a play

A form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of dialogue or singing between characters, and the text intended for theatrical performance rather than simply for reading. Plays are performed at different levels, from London's West End and New York's Broadway - which is the highest level of commercial theater in the English-speaking world - to regional theater, to community theater, as well as university or school theatre. There are famous playwrights, such as George Bernard Shaw, who would not have been mentioned without their stage plays. The term "play" can refer both to the written texts of the playwrights and to their complete theatrical performance.