89 Theatre Scenes with Assertiveness

Here’s a list of 89 theater scenes that feature the emotion of assertiveness. These scenes showcase actors who express confidence, take charge, or stand up for themselves or others in various contexts:

Assertiveness in Theater Scenes

1. “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams
   • Scene: Blanche confronts Stanley about his treatment of her.
     
2. “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare
   • Scene: Hamlet tells Gertrude to stop marrying Claudius.
     
3. “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams
   • Scene: Amanda asserts her expectations for Laura’s future.
     
4. “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller
   • Scene: Willy challenges Biff to confront his true self.
     
5. “A Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry
   • Scene: Beneatha stands up for her dreams against family expectations.
     
6. “Pygmalion” by George Bernard Shaw
   • Scene: Eliza asserts her independence after her transformation.
     
7. “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde
   • Scene: Gwendolen firmly declares her love for Jack.
     
8. “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare
   • Scene: Juliet boldly defies her parents to be with Romeo.
     
9. “Fences” by August Wilson
   • Scene: Troy asserts his right to be respected as a father.
     
10. “An Enemy of the People” by Henrik Ibsen

• Scene: Dr. Stockmann demands the truth regarding the water contamination.

11. “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” by Edward Albee

• Scene: Martha boldly confronts George about their marriage.

12. “The Vagina Monologues” by Eve Ensler

• Scene: Various monologues where women assert their identities and experiences.
  
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13. “The Odd Couple” by Neil Simon

• Scene: Felix stands his ground against Oscar’s messy habits.

14. “Top Girls” by Caryl Churchill

• Scene: Marlene defiantly discusses her career versus family expectations.

15. “Medea” by Euripides

• Scene: Medea asserts her power and plans for revenge.

16. “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller

• Scene: John Proctor asserts his integrity in the face of hysteria.

17. “Little Shop of Horrors” by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman

• Scene: Audrey asserts her desire for a better life.

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18. “A Long Day’s Journey Into Night” by Eugene O’Neill

• Scene: Mary asserts her views on family dynamics while struggling with addiction.

19. “August: Osage County” by Tracy Letts

• Scene: Violet confronts her family and demands honesty.

20. “The Shape of Things” by Neil LaBute

• Scene: Evelyn asserts her control over Adam and their relationship.

21. “Uncle Vanya” by Anton Chekhov

• Scene: Sonya asserts her feelings for Astrov.

22. “The Birthday Party” by Harold Pinter

• Scene: Petey stands up to the intruders in the living room.

23. “The Homecoming” by Harold Pinter

• Scene: Ruth asserts her position in the family dynamic.

24. “The Children’s Hour” by Lillian Hellman

• Scene: Karen defends the school against malicious accusations.

25. “Sweat” by Lynn Nottage

• Scene: Cynthia asserts her position in the workplace against discrimination.

26. “Doubt: A Parable” by John Patrick Shanley

• Scene: Sister Aloysius confronts Father Flynn with her suspicions.

27. “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” by William Finn

• Scene: Olive asserts herself during the spelling competition.

28. “Marisol” by José Rivera

• Scene: Marisol asserts her strength in a chaotic world.

29. “The Female Odd Couple” by Neil Simon

• Scene: Florence asserts her habits against Olive’s lifestyle.

30. “The Mousetrap” by Agatha Christie

• Scene: Mollie asserts authority during the investigation.

31. “The Rivals” by Richard Brinsley Sheridan

• Scene: Lydia Languish asserts her desires against societal expectations.

32. “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams

• Scene: Tom asserts his desire to leave home for a better life.

33. “Hair” by Galt MacDermot

• Scene: Berger asserts his beliefs and lifestyle choices.

34. “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller

• Scene: Elizabeth Proctor asserts her dignity and stands by her husband.

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35. “Every Brilliant Thing” by Duncan Macmillan

• Scene: The character asserts the importance of love and hope in contrast to despair.

36. “The Lion in Winter” by James Goldman

• Scene: Eleanor of Aquitaine asserts her influence and power in the royal family.

37. “Proof” by David Auburn

• Scene: Catherine asserts her ownership of her father’s mathematical papers.

38. “The Last Five Years” by Jason Robert Brown

• Scene: Cathy asserts her feelings about her deteriorating marriage.

39. “Blithe Spirit” by Noël Coward

• Scene: Elvira asserts her presence and influence over Charles.

40. “Crimes of the Heart” by Beth Henley

• Scene: Babe asserts her right to choose her own life despite family pressure.

41. “She Kills Monsters” by Qui Nguyen

• Scene: Agnes asserts her newfound confidence and strength through role-playing.

42. “The Maids” by Jean Genet

• Scene: Claire asserts her dominance over Solange in their complex relationship.

43. “Noises Off” by Michael Frayn

• Scene: Dotty asserts her control during chaotic rehearsals.

44. “The Cherry Orchard” by Anton Chekhov

• Scene: Lopakhin asserts the need for change regarding the fate of the estate.

45. “The Taming of the Shrew” by William Shakespeare

• Scene: Kate asserts her independence and views on marriage.

46. “Hedda Gabler” by Henrik Ibsen

• Scene: Hedda asserts control over her life choices and manipulates others.

47. “The Merchant of Venice” by William Shakespeare

• Scene: Portia asserts her intellect and authority during the trial scene.

