Working for Crumbs - A Dead Body Farce

by Kate Danley

FULL LENGTH Workplace Farce

"9-to-5 Meets Weekend at Bernie's"

-Nominated for two OFFIES (Off West End Awards)
-Nominated for two BroadwayWorld UK / West End Awards
-Semifinalist Hart NPI
-Semifinalist Eugene O'Neill National Playwriting Competition
-Semifinalist 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival

Grace and Amy, two outrageous admins, are living for the crumbs of their soul-sucking jobs. But when calamity...

FULL LENGTH Workplace Farce

"9-to-5 Meets Weekend at Bernie's"

-Nominated for two OFFIES (Off West End Awards)
-Nominated for two BroadwayWorld UK / West End Awards
-Semifinalist Hart NPI
-Semifinalist Eugene O'Neill National Playwriting Competition
-Semifinalist 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival

Grace and Amy, two outrageous admins, are living for the crumbs of their soul-sucking jobs. But when calamity strikes and their boss chokes on an oatmeal raisin cookie, it sets off a domino-effect of destruction that brings down the corporate house.

(Working for Crumbs was formerly titled BureauCRAZY)

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Working for Crumbs - A Dead Body Farce

Recommended by

  • Anastasia Wild: Working for Crumbs - A Dead Body Farce

    A workplace farce of dark comedy that would resonate with any and all audience members who have spent time in the daily office life. Hilarious dialogue and amazing pacing keeps you constantly engaged. Most notably, Kate Danley brilliantly crafted a show that challenges, highlights, and presents great physical comedy for female actors to explore and celebrate. Absolutely delightful - I can only imagine how joyous it would be to bring it to life!

    A workplace farce of dark comedy that would resonate with any and all audience members who have spent time in the daily office life. Hilarious dialogue and amazing pacing keeps you constantly engaged. Most notably, Kate Danley brilliantly crafted a show that challenges, highlights, and presents great physical comedy for female actors to explore and celebrate. Absolutely delightful - I can only imagine how joyous it would be to bring it to life!

  • Rich Rubin: Working for Crumbs - A Dead Body Farce

    A zany and uproarious stew seasoned with some delicious physical comedy. Directors, actors and audiences will love this, and so do I. Hope to see this on-stage very soon!

    A zany and uproarious stew seasoned with some delicious physical comedy. Directors, actors and audiences will love this, and so do I. Hope to see this on-stage very soon!

  • Playwrights Foundation: Working for Crumbs - A Dead Body Farce

    The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced WORKING FOR CRUMBS as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We highly enjoyed the comically heightened chaos that ensues for two female executive assistants their female boss. We were engaged by themes of exploitative workplace culture and the fun twists as Amy & Grace suddenly have access to power in the small world they reside in. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production. #BAPF46

    The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced WORKING FOR CRUMBS as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We highly enjoyed the comically heightened chaos that ensues for two female executive assistants their female boss. We were engaged by themes of exploitative workplace culture and the fun twists as Amy & Grace suddenly have access to power in the small world they reside in. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production. #BAPF46

View all 15 recommendations

Character Information

This piece is meant to be stylized, harkening back to Commedia and Restoration theatre. Actors should be strong physical comedians, preferably with a background in traditional clowning or improv.
  • Grace
    female, 20s-40s, a secretary. Must be a strong physical comedian. Background in improv and commedia preferred.
    Character Age
    20s - 40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Amy
    female, 20s-40s, a secretary. Should be a strong physical comedian, preferably with a background in improv or commedia.
    Character Age
    20s - 40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Helen
    30s-50s, a villain for today. A total Karen. Vice-president, social climber, power woman, loves Peru (in a cultural appropriation sort of way.) Physically demanding role. Should be a strong comedian, preferably with a background in improv or commedia.
    Character Age
    30s - 50s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Molly
    overly-friendly, passive-aggressive secretary; reeks of too much perfume; kiss-ass
    Character Age
    20s - 40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Vivianne
    president of the company, a power woman
    Character Age
    40s - 60s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • WATERMAN / JANITOR / AC GUY
    a man of all trades and a million faces. He proves the point that it is the uniform that shapes people's perceptions of others.
    Character Age
    20s - 40s
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any
    Character Gender Identity
    Male

Development History

  • Type Workshop, Organization Theatre 33, Year 2023
  • Type Reading, Organization Vashon Repertory Theatre, Year 2022
  • Type Reading, Organization Mary Rogers Room - Dramatists Guild, NYC, Year 2020
  • Type Workshop, Organization CreateTheater, New York, Year 2020
  • Type Reading, Organization Ignition Arts, Lyric Theatre Oklahoma, Year 2019
  • Type Reading, Organization Women’s Theatre Festival of North Carolina - Occupy The Stage, Year 2019
  • Type Workshop, Organization Curtis Theatre with Project LaFemme - Page to Stage Playwright’s Festival, Brea, CA, Year 2019
  • Type Reading, Organization Seattle Playwrights Salon, Year 2017

Production History

  • Type Community Theater, Organization Spotlighters Theatre, Year 2025
  • Type Community Theater, Organization The Burlington Players, Year 2025
  • Type Fringe, Organization The Space, Year 2023
  • Type University, Organization FHU Theatre, Year 2023
  • Type Community Theater, Organization Grande Prairie Live Theatre, Year 2019

Awards

  • OFFIES - Nominated for Best Production and Best Director
    Off West End Awards
    2023
  • 11th Season - 2019 slate of shows
    Brelby Theatre Company
    Semi-Finalist
    2018
  • Moss Hart and Kitty Carlisle Hart New Play Initiative
    Moss Hart and Kitty Carlisle Hart New Play Initiative
    Semi-Finalist
    2018
  • Women Are Funny Award
    Stageways
    Semi-Finalist
    2018