This week I discovered a bountiful resource for children's theater organizations looking to connect with other drama troupes. The National Youth Theatre posts reviews of youth theater productions. They also allow members (the fee is between $40 and $80 for schools and theater groups) to post audition notices and premiere dates.

But even if you aren't a member, there are a tremendous amount of links to other theater organizations. So, if you are a parent looking to find a local workshop for your children, or a humble playwright like myself hoping to connect with directors and producers, their list of youth theaters is invaluable.

Last holiday season, I created a satirical Christmas-monologue called "Mrs. Claus Dumps Santa."

This seasonal monologue may be used by students, actors, directors for educational or professional purposes. But remember, it is purely a work of fiction. In reality, Mr. and Mrs. Claus are happily married!

There have been hundreds of adaptations of this Charles Dickens' Christmas classic. I confess, that I have seen so many different productions, television movies, and cartoon-versions that I have almost gotten tired of the story. Almost. The thing about A Christmas Carol is that the narrative is so tightly crafted, Dickens' prose so smooth, and the end result of Scrooge's transformation so heartwarming, that it's easy to understand why Hollywood keeps plundering the material.

There is an enormous number of incarnations of A Christmas Carol. However, not many know about the C. Z. Barnett's adaptation: A Christmas Carol or The Miser's Warning. This two act play was performed a mere two months after the publication of Dickens' holiday novel. In fact, it was the only adaptation sanctioned by the author. (Which is amusing since Barnett's take does not adds a great deal of sensationalism to the text to appeal to its Victorian audiences).

Learn more about A Christmas Carol and other holiday plays.

Many drama teachers must deal with limited resources -- and I don't simply mean a small wallet and a half-empty box of props. Sometimes a drama teacher has a limited number of performers. What is a director to do if she has only 3 males and 8 females in her cast? The answer: visit a website that offers a play database.

Play databases allow users to input information: cast size, the number of males and females, genre. Users can also refine their search based upon the era of the play as well as the playwright.

One of the best resources can be found at:

Doollee.com - An enormous database designed by Julian Oddy, a very loving husband who simply wanted to organize his wife's plays and practice learning HTML. The result is a databank with information on over 10,000 plays -- both modern and classic. It's huge, but well organized -- especially the page that helps you search for a specific cast size.

First of all, don't get the philosophical idea of the "Superman" mixed up with the comic book hero who flies around in blue tights and red shorts - and who looks suspiciously like Clark Kent! That Superman is bent on preserving truth, justice and the American way. The Superman from Shaw's play possesses the following qualities:

• Superior intellect
• Cunning and intuition
• Ability to defy obsolete moral codes
• Self-defined virtues

So, which of his comical characters comes closest to attaining this lofty goal? Find out more about Shaw's philosophy behind the play.

Yesterday I attended a two-hour crash course workshop on Shakespeare performance. It was a friendly reminder of how difficult yet rewarding Shakespeare's plays can be -- especially from an actor's point-of-view.

College of the Canyon's Prof. Paul Wickline, the facilitator of the event, offered his students some valuable advice: Focus on the language and meter first -- add character and emotion later. He suggested that actors pay close attention to the rhythm of the verse, the final words in each line (which are usually meant to be emphasized), and the simple importance of breathing at the right moment. What a fun class! I wish I could take more like that one.

About.com's Guide, Lee Jamieson has written some invaluable articles for thespians who want to "brush up on their Shakespeare." His GuideSite is ideal for Shakespeare newcomers who want to:

• Read Shakespeare Aloud
• Understand Iambic Pentameter
• Perform Shakespeare for the First Time

Of course, Shakespeare isn't the only writer of classic monologues. And not every meter is iambic. To learn about other complex forms of verse, check out N. S. Gill's definitive article on Prosody - the study of poetic meter.

Some folks just don't care for musicals. They just can't appreciate a world where people suddenly burst into song - a place where, for some inexplicable reason, everyone knows just the right choreography.

But for those of us who love musicals, there's no other art form as entertaining or endearing. Of the hundreds of original musicals that were created in the last ten years, my top ten list of best musicals includes shows are the most exceptional and inspiring.

Of course, as with any "best of the decade" list, there are bound to be some disappointing omissions. (After all, I haven't been able to watch every single musical made from 2000 to 2009!) With that in mind, I invite all musical-lovers to share their own picks in the Plays/Drama forum.

Last Tuesday, newcomer playwright Marisa Wegrzyn has been awarded a well-deserved holiday gift: $25,000 for writing Hickorydickory, a darkly comic tale about a woman who learns the exact date of her death.

Wegryn is the recipient of the Wendy Wasserstein Prize, an annual award that is granted to talented female playwrights who have yet to receive nationwide attention.

Does that sound like you? Well, there's always 2010! Get writing - then learn more about the Wasserstein Prize.

Any successful actor on Broadway, the West End, or in Hollywood has a fascinating story about his or her journey. Some actors become successful through sheer luck, whereas others achieve it through dutiful years of formal education.

I'm on the playwright's end of the theater spectrum, so I majored in English/Literature. However, I work with a lot of college students who are aspiring actors. Many of them are on the verge of a monumental decision. Should they pursue their dream by obtaining a degree in theater? Or should they play it safe (the way many of their mothers have advised them) and major in something more practical -- like business or computer science, just in case "things don't pan out with that theater nonsense."

Of course, some would argue that a degree in theater is not the best course of action, that actors can gain life experience away from college, out in the real world of auditions, rejections, countless headshots, and that perfect role that's lurking out there, somewhere.

What do you think? Present your wisdom and advice in our User Answer section and tell us if a degree in theater is worth the time and energy.

With Thanksgiving behind us, the holidays are in full swing. And since I've been working on a holiday show at my local community theater, I've been aware of the rapidly growing Christmas cheer -- and it's not even December yet!

In the past X-mas season I asked readers to share their opinions on the best holiday play. This year, I'd like you to vote for your favorite Christmas character. Share your thoughts -- and let's find out who wins in the battle between Scrooge and Kris Kringle!