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The Importance of Being Earnest
By Oscar Wilde.
Product Code: I18000
Full-length Play
Comedy
Cast size: 5m., 4w. (1 extra.)
Livestream and Record & Stream Rights Available
Awards: Theatre Communication Group’s Top 10 Most-Produced Plays
Rights and availability
This title can be licensed and sold throughout the World.
* Please note the royalty rate listed is the minimum royalty rate per performance. The actual royalty rate will be determined upon completion of a royalty application.
Synopsis
Oscar Wilde's classic is a delight from the first cucumber sandwich on as Jack's double life catches up with him. The problems are resolved in an extremely charming and quite unexpected way as Jack and Algernon discover the importance of being earnest while answering to the name of Ernest. Non-royalty play.
Notes
Livestream and Record & Stream Rights Available
Details
- Status In stock
- Type of Show Full-length Play
- Product Code I18000
- Minimum Cast Size 9
- Pages of Dialogue 63
- Approx. Run Time 95 min
- Staging Two simple int. sets., one ext. set.
Categories
- Target Audience Young Audiences | Middle School | High School | College and Adult | Family (all ages) | Senior Adults | Praise Groups
- Performing Group High School | College Theatre | Community Theatre | Professional Theatre
- Genre Comedy
- ISBN(13) 9780871293398
Customer Reviews
I am pleased that we did this play as a virtual event for our patrons and followers. It was a grand success which most all in attendance watching the full virtual staged reading. Proves that old classic plays still have a place in our current culture. In fact, I think people are longing to go back in time.
This is a delightful classic to which audiences respond favorably. The production requires considerable attention to detail, but the results are rewarding. Characters may be interpreted in many ways, allowing the persons portraying them to demonstrate their creativity and talent. The technical aspects are not complicated and can be adapted to different levels of production.
Hints, Tips, and Tricks
This show was a blast to produce! The show could be as elaborate or as simple as you would like, and that is entirely up to the director and producer. We produced the entire show on a $1400 budget with some money to spare at the end of it, but we did spend a little bit extravagantly. This show could very well be produced with a much smaller budget if you have the right resources.
Production Map
| Location | City | State | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Legion Theatre | Cartersville | GA | 08/15/2025 | 08/24/2025 |
| Tulsa Performing Arts Center | Tulsa | OK | 09/19/2025 | 09/28/2025 |
| Doherty Pocket Park | Scranton | PA | 10/03/2025 | 10/04/2025 |
| Appoquinimink High School | Middletown | DE | 11/13/2025 | 11/15/2025 |
| Alonso High School | Tampa | FL | 02/26/2026 | 02/28/2026 |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | IL | 03/05/2026 | 03/22/2026 |
| Calvary Hill Community Center | Huntsville | AL | 05/08/2026 | 05/09/2026 |
Downloads
| File Description | File Format | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Poster | Download |
Poster Suggestions
- Each poster includes a text box which allows you to customize it with your production information. Once a poster has been opened, position your mouse over the lower third portion until you see a label with instructions on entering your production information. Use the Text Select Tool to customize your poster.
- You can print the poster in its original format and hand write your information.
- Your local copy shop should be able to create prints from a file saved to disk. They might even be able to increase the size of the poster for you (although some loss of resolution will occur).
Gallery
Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI
Also By These Authors
Kurt Priebe, Friends University, Wichita, Kan.