Welcome to the comedic mind of

Joe Simonelli.

Simonelli's plays have delighted audiences and production companies with their fast humor, simple stagings and quirky characters.

Plays available for production:

(Click on the play title for a synopsis)

'Stocks and Blondes'

'Wretched Asylum'
'Men are Dogs'
'Heaven Help Me'
'Roommates'
'With This Ring'
'Ladies in Lingerie'
'Romance.com'
'A Christmas Tail'


Royalties
'Men are Dogs' and 'Heaven Help Me' available through Samuel French. 'Ladies in Lingerie' available through Baker's Plays. Please contact Simonelli Productions for royalty rates on amateur productions of any other titles. Agent contact for Professional Broadway and LORT productions on all tiltes through Gary N. DaSilva, Manhattan Beach Ca. - mail@garydasilva.com -

Joe Simonelli is a member of the Dramatist Guild of America.

For further information, contact us.

CLICK HERE For dates and locations of plays being performed

Contact us through jsimonelli2@msn.com 732-984-7128.


'Stocks and Blondes' Synopsis

The fast paced world of Wall Street is broadly parodied in this side-splitting comedy where rapid-fire repartee is the norm and the doors never stop slamming.

Set in a small suburban brokerage office, things start to unravel when it is learned that Jeff Hanson's biggest client, Herb Willy, is planning to pull his brokerage account from the firm. Since this account generates most of the revenue for the office, Tom, the rather unscrupulous office manager, hatches a plan to try to retain the account. As they uncover that Jeff s client has a weak spot for blondes, they decide to sic a femme fatale on the unsuspecting and rather nerdish Willy.

But who to get on such short notice? Why Jeff s unfaithful and rather promiscuous fiancee Myra. Throw into the mix a pesky singing telegram messenger, a surprise audit by the female compliance officer and a deranged female client who holds the office hostage in act two, and you have a madcap caper that will keep audiences in stitches from beginning to end.

"Stocks And Blondes is among the top laugh provoking comedies seen in our time." - Bernice Roberts, Atlantic Highlands Herald.

5m,5f / interior - Direct royalties - Simonelli Productions - 732-984-7128

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'Men Are Dogs' Synopsis

Doctor Cecelia Monahan thinks she has everything under control. As a family therapist she runs a support group for single and divorced women who are trying to come to grips with the way they are treated by the various men in their lives.

One member of her group only dates police officers while another had a boyfriend who, unbeknownst to her, was a bank robber. As she listens to the complaints of her group her eavesdropping mother, who lives upstairs from her home office, constantly plagues with unwanted advice on everything from cooking to dating.

Cecelia is not above employing some rather unorthodox methods in therapy. She hires a young bartender/actor to interact with her group. Role playing, however, can be quite dangerous in Dr. Monahan's group therapy as a hostile cadre of angry woman beats the unsuspecting bartender senseless.

It's only when she meets, the new substitute postal delivery person, Bob Crowley that the smitten Cecelia must learn to practice what she preaches.

"...a sweet sitcom about the life of a woman psychologist...it's group therapy with a women's support group, and the comedy sections work the best..." Richmond Shepard, Performing Arts insider (New York City)

"...audiences are doubling up with laughter." Asbury Park Press.

"Simonelli displays an adept comic touch..the group therapy sessions alone are worth the price of admission." Phil Dorian - Two River Times

"A Fascinating comedy. Mr. Simonelli certainly has a tape recorder on the world... Go see it now! - Joe Franklin, Bloomberg Radio

(comedy) 2m,6f/interior - Samuel French -212-206-8990

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'Heaven Help Me' Synopsis

The three Holloway brothers have a slight problem. The chain of restaurants left to them by their father is close to receivership. The only remaining asset they jointly own is an old beach house located on a valuable bit of waterfront property in Rockaway, New York.

The dilemma? Their deceased brother, Fred, who also happened to be the only brother who knew anything about running restaurants, is haunting the beach house. And to make matters worse, he doesn't even believe he's dead!

It's up to the three remaining siblings to convince him that he is indeed a ghost and that he should stop haunting the house so they can unload it. Eldest brother Sam wants to sell the beach house and put the money into saving the restaurants. More pragrnatic middle sibling Kevin, who also happens to be the companies' accountant, has an overbearing wife and children to answer to. And younger 'black sheep' brother Rollie, desperately needs the money to settle gambling debts. Add Rollie's ditzy New Jersey girlfriend and the deceased Fred's remarried widow to the mix and you have a recipe for fun.

Act two opens with one of the funniest seance's since "Ethel tried to contact Tillie." The play ends with a 'twist' ending that will leave a smile on everyone's face.

"Simonelli really know his characters and writes in a way in which he really gets to people. The play is very amusing but it is also very touching." - Asbury Park Press.

