HEART OF A STRANGER by Christina Hamlett
Upper Grades; 4 female, 5 male or female; contemporary; December holidays; 25 minutes.
A chance meeting in a Boston coffee shop gives a young woman mourning the loss of her beloved sister a new outlook on the world. A heartwarming, sensitive holiday drama about friendship and “the gift of life” (organ donation).
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WHY WE HAVE DAY AND NIGHT by Barbara Winther
Middle Grades, 14 female or male; 30 minutes.
Flying animals are pitted against land animals in this Australian Aborigine tale that points out the foolishness of pride and war.
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THE WALLS HAVE EARS by Sam Reisman
Upper Grades; 2 male, 4 male or female offstage voices; 10 minutes.
Winner of 2005 PLAYS/California Student Playwriting Contest (High School) and coming in the wake of the Columbine shootings, this play focuses on a high schooler’s inappropriate joke at a school assembly and the ensuing dramatic heart-to-heart conversation with the guidance counselor.
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TALK TO ME! by Daniella Hicks and Estefania Morales
Middle Grades; 2 female; contemporary; 10 minutes.
Winner of the 2005 PLAYS/California Student Playwriting Contest (Middle Schools): A heartfelt conversation between two sisters—one in high school, one in middle school—about their relationship.
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SOME WORDS WITH A MUMMY by Craig Sodaro
Upper and Middle Grades; 4 male, 4 female; 1840s; 25 minutes.
Based on a story by Edgar Allan Poe: A professor gets permission to examine a long-lost mummy, only to jolt it back to life and witness as it learns about the modern age.
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NELLIE'S FISHY FATE by G.S. Cadette
Middle Grades; 4 male, 4 female; turn-of-the-century; 30 minutes.
Egad! Gadzooks! A wonderful fun old-fashioned melodrama. Will two fiends succeed in their plot to swindle wealthy widow Mrs. Vanderhoff out of her fortune, or will it be “Curses, foiled again”?
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BE-SWITCHED by Roger Kise
Middle and Lower Grades; 5 female, 1 male, 2 male or female; 10 minutes.
Fairy-tale subject (Wicked Witch) gets extreme makeover, courtesy of the team of stylists on popular daytime talk show.
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A LOAN FOR COLUMBUS by Inez Carvalho
Middle Grades; 2 male, 2 female; 15th century; 25 minutes.
Bold explorer’s meeting with a bank loan officer goes poorly, but ends up in a lunch date with the Queen. And, the rest is history.
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A JOURNEY TO THE STARS by Mary Satchell
Middle Grades; 3 female, 3 male, 3 female/male, and 12+ extras; 30 minutes.
A Reader’s Theater: The inspirational story of Cuban singer Celia Cruz, who rose from poverty, fled Communism in Cuba, and rose to the top of the music industry and beloved throughout the world as the “Queen of Salsa.”
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A HALLOWEEN SLEEPING BEAUTY by Jane Tesh
Middle and Lower Grades; 4 male; 4 female; 14 male and/or female; 15 minutes.
A ghoulish twist on the original fairy tale--where it's a curse to be beautiful!
Fairy-tale subject (Wicked Witch) gets extreme makeover, courtesy of the team of stylists on popular daytime talk show.
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DEAR JOURNAL by Judy Culp
Upper grades; few to many actors; 10 minutes to 1 hour.
An exciting collection of monologues, dialogues, and one-liners that can be used as a flexible drama workshop piece, introducing “journaling” to a class or a whole school. Author Judy Culp writes, “This piece is highly adaptable: It may be used as is; users may pick certain selections for presentations; or certain selections maybe combined with new original pieces written by students on timely issues.”
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THE SHOP GIRL'S REVENGE by Robert Downing
Upper and Middle grades; 4 female; 3 female; 1890s; 25 minutes.
A turn-of-the-century melodrama, complete with maiden-in-distress, moustache-twirling villain, and hero in disguise. . .all swirling around a pile of missing money and a long-lost daughter. And of course, it's curses, foiled again!
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PRINCESS IMPOSSIBLE by Claire Boiko
Middle Grades; 8 male, 6 female; 8 male and/or female; 30 minutes.
A fun large-cast play about the spoiled, demanding foot-stamping Princess Imogene who gets a lesson in nobility and humility from a family of kind shepherds.
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ROMEO ON THE INTERNET by Juliet Garver
Upper Grades; 3 male, 3 male, 1 male or female; 25 minutes.
Cindy's email "friend" turns out to be very different in person (no surprise there!). Is there any way this couple can sustain their virtual connection in real life? A great springboard for a discussion about sharing your thoughts and feelings with strangers; truthfulness; and the role of computers in our lives.
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THE HIP HOP HARES by Jane Tesh
Lower Grades; 4 female, 2 male, and many extras; 10 minutes.
