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Explore our "Relationships/Friendships" category, featuring dynamic plays for high schoolers that delve into the complexities of interpersonal connections. These carefully curated scripts offer students the opportunity to explore themes of friendship, loyalty, and the challenges of growing up. Engaging with these narratives not only cultivates empathy and understanding but also enhances performance arts skills such as character development and emotional expression.


Each play is designed to provoke thoughtful discussions and self-reflection, making them invaluable in both classroom and theater settings. By tackling relatable experiences, these scripts inspire young actors to bring authenticity to their performances, enriching their theatrical journey. Foster a sense of community and collaboration as students work together to portray various perspectives on relationships. Enrich your school’s drama program with these engaging plays that celebrate the power of connection and the beauty of friendship.


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HEART OF A STRANGER by Christina Hamlett HEART OF A STRANGER by Christina Hamlett

HEART OF A STