Glenn Alterman

Glenn Alterman

GLENN ALTERMAN BIO
He is the winner of the Arts and Letters Award In Drama, a Jerry Kaufman Award recipient, a 4 time Heideman Award finalist, among many other awards. He was recently awarded a second Corporate French Arts Grant.
His plays have been performed in over 500 venues in over 30 states,
throughout Europe, and in Asia. Some of the theatres that have produced his plays include La...
GLENN ALTERMAN BIO
He is the winner of the Arts and Letters Award In Drama, a Jerry Kaufman Award recipient, a 4 time Heideman Award finalist, among many other awards. He was recently awarded a second Corporate French Arts Grant.
His plays have been performed in over 500 venues in over 30 states,
throughout Europe, and in Asia. Some of the theatres that have produced his plays include La
Mama, Primary Stages, Samuel French OOB Play Festival, Barrington Stage
Theater Co., HERE Theater, American Renaissance Theater, Urban Stages, John
Drew Theater (East Hampton) , Artistic New Directions (AND Theatre Co.), Circle Rep Theater, Nylon Fusion Theater, New Circle Theater Company, Gallery Players, Turnip Theater, Polaris North
Theater, T. Schrieber Studio, The Workshop Theater Company, Emerging Artists
Theater Company, The Village Playwrights, Circle East Theater Company, Ego
Actus Theater Company, The West Bank Café Theater, Pittsburgh Rep, Short
+ Sweet Sydney, Bloomington Playwrights Theater Project, Deep South Writers Conference, Actors Collaborative Toledo ACT, Theater 40 (Beverly Hill Rep), Stray Kats Theater Company, Phoenix Theater, Riverside Theater, Howmet Playhouse/The Playhouse at White Lake, South Street Players, Parrish Players, Orange County (Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center), Cider Hill Playhouse, Playa de Luna, Nantucket Short Play Festival, Birdhouse Theater (winner, Edgefest) West Coast Ensemble, --among many others
His 31 theater related and original monologue books and plays are published by Smith and Kraus Publishers, Applause Publishing, Playscripts, Heuer Publishing, Allworth Press (Skyhorse Publishing), Prentice Hall, Pioneer Publishing, Merriwether, JAC Publications, Next Stage Press, among others.
His plays and monologues have been published in over 30 "Best Plays Of... and "Best Monologues of..." anthologies.
Commissions include D.I.F.F.A. (Design Industries Foundation for AIDS) For Heartrstrings (the 30 city, traveling fund-raising musical) and E. Weissman Productions for the book for, Kiss Me When It’s Over (that starred and was directed by Andre DeShields).
His play Like Family was optioned by Red Eye Films. His play The Danger of Strangers is presently being filmed by Native Wind Media/Double J Productions.
As an actor he has done scores of plays in New York and in regional theatres. He played opposite Bette Midler and Woody Allen in Paul Mazursky's Scenes From a Mall, was on Netflix's Uncoupled, appeared on most of the New York City Daytime dramas, appeared in A LOT of TV commercials, and was on the TV show, The Dating Game------ which he lost. (IT SHOULDA BEEN ME!)

Plays

  • BENCHMARKS
    (10 MINUTES) HE approaches a lady on a bench. SHE is waiting for a bus. HE is carrying a large filled trash bag. SHE is carrying a small trash bag. He asks if she wouldn't mind if he join her on the bench. SHE politely lets him know that it's fine. As they sit and talk, waiting for the bus, we start learning a great deal about both of them, their lives and how much they have in common. And we learn...
    (10 MINUTES) HE approaches a lady on a bench. SHE is waiting for a bus. HE is carrying a large filled trash bag. SHE is carrying a small trash bag. He asks if she wouldn't mind if he join her on the bench. SHE politely lets him know that it's fine. As they sit and talk, waiting for the bus, we start learning a great deal about both of them, their lives and how much they have in common. And we learn how they ended up on that bench by a highway waiting for a bus.


  • A DOUBT MY PLAY
    A playwrights group. The PLAYWRIGHT is seated in the center of the group with his mouth duct taped as the comments about his new play fly by. What exactly is he thinking as they criticise his play?
  • DITMAS.
    (10 Minutes) Sharon is drunk in a bar in New York. Mel, a stranger, comes to her rescue when she falls off her bar stool. Sharon is very turned on by the reserved Mel. Soon they realise they attended the same Junior High School and knew each other. As the two talk they soon realise they have a great deal in common. There are major surprises in store.

