CUE THE COMEDIES: A BACKSTAGE PASS TO PARKER PLAYS

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS PARKER PLAYS? And More Importantly - Why You Should Care

by Susan Parker

"What? You've never heard of me?" (Pause for a dramatic, comedic sigh.) "I'm hurt."

But honestly, I'm not surprised. With an estimated 10,000+ live theatres in the United States and more than 75,000 worldwide, it's a pretty big theatrical pond. So let me introduce myself—and Parker Plays.

I'm Susan Parker, and Parker Plays is the official home of the stage comedies written by Michael Parker and Susan Parker, presented today by me. Together, we created fifteen contemporary comedies designed specifically for community theatres, regional theatres, and dinner theatres.

Now, before you roll your eyes and click away thinking, "Not another playwright telling me why their plays are perfect for my theatre," let me reveal why so many theatres have embraced Parker Plays. 

Every Parker Play was written through the lens that matters most to directors, producers, and play-reading committees: audience appeal, practical production requirements, manageable cast sizes, actor-friendly characters, and stories that audiences actually enjoy watching. Imagine that!

What began as a simple challenge in the early 1990’s has grown into the Parker Plays Catalogue. A collection of fifteen published plays that have enjoyed more than 1,700 productions on stages around the world and continue to be licensed through Concord Theatricals.

Why? Directors can envision them on their stage. Producers can budget for them. Actors love performing them. Audiences love laughing at them. And when all four of those things happen at the same time, that's theatre magic.

BACK TO THE FUTURE:  THE PARKER PLAYS STORY

The brilliance of Parker Plays (I was born modest, but I think it wore off) began with a challenge. In the early 1990s, a director in Florida told Michael that British farces were simply "too British" for American audiences. Then he tossed out a challenge: "You're a Brit living in America. Why don't you write a farce Americans can relate to?"

Michael, not one to back down from a challenge, set out to create a comedy filled with recognizable characters, outrageous situations, and enough chaos to keep audiences laughing long after the curtain call. Calling himself the ‘accidental playwright’ he wrote, The Sensuous Senator, which led to The Amorous Ambassador, which led to Hotbed Hotel, and another, and another. Before long, a collection of comedies were taking shape, proving that while humor may speak with different accents, laughter is universal. Apparently, Samuel French agreed. They recognized the appeal of the growing collection and offered a publishing contract, helping Parker Plays find its way onto stages across America and beyond.

Then, somewhere around the eighth play, Michael paused long enough to do something unexpected—he married me. Not long after, he asked if I would be interested in co-writing with him. "Absolutely!" Instantly I agreed, having no idea what I was getting myself into. I brought plenty of ideas to the table, while Michael patiently taught me the craft of writing farce. (There's a lot more to that story, but that's a blog for another day.) In 2006, our first collaboration, Sin, Sex and the CIA, was produced to enthusiastic audiences. The years flew by as we added six more comedies to the collection, with Sandy Toes & Salty Kisses becoming our final play together in 2019.

So, what does all this have to do with Back to the Future? Well, fast-forward to today and then hop back a few decades.

Looking back, it's hard not to marvel at the journey that Michael and I had shared before he passed. Writing together, working with directors and producers and visiting the many theatres who welcomed us, meeting their talented cast and watching our plays come to life on stage. While the curtain would rise, we would whisper - “Let the magic begin!” 

Looking forward, I'm excited to continue sharing with all of you the stories behind the plays, the laughter, and the future happenings of Parker Plays.

Act Two Theatre Hard At Work On A Parker Play

FOR YOU WHO CHOOSE the SEASON—and THEN SOMEHOW MAKE IT HAPPEN

If you’re a director, producer or a member of a play reading committee, searching for a quality comedy that gives people a true night out with laughter that continues into the lobby, actors having a ball in rehearsal, and patrons saying, “We should bring friends back to see this” — you may have just found your theatrical comedy happy place. 

But let's be honest. While theatres exist to provide entertainment, unfortunately applause doesn’t balance the budget. Strong box office sales and packed houses matter too. Parker Plays have a long history of delivering both laughter and strong box office results, which is one reason so many theatres keep coming back for another Parker comedy. (Isn’t it great there are so many to choose from?)

“We are tickled to announce that we had another SOLD OUT show of Money Matters last night! If the laughs from the audience were any indication of how the show went - Bazing! Sunday’s matinee saw the house packed to the rafters!” -Thorold Community Theatre

Michael and I felt it was so important to write plays filled with relatable characters, deliciously quirky situations, and the kind of humor that happens when everyday life takes one tiny wrong turn and suddenly everyone is pulled into the chaotic adventure.

Parker Plays are packed with unexpected “sidewinders” — secondary storylines, comic twists, and surprise turns that weave into the main plot and keep audiences laughing, guessing, and happily off balance. We just knew that you couldn’t run with just one theme for two hours. Life happens when you least expect it, so these are not one-joke comedies stretched thin over two hours like theatrical taffy. 

“You’ve gotta be original. Because if you’re like someone else, what do they need you for?” – Bernadette Peters

I encourage you, the directors, producers and play-reading committees to check out  Parker Plays, but spoiler alert - only if you enjoy rehearsals filled with laughter, productions that are practical to stage, roles that actors love to perform, and you want your audiences leaving the theatre laughing and smiling. 

"We had to do this! Just the whole premise, the whole plot line and the physical comedy—Sex Please We're Sixty is hilarious. We've been rehearsing for four weeks, and every night, I just laugh constantly."  – David W. Mitchell, Artistic Director of All An Act Theatre Productions

I’d like to give a  wink and a heartfelt thank you to all the directors, producers, and play readers out there—you’re the ones who make it all happen. Hundreds of theatres have embraced Parker Plays over the years because we do things a little differently, and the results speak for themselves. Our goal is simple: bring people together, let them laugh loudly and collectively for two wonderfully cathartic hours, and send them back into the world just a little lighter than when they arrived.