Bunnies swing into action with a modern beat as last-minute order puts a crunch on the Easter egg factory.
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HISTORY IDOL by Kate Wagner
Middle and Lower Grades; 6 female; 1 male/female and extras. 20 minutes.
Six famous quotes from history—by Abraham Lincoln, Neil Armstrong, Lou Gehrig, Chief Joseph, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr.—are celebrated in this spoof of a popular TV show.
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THUNDERMUFFS by Cindy Blobaum
Middle and Lower Grades; 4 male; 3 female; 15 minutes.
Mitchell, who likes peace and quiet, comes in conflict with the rest of his family who love the noise of a good storm. Good lessons about weather safety. Can they find a way to live in harmony?
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YOU DON'T SAY by Peg Juffer
Lower Grades; 3 female; 1 male; 8 to 10 male/female; 10 minutes.
Perfect for Book Week: Librarian is stumped about how to get students to read until some creative characters pop out of the book shelves to help out.
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AMAZING GRACE by Christina Hamlett
Upper Grades; 3 female; 1 male; 20 minutes.
A quirky, fun romance: Karen's grandmother was always trying to fix her up with a nice young guy, and it seems as if Grandma Gracie's still at it—even at her own funeral!
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BEYOND SANTA CLAUS by Virginia Miller McDonough
Upper and Middle Grades; 3 female; 10 minutes; contemporary.
What if you don't celebrate Christmas? This thoughtful play provides a great springboard for classroom discussion about tolerance, accepting and celebrating differences, and respecting all religions, cultures, and points of view.
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NEWTON'S DOLLHOUSE by Steve Pricone
Upper Grades; 7 male, 7 female; 17th-century England; 30 minutes. A young girl and the shy, awkward, and brilliant Isaac Newton develop an unusual friendship, exchange meaningful Christmas presents, and build an extraordinary bond that spans a lifetime.
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GENUS DE MILO by Christina Hamlett
Upper Grades; 2 male, 2 female; contemporary Gothic; 25 minutes.
Blood relatives join young couple and future mother-in-law for a late-night bite.
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SOJOURNER TRUTH by Joanna L. Evans
Upper Grades; 2 female; 1 male or female; 10 minutes.
The fight for suffrage and equality drives a wedge between a spirited young woman and her mother in a story about the work of Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Stanton, and Sojourner Truth.
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THE PREHISTORIC FOLLIES by Jane Tesh
Middle and Lower Grades; 3 male, 2 female; male and female extras; 10 minutes.
Cheer for your favorite extinct reptile—and learn some interesting dinosaur facts along the way!—in this clever play about an Ice Age talent show.
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THE SCHOOL FOR PRINCESSES, by Irina Kuznekov
Middle grades; 5 female; once upon a time; 25 minutes.
A new student at an exclusive medieval boarding school for daughters of kings and queens learns important lessons about about being at peace with yourself and respecting differences in others.
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MACBETH Adapted from Shakespeare by Elizabeth Boiko Burdick
Upper Grades; 4 male, 4 female; 5 male or female; 30 minutes. Storytellers using modern language point the way to a thorough understanding of Shakespeare's original words, in this dramatic adaptation of one of the playwright's most powerful tragedies.
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THE GOBLINS AND THE GRAVEDIGGER by Craig Sodaro
Upper and Middle Grades; 6 male, 8 female, 3 male or female; 19th-century England; 30 minutes.
Goblins help to connect the meanest man in town with three loving orphans who desperately need a home, in this heartwarming Christmas tale.
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THE COMEBACK CAPER by Anne Coulter Martens
Upper Grades; 8 female, 7 male; 4 male or female. 35 minutes.
A television drama comes to life as an over-the-hill star and a stolen ruby become the focus of a tense courtroom trial.
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TWO DESERT TALES: THE MISSING CAMEL AND SENOR COYOTE AND MAMA RABBIT by Barbara Winther
Middle and Lower Grades; Missing Camel: 2 male, 1 female, and at least 5 male or female. 10 minutes. Senor Coyote and Mama Rabbit: 1 male, 1 female, and at least 5 male or female, 10 minutes.
Thoughtful and interesting African and Mexican folktales set in the desert where humans and animals use their wit and wile to survive in harsh conditions.
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THE FASTEST THIMBLE IN THE WEST by Claire Boiko
Middle Grades, 15 female and 21 male, 30 minutes (cast may play more than one role). A rollicking, large-cast musical melodrama complete with orphans, an evil lawyer, poetry-loving cowboys, and a long-lost sea captain, all set in the Old West.
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CYRANO DE BERGERAC Adapted by Joellen Bland
Upper Grades; for round-table reading; 9 male and 1 female; 30 minutes. Edmond Rostand’s moving tale of appearance, intellect, and unrequited love set in 17th century Paris. Who could forget the lovely Roxane?
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FIRE AND FRIENDSHIP by Renee C. Rebman
Middle Grades; 7 female, 3 male, and as many extras as desired; 20 minutes. Set in 1911 New York City.
The true story of the tragic fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory that killed 146 garment workers—most of them young women—and sparked the creation of laws to improve working conditions around the country.
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MISS LOUISA AND THE OUTLAWS by Frances B. Watts
Middle and Lower Grades; 6 male, 4 female, and as many extras as desired; 20 minutes.
Old-fashioned turn-of-the century schoolmarm commands respect while giving a lesson in bravery and brains after the bad guys slip into the schoolhouse to hid from the sheriff.
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THE LUCK OF THE IVIES by Frank V. Priore
Lower Grades; 2 female and 1 male; 15 minutes.
Set in a clearing in the forest, quick-thinking leprechaun thwarts the efforts of two young girls to steal his pot of gold.
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THE FISHERMAN, HIS WIFE, AND THE SEA OF DREAMS by Bruce Berger
Middle and Lower Grades; Radio play for reading; 2 male, 3 female, and 1 male or female for narrator; 10 minutes.
A never-satisfied wife and a talking fish help teach a lesson in being grateful for what you have, in a fun tale that’s nothing to carp about.
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BALANCING ACT by Christina Hamlett
Upper and Middle Grades; 5 male, 1 female, 8 male or female; as many male and female extras as desired. 30 minutes.
High above the streets of New York City, Native American construction workers connect the giant steel beams that create the City’s skyscrapers, while telling stories about the Iroquois Nation and its culture.
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SHIRLEY CHISHOLM: "UNBOUGHT AND UNBOSSED" by Mary Satchell
Upper and Middle Grades; 11 female, 7 male, and 20+ males or females; 30 minutes.
Scenes from the inspirational life of Shirley Chisholm (1924-2005), the first black woman elected to the U.S. Congress and an outspoken advocate for the rights of women and minorities.
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THE LOVE POTION, based on the opera L'Elisir d'Amore by Gaetano Donizetti, adapted by Jesse Martin
Upper Grades; 2 female, 5 male, and as many extras as desired as villagers, soldiers, and workers; 30 minutes.
An Italian opera set in the mid-1800s complete with competing suitors, class warfare, poor village girls, magical elixirs, and love everywhere you turn.
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THE PRESIDENTS' DAY IN COURT, by Kathy Applebee
Middle Grades; 7 male, 3 female, and 5 male or female, plus as many extras as desired; 20 minutes.
When Patty O’Phurniture’s date with Jim doesn’t meet her expectations, she sues in court for breach of contract, and is confronted by the historical feats of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Susan B. Anthony, and others who are pictured on American coins.
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A MAN LIKE LINCOLN by Helen Miller
Middle Grades; 5 male and 4 female; 25 minutes.
A present-day lawyer who is running for Governor as “A Man Like Lincoln” comes to terms with his son’s decision on his future direction, and in the process reaches common ground in the tradition of our 16th President.
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THE BUBBLE GUM ESCAPADE by Jo Ann Memming
Middle and Lower Grades; 5 male, 1 female, and as many extras as desired. 15 minutes.
The situation turns sticky when Grandfather’s most valuable coin is “borrowed” from the home collection and turns up at school—stuck to the bottom of a lunchroom table.
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BEOWULF adapted by Eddie McPherson
Upper Grades; 13 male or female, plus; 25 minutes.
A great introduction for students to Beowulf, the epic tale from 1000 AD with monsters and heroes, good and evil, fame and infamy.
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THE WHITE SPIDER'S GIFT by Jamie Turner
Middle and Lower Grades; 9 female, 7 male, 1 male or female, and extras; 20 minutes.
A South American folktale in which kindness is rewarded when a boy helps a spider in distress and the spider returns the favor in a very special way.
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THE BAKER'S NEIGHBOR Adapted by Adele Thane
Middle and Lower Grades; 4 male, 6 female, male and female extras; 15 minutes.
Peruvian folktale in which a greedy baker tries to charge villagers for smelling the good smells of his bakery and a wise judge determines what a fair price should be.
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DRACULA by Bram Stoker and adapted by Joellen Bland
Upper Grades; 6 male, 5 female; 35 minutes.
A tension-filled adaptation of Bram Stoker’s thrilling tale set in Transylvania---if you listen carefully you can almost hear the doors creaking and the screams reverberating off the castle walls. A play your students will really sink their teeth into.
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RALPH BUNCHE, MAN OF PEACE by Mary Satchell
Upper and Middle Grades; 7 male, 4 female, 25 male or female; 30 minutes.
The inspiring story of Detroit-born Ralph Bunche (1904-1971), the first African-American to receive the Nobel Peace Prize (1950) for his work with the United Nations to help create a cease-fire in the Middle East.
