MLA

Play Index

The online version of a popular reference in libraries since 1949, Play Index lets users search tens of thousands of plays by criteria useful for finding works that match curricula, holiday themes, social issues, historical commemorations, specific genre and style and much more.

The database is also designed to find scripts that match users’ production resources, with searching by number of roles, roles by gender, and grade level. Descriptive annotations also summarize the plot and note musical requirements (chorus, singing, dancing, etc.) and number of sets (scenery, interior or exterior).

  • Cites more than 31,000 plays published individually or in collections from 1949 to the present.
  • Covers a wide range of plays written in or translated into English, including one-act plays, pageants, plays in verse, radio and television plays, and classic and historical plays.
  • Search for plays by title; author; subject (culture conflict, marriage); style (symbolism, experimental theater); genre (comedy, melodrama, musical); cast type; and more.
  • Limit results to plays with a specific number of male and/or female roles, or size of total cast.
  • Search for plays appropriate for preK-6, grades 7-12, and adult.
  • Search over 600 monologues for auditions or course assignments.
  • Full publication details help you locate each play.
  • Links to full text of plays available on the web.
  • Updated continuously, with new material added to the database at least weekly.

How to Subscribe

If you wish to subscribe, first take a look at the Model Licence (Word 92KB)

For pricing information please use the contact details below quoting MLA's Reference Online.

Stephanie Piddington: s.piddington@thompsonhenry.co.uk
Thompson Henry Limited
London Road, Sunningdale, Berkshire SL5 0EP, UK
Telephone: +44 (0)1344 624 615 Fax: +44 (0)1344 626 120
www.thompsonhenry.co.uk

Latest News

Responsibilities transfer

From 1st October 2011, this site will not be updated, so please treat it as the static archive it is. This is because <a target="_Blank" href="http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/">Arts Council England</a> has now taken over museums and libraries responsibilities. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/">The National Archives</a> has assumed responsibility for strategic leadership of the Archives sector. Arts Council responsibilities will also now include the Renaissance programme, Museum Accreditation, and Library Development, together with cultural property services such as Export Licensing and the Acceptance in Lieu scheme. The National Archives has assumed responsibility for providing strategic leadership to the archives sector and advising government on its development. The MLA is now winding down, with a skeleton staff remaining until May 2012 to complete the management of existing Renaissance contracts, complete outstanding financial and contractual arrangements and prepare for the appointment of a liquidator. This website will remain live until 31st March so that the public still has full access to the material on it – good practice case studies, toolkits, guidance and a range of other publications.  Continue reading

  • Related links

  • general reference

    Including Credo Reference; KnowUK; Oxford Reference Online Premium Collection; Who's Who; World Authors; and much more

  • newspapers

    Including The Guardian and Observer; Daily Mirror and Daily Express; NewsUK and more

  • music and perfoming arts

    including Alexander Stree Press online listening and reference; Encyclopoaedia of Popular Music, Grove online, and more

  • children and young people

    Stories from the Web is an interactive and creative reader development website designed specifically for Library Services

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