{{Short description|2014 American play}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox play | name = Making the Move | caption = Poster from Edinburgh Festival 2014 | writer = Noah Altshuler | characters = Hannah <br />Connor <br />Charlotte<br />Stan | setting = A sofa at a high school | premiere = August 6, 2014 | place = Just the Tonic<br /> Edinburgh Festival Fringe | orig_lang = English | genre = Romantic Comedy, Short form | web = http://www.makingthemove.co/ }} '''''Making the Move''''' is a 2014 play written by American playwright Noah Altshuler. Altshuler's first published work, the play premièred at the 2014 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.marktwainhouse.org/writing/playwright_residence.php |title=Welcome to the Mark Twain House & Museum - Playwright in Residence |website=www.marktwainhouse.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427074801/http://www.marktwainhouse.org/writing/playwright_residence.php |archive-date=2015-04-27}}</ref>

==Synopsis== The play focuses on Connor and Hannah, two teenagers who brainstorm with their best friends, Stan and Charlotte, ways to seduce the other on a first date. The play is a comedic exploration of the complicated world of teenage friendships, love, and friend zones.

The one-act play is set on a single sofa and parallel dialogs to set up a first date and a first kiss. Using three dialogs (one dialog occurring during the date, and one between the boyfriend and his best friend, and one dialog with the girlfriend and her best friend), the play progresses from planning to the actual date.

==Characters== *Connor: A teenage boy strategizing how to land the first kiss during his first date with Hannah *Hannah: A teenage girl contemplating her own moves in case Connor doesn't kiss her on the date *Stan: Connor's best friend and provider of advice to Connor *Charlotte: Hannah's best friend and provider of advice to Hannah

==Production history== ''Making the Move'' premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on August 6, 2014.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://edinburgh247.com/events/making-the-move/ | title=Making the Move &#124; Edinburgh 247 City Guide }}</ref> Playwright Noah Altshuler was only 16 when he wrote the script and, at 17 during the 2014 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, was the youngest playwright in the festival.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.netmums.com/edinburgh/whats-on/view/making-the-move |title=Making the Move - Netmums |accessdate=2014-08-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140815191552/http://www.netmums.com/edinburgh/whats-on/view/making-the-move |archivedate=2014-08-15 }}</ref> The play received 4 stars (out of 5) from Edinburgh Guide which wrote that the play provided the "magic of finding a little gem off the mainstream that feels like the Fringe at its truest – fresh and experimental, rather than already commercially viable."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.edinburghguide.com/festival/2014/edinburghfringe/makingthemovejustthetonicreview-14792 | title=Making the Move, Just the Tonic, Review }}</ref> Critically, it was deemed an "adorable little show"<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ayoungertheatre.com/edinburgh-review-making-the-move-just-the-tonic-at-the-caves/ | title=Edinburgh Review: Making the Move, Just the Tonic at the Caves | date=18 August 2014 | access-date=6 August 2025 | archive-date=3 February 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203065005/https://www.ayoungertheatre.com/edinburgh-review-making-the-move-just-the-tonic-at-the-caves/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> and a "surprisingly amusing snapshot into the teenage psyche."<ref>{{Cite web | title=Making the Move - LoveFringeLoveFringe | url=http://www.lovefringe.com/events/making-the-move/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304141206/http://www.lovefringe.com/events/making-the-move/ | access-date=2025-06-27 | archive-date=2016-03-04}}</ref>

''Making the Move'' premiered in the US at Florence High School in November 2014 <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rcsd.ms/Domain/4641 |title=Byrnes, Carol / About the Teacher |website=www.rcsd.ms |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112202400/http://rcsd.ms/Domain/4641 |archive-date=2014-11-12}}</ref> and over 50 high schools in 20 states have licensed the play for production during the 2014–2015 academic year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.makingthemove.co/mtm-usa.html |title=USA Productions |access-date=2014-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001236/http://www.makingthemove.co/mtm-usa.html |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Productions during the 2014-2015 year include:

*Florence High School (Mississippi) – Florence, Mississippi *Norcross High School – Norcross, Georgia * John A. Ferguson High School – Miami, Florida * Eau Claire High School – Columbia, South Carolina * Canfield High School – Canfield, Ohio * Armada High School – Armada, Michigan * Romeo High School – Romeo, Michigan * Apex High School – Apex, North Carolina * Nathan Hale High School (Wisconsin) – West Allis, Wisconsin * General William Mitchell High School (Colorado) – Colorado Springs, Colorado * Mission Viejo High School – Mission Viejo, California * Katella High School – Anaheim, California * Golden Valley High School – Bakersfield, California * Merced & Golden Valley High Schools –Merced, California * Johansen High School – Modesto, California * Cascade High School – Turner, Oregon * Olympia High School – Olympia, Washington * Clarksburg High School – Clarksburg, Maryland

==Use in drama contests== ''Making the Move'' has been used in state and regional drama contests. In December 2014, Gulfport High School performed ''Making the Move'' at the South Mississippi High School Drama Festival at the University of Southern Mississippi. Two of the actors were named to the All-star cast.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gulfportschools.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=1 | title=Gulfport School District / Homepage }}</ref> The play was performed in spring 2015 state contests in four states.

==Edinburgh 2015== Noah Altshuler wrote a follow up to ''Making the Move'', ''Last Call for Providence'', that premiered at the 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe at Just the Tonic.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/event/482575-last-call-for-providence/ | title=Last Call for Providence }}</ref> The production team is based in London.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{official website|http://www.makingthemove.co/}} *[https://www.edfringe.com/ Edinburgh Festival Fringe] *[http://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/event/426676-making-the-move/ Edinburgh Festival]

Category:Edinburgh Festival Fringe Category:One-act plays Category:2014 plays