  • Coulda-Woulda-Shoulda
    (10 minutes) Yetta and Cy are having their usual morning arguments. And as usual their arguments revolve around their young son, Marty. It seems today Mart has locked himself in his bedroom and refuses to come out. Cy does everything he can to coax Marty out of the bedroom, but to no avail. When Marty finally does come out, things change dramatically in the play. Truths are told and the play takes on a new...
    (10 minutes) Yetta and Cy are having their usual morning arguments. And as usual their arguments revolve around their young son, Marty. It seems today Mart has locked himself in his bedroom and refuses to come out. Cy does everything he can to coax Marty out of the bedroom, but to no avail. When Marty finally does come out, things change dramatically in the play. Truths are told and the play takes on a new course.
    Winner of the THREE GENRES PLAYWRITING CONTEST.
  • UNHEARD
    (10 Minutes) Harold hasn't seen his father in a number of years. His father is quite ill so he decides to visit him in the hospital. The two men are obviously very uncomfortable with each other, But then something highly unusual happens.
  • The Pain In the Poetry
    (10 Minutes) While Pam is quietly knitting on her rocking chair, her husband Sheridan sheepishly enters the room. Slowly he confesses a secret to her- for quite a while he’s been writing a play. Pam is shocked. As they talk, Pam reveals a secret that she has been keeping from him for years. Her secret is equally disturbing to him.
    10 minute play
  • AFTER
    (10 Minutes) Helen is suffering from a serious loss in her life. She meets John and is very taken with him. The two seem to have a lot in common. As they talk we find out they are kindred spirits.
  • Love Me, Love My Work
    (10 minutes) Jane is furious that Ned has told Sarah that he hated her new play. Ned vehemently denies this. As we discover the truth about this, we learn about the unique relationship between Ned and Jane-- and the creative life and death power she has over him.
  • TIME WOUNDS ALL HEELS
    (10 Minutes) Ted and Tom are sitting on a bench in a park at dusk. They are there on an assignment. As they kill time, a secret is revealed that will have a tremendous impact on their future relationship.
    It recently received the "Premio - Primer Premio Del Juez"-JUDGES AWARD FIRST PRIZE in the Like Family (Al Igual Que La Familia) play Festival in Barcelona, Spain
  • The Plays About The Play (full length)
    5 short plays that deal with all aspects of writing a play. The connecting thread is family, love and the needs of all artists. Some plays are comedic and some are serio-comedic. Most plays need only 2 or 3 actors. The last play, A Doubt my Play needs 4 or 5 actors.
  • Sorry Doesn't Have To Mean Good Bye-Bye
    Sam has decided to end his relationship with Sue. Sue is not happy with this. The more he tries to explain why he's ending their relationship, the more enraged Sue becomes. As they talk we learn a great deal about the nature of their their relationship; it doesn't get pretty.
    To be published in Smith and Kraus' BEST 10 MINUTE PLAYS 2024
  • A LITTLE LOVE GOES A LONG WAY (A short monologue play)
    One night, Helen, an unhappily married woman hears a gentle knocking at her door. When she opens the door she is shocked to see her new next door neighbor, Hal. The most shocking thing about Hal is that he’s less than two inches tall. Stuff happens.

  • Nobody's Flood
    SYNOPSIS
    (Full length) First Reva Shiner Award Winner (Bloomington Playwrights Project) Barry has returned home to Brooklyn be with his family one year after his younger brother’s death. His mother is anxious and slightly mentally unbalanced. His father doesn’t know how to help his wife. On this day they are all planning on all going to the cemetery together.
    The play goes back and forth over...
    SYNOPSIS
    (Full length) First Reva Shiner Award Winner (Bloomington Playwrights Project) Barry has returned home to Brooklyn be with his family one year after his younger brother’s death. His mother is anxious and slightly mentally unbalanced. His father doesn’t know how to help his wife. On this day they are all planning on all going to the cemetery together.
    The play goes back and forth over several years. We get to see the Rosenstein family’s life before and after the death of their youngest son.
    In Act 1 we see the family as life was before Mickey’s death. There is love but conflict in the family. This a family that has secrets that are about to destroy them.
    In Act 2 we see the aftermath of Mickeys death. The family is divided, but there is a great deal of love along with the pain.
