In The Jar (a ten minute play)

by Mark Harvey Levine

Six insects must fight for their lives while they're serving time...in a jar.

"For laugh-out-loud comedy, it's hard to beat the script... the bugs' appearance and predicament are both hilarious. Then when [actor] Rincon is thrown in as a ladybug, the audience goes completely wild."
-- Shirle Gottlieb, Long Beach Press-Telegram

Six insects must fight for their lives while they're serving time...in a jar.

"For laugh-out-loud comedy, it's hard to beat the script... the bugs' appearance and predicament are both hilarious. Then when [actor] Rincon is thrown in as a ladybug, the audience goes completely wild."
-- Shirle Gottlieb, Long Beach Press-Telegram

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In The Jar (a ten minute play)

Recommended by

  • Eunice Hwang: In The Jar (a ten minute play)

    I had the honor of directing this play for my school's One-Acts festival, and it was so much fun to work on! Mark Harvey Levine has mastered the craft of short-form plays, and In the Jar is no exception. It has a perfect mix of comedy and sweetness, and the subtle faith themes really speak to me personally. My cast had such a good time playing these larger-than-life characters, and the audience had such a good time watching them :) I couldn't recommend this play enough!

    I had the honor of directing this play for my school's One-Acts festival, and it was so much fun to work on! Mark Harvey Levine has mastered the craft of short-form plays, and In the Jar is no exception. It has a perfect mix of comedy and sweetness, and the subtle faith themes really speak to me personally. My cast had such a good time playing these larger-than-life characters, and the audience had such a good time watching them :) I couldn't recommend this play enough!

  • James Binz: In The Jar (a ten minute play)

    Very funny and well written. Great story line and the characters are well played with wonderful dialogue moments. A male ladybug, tap dancing, dim fireflies, an actual praying mantis and a soulful Daddy Long legs - what more could anyone want in a short piece?? Great idea for all ages.

    Very funny and well written. Great story line and the characters are well played with wonderful dialogue moments. A male ladybug, tap dancing, dim fireflies, an actual praying mantis and a soulful Daddy Long legs - what more could anyone want in a short piece?? Great idea for all ages.

  • Stephen Kaplan: In The Jar (a ten minute play)

    Simultaneously silly and heart-warming, "In the Jar" was selected as part of our student-directed one-act play festival and was well received by the audience, and the cast and director had a blast working on it. It's had to find a slightly large-r cast for 10-minute plays and this play offers great opportunities for a variety of actors.

    Simultaneously silly and heart-warming, "In the Jar" was selected as part of our student-directed one-act play festival and was well received by the audience, and the cast and director had a blast working on it. It's had to find a slightly large-r cast for 10-minute plays and this play offers great opportunities for a variety of actors.

View all 12 recommendations

Production History

  • Type High School, Organization Bishop Fenwick High School, Peabody, MA, Year 2021
  • Type Professional, Organization Theatre 68, North Hollywood, CA, Year 2020
  • Type Professional, Organization GreenMan Theatre Troupe, Elmhurst, IL, Year 2019
  • Type Community Theater, Organization Town Players of Pittsfield, Pittsfield, MA, Year 2018
  • Type Professional, Organization Seoul Players, Seoul, SOUTH KOREA, Year 2018
  • Type Professional, Organization Storybook Land Theatre Aberdeen, SD, Year 2018
  • Type Professional, Organization Little Fish Theatre Company, San Pedro, CA (Best of), Year 2017
  • Type Professional, Organization The Hat Trick Theatre Company, Scituate, MA, Year 2017
  • Type High School, Organization Archbishop Hoban High School, Akron, OH, Year 2016
  • Type High School, Organization Cape Henry Collegiate, Virginia Beach, VA, Year 2016
  • Type High School, Organization Carmel High School, Carmel, NY, Year 2016
  • Type High School, Organization Mitchell High School of Performing Arts, Colorado Springs, CO, Year 2016
  • Type High School, Organization South Shore Vo-Tech High School, Hanover, MA, Year 2016
  • Type Professional, Organization Madlab Theatre, Columbus, OH, Year 2016
  • Type Professional, Organization Minnesota Shorts Play Festival, Mankato, MN, Year 2016
  • Type High School, Organization Hilliard Bradley High School, Hilliard, OH, Year 2014
  • Type Professional, Organization Artists Exchange, Providence, RI, Year 2014
  • Type Professional, Organization Cary Players Cary, NC, Year 2014
  • Type University, Organization McLennan College, Waco, TX, Year 2014
  • Type Professional, Organization Blackout Theatre Company, Sydney, AUSTRALIA, Year 2013
  • Type Professional, Organization Brewster Theater Company, Brewster, NY, Year 2013
  • Type Professional, Organization NW Actors Lab, Bainbridge, WA, Year 2013
  • Type Professional, Organization Short + Sweet Play Festival, Sydney, AUSTRALIA, Year 2013
  • Type High School, Organization Hoosick Falls Central School. Hoosick Falls, NY, Year 2012
  • Type High School, Organization Kent Denver School, Englewood, CO, Year 2012
  • Type High School, Organization South Shore Vo-Tech School, Year 2012
  • Type Professional, Organization Secret Theatre, New York, NY, Year 2012
  • Type Professional, Organization Old Academy Players, Philadelphia, PA, Year 2011
  • Type Professional, Organization Siesta Village Players, Weslaco, TX, Year 2011
  • Type Professional, Organization Above The Curve Theater, Los Angeles, CA, Year 2010
  • Type Professional, Organization Colonial Playhouse, Philadelphia, PA, Year 2008
  • Type Professional, Organization Curtain Call Theatre, Braintree, MA, Year 2008
  • Type Professional, Organization Little Fish Theatre Company, San Pedro, CA, Year 2008
  • Type Professional, Organization Market Fresh Theatre, Madison, WI, Year 2008
  • Type Professional, Organization Summer Shorts International Playwriting Festival, Year 2008
  • Type Professional, Organization 3rd Annual Chester Horn Play Festival, Year 2007
  • Type Professional, Organization Theatre@First, Boston, MA, Year 2007
  • Type University, Organization Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, Year 2006
  • Type Professional, Organization Third Ashland 10-Minute Play Festival, Ashland, OR, Year 2004
  • Type University, Organization Texas A&M University, Commerce, TX, Year 2004
  • Type Professional, Organization Rose Alley Theatre, Venice, CA, Year 2003
  • Type Professional, Organization Guerrilla Theater, Year 2002

Awards

  • Audience Favorite
    GreenMan Theatre Troupe, Elmhurst, IL
    Winner
    2019
  • Audience Favorite
    Summer Shorts International Playwriting Festival
    Winner
    2008
  • 1st Place (Judges Award)
    Summer Shorts International Playwriting Festival
    Winner
    2008
  • Outstanding Playwright
    3rd Annual Chester Horn Play Festival
    Winner
    2007
  • People's Choice Award
    Third Ashland 10-Minute Play Festival, Ashland, OR
    Winner
    2004
  • Best Play
    Guerrilla Theater, Los Angeles, CA
    Winner
    2002