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THE JUNK FOOD KING by Glenda Slater
Middle and Lower Grades; 1 male, 1 female, 7 male or female; 20 minutes.
The out-of-shape King gets help from the Prime Minister, a dietician, and physical trainer to slim down, get in shape, and eat more healthful foods. Complete with a song in rap—just say no to pie, cake, greasy burgers, and sugary shakes!
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DAVITA'S HANUKKAH by Renee C. Rebman
Middle Grades; 4 male; 7 female; 25 minutes.
Kids who celebrate Christmas gain a new perspective on holiday customs, thanks to the new Jewish girl in town.
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PERAMBULATING PIE by Mary Thurman Pyle
Middle Grades; 5 male, 5 female; 25 minutes. Thanksgiving.
“Re-gifting” reaches new heights as the perfect pie is passed around town, gladdening hearts along the way.
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A NEW DAY COMING by Christina Hamlett
Upper Grades; 4 female, 3 male; 25 minutes.
On the first day of the new century—1901—a feisty Irish maid living in Southern California speaks boldly about the justice of a woman's right to vote, and attends a rally in Los Angeles to make her point.
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DO IT WITH DEWEY by Jane Tesh
Lower Grades; 9 male or female; 10 minutes.
Using tried-and-true system, bookworms make quick work of straightening out a mess in the library. Perfect for National Children's Book Week.
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OCTAVE by Kevin Stone
Lower Grades; 7 male or female; adults for narrator and piano player; 10 minutes.
Do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do! Here's a fun, easy way to teach children about the notes in a scale, major and minor chords, and the value of working together.
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THE FIRST THANKSGIVING by Robert Mauro
Middle and Lower Grades; 4 male, 2 female, 1 male/female for turkey; 15 minutes.
With a bit of healthy doubt about the relationship of Native peoples and Puritans, families prepare for a day of feasting that not everyone is happy about—particularly the turkey.
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TWO ISLAND TALES by Barbara Winther
Middle and Lower Grades. Battle Between Sun and Sky: 4 male or female and as many extras as desired; 10 minutes. How Coconuts Came to Samoa: 2 male, 2 female, 2 male or female, and as many extras as desired; 10 minutes.
Two short stories from the Pacific Islands that help explain the ways of nature.
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THE FOUR ALCHEMISTS by Penni Ericson
Lower Grades; 10 male or female and as many male and female extras as desired; 10 minutes.
A Chinese folktale that shows that good sense and smart thinking are better than all the gold in the world.
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VIKKI'S VALENTINE BOX by Sharon Brady
Lower Grades; 4 female, 4 male; 10 minutes.
It's never easy being the new girl in class, and especially on Valentine's Day. Will anyone put a Valentine in Vikki's box?
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THE PIE THAT CHANGED HISTORY by Maureen Crane Wartski
Middle & Lower Grades; 4 female, 3 male; 20 minutes.
The story (maybe true, maybe not) of a couple who baked their way on to a wagon train to Oregon so they could open a school where Native people and settlers could learn together in peace. Their children settled in Kansas, where they were active in the 1850s Underground Railroad.
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THE KING'S CREAMPUFFS by Martha Swintz
Middle and Lower Grades; 5 male, 4 female, many male and female extras; 30 minutes.
Wicked witch steals the royal creampuff recipe, upsets the King, and causes havoc in the royal kitchen.
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LETTER FROM A STRANGER by Leslie Wolfson
Upper Grades; 3 female, 1 male; 35 minutes.
A sophisticated play about a high school girl, in the midst of college applications, who gets a letter from her birth mother asking if they can meet -- 18 years after she was given up for adoption.
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A KWANZAA STORY by Claire Boiko
Middle Grades; 10 female, 8 male, 9 male or female; 40 minutes.
An appreciation of Kwanzaa comes to a girl who tries to boycott her family's celebration because she's in a snit; mad about something she can't even remember!
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PICCOLA Adapted by Rowena Bennett
Lower Grades; 2 female, 1 male, 1 male or female; 15 minutes.
The magic of Christmas shines in a poor fisherman's hut in this adaptation of a charming French folktale.
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THE TAX-FREE GIFT by Bonnie Davidson
Upper Grades; 5 female, 1 male; contemporary; 20 minutes.
Twenty-something friends trying to make it in the city find a bag of money that would surely come in handy to pay the rent and save the day. . .if only it was theirs. Staged almost entirely in an elevator, the question is, of course, should they keep the money for themselves or return it to the rightful owner?
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A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S SLEEPOVER by Elizabeth Boiko Burdick
Middle Grades; 3 male, 3 female, 17 male or female; contemporary; 20 minutes.
Perfect for a large cast, this modern retelling of one of Shakespeare's greatest comedies is full of love and romance, mischievous dealings, and intrigue.
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TO GRANDMA'S HOUSE WE GO! by Mary Satchell
Middle Grades; 5 male, 5 female; contemporary; 30 minutes.
Spoiled city kids see their freedom evaporate when they go to the country to visit Grandma. . .but they also learn a lot about themselves and what it means to be a kind and generous friend and neighbor.
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THE PICNIC PEACE by Jane Tesh
Lower Grades; 4 male, 1 female, as many male and female extras as desired for ants; contemporary; 10 minutes.
Red ants and black ants fight over a picnic, only to discover that working together, sharing, and making friends are the most important morsels of all.
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RACE TO THE FUTURE, by Janet Carl
Middle and Lower Grades; 5 male, 5 female, plus many extras; mid-1800s; 25 minutes.
A young girl invited to a "Bloomer" picnic—an unheard-of event for women to wear pants!—stands up for her beliefs in women's rights and freedom of expression.
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SNEAKY SAM IN SUNNY JUNCTION, by Ellen M. Eleder
Middle and Lower Grades; 3 male, 2 female, 1 male or female adult or gifted reader for Narrator; 20+ male and female. 1880s; 15 minutes.
Sure-to-please large-cast melodrama with the usual dashing hero, moustache-twirling villain, and sweet heroine named Sue. . .but this one also has plenty of audience participation, songs and choreography.
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THE POLKA DOT THIEF, by Amy Paulson
Middle Grades; 5 male, 3 female, and 1 male or female; 15 minutes.
Police follow a trail of gum wrappers to try to figure out the "whodunit" of a "sticky" crime!
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FOR THE LOVE OF GINNY, by Joanna Evans
Upper Grades; 3 female, 3 male; contemporary; 25 minutes.
Selfish brother learns a hard lesson about compassion and generosity when his sister becomes very ill.
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RAINING ON THE PLAYGROUND by Rebecca Watson
Lower Grades; 9 to 30 male and female. 10 minutes.
This creative dramatics play in poem form is a wonderful way for young children to act out what happens when rain starts pitter-pattering on the playground . . . plenty of opportunity for body movement and sound effects.
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ONCE UPON A CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS by Kate Falconer
Upper Grades; 3 male, 2 female, 1 male or female; 1870s; 25 minutes.
Join a merry holiday gathering at the Perry Mansion in Southern California, where water rights, the immigration "problem," and other concerns of the day are being discussed. As for the predictions that were foretold by the I Ching and the visiting Archduke, see if you recognize how many of them actually came true!
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SHOP TILL YOU DROP! by Donna Hall
Upper Grades; 10 female; 3 male; 1 male or female, and extras; 3 scenes, 15 minutes each.
High school students take center stage in this three-pack of plays about thinking of others at holiday time; creative gift-giving from the heart; and innovative sales techniques when jobs are one the line. Perform one, two, or three scenes, as time permits.
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KWANZAA HEROES by Virginia A. Artist
Middle Grades; 5 female; 4 male; 25 minutes.
Stacey learns about purpose, ethics, and the rewards of hard work when she writes a report about "lesser known" Black achievers for a Kwanzaa contest. Discussion questions at the end include the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
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BIG CAT, LITTLE CAT, OLD MAN MONKEY by Gillian L. Plescia
Middle and Lower Grades; 5 female or male; 15 minutes.
A charming Japanese folktale that explores the importance of friendship: how easy it is to lose a friend over a silly disagreement, and how important it is to work things out and share.
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THE TOYS' GIFT by Melinda Williams
Lower Grades, 8 male or female; 20 minutes.
A sweet story about a child who doesn't have enough money to buy Christmas gifts for his parents. . .but gets by with a little help from his "secret" friends.
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TURKEY SAVES THE DAY, by Peggy Bauer
Lower Grades, 4 male or female; 10 minutes.
Bird cries "Foul!" when he realizes he's going to be the main attraction for Thanksgiving dinner.
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THANKSGIVING AT RUBINO'S by Helen Louise Miller
Upper Grades, 9 male, 3 female; 30 minutes.
High school students work at their family's diner on Thanksgiving, all the while missing the big game—a story about the American Dream, the balance between work and play, and the recognition that we have a lot to be thankful for.
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THE TORN PHOTOGRAPH by D. R. Kennedy
Upper Grades; 9 female, 2 male, 6 male or female; contemporary; 20 minutes.
Hotly contested Student Council election puts a strain on a longtime friendship as students fight for presidency.
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SARAH AT SEA by Lisa Swarbrick
Middle Grades; 11 female, 6 male, 8 male or female; 40 minutes.
Spunky 1830s English girl flees her demanding guardian by impersonating a boy so she can find work on a ship bound for New York — and an uncertain future in a new country.
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VOICE AND COUNTERVOICE: THE BLIND DATE by Judine Brey
Upper Grades; 4 female, 2 male; 15 minutes.
Ever wonder what your date is really thinking? An innovative and amusing play about a blind date that bounces back and forth between what's said and what's thought.
