You are here: > Visit Our Library of Plays > Scripts by Age Group > Upper Grades > Historical/Biographies

Dive into our compelling collection of historical plays designed for high school students, where the past comes alive through engaging narratives and vibrant characters. Our play scripts for high school offer a unique opportunity for students to explore significant historical figures and events, fostering a deeper understanding of their cultural heritage.


Each of these plays for high schoolers is crafted to enhance critical thinking, research skills, and empathy, allowing students to engage with real-life stories that inspire debate and discussion. By portraying influential figures such as Sojourner Truth and Shirley Chisholm, students cultivate a sense of connection to historical struggles for equality and justice.


Participating in these drama plays not only enriches students' perspectives but also bolsters their communication and collaboration abilities as they work together to bring complex characters to fruition. With themes of resilience, activism, and perseverance, our historical and biographical scripts encourage young performers to reflect on the implications of history, leading to essential conversations that resonate today.


Introduce your students to the richness of our past through these dynamic performances, igniting their passion for theater and history alike!


Subscribe to download a wide range of scripts today!



SOJOURNER TRUTH by Joanna L. Evans 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.

 
*Requires subscription to download. Click here to subscribe.
BALANCING ACT by Christina Hamlett 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.

 
*Requires subscription to download. Click here to subscribe.
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM: "UNBOUGHT AND UNBOSSED" by Mary Satchell 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.

 
*Requires subscription to download. Click here to subscribe.
BEOWULF adapted by Eddie McPherson 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.

 
*Requires subscription to download. Click here to subscribe.
RALPH BUNCHE, MAN OF PEACE by Mary Satchell 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.

 
*Requires subscription to download. Click here to subscribe.
A NEW DAY COMING by Christina Hamlett 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.

 
*Requires subscription to download. Click here to subscribe.
ONCE UPON A CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS by Kate Falconer 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!

 
*Requires subscription to download. Click here to subscribe.
ROMEO AND JULIET AT THE WILLIAMSBURG THEATRE by Ellen M. Eleder ROMEO AND JULIET AT THE WILLIAMSBURG THEATRE by Ellen M. Eleder

Upper and Middle Grades; 15 male/female and extras; 30 minutes. Actors rehearse Shakespeare's play in Colonial Williamsburg, against the backdrop of the fast-approaching Revolutionary War.

 
*Requires subscription to download. Click here to subscribe.
SABOTAGE by Craig Sodaro 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.

 
*Requires subscription to download. Click here to subscribe.
FREEDOM RIDERS, by Tom Quinn 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.

*Requires subscription to download. Click here to subscribe.