  • THE DANGER OF STRANGERS
    (one act) HE is walking down Ninth Avenue in New York City when he hears a pay phone ring. He answers it and on the other end is the voice a very seductive lady. The play begins when the HE and SHE are actually sitting in her apartment. Their conversation starts out playful and a bit seductive when something happens that changes the tone dramatically. The play was RECENTLY OPTIONED BY DOUBLE J PRODUCTIONS TO...
    (one act) HE is walking down Ninth Avenue in New York City when he hears a pay phone ring. He answers it and on the other end is the voice a very seductive lady. The play begins when the HE and SHE are actually sitting in her apartment. Their conversation starts out playful and a bit seductive when something happens that changes the tone dramatically. The play was RECENTLY OPTIONED BY DOUBLE J PRODUCTIONS TO BE MADE INTO A FULL LEGNTH FILM!The play originally starred James Gandolphini and Susan Aston. There have been over 35 productions in the U.S. and Europe. I've listed only a few.
  • Bar N(one)
    (full length) This play is very much a work in progress. Comprised of thematically connected monologues. The play is made up of monologues that all take in "every bar, every kind of bar, everywhere". The monologues vary in style, mood and story.
  • WOMEN AT A WINDOW, MEN ON A BENCH (Three Thrillers)
    (Full length) The play is comprised of three thrillers:
    1. The Sealing of Ceil
    2. Time Wounds All Heels
    3. Like Family
    In 2 of the plays (The Sealing of Ceil and Like Family) the leading lady stands at a window at significant times in the play
    In Time Wounds All Heels, the entire action all takes place on a bench in a park
  • The Sealing of Ceil
    (one act) Winner of the ARTS AND LETTERS AWARD IN DRAMA. There have been some murders in Ceils building and she is terrified. Her abusive husband is of little consolation to her. Only her only friend Fran tries to help her as she sinks deeply into despair. Ceil has a secret life that no one knows about. Who the murderer is and why the murder occurred is the main focus of the play,
  • TENDER IS THE GYM
    (!0 minutes) It's 4 AM in the small weightlifting room of a gym. George and Harold are working out. George engages Harold in conversation. As they get to know each other George makes a very strange request of Harold. Harold doesn't know what to make of it. George persists in his request. As the play continues we discover who George, Harold and soon Gloria really are and -- and what their relationship...
    (!0 minutes) It's 4 AM in the small weightlifting room of a gym. George and Harold are working out. George engages Harold in conversation. As they get to know each other George makes a very strange request of Harold. Harold doesn't know what to make of it. George persists in his request. As the play continues we discover who George, Harold and soon Gloria really are and -- and what their relationship is to one another
    "Like Edward Albee mixed with Tennessee Williams"- Josh Kimert, literary manager, Gower Street Players
  • The Kindness of Enemies
    1 and 2 have met at a bar at Happy Hour and have one home to 2's home to have sex. The play begins after they've had sex and are dressed. The subject of love comes up As the 2 discuss love and having a relation they reveal what they really want in life. 1 and 2 can. be played by a man and woman, or 2 men, or 2 women.
  • SPILT MILK
    It's three in the morning. Edna Kaplan is sitting by the window drinking tea. Her husband, Mort, wakes up and sees her sitting there. The more he inquires why she's up so early, the more annoyed she gets. Finally, frustrated, Mort gets up, makes some tea for himself, returns and decides to confront her. Secrets are revealed that may threaten their relationship. The play has received over 40...
    It's three in the morning. Edna Kaplan is sitting by the window drinking tea. Her husband, Mort, wakes up and sees her sitting there. The more he inquires why she's up so early, the more annoyed she gets. Finally, frustrated, Mort gets up, makes some tea for himself, returns and decides to confront her. Secrets are revealed that may threaten their relationship. The play has received over 40 productions in the U.S. I've listed only a few.
  • War of the Waves
    The story of a teacher of religion in a college in Boston. We learn of his family turmoil and the impact it's had on his family and on his religious and personal life.
  • GAYS
    (Full length) GAYS is an evening of gay theater, comprised of 5 short plays and 7 monologues.
    The individual plays and monologues were developed over 30 years in over 50 theaters.
    SECOND TIERS (10 minutes)
    2M- both in their 40’s to 50’s
    Synopsis
    It is the day of the Fantasy Fest festival in Key West, Florida. Jimmy Olsen (Superman’s friend and secret partner) and Robin (...
    (Full length) GAYS is an evening of gay theater, comprised of 5 short plays and 7 monologues.
    The individual plays and monologues were developed over 30 years in over 50 theaters.
    SECOND TIERS (10 minutes)
    2M- both in their 40’s to 50’s
    Synopsis
    It is the day of the Fantasy Fest festival in Key West, Florida. Jimmy Olsen (Superman’s friend and secret partner) and Robin (Batman’s partner) are sitting alone in their bar, Champs, talking. Jimmy is fondly remembering his days with Superman, while Robin is trying to get him to leave and join the festivities outside. As they begin to argue, Jimmy reveals the reason for his rant. As they talk we realize how their past relationships have dramatically influenced the men that they have become.
    REUNION (10 minutes)
    1M 1F- They both can be played from 30’s to 50’s
    Synopsis
    Heidi is sitting at a bar in new York, when Marvin, a stranger, comes over to her. Sharon is very intrigued by the reserved Marvin and they start a conversation. As they continue to talk Heidi learns that they have a great deal in common.
    THE KINDNESS OF ENEMIES (10 minutes)
    1 and 2 can be played by two actors in their mid 20’s to 40’s. They should both be around the same age (give or take a few years). Casting of these roles can vary.
    1 and 2 can be played by: Two male actors. The director can decide who plays 1 and who plays 2.
    Two female actors. Again, the director can decide who plays 1 and who plays 2.
    Synopsis:
    1 and 2 met in a bar at Happy Hour, went home to 1’s house and have just finished having sex. Their playful banter soon reveals why they really went to the bar and what they’re really looking for.
    MAKING MERRY BI THE FERRY (10 minutes)
    2M, 2F- Can be played by actors in their late 20’s to late 40’s. Both couples should be about the same age.
    Synopsis:
    Jules and Jim told their wives that they were going to play cards, but actually they’ve snuck off to Sayville to catch a ferry to the hedonistic “Island of Fire”. As they wait for the ferry to arrive Jim begins to have second thoughts. Jules tries to convince him what an exciting great time awaits for them on the Island of Fire. We soon discover the truth about the men’s marriages and their friendship. Then, while waiting for the ferry-- something totally unexpected occurs.
    TWO LADIES SITTING IN A GARDEN (20 minutes)
    2W (60’s to 70’s)
    1M (30’s to 50’s)
    Synopsis:
    Marla and Helene, two gay women, are sitting in the garden area of their assisted living home. Helene is expecting a very important message that could potentially change their friendship. As they wait, they discuss their lives, loves, and what it was like being gay when they were younger many years ago.
    MONOLOGUES
    All the monologues in GAYS are from the monologue plays, God In Bed, Kiss Me When It’s Over, Bar N(one), and Tourists of the Mindfield.
    Piano Man (m)- 30’s to 60’s
    Brian (m)- an older gentleman
    Lilliane- (f) 30’s to 40’s
    Carousel (m)- 30’s to 50
    Larry (m) middle aged
    Myra (m or f)- 40’s to 60



  • Home Three
    Gayle and Jayne are having a discussion about their relationship during a ZOOM private class session. Gayle is confined to her mothers home during the Covid epidemic and is very unhappy. We learn about both of these women, their lives, and about the life of Gayle's mother in this 9 minute play.
  • ETHAN- a monologue
    Ethan is a war veteran who lives life on his own terms (Written in verse. Part of the monologue Play, Tourists Of the Mindfield.) Selected to be in the Talking Horse Monologue Competition.
  • TIM- MONOLOGUE
    Tim tells a terrifying life and death experience he had with a close friend
  • SECOND TIERS
    Jimmy (Supermans friend) and Robin (Batman's partner) are now married and own a bar in Key West. It is the day of Fantasy Fest, a big celebration and parade in Key West. Something is really bothering Jimmy. Robin does his best to find out what the problem is. PUBLISHED- Smith and Kraus BEST 10-Minute PLAYS OF 2012
  • SUNSET AT SANTORINI (Drinks With New Friends)
    (10 minutes) Harry and Sylvia, Tim and Janet have just met and are having drinks at a cafe with a breathtaking view of the Santorini sunset in Greece. Harry is a little drunk and is encouraging Janet and Tim to move to Santorini to live with him and Janet when they buy a home there. The conversation is playful and fun until something happens that changes the mood. Very soon all four of their lives will change dramatically.