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DESPERATELY SEEKING PRINCESS by Christina Hamlett
Upper Grades; 2 female, 2 male; 25 minutes.
Will a real European prince find true love through an ad he placed while on a trip to New York? A bittersweet courtship in the age of business travel, speed dating, and cell phones.
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HALFWAY TO CONCORD by Marcella Rawe
Middle and Lower Grades; 6 male, 2 female; 25 minutes.
It's hard to tell who is a friend and who is a foe when neighbors take sides at the start of the Revolutionary War, as Paul Revere spreads the word from Boston to Concord.
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THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ, Adapted by Frances Mapp
Middle and Lower Grades. 1 male, 5 female, 5 male and female, extras. Follow the Yellow Brick Road! L. Frank Baum's beloved story and colorful characters come to life in this wonderful adaptation.
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SABOTAGE by Craig Sodaro
Upper and Middle Grades; 5 male; 4 female; 25 minutes.
A tense historical drama set in war-torn England. What happens when three girls are sent to live outside London for their safety, and they start seeing spies at every turn.
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THE RELUCTANT COLUMBUS by Harold Cable
Middle Grades; 3 male, 3 female, 6 male or female; 30 minutes.
The story of how a guy who loved maps and a guy who didn't want to be a prince teamed up to find gold in the West, and prove the earth is round. . .all with a little help from their zany friends.
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DANITA'S DISGUISE by Susan Lee
Lower Grades; 4 male, 3 female; 10 minutes.
Young actors will have loads of fun trying on all sorts of costumes and performing in this Halloween play with a simple setting and easy-to-find props. A little creativity can go a long way!
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A TWIST OF FATE, Adapted by D. R. Andersen
Lower Grades; 3 male; 1 female; 5 male or female; as many male and female as desired for Guards and Citizens. 15 minutes.
Aesop's tale in which a slave's life is spared because of his kindness to a fearsome lion.
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CRUSH by Samara Siskind
Upper Grades; 1 female, 1 male; 15 minutes.
To escape an obnoxious guy at a party, popular girl Julia makes her way to the attic, only to meet an entirely different sort of guy.
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THE PICKWICK PAPERS, By Charles Dickens and adapted by Lewy Olfson
Upper Grades; 11 male, 2 female; male and female extras; 25 minutes.
Lighthearted adaptation of a fun scene in which Pickwick finds himself in quite a pickle after his kind words to his widowed landlady, Mrs. Martha Bardell, are totally misinterpreted to be a proposal of marriage.
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RAINFOREST TRIO by Barbara Winther
Middle and Lower Grades. Three plays in one: Play 1, Crocodile Gives Monkey a Ride, 2 male or female, 10 minutes; Play 2, Trapping the Jaguar, 1 male, 2 male or female, 15 minutes; Play 3, Wild Woman, 4 male, 3 female, 7 male or female, 20 minutes.
Set in different types of rainforests, three folktales of mystery and magic, featuring characters with pluck, ingenuity, and common sense.
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MERE MIRROR by Roger Kise
Middle and Lower Grades; 3 male, 6 female, 4 male or female; 20 minutes.
A modern, fun take-off of Snow White (without the dwarfs) featuring a wicked stepmother who finds that vanity comes with a high price.
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WAY, WAY OFF BROADWAY by Betty Tracy Huff
Middle Grades, 5 male, 6 female, 6+ male or female; 30 minutes. A fun melodrama featuring the poor but honest Daisy Cornball, the villainous Count Von Cliché, and the rich society lady Mrs. Smythe-Dashington, in search of wealth and fame on the stage. Be still, my thumping heart!
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THE SHADY LADY OF GOPHER JUNCTION by Celia Crispin
Upper Grades; 1 female, 7 male; Old West; 30 minutes.
Innocent stranger Miss Purity Goodside meets up with Sheriff Joe Wallace and Deputy Sagalong Donovan in this fun tale, as mysterious double agent foils dastardly desperados.
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SECRET ADMIRERS by Frances Dowell
Upper Grades; 3 female, 3 male, as many extras as desired; 25 minutes.
Platonic? Hardly! Will offbeat hero of a band triumph over cute basketball star? A play of crushes, stereotypes, and young love.
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JANE EYRE, adapted by Lewy Olfson
Upper Grades; 2 female, 2 male; 19th-century England; 30 minutes.
An adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's novel of romance and suspense, in which a devastating secret threatens to destroy the happiness of the young heroine.
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1940S RADIO MYSTERY, by Craig Sodaro
Upper & Middle Grades; 7 female; 5 male; 1940s; 30 minutes.
Good old-fashioned crime drama in which employees at radio station KREP ask the question, did the butler really do it?
