevor Vanstone (Ling), Daniel Simpson (Mr D), Cherie Moss (Yan), Tammy Linde (Mrs D) in Threatened Panda Fights Back, Brisbane
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Trevor Vanstone (Ling), Cherie Moss (Yan)
Surfing in Munich Short+Sweet Brisbane 2015, Powerhouse, Brisbane, Australia, July 9-11, 2015, directed by Eric Yates
Cameron Irlam (Paddy) in Surfing in Munich, Brisbane
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Caitlin Duff (Sarah) in Surfing in Munich, Brisbane
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Lullaby for a Librarian FIVES New Play Festival, Black Box Theatre, Colorado Springs, Colorado, June 25-27, 2015, directed by Teri McClintock
Jenny Maloney (Tara) and Chelsie Rigor (Courtney) in Lullaby for a Librarian, Colorado Springs, CO
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Jenny Maloney (Tara), Daniel Robbins (Alfred), Chelsie Rigor (Courtney)
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Skull and Speechless Flash Fest, Playsmiths, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York, NY, June 14, 2015, directed by Ann Farthing
Threatened Panda Fights Back King's Shorts Festival of 10-Minute Plays, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, Canada, June 12-14, 2015, directed by Jeff Styles
Wayne Currie (Ling) & Susan Barker (Yan) in Threatened Panda Fights Back, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
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Ashlea Viola (Mrs D) & Jacob Morrison (Mr D)
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This Particular Crevasse 10-Minute Play Festival, Lakeshore Players Theatre, White Bear Lake, Minnesota, June 4-14, 2015, directed by Laura Bidgood
Christopher J. DeVann (Nick) and Lina Jamoul (Holly) in This Particular Crevasse, White Bear Lake, MN
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Boot's Vacation Write Local. Play Global. The Unexpected, One Theatre World, DePaul University, Chicago, May 7-9, 2015
Anna Shotter (Kelly) and Gareth Price-Baghurst (Roy) in Speechless, Gi60 UK Live, Leeds, UK
None of Your Blarney was awarded 1st Place Writer Winner in the TentSquare "Love Letter" Monologue Challenge, April, 2015
"It seemed to be a cleverly cynical statement about the hard realities of love, only to turn it around at the last two lines. It surprised and completely sold me."
- Ty Drago (judge)
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Performance by Kasey Leigh Dickerson
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Performance by Christine Williamson
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Feline High-Rise Syndrome Take Ten Festival 2015, Between Us Productions, Roy Arias Studios, Stage II, New York, NY, April 8-10, 2015, directed by Emily Naylor
Christopher Herr (Boot), Clare Rea (Taz), Stephen Humes (Doug), Hannah Richter (Sandra) in Feline High-Rise Syndrome, New York
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Christopher Herr (Boot), Stephen Humes (Doug), Hannah Richter (Sandra)
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Herding Catastrophes (play reading) Scratch Script Night, Verbal, The Shoebox at the Riverside, Sheffield, UK, April 1, 2015
Dueling Judges Playground: Mind Games, Ghost Dog Productions, The Horse & Stables, London, March 23-24, 2015, directed by Bisera Winters
Michael Sheldon (Joe)
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Kerry Willison-Parry (Judy)
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Megan Hair (Emma)
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A Supportive Wife Supports Her Wife Spring One Acts, Manhattan Repertory Theatre, New York, NY, March 18-21, 2015, directed by Ross Hewitt
Rachel Parenta (Thena) and Andrew Dufault (Darren) in A Supportive Wife Supports Her Wife, New York
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Hannah Edwards (Taz) and Rachel Parenta (Thena)
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A Bride for the Pope Walking the Wire: Classified, Riverside Theatre, Iowa City, Iowa, March 6-15, 2015, directed by Jody Hovland
Cory Johnson on her mission to find A Bride for the Pope, Riverside Theatre, Iowa City, Iowa
Feline High-Rise Syndrome Claremorris Fringe Festival, Half a Breakfast Theatre Group, Town Hall Theatre, Claremorris, Ireland, March 6, 2015, directed by Richie Heneghan
Sugar Horror Pint-Size Plays, Remarkable Theatre, directed by Scott Kennedy
- Gin and Raspberry, Wanaka, New Zealand, March 1, 2015
- Thomas Brown Gallery, Arrowtown, New Zealand, March 7, 2015
- SkyCity, Queenstown, New Zealand, March 8, 2015
George Cassells (Ansel) and Fiona Bracken (Retta) in Sugar Horror, Pint-Size Plays, South Island, New Zealand