  • UNFAMILIAR FACES
    It is a cold winter night in an apartment in Greenwich Village in 1985. It’s 3 in the morning. Nat is awake looking out the living room window, lost in thought. His partner Joe enters from the bedroom to ask him what’s wrong. As the two talk we discover the painful events that are keeping Nat up.
  • RED BIKE
    Mort and Harry, two life long friends from Brooklyn, are about to do their first drug deal. They're at Mort's house snorting coke and waiting for the drug dealers to arrive with the drugs. They plan on buying a large amount of drugs to sell and make a lot of money. Mort is very anxious. As they wait, they reminicse about good times, their friendship and a red bike. The play was originally 10-minutes...
    Mort and Harry, two life long friends from Brooklyn, are about to do their first drug deal. They're at Mort's house snorting coke and waiting for the drug dealers to arrive with the drugs. They plan on buying a large amount of drugs to sell and make a lot of money. Mort is very anxious. As they wait, they reminicse about good times, their friendship and a red bike. The play was originally 10-minutes long and was called Goin' Round On Rock Solid Ground. It was an ACTOR'S THEATER OF LOUISVILLE HEIDEMAN FINALIST.
    The language is in this version is very adult, but there is another version with less harsh language.
  • Bar N(One)
    (Full length) The play is a series of monologues that take place in
    EVERY BAR, EVERY KIND OF BAR, EVERYWHERE.
    Some of the monologues take place in the present, some are stories of what happened after meeting someone in a bar, and then there are some monologues take place after someone has left the bar and has gone home with the person they met there.
    The play is still a work in progress.
  • Two Ladies Sitting in A Garden
    (one act) Marla and Helene, two older gay woman are staying at an assisted living facility. Marla, who recently suffered a stroke is very unhappy being there. Helene, is a loving supportive friend. They talk about what their lives were like before they moved into the assisted living facility. And then something changes both of their lives
  • Fifty, With Mickey
    It is Rob's fiftieth birthday. He and his partner Mike have gone to Disneyland to celebrate. While alone, sitting on the terrace of their hotel room, Rob has a very unusual experience. When Mike comes out to join him on the terrace Mike tells him what happened.
  • ONCE IN A BLUE MOON
    Two men have sex at a rest area near a highway. We get to know about why they decided to go there and what their fantasies are. An Actors Theater of Louisville finalist
  • TALKING TO STRANGERS IN BARS
    He and She, two strangers,, have just met in a bar at Happy Hour. They've had a few drinks and are having fun, until.. they open up to each other about why they're really there.
  • FORGETTING TO FORGIVE
    While watching the Jay Leno show MOM decided to commit suicide. She decided to call SON first. Fortunately it doesn't work out. In this play SON and MOM discover how much they both have in common.
  • Kiss Me When It's Over
    A series of monologues (and songs) that that place in and around a piano bar. The original production starred and was directed by Andre DeShields. It also starred Helen Hanft and Susan Aston, among others. Choreography was by Wayne Cilento.
  • Making Merry Bi The Ferry
    Jules and Jim have snuck off for a night of fun and frivolity. They were planning on taking the ferry to "The Island of Fire", but Jim suddenly becomes fearful. Jules tries to convince that they'll never get caught and it will be a wonderful experience. Complications ensue as we discover the truth about their friendship and their relationship to their wives.
  • Kindness of Enemies
    1 and 2 met at a bar at Happy Hour. They connected. They went back to 2's home. They've just had sex, are finished dressing. They are playfully (?) toying with each other, testing each other, surprising each other. Where will this go?
    Can be played by two actors in their twenties to 40’s. They should both be around the same age (give or take a few years).
    Casting of these 2 roles can...
    1 and 2 met at a bar at Happy Hour. They connected. They went back to 2's home. They've just had sex, are finished dressing. They are playfully (?) toying with each other, testing each other, surprising each other. Where will this go?
    Can be played by two actors in their twenties to 40’s. They should both be around the same age (give or take a few years).
    Casting of these 2 roles can vary.
    1 and 2 can be played by:
    A male and a female actor--- In this case the female role should be played by 1 and the male role should by 2.
    Two male actors. The director can decide who plays 1 and who plays 2
    Two female actors. Again, the director can decide who play 1 and who plays 2.
  • Under Tussauds
    A man, convinced that the world is coming to an end runs from his home to Times Square. There he sees crowds of people as terrified as him. He ducks into Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, where he runs down into the basement. There he sees another woman.