PS… Parker Plays does come with a warning: 🎭 Choosing a Parker Play may be the easiest decision you'll make all season. Convincing actors not to laugh during rehearsal is another matter entirely.

PARKER PLAYS WEBSITE - JUST USE IT!

Because I know your time is valuable—and that in many theatres one person often wears enough hats to stock an entire costume shop—I created the Parker Plays website with the help of a talented marketing team. (A special thank you to Julie Nemitz - Theatre Marketing Consultant  and Kyle Barr - Marketing at KayBee for helping bring it all to life.)

The goal was simple: make it easier for Directors, Producers, and Play Reading Committees to find the right comedy for their season without having to read fifteen scripts first!

Found exclusively on the Parker Plays website, the Director & Producer Resource Page is packed with helpful information. Whether you're wondering about licensing, looking for production tips, trying to match a play to your available cast, or simply narrowing fifteen comedies down to one, you'll find answers to many of the questions theatres ask before producing a Parker farce.

To make the process even easier, we've included a Quick Guide Overview that provides a snapshot of every play in the catalogue. It helps theatres quickly identify which comedies may be the best fit for their season, audience, and production needs. And yes, many theatres discover they need more than one Parker Play in a season. (I fully support this excellent decision.!)

Each individual play page also includes a synopsis, quick facts, production photos, reviews, and other useful resources designed to help you make an informed choice.

And if you still have questions, don't worry. You're not navigating the process alone. I'm always happy to help. After all, choosing the right comedy should be fun—saving the chaos for the stage is kind of our specialty.

SUSAN PARKER - PLAYWRIGHT’S BIO

What makes a playwright? A storyteller- yes, an optimist- yes, a dreamer- yes, and perhaps someone just crazy enough to spend minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and sometimes years staring at a blank page, convinced that the next sentence will finally solve everything. And through all the rewrites, they hold onto one hopeful thought: that someday, somewhere, someone will read their words and bring them to life on a stage.  

I’ve been fortunate enough to watch my plays go from page to stage as a published Concord Theatricals playwright. These comedies have been keeping audiences laughing in theatres around the world for nearly two decades. Alongside my late husband and writing partner, Michael Parker, I’ve had the fun of helping to create the remarkable Parker Plays catalogue: Fifteen published plays that have enjoyed more than 1,700 productions since 1996, appearing on stages throughout the United States and in more than 30 countries worldwide.

My debut play, Sin, Sex & the CIA, a playful look at larger-than-life personalities, has been entertaining audiences since 2006. The stage play, Sex Please, We're Sixty, was created to give mature actors their well-deserved moment in the spotlight and has become my most-produced comedy worldwide and loved by theatres and audiences alike. My other works include Sex Please We're Sixty The Musical, Money Matters, Love, Lies & the Doctor's Dilemma, What Is Susan's Secret?, and the latest romantic comedy, Sandy Toes & Salty Kisses. 

Of course, my own story could easily be the plot of one of our comedies. Born in Wisconsin, I married young, raised three children, taught elementary school for 25 years, and met and married Michael. With him I discovered a passion for writing plays, traveled the world, became a grandmother, a widow and learned to appreciate that through life's triumphs, surprises, and plot twists, laughter is one of life's greatest gifts, and none of us should take our time here for granted.

Today, I’ve happily embarked on a new chapter with my husband, Joe, and our four cats in Florida. When I’m not writing, I enjoy playing tennis and pickleball, visiting family, and gathering inspiration from the wonderfully quirky people and situations I encounter in everyday life. Currently, I’m hard at work on my next comedy, proving once again that retirement and playwrights rarely belong in the same sentence.

Susan

BONUS TAKEAWAYS

                              

Parker Plays Began with a Challenge: What started as a Florida director's suggestion to write an American-style farce grew into the Parker Plays catalogue—fifteen published comedies and more than 1,700 productions worldwide.

Parker Plays Are Written for Theatres: These comedies are designed with community, regional, and dinner theatres in mind, featuring audience-friendly stories, practical production requirements, flexible cast sizes, and characters actors love to play.

Laughter Is the Mission: From outrageous situations and unexpected plot twists to memorable characters and "sidewinders," Parker Plays are built to keep audiences laughing from curtain up to curtain call—and often all the way home.

The Website Makes Choosing a Play Easier: The Parker Plays website includes a Director & Producer Resource Page, FAQs, production tips, licensing information, and a Quick Guide Overview to help theatres find the right comedy for their season.

Behind Every Play Is a Story: The Parker Plays catalogue represents decades of creativity, partnership, perseverance, and a belief that laughter is one of life's greatest gifts. Today, Susan Parker continues sharing the stories, the plays, and the joy that began with a simple challenge many years ago.

Just Do It!  (Apparently, Nike knew a thing or two about making big decisions.)

I’d genuinely love to hear from you and help support your production in any way I can. Whether you have questions about casting, choosing the right play for your season, staging farce, or simply want to chat comedy, I’m always happy to connect. 

Parker Plays - Where Laughter Knows No Limits!

FUN FACTS: 

Review: Sandy Toes & Salty Kisses “Overall a joy to produce. Well received. Look forward to doing another play by the Parkers in the future.”   Sam Fortenbaugh/ Director of The Amateur Comedy Club, New York, USA

Our most-licensed play is Sex Please We’re Sixty. It has four strong roles for women 50+ and 2 strong roles for men 50+. 

Our most popular mistaken-identity play is Whose Wives Are They Anyway?

Reach out to Susan at info@parker-plays.com