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Sugar Horror team: Rachel Rose (Donna), George Cassells (Ansel), Fiona Bracken (Retta) with director Scott Kennedy
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Paddy's Spiel The Many Faces of Love, Bernie Wohl Center, New York, NY, February 13, 2015, directed by Susane Lee
Pseudo-Human Resources Five Minute Festival, LOST Theatre, London, February 4 & 7, 2015, directed by Milla Jackson
Pseudo-Human Resources Five Minute Festival, LOST Theatre, London, February 4 & 7, 2015, directed by Milla Jackson
Pseudo-Human Resources Fast and Furious, Stage Left Theatre, Spokane, Washington, January 30-31, 2015, produced by Sandra Hosking
Grow Up, Juliet ShowOff! International Playwriting Festival, Camino Real Playhouse, San Juan Capistrano, California, January 16-22, 2015, directed by Rick Kerrigan
Sabrina Paris (Juliet) in Grow Up, Juliet - San Juan Capistrano, CA
Sabrina Paris, Bettina Saam, Casey Moriarty
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Sabrina Paris and Bettina Saam
Sabrina Paris & Ed Gillow
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Bettina Saam (Friar Laurence)
Bettina Saam
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Grow Up, Juliet The Very Best Playground, Ghost Dog Productions, Etcetera Theatre, London, January 10-11, 2015, directed by Matthew Radway
Review
"Rex McGregor showed commendable craft with Grow Up Juliet, a genuinely very comic rewriting of the classic play - in Shakespearean language and all..." - I Like Plays, Do You?
This Particular Crevasse (play reading) East End Literary Salon, Downstairs at the Ophelia, London, December 7, 2014, directed by Milla Jackson
This Particular Crevasse (play reading) Scratch Script Night, Verbal, The Shoebox at the Riverside, Sheffield, UK, December 3, 2014
This Particular Crevasse (play reading) Scratch Script Night, Verbal, The Shoebox at the Riverside, Sheffield, UK, December 3, 2014
Grow Up, Juliet at Scratch Scripts, Gatton Community Theatre, Reigate, Surrey, UK
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Juliet (Megan Quinn) mourns Romeo (Will Jacobs) - Block & Talk, New York
Grow Up, Juliet (staged reading) Scratch Scripts, Gatton Community Theatre, Reigate, Surrey, UK, October 31, 2014, directed by Lixi Chivas
Grow Up, Juliet (staged reading) Block & Talk, Abstract Sentiment Theatre Co., Alchemical Theatre Laboratory, New York, NY, October 30, 2014, directed by Viktoria I.V. King
Sugar Horror (play reading) Halloween Short Play Festival, Village Playwrights, New York, NY, October 22, 2014, directed by Ross Hewitt
Grow Up, Juliet Warner International Playwrights Festival, Nancy Marine Studio Theatre, Torrington, Connecticut, October 16, 2014, directed by Lynn Paulella Beard
Sarah Skrip as Friar Laurence and Gillian Russo as Juliet (with Cole Sutton and Morgan Morse) - Warner International Playwrights Festival, Torrington, Connecticut
Grow Up, Juliet (play reading) Scratch Script Night, Verbal, The Shoebox at the Riverside, Sheffield, UK, October 13, 2014
Grow Up, Juliet Playground: Deception, Ghost Dog Productions, The Horse & Stables, London, September 22-24, 2014, directed by Matthew Radway
Harriet Layhe (Juliet), Joseph Banks (Tybalt), Sarah Anson (Friar Laurence, etc.) and Jack Blackburn (Romeo) in Grow Up, Juliet - London
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Jack Blackburn (Romeo) and Sarah Anson (Friar Laurence)
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Review
"Spoofing Shakespeare can be a tricky business and, for my money, the only people to come close to the Bard are The Reduced Shakespeare Company and Tom Stoppard. Now I can add Rex McGregor to that list for Grow Up Juliet, in which "Oh happy dagger" has a retractable blade and from then on, much like the evening as a whole, things just get weird. I'm not going to spoil what happens to Juliet (Harriet Layhe) at the hands of Friar Laurence... (Sarah Anson). McGregor's script - in rhyming couplets and probably iambic pentameter but I was too busy laughing to check - is chock-full of quality running gags (hard to do in ten minutes), terrible but brilliant puns ("A ruse by any other name...") and it's all handled with a panto-cum-Jeremy Kyle flair by director Matthew Radway." - Views from the Gods
Cushion Short+Sweet Song, TAPAC (The Auckland Performing Arts Centre), Auckland, New Zealand, September 9-13, 2014, directed by Alex Walker
Congratulations to Cushion actors: Anna Haydon – Best Female Performer, Short+Sweet Song 2014, TAPAC, Auckland. Caleb Ryan – honourable mention for Best Male Performer.
