Play the scene : the ultimate collection of contemporary and classic scenes and monologues [compiled by] Michael Schulman and Eva Mekler.

Introduction: "On audition readings" / by Michael Schulman -- [1] Scenes for one man and one woman -- Picasso at the Lapin Agile / Steve Martin -- The Graduate / adapted for the stage by Terry Johnson -- Vincent in Brixton / by Nicholas Wright -- The shape of things / by Neil LaBute -- How I learned to drive / by Paula Vogel -- Dinner with friends / by Donald Margulies -- The tale of the allergist's wife / by Charles Busch -- This is our youth / by Kenneth Lonergan -- Heartbreak House / by Bernard Shaw -- Flyovers / by Jeffrey Sweet -- In the moonlight Eddie / by Jack LoGiudice -- Impossible Marriage / by Beth Henley -- Life during wartime / by Keith Reddin -- Blithe spirit / by Noel Coward -- The Nina variations / by Steven Dietz -- The last night of Ballyhoo / by Alfred Uhry -- Fresh horses / by Larry Ketron -- Sorrows of Stephen / by Peter Parnell -- Camille: the lady of the Camellias / by Alexandre Dumas -- [2] Scenes for two women -- Collected stories / by Donald Margulies -- Wit / by Margaret Edson -- Spike Heels / by Theresa Rebeck -- The tale of the Alergists' wife / by Charles Busch -- Women in motion / by Donald Margulies -- Fast girls / by Diana Amsterdam -- Impossible marriage / by Beth Henley -- Defying gravity / by Jane Anderson -- Desdemona: a play about a handkerchief / by Paula Vogel -- Independence / by Lee Blessing -- Nightswim / by Julia Jordan -- [3] Scenes for two men -- Lobby Hero / by kenneth Lonergan -- Our lady of 121st street by Stephen Adly Guirgis -- The value of names / by Jeffrey Sweet -- Mojo / Jez Butterworth -- Bluff / by Jeffrey Sweet -- As is / by William M. Hoffman -- The chosen / adapted by Aaron Posner and Chaim Potok from the novel by Chiam Potok -- Buying time / by Michael Weller -- Night Maneuver / by Howard Korder -- [4] Monologues for women -- Kissing Christine / by John Patrick Shanley -- Picasso at the Lapin Agile / by Steve Martin -- How I learned to drive / by Paula Vogel -- Wit / by Margaret Edson -- Blown sideways through life / by Claudia Shear -- Collected stories / by Donald Margulies -- Lobby hero / by Kenneth Lonergan -- Lucky spot / by Beth Henley -- The altruists / by Nicky Silver -- The Nina variations / by Steven Dietz -- Lola / by Donald Margulies -- Defying gravity / by Jane Anderson -- The young man from Atlanta / by Horton Foote -- Appearances / by Tina Howe -- Lives of the great waitresses / by Nina Shengold -- Laughing wild / by Christopher Durang -- [5] Monologues for men -- Cobb / by Lee Blessing -- This is our youth / by Kenneth Lonergan -- Spike heels / by Theresa Rebeck -- The Lisbon Traviata / by Terrence McNally -- Bluff / by Jeffrey Sweet -- As is / by William M. Hoffman -- Dylan / by Sidney Michaels -- Life during wartime / by Keith Reddin -- Cyrano de Bergerac / by Edmond Rostand, translated by Brian Hooker -- Dinner with Friends / by Donald Margulies -- Flyovers / by Jeffrey Sweet -- Stray cats / by Warren Leight -- Fresh horses / by Larry Ketron.

A collection of over a hundred scenes and monologues from plays from the Elizabethan period to contemporary Tony Award winners.