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GO, GREEN! by Jane Tesh
Lower Grades; 4 male; 5 female; 10 minutes. As bottle, can, and paper fight their way out of the trash can, young children will learn a valuable lesson in recycling.
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CSI: MOTHER GOOSE LAND, by Jane Tesh
Middle and Lower Grades; 7 female, 6 male, male or female for Cat, King's Horses, King's Men; 10-15 minutes.
Did Humpty Dumpty fall. . .or was he pushed? A large-cast mystery featuring a host of familiar fairy tale characters.
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THIEF OF THE NILE, by Craig Sodaro
Upper Grades; 4 female; 3 male; Ancient Egypt; 30 minutes.
When a valuable necklace goes missing, the word of a shy servant girl is tested against that of one of the Pharaoh's most trusted aides.
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SIMPLY SHAKESPEARE, by Judine Brey
Upper Grades; 3 female; 2 male; extras as desire; 15 minutes.
Using the simplification of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" as an assignment, a star student learns the importance of working with her team and accepting new ideas and different approaches to Shakespeare and life.
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FREEDOM RIDERS, by Tom Quinn
Upper and Middle Grades; 12 male, 6 female, and male and female extras. 35 minutes.
A story of the struggle and heroes of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s, with reference to the basics of human dignity: riding a bus, using the restroom, eating in a restaurant, and going to school.
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ROWDY KATE by Claire Boiko
Middle Grades; 14 male, 6 female; the Old West; 35 minutes.
When the Mayor invites schoolmarms to town to help bring respectability to a small corner of the old West, the good old boys have plenty to say about it. It turns out that if anyone is going to get married around these here parts, Rowdy Kate is goin' to be the first!
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TATTOOS by Joanna Evans
Upper and Middle Grades; 3 male; 3 female; and extras. 25 minutes.
As a school project, students visit residents of a nursing home, where a reluctant teen and a crusty, battle-hardened vet, aided by a tattoo from the war, develop an unexpected friendship.
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CINDER-RILEY by Claire Boiko
Middle and Lower Grades; 5 female, 2 male, 3 male and/or female; 20 minutes.
A really clever and fun "Irish" version of the Cinderella story, complete with leprechauns and a lot of audience participation.
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THE WHITEMARSH AFFAIR by John Murray
Upper and Middle Grades; 4 male, 4 female, 20 minutes.
Brave seamstress defies convention and uses her skills to aid General George Washington and the Continental Army.
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MOTHER GOOSE HAS TALENT by David Ely
Middle and Lower Grades; 34 male and female; 25 minutes.
A wonderful spoof of a make-believe television show—complete with funny advertisements—with nursery rhyme characters participating in the competition and solving the mystery of the missing sheep.
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FIRE IN A PAPER by Loleta Hagy
Middle and Lower Grades; 6 male and female; 15 minutes.
Two new brides have to combine smart thinking and common sense in a test demanded by their mother-in-law. The two young women do what is asked of them, and more, setting the stage for a long life of family harmony.
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TURNABOUT by Margaret Bunel Edwards
Upper Grades; 3 male; 3 female; 1 male or female; 15 minutes.
So you witnessed a traffic accident, and have other things to think about — why get involved? Use this skit as the springboard for a discussion on civic duty and responsibility.
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MOTHER JONES, RABBLE-ROUSER by Renée C. Rebman
Middle Grades; 8 male, 6 female, extras; 25 minutes.
The story of Mother Jones, a courageous woman who helped lead the fight for the right of American workers—men, women, and children—to join a union, have safe working conditions, and a decent wage.
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STEALING CHRISTMAS by Craig Sodaro
Upper and Middle Grades; 3 male; 3 female; 25 minutes.
Petty thieves in the year 1920 rediscover the spirit of the holiday when they encounter a war widow and her young daughter.
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THE MISSING LIST by Melinda Williams
Middle and Lower Grades; 1 male; 1 female; 8 male or female. 20 minutes.
Christmas may have to be canceled because one of Santa's elves is tired of working and tired of greedy kids.
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CUPID'S WEBSITE by Liz Boiko Burdick
Middle and Lower Grades; 6 male, 7 female, 8 male or female; 20 minutes.
Will web designer's plans take all the charm out of boy-meets-girl?
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THE ANCESTORS' BOX by Christina Hamlett
Upper & Middle Grades; 13 female, 3 male; 35 minutes. A large-cast play that tells part of the story of Japanese-American internment camps created in World War II, through the eyes of a high school girl who was sent off and her best friend, who stayed behind.
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THE GOLD MINE AT JEREMIAH FLATS by Robert A. Anderson
Upper & Middle Grades, 3 female, 3 male, 1 male or female; 30 minutes. A fun melodrama, featuring a dastardly villain, a daughter and her mother in total distress, a kind hero, and a promising gold mine. Curses, foiled again!