Back: Rex McGregor (writer), Anna Haydon (Trish), Nicole Steven (Martha), Alex Walker (director), Caleb Ryan (Bret), Amy Hsu (musical director & pianist). Front: Todd Waters (Jake)
Anna Haydon (Trish) and Caleb Ryan (Bret) in Cushion, Short+Sweet Song, TAPAC, Auckland
Contains Nudity (audio comedy) Shoestring Radio Theatre, San Francisco, August 27, 2014, directed by Steve Rubenstein
Refloat Our Whale (staged reading) COWFEST (Sixth Annual Center of the World Festival), Pine Mountain Club, California, August 16, 2014, directed by Kat Fair
Katie Barnes (Mandy) and Stacey Havener (Miss Jacobs) in Refloat Our Whale, COWFEST, Pine Mountain Club, California
Cathy Chang (Cas) and Rocky Latham (Bal) in The First Christmas Presents, Playwrights Express, Burbank
The First Christmas Presents (play reading) FirstStage Playwrights Express, The Actors Group Theater, Burbank, California, August 9, 2014, directed by Felix Racelis
These Things Happen (play reading) FirstStage Playwrights Express, The Actors Group Theater, Burbank, California, August 9, 2014, directed by Jacque Lynn Colton
Refloat Our Whale (play reading) FirstStage Playwrights Express, The Actors Group Theater, Burbank, California, August 9, 2014, directed by Helen Duffy
Grow Up, Juliet (play reading) One for the Road, Eastbound Theatre, Milford Center for the Arts, Milford, Connecticut, July 25-27, 2014 & Westport Community Theatre, Westport, Connecticut, August 1-2, 2014
Pseudo-Human Resources Art Meets Science at the Theater, Chicago Dramatists, Chicago, July 11-13, 2014, directed by Chelsea Taylor
Pseudo-Human Resources Flash Fest, Playsmiths, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York, NY, June 15, 2014
These Things Happen (play reading) FirstStage Playwrights Express, The Actors Group Theater, Burbank, California, August 9, 2014, directed by Jacque Lynn Colton
Refloat Our Whale (play reading) FirstStage Playwrights Express, The Actors Group Theater, Burbank, California, August 9, 2014, directed by Helen Duffy
Grow Up, Juliet (play reading) One for the Road, Eastbound Theatre, Milford Center for the Arts, Milford, Connecticut, July 25-27, 2014 & Westport Community Theatre, Westport, Connecticut, August 1-2, 2014
Pseudo-Human Resources Art Meets Science at the Theater, Chicago Dramatists, Chicago, July 11-13, 2014, directed by Chelsea Taylor
Pseudo-Human Resources Flash Fest, Playsmiths, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York, NY, June 15, 2014
Cobra v Tiger A-Squared Theatre Workshop, My Asian Mom, Chicago Dramatists, Chicago, May 2 - June 1, 2014, directed by Joe Yau
Samantha Garcia (Rashida) and Tea Ro (Rochelle) in Cobra v Tiger, Chicago
Grow Up, Juliet Short Play Lab, Roy Arias Studios, Stage II, New York, NY, April 26-27, 2014, directed by Sara Stevens
Phenomenals Anonymous Between Us Productions, Take Ten Festival 2014, Roy Arias Studios, Stage II, New York, NY, April 10-12, 2014, directed by Alex Keegan
Phenomenals Anonymous Between Us Productions, Take Ten Festival 2014, Roy Arias Studios, Stage II, New York, NY, April 10-12, 2014, directed by Alex Keegan
Brittany Lee McDonald (Treeza), Arnaud Spanos (Paolo), Will Sarratt (Brian) and Emma Thorne (Cass) in Phenomenals Anonymous, New York
Contains Nudity (audio comedy) The Icebox Radio Theater, International Falls, Minnesota, April 4, 2014, directed by Jeffrey Adams
Welcome to Belarus (staged readings) Belarusian Dream Theater, March 25, 2014
Lament of the Failed Alcoholic (audio scene) Small Fish Radio Theatre, Intoxicated, live recording at Chicago Dramatists, Chicago, March 23, 2014, directed by Trina Kakacek
Grow Up, Juliet (staged reading) TLW LEXiCON Literary Festival, The Alexander Centre, Faversham, Kent, UK, March 16, 2014, directed by Ben Slythe
Lock Up Your Chaperone Short+Sweet Sydney, King Street Theatre, Sydney, Australia, January 22-26, 2014, directed by Tim Jobin Roach
Welcome to Belarus (staged readings) Belarusian Dream Theater, March 25, 2014
- Copenhagen, Denmark: Out Of Balanz, Forsøgsstationen
- Frankfurt, Germany: Theatre Language Studio, Saalbau Gallus, Kleine Saal
- Pasadena, Los Angeles: Global Theatre Project, Boston Court Performing Arts Center, directed by Doug Tompos
- Vilnius, Lithuania: European Humanities University, directed by Brendan McCall
Lament of the Failed Alcoholic (audio scene) Small Fish Radio Theatre, Intoxicated, live recording at Chicago Dramatists, Chicago, March 23, 2014, directed by Trina Kakacek
Grow Up, Juliet (staged reading) TLW LEXiCON Literary Festival, The Alexander Centre, Faversham, Kent, UK, March 16, 2014, directed by Ben Slythe
Lock Up Your Chaperone Short+Sweet Sydney, King Street Theatre, Sydney, Australia, January 22-26, 2014, directed by Tim Jobin Roach
Rex McGregor with Claire Stewart-Moore, who played Wendy in Lock Up Your Chaperone. Short+Sweet Sydney 2014. King Street Theatre
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Claire Stewart-Moore and Angela McDonald
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Andrew Jackson and Claire Stewart-Moore
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Grow Up, Juliet (play reading) Writers' House, Ilkley Playhouse, Ilkley, West Yorkshire, UK, January 11, 2014, directed by Ash Caton
Higgledy-Trilogy Short Attention Span Theatre II, Fury Theatre, Chase Park, Chicago, November 15-24, 2013, directed by Kaitlin Taylor
Higgledy-Trilogy Short Attention Span Theatre II, Fury Theatre, Chase Park, Chicago, November 15-24, 2013, directed by Kaitlin Taylor
Brittany Bradshaw (Harpo)
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Julia Rigby (Janine) and friend in Higgledy-Trilogy, Chicago, 2013
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Jonathan Rooney (Groucho)
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Dueling Judges Short+Sweet Auckland 2013, Herald Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand, June 22, 2013, directed by Sarah Jansen
Simon Clark (Joe), Bella Wicks (Emma), Tatiana Hotere (Judy) in Dueling Judges, Auckland
Contains Nudity (audio comedy) Frequency Theatre, Colchester, UK, 2013, directed by Nicholas Barton-Wines
Lady Godiva Doesn't Ride Again Oamaru Repertory Society, Oamaru, New Zealand, April 20-27, 2013, directed by Peter Sadler
Lady Godiva Doesn't Ride Again Oamaru Repertory Society, Oamaru, New Zealand, April 20-27, 2013, directed by Peter Sadler
Oamaru, 2013. Pinkie Sadler (Madge), Lex Cochrane (Leofric), Cathy Murdoch (Godiva), Colleen Simmons (Erica), James McCulloch (Brother Thomas) with director Peter Sadler.
Higgledy-Trilogy Short+Sweet Sydney 2013, King Street Theatre, Sydney, Australia, January 23-37, 2013, directed by Sarah Cross
Higgledy-Trilogy cast: Michael Smith, Lisa Huynh, Alice Furze, Glen Wanstall. Short+Sweet Sydney 2013, King Street Theatre
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Michael Smith and Alice Furze
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Alice Furze and Glen Wanstall
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Wayward Seniors The Big reTHiNK, Q Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand, October 3-6, 2012, directed by Joselyn Khor
Wayward Seniors cast and director. Back: Gerry Jaynes, Carl Smith, Nicole Marais. Front: Malcolm Dixon, Marina Volkova, Joselyn Khor. The Big reTHiNK, Q Theatre
Malcolm Dixon
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Gerry Jaynes and Marina Volkova
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Nicole Marais and Carl Smith
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Clash of the Delusions (Read Raw workshop and staged reading) Goodman Fielder Room, Aotea Centre, Auckland, New Zealand, July 1, 2012, directed by Grae Burton
Clash of the Delusions cast and director.
Back: Ally Xue, Ash Jones, Dominic Ona-Ariki, Andy Sani. Front: Michelle Blundell, Grae Burton, Neil Amituanai, Lavinia 'Uhila. Read Raw workshop and moved public reading, directed by Grae Burton, 1 July 2012, Goodman Fielder Room, Aotea Centre, Auckland
Taking the Plunge Short+Sweet Brisbane 2011, Judith Wright Centre for the Performing Arts, Brisbane, Australia, November 8-12, 2011, directed by Yvette Martin
Taking the Plunge Short+Sweet Melbourne 2011, Chapel off Chapel, Melbourne, Australia, November 3-11 2011, directed by Katrina Fleming
Taking the Plunge Short+Sweet Auckland 2011, Herald Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand, July 16, 2011, directed by Rex McGregor
Taking the Plunge Short+Sweet Melbourne 2011, Chapel off Chapel, Melbourne, Australia, November 3-11 2011, directed by Katrina Fleming
Taking the Plunge Short+Sweet Auckland 2011, Herald Theatre, Auckland, New Zealand, July 16, 2011, directed by Rex McGregor
Deira Bowie Nebauer (Ange) and Kathryn Tohill (Lara) in Taking the Plunge, Melbourne
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Aaron Ward (Bruce) and Julia Hyde (Lara) in Taking the Plunge, Auckland
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Canary Now Short+Sweet Sydney 2011, Newtown Theatre, Sydney, Australia, February 5-6, 2011, directed by Aidan Pezzutto
Death for Sophisticates Manawatu Festival of New Arts 2010, Massey University and Globe Theatre, Palmerston North, New Zealand, October 3-10, 2010, directed by Joy Green
Death for Sophisticates Manawatu Festival of New Arts 2010, Massey University and Globe Theatre, Palmerston North, New Zealand, October 3-10, 2010, directed by Joy Green
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rex McGregor is a member of the New Zealand Society of Authors and the Playwrights Association of New Zealand.
He is the author of Girls on the Brink: Seven female-forward plays for young adults (YouthPLAYS, 2016), Grow Up, Girls (YouthPLAYS, 2015), Brink Time (YouthPLAYS, 2015), Margaret Thatcher Changes the World (Lazy Bee Scripts, 2015), Laugh with Jesus: the Funniest Comedian of All Time (CreateSpace / Pressed Leaf Press, 2012) and Cuisine for Angels: tantalizing recipes to entice the bringers of happiness into your life (CreateSpace / Pressed Leaf Press, 2012).
He has a Master of Arts (Hons) in Languages and Literature from the University of Auckland and is currently a senior collections librarian at Auckland Libraries.
He is the author of Girls on the Brink: Seven female-forward plays for young adults (YouthPLAYS, 2016), Grow Up, Girls (YouthPLAYS, 2015), Brink Time (YouthPLAYS, 2015), Margaret Thatcher Changes the World (Lazy Bee Scripts, 2015), Laugh with Jesus: the Funniest Comedian of All Time (CreateSpace / Pressed Leaf Press, 2012) and Cuisine for Angels: tantalizing recipes to entice the bringers of happiness into your life (CreateSpace / Pressed Leaf Press, 2012).
He has a Master of Arts (Hons) in Languages and Literature from the University of Auckland and is currently a senior collections librarian at Auckland Libraries.
- Rex McGregor was awarded the 2015 and 2016 DOUG WRENN AWARD for achievement in playwriting "for the numerous productions of his short comedies". The award, presented by the Playwrights Association of New Zealand, is given annually to a member of the association who has had significant success in playwriting during the year.
Playwrights Association of New Zealand (PANZ) 2014 One-Act Play Competition winners: (L-R) Rex McGregor, Colin Beardon, Bronwyn Elsmore