48. “Angels in America” by Tony Kushner

• Scene: Prior Walter asserts his identity and confronts his illness.

49. “Bad Jews” by Joshua Harmon

• Scene: Daphna asserts her beliefs about heritage and family.

50. “Rent” by Jonathan Larson

• Scene: Collins asserts his love for Angel amidst societal scrutiny.

51. “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” by Christopher Durang

• Scene: Masha assertively claims her independence from her family’s expectations.

52. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare

• Scene: Hermia asserts her choice of love against her father’s wishes.

53. “Top Girls” by Caryl Churchill

• Scene: Marlene asserts the sacrifices she has made for her career.

54. “Kiss of the Spider Woman” by Manuel Puig

• Scene: Molina asserts his identity and desires in a complex relationship.

55. “Cyrano de Bergerac” by Edmond Rostand

• Scene: Cyrano asserts his love for Roxane despite his insecurities.

56. “Boeing-Boeing” by Marc Camoletti

• Scene: Gloria asserts her position among the other women in Bernard’s life.

57. “If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet” by Nick Payne

• Scene: Anna asserts her discomfort with her family’s condition.

58. “Lysistrata” by Aristophanes

• Scene: Lysistrata asserts the power of women during wartime protests.

59. “Wit” by Margaret Edson

• Scene: Vivian Bearing asserts her position of intellect in facing her illness.

60. “The Odd Couple” (Female Version) by Neil Simon

• Scene: Florence asserts her domestic preferences against Olive’s lifestyle.

61. “The Front Page” by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur

• Scene: Hildy assertively navigates his decision to leave journalism.

62. “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare

• Scene: Miranda asserts the choices made by her father, Prospero.

63. “Last Train to Nibroc” by Arlene Hutton

• Scene: May asserts her standards and beliefs about love and life.

64. “The Taming of the Shrew” by William Shakespeare

• Scene: Petruchio asserts his methods to tame Kate, sparking debates about power.

65. “The Playboy of the Western World” by J.M. Synge

• Scene: Pegeen Mike asserts her expectations and desires of men.

66. “The Whale” by Samuel D. Hunter

• Scene: Charlie asserts his humanity while facing judgment from others.

67. “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” by Tom Stoppard

• Scene: The characters assert their awareness of their existential predicament.

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68. “The Lion in Winter” by James Goldman

• Scene: Richard or Eleanor assertively navigate their tumultuous relationship and power plays within the royal family.

69. “The Night of the Iguana” by Tennessee Williams

• Scene: Hannah asserts herself against the overwhelming personalities around her to find her own path.

70. “Play” by Samuel Beckett

• Scene: The characters assert their roles in a complex emotional triangle, showcasing jealousy and desire.

71. “Next to Normal” by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey

• Scene: Diana asserts her reality and struggles with mental health against her family’s expectations.

72. “No Exit” by Jean-Paul Sartre

• Scene: Garcin assertively confronts his past among the other souls in hell.

73. “The Shape of Things” by Neil LaBute

• Scene: Evelyn asserts her manipulative nature and control over Adam.

74. “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” by Tennessee Williams

• Scene: Maggie asserts her need for love and attention amid her family’s failures.

75. “Little Shop of Horrors” by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman

• Scene: Seymour asserts his hopes for a better future, especially through his relationship with Audrey.

76. “Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett

• Scene: Vladimir and Estragon assert their expectations for hope and meaning in an absurd world.

77. “The Good Woman of Setzuan” by Bertolt Brecht

• Scene: Shen Te asserts her identity amidst societal pressures and expectations.

78. “Waiting for Lefty” by Clifford Odets

• Scene: The striking workers assert their rights and demands against corporate injustices.

79. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare

• Scene: Helena assertively pursues Demetrius despite his initial rejection.

80. “The Miracle Worker” by William Gibson

• Scene: Annie Sullivan asserts her methods in teaching Helen Keller, challenging societal norms for the disabled.

81. “Pillowman” by Martin McDonagh

• Scene: Katurian asserts the value of storytelling in the face of censorship and violence.

82. “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” by Stephen Sondheim

• Scene: Sweeney asserts his vengeance against those who wronged him.

83. “Betrayal” by Harold Pinter

• Scene: Emma asserts her feelings as she navigates complex relationships with Jerry and Robert.

84. “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds” by Paul Zindel

• Scene: Tillie asserts her scientific ideas against her mother’s negativity.

85. “King Lear” by William Shakespeare

• Scene: Cordelia asserts her loyalty and honesty to Lear despite his banishment.

86. “The Long Christmas Dinner” by Thornton Wilder

• Scene: The characters assert their beliefs and roles through the passage of time during family gatherings.

87. “The Seafarer” by Conor McPherson

• Scene: Sharky’s assertive stance regarding his past and future choices.

88. “Clybourne Park” by Bruce Norris

• Scene: The characters assert their views on race and community in a changing neighborhood.

89. “Twelve Angry Men” by Reginald Rose

• Scene: Juror #8 asserts the need for reasonable doubt and justice during deliberations.

Conclusion

This list of 89 theater scenes captures diverse instances of assertiveness among actors, highlighting how this emotion plays a critical role in shaping narratives and conflicts. Actors studying these scenes can explore how assertiveness influences character dynamics and serves as a driving force within the story. Whether in moments of confrontation or standing up for personal beliefs, assertiveness adds depth and complexity to performances and narratives in theater.