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"

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 by Kate Danley

“

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 by Kate Danley

“

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 by Kate Danley

“

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.

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
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Male
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
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor 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
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor 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
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  30s,
  
  40s,
  
  50s
- Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
  
  White
- Actor 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
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  20s,
  
  30s,
  
  40s
- Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
  
  White
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female
Vivianne

president of the company, a power woman

Character Age

40s - 60s

Character Race/Ethnic Identity

Any

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  40s,
  
  50s,
  
  60s
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Female

Development History

Type Workshop, Organization Theatre 33, Year 2023
Type Reading, Organization Vashon Repertory Theatre, Year 2022
Type Workshop, Organization CreateTheater, New York, Year 2020
Type Reading, Organization Mary Rogers Room - Dramatists Guild, NYC, 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

46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival

Playwrights Foundation

Semi-Finalist

2023
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
Eugene O'Neill Theater Center National Playwrights Conference

Eugene O'Neill Theater Center

Semi-Finalist

2017

Genre

comedy,

commedia dell'arte,

dark comedy,

farce,

movement/physical,

satire

Subject Matter Keywords

office life,

women in the workplace,

physical comedy

Length

90 minutes to two hours

Cast Size

Age of Intended Audience

ages 18 and up

Narrative Attributes

Centers Female Characters

Reviews

LouReviews

“
Danley’s play pushes up the ridiculous and gives us a sense of catharsis; after all, who hasn’t wanted sweet revenge beyond the meetings and SMART objectives?
”
Everything Theatre

“
Laughs until the last line of dialogue...If you are looking for a ‘Carry-on’ style comedy, an entertaining, surrealist theatre experience, or to simply have a laugh, Working for Crumbs is a must see.
”
OC Weekly

“
A quick-witted farce in the style of commedia...their attempt to hide the truth results in a true comedy of errors.
”
Daily Herald Tribune

“
A whimsically deadly spectacle.
”