 


4m,2f / interior - Samuel French - 212-206-8990

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'Roommates' synopsis

Frank Avino is a divorced 40-something accountant with dreams of becoming a best selling author. A pretty smooth operator when it comes to the dating game, Frank's only problem seems to be how to keep his overbearing mother back in Brooklyn and out of his small suburban New Jersey apartment.

The serenity is broken when a police officer brings Frank's best friend Tom over to the tiny apartment. Tom, it seems, has been thrown out of the house of his live in girlfriend due to a domestic squabble. The "put upon" Frank agrees to let Tom stay a few nights until he can find his own place. However as the days turn into weeks Frank is a little concerned that Tom is getting too comfortable.

Add in a tough downstairs landlord, Franks' latest flame and a surprise visit by Frank's mother and things start to get hilarious. When Frank learns, that Tom has started to date his older sister he has had enough and hatches a plan to get rid of him without hurting his feelings.

"It would be so gratifying, not to mention prophetic and full of hindsight, to say that Joseph Simonelli is the next Neil Simon." - Michael Kaabe, Asbury Park Press

3m,2f / interior - Simonelli Productions - 732-984-7128

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'With This Ring' synopsis

Written with Valentines day in mind, this bittersweet drama follows a wedding ring through five generations of couples and the visceral effect it has on each of their lives.Set in a Victorian Mansion in 1915, the ring is first presented by an Irish immigrant New York City Police officer to his wife, then skips a generation to their grandson in 1967, a newley wed assistant district attorney and his artsy, actress, hippie girlfriend. In scene three the ring is a point of contention between an estranged couple in 1984. Finally it comes full circle in 2007 with an engaged couple who get a surprise visit from a 'distant' relative. /P> 5m,5f /interior - Simonelli Productions 732-984-7128

'With This Ring' is a must see! Mr. Simonelli writes dialouge in a visceral style reminiscent of Mamet and Chayefsky. A riveting evening in theatre. Go see it now! Joe Franklin - Bloomberg Radio

'Wretched Asylum' synopsis

In this gritty, gripping two person drama Simonelli explores the dynamics when two displaced, bi-polar middle aged sexual compulsives are thrown together to form a dysfunctional bond. Matt is a divorced salesman who, due to financial pressure, is forced to live a meager existence, always on the lookout for the law because of past monetary obligations. Eileen is a twice divorced lonely, desperate housewife with three children from three marriages,now currently estranged from her third husband and searching for another man to 'save' her. The two come together in a toxic mix of gratuitous sex and betrayal. This play is a definite departure from Simonelli's usual comedies.

"A riveting drama that hits all the marks of a visceral relationship gone bad. simonelli displays remarkable insight into the human condition as it pertains to two dysfunctional people trying to cope with life, love and self preservation. Not to be missed! Joe Franklin, Bloomberg Radio

"A vivid drama filled with sexual tension..." Richmond Shepard, Performing Arts Insider

2m,1f / interior -Simonelli Productions 732-984-7128

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'Ladies in Lingerie' synopsis

The actors are mysteriously dying in a small theatre in Nyack New York just as resident playwright Sal Fatone is trying to salvage an otherwise dismal season for the Fairview Players. Among his problems, a stingy Producer/theatre owner, diva actresses and one pompous out of town actor. Who's killing all the actors? It's up to Sal to find out.

"...don't miss Ladies in Lingerie." Two River Times

Winner - best original production - 2007, New Jersey Perry Awards

mystery/comedy (4m,3f interior - Baker's Plays or Samuel French -212-206-8990)



'Romance.com' synopsis

A musical comedy about internet dating. When Alan Fisher meets Katie Bass on an internet dating service, the notes of love are found, keystroke by keystoke. Throw in Alan's pessimistic best friend Bill, his blacksheep father Steve, and Pam's skeptical mother Katie and you have a romantic mix that is sure to entertain. Eight original songs.

"Romance.com, with words, book and lyrics by Joe Simonelli, is a promising new work...the musical scenes are witty, funny and poignant." Hi Drama Manhattan cable Theatre review program

"...the audience at the performance I attended certainly couldn't get enough of it." Mitch Montgomery- Off-Off Online

musical/comedy (3m,3f - interior)Simonelli Productions 732-984-7128



'A Christmas Tail' Synopsis

A heart warming story of a mystical cat, a little girl, and the Holiday magic that ensues in a small supermarket on Park Avenue in New York City one Christmas Eve. When struggling butcher Ralph Minetti has nothing left to believe in, a little girl comes into his store on Park Avenue and starts conversing with the store cat 'Gus.' But Gus is no ordinary feline, for as Ralph tells little Amanda, every Christmas eve. the cat starts to talk. But will the magic be enough of an epiphany to change a bitter, disillusioned, middle aged grocer who owes money to both his suppliers and the mob, and who hasn't seen his estranged teenager daughter in five years?

"One of Simonelli's best works. A Theatre experience not to be missed. Destined to be a holiday classic. - Joe Franklin, Bloomberg Radio"

Comedy/Fantasy (3f,4m -interior) Simonelli Productions 732-984-7128