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STANDING BY by Tracy Wells
Upper & Middle Grades; 8 female, 3 male, 1 male or female; 25 minutes. Girls bully a classmate for no apparent reason. Will anyone stand up to make it stop? Provides a good starting point for classroom discussion.
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THE MIRACLE OF SPRING by Helen Hanna
Middle & Lower Grades; 3 male, 6 female, 19+ male or female; 15 minutes. A large-cast play to welcome Spring and learn about the environment. Petulant King Bartholomew bans Spring, only to realize in a dream courtroom drama that he has upset the cycles of the seasons and destroyed the food supply.
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PUZZLING IT OUT by Judine Brey
Upper Grades; 3 female; 2 male; 15 minutes.
Will friendships stay true when Jake falls for his best friend Aaron’s younger sister?
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LOUISE, by Saki and adapted by Tracy Wells
Upper and Middle Grades; 19 actors: 8 female, 5 male, and 6 male/female. 30 minutes. An oh-so-fun British comedy about a forgetful aunt who thinks she has left her niece somewhere in London during an outing. While retracing her steps, she runs into all kind of situations, discovering at the end that her niece has been home the whole time. Anyone for tea?
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EMILY GEIGER, TEENAGE PATRIOT by Tara Wise Montgomery
Middle Grades. 8 actors: 5 male, 2 female, 1 male/female. 25 minutes. Set during the Revolutionary War, a young woman volunteers to carry the General’s message through Redcoat territory, in a dangerous mission no one could imagine a woman could carry out.
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GREEK PEEK by Carol D. Wise
Middle Grades; 13+ actors: 7 female, 4 male, 2 male or female, as many male and female as desired for Chorus; 30 minutes.
The myth of Persephone, and how the seasons came to be, told two ways: one traditional, one in rap.
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EDITED by David LaBounty
Middle Grades. 7 actors: 4 male, 3 female (or any combination desired); 25 minutes. A take-off on a television game show where contestants are given key words and a short amount of time to write poetry and prose, with judges eagerly waiting to “edit” them out of the show.
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THE GOLDEN COW OF CHELM, a Polish folk tale adapted by Sandra Fenichel Asher
Middle & Lower Grades. 8 actors: male or female; 20 minutes. Villagers are convinced by the Mayor to buy a gold-giving cow from a passerby, only to find that the poor creature can barely even give any milk. The villagers, of course, realize their mistake, but somehow draw the wrong conclusion. How silly.
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RICHARD GRAWN IS GONE by Georgia Tuxbury
Upper and Middle Grades; 5 male, 2 female; 20 minutes.
Message to the bride-to-be from her groom's kidnappers: "When we get the money, you get your honey!"
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THE WITCHES' BREW by Carol D. Wise
Middle and Lower Grades; 6+ female; 20 minutes.
Evil witches meet their match in good witch Clarice, who grows flowers and wears a sunny smile. Is there room for them all in the Witches' Council?
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TRAPPED by Carol D. Wise
Middle Grades; 3 male, 4 female, 4 male and/or female. 20 minutes.
What happens when seven people, including an overly cheerful retired teacher, an obnoxious (and nauseous) kid, a chatty cellphone user, and an odiferous fisherman get stuck in an elevator.
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GINGERBREAD MEN by Michael Kerr
Middle Grades; 5 female; 1 male; 15 minutes.
Trick-or-treaters let their imaginations run wild when they knock on the door of a newcomer to town.
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THREE TULIPS by Craig Sodaro
Upper Grades; 6 female, 2 male; 4 female; 25 minutes.
Dramatic story of patriotic Dutch families working to save priceless art from the Germans and their local collaborators.
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MOUNT RUSHMORE by David LaBounty
Middle and Lower Grades; 8 male, 4 female; as many male and female extras as desired for Other Students; 15-20 minutes. Four presidents have a little fun with visitors to a national memorial.
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HELP WANTED by Amy Green
Middle Grades. 7 actors: 3 male, 2 female, 2 male and/or female; 25 minutes. Zany cast of characters—including a banana-cream-pie-wielding robot—tries to thwart evil mad scientist’s plans to destroy the world.
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BORDERLINES by Christina Hamlett
Upper Grades: 8 actors: 5 female,1 male, and 2 male/female; 30 minutes. Heartbreaking portrait of the struggles and hardships of immigrants to America and the harsh realities of a complex immigration system, as seen when an aunt from Central America comes to California for a family wedding.
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ARMADILLO'S CHOICE by Pamela Love
Middle & Lower Grades: 6 actors: male/female; 10 minutes. Animals meet in the desert and learn to respect their differences, without asking each other to change the way they are.
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THE FRIENDSHIP BRACELET by Patricia Clapp
Middle Grades. 5 actors: 3 male, 2 female; 20 minutes. Prelude to Thanksgiving: A Pilgrim family and a Native American connect in friendship, thanks to a young girl’s generosity and spirit of diversity.
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