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Our collection of large cast plays offers upper grade students an exciting opportunity to engage in theatrical productions that emphasize collaboration and community. These plays for high schoolers provide a rich platform where students can express their creativity while taking on diverse roles, fostering teamwork and camaraderie among peers.


Large casts are ideal for drama clubs, school productions, and community theater, allowing many students to participate and showcase their talents. With multiple characters and ensemble scenes, these plays encourage students to develop essential skills such as communication, leadership, and problem-solving, all of which are vital for personal and academic success.


These plays for high school also enable exploration of complex themes and character relationships, providing a deeper understanding of literature and storytelling. Students learn to appreciate different perspectives and enhance their empathy as they embody various roles.


By performing in large cast productions, young actors build confidence and strengthen their dedication to the arts. Encourage your students to thrive in a supportive environment and experience the joy of collaborating on stage with our thoughtfully curated large cast plays!

DEAR JOURNAL by Judy Culp DEAR JOURNAL by Judy Culp

DEAR JOURNAL by Judy Culp is more than just a performance piece—it’s an invaluable tool for upper grades looking for versatile scripts for school plays and drama workshops. This exciting collection of monologues, dialogues, and one-liners provides a unique, highly flexible foundation for teaching and performance. Designed to introduce the powerful act of "journaling" to a class or a whole school, this resource opens the door to creativity, self-expression, and student-led content creation. Unleash your students' dramatic potential and subscribe to PLAYS Magazine today!

  • Exciting collection of monologues, dialogues, and one-liners.

  • Highly flexible and adaptable for various presentation needs.

  • Perfect for use as a drama workshop piece introducing the concept of journaling.

  • Selections can be combined with new, original pieces written by students on timely issues.

  • Royalty-free for performances by current subscribers.

Bring fresh, student-driven drama to your classroom without the hassle of rigid structures. DEAR JOURNAL provides the foundation for powerful student-led performances, helping you meet curriculum goals while inspiring young actors to explore relevant issues. This adaptable format ensures you have a reliable, engaging, and powerful tool that empowers both teachers and students to create meaningful, memorable theater. Order your access to this incredible script for school plays from PLAYS Magazine today!
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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MACBETH Adapted from Shakespeare by Elizabeth Boiko Burdick MACBETH Adapted from Shakespeare by Elizabeth Boiko Burdick

How do you make one of Shakespeare's most powerful tragedies accessible to modern students? This brilliant 30-minute adaptation of Macbeth is the solution. It masterfully uses storytellers who speak in modern language to point the way, guiding students to a thorough understanding of Shakespeare's original words. This script makes the complex themes of ambition, fate, and guilt perfectly clear and engaging for a new generation. Download your script today!

Features

  • A unique "Storyteller" framework that uses modern English to explain and contextualize the original text.

  • An ideal 30-minute running time, perfect for classroom study, drama competitions, or assemblies.

  • Flexible casting options to accommodate various class or drama club sizes.

  • Preserves the core plot, key scenes, and poetic power of the original play.

Finding plays for high schoolers that are both classic and understandable can be a significant challenge. You want your students to experience the genius of Shakespeare, but you worry about them getting lost in the dense language. This adaptation solves that problem. It empowers your students to confidently perform and truly understand the "Scottish play," sparking a genuine appreciation for classic literature. Stop searching for the perfect play scripts and bring this accessible tragedy to your stage. Order your Macbeth script from Plays Magazine today!

Specs

  • Cast: 13+ actors (4 male, 4 female, 5 male or female)

  • Grade Level: Upper Grades (High School / Middle School)

  • Running Time: 30 minutes

  • Setting: Bare stage

  • Format: Royalty-Free Script

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THE GOBLINS AND THE GRAVEDIGGER by Craig Sodaro THE GOBLINS AND THE GRAVEDIGGER by Craig Sodaro

Bring a magical and heartwarming Christmas tale to your stage with this 30-minute play set in 19th-century England. The story follows three loving orphans who desperately need a home, but their only hope seems to be the meanest man in town. It takes a little holiday magic from a mischievous band of goblins to help connect these lonely souls in a truly touching Christmas story. This is one of our most popular plays for schools during the holiday season. Download your script today!
Features
  • A unique, heartwarming Christmas story with a touching message about found family.
  • Features a large, flexible cast with 17+ roles, perfect for a full class or drama club.
  • A convenient 30-minute runtime, making it an ideal choice for holiday assemblies, showcases, or competitions.
  • A charming 19th-century England setting with fun, magical characters (the goblins).

Finding holiday play scripts that are fresh, meaningful, and age-appropriate for both middle and upper grades can be a challenge. You need plays for students that capture the spirit of the season without being the same story everyone has seen. "The Goblins and the Gravedigger" is the perfect solution. It offers a unique story with a beautiful message of kindness and redemption, and its large cast ensures every student can participate in the magic. Create a memorable holiday performance this year. Order your script from Plays Magazine today!
Specs
  • Cast: 17+ actors (6 male, 8 female, 3 male or female)
  • Grade Level: Upper and Middle Grades
  • Running Time: 30 minutes
  • Setting: 19th-century England
  • Format: Royalty-Free Script
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THE COMEBACK CAPER by Anne Coulter Martens THE COMEBACK CAPER by Anne Coulter Martens

Bring the tension of a primetime television drama right to your stage! This fast-paced, 35-minute play script follows the tense courtroom trial of an over-the-hill star accused of stealing a priceless ruby. As the trial unfolds, the lines blur between real life and TV drama. Is the star guilty, or is this all part of a set-up for a dramatic comeback? This mystery is a guaranteed audience-pleaser. Download your script today!

Features
  • Features a large, flexible cast, perfect for accommodating a full classroom or drama club.
  • A gripping courtroom drama plot filled with suspense, mystery, and sharp dialogue.
  • A quick 35-minute runtime, making it ideal for one-act play festivals, competitions, or classroom study.
  • Engaging, distinct character roles, including the dramatic star, witty lawyers, and surprising witnesses.

Finding plays for high school that have enough roles for a large cast and keep students genuinely excited can be difficult. You need play scripts that are more than just words on a page—you need a story. "The Comeback Caper" solves that problem by offering plays for high schoolers a plot they can sink their teeth into, full of twists and a TV-worthy climax. Give your students a chance to shine in this thrilling courtroom caper. Order your script from Plays Magazine today!
Specs

  • Cast: 19+ actors (8 female, 7 male, 4 male or female)
  • Grade Level: Upper Grades (High School / Middle School)
  • Running Time: 35 minutes
  • Setting: A courtroom
  • Format: Royalty-Free Script

Finding plays for high school that have enough roles for a large cast and keep students genuinely excited can be difficult. You need play scripts that are more than just words on a page—you need a story. "The Comeback Caper" solves that problem by offering plays for high schoolers a plot they can sink their teeth into, full of twists and a TV-worthy climax. Give your students a chance to shine in this thrilling courtroom caper. Order your script from Plays Magazine today!
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BALANCING ACT by Christina Hamlett BALANCING ACT by Christina Hamlett

Take your audience high above the streets of New York City in this powerful 30-minute play. The story gives a voice to the Native American construction workers who balanced on giant steel beams to build the city's iconic skyscrapers. As they work, they connect to their heritage, telling stories about the Iroquois Nation and its rich culture. This script offers a unique and profound look at a vital piece of American history. Download your script today!

Features
  • A large, extremely flexible cast (14+) with unlimited extras, perfect for engaging an entire class.
  • A unique historical and cultural focus, highlighting the contributions and stories of the Iroquois Nation.
  • A compelling 30-minute runtime, making it an excellent choice for assemblies, competitions, or classroom study.
  • Provides a strong ensemble piece that gives many actors a chance to speak and contribute to the story.

It's often hard to find plays for students that move beyond the typical and offer real substance. You need play scripts that challenge your actors and educate your audience with new perspectives. "Balancing Act" does exactly that. It's one of those rare plays for schools that weaves history, culture, and drama into an unforgettable ensemble piece. Give your students the opportunity to explore this powerful story. Order your script from Plays Magazine today!

Specs
  • Cast: 14+ actors (5 male, 1 female, 8 male or female, as many extras as desired)
  • Grade Level: Upper and Middle Grades
  • Running Time: 30 minutes
  • Setting: High steel beams of a skyscraper under construction
  • Format: Royalty-Free Script
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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.

 
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THE LOVE POTION, based on the opera L'Elisir d'Amore by Gaetano Donizetti, adapted by Jesse Martin THE LOVE POTION, based on the opera L'Elisir d'Amore by Gaetano Donizetti, adapted by Jesse Martin

Bring the romance and comedy of classic opera to your stage—no singing required! This 30-minute play script adapts Gaetano Donizetti's famous L'Elisir d'Amore into a fast-paced, hilarious story. Set in mid-1800s Italy, the plot is packed with competing suitors, a dash of class warfare, a poor village girl, and a "magical" love elixir that causes more chaos than romance. It's a perfect introduction to opera's grand themes for high schoolers. Download your script today!

Features
  • A hilarious, accessible adaptation of a world-famous comic opera.
  • Flexible casting with 7 speaking roles and unlimited extras for villagers, soldiers, and workers.
  • A quick 30-minute runtime, ideal for one-act festivals, competitions, or as a lively classroom unit.
  • Features witty dialogue, classic comedic tropes, and a charming 19th-century Italian setting.

Finding plays for high school that are both classic and genuinely funny can be a major challenge. You need play scripts that expose students to great literature but also keep them engaged and entertained. "The Love Potion" is the perfect solution, offering plays for high schoolers a chance to tackle big romantic themes, physical comedy, and witty wordplay all in one act. Give your students a taste of grand opera, simplified for the stage. Order your script from Plays Magazine today!

Specs
  • Cast: 7+ actors (2 female, 5 male, as many extras as desired)
  • Grade Level: Upper Grades (High School)
  • Running Time: 30 minutes
  • Setting: A village in mid-1800s Italy
  • Format: Royalty-Free Script
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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.

 
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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.

 
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THE MAN WITHOUT A COUNTRY by Edward Everett Hale, adapted by Walter Hackett THE MAN WITHOUT A COUNTRY by Edward Everett Hale, adapted by Walter Hackett

Upper and Middle Grades; 25 male and female; 19th century; 25 minutes.
A round-table readers' theatre that tells the heartrending story of Philip Nolan, a man whose punishment for treason is that he may never again set foot in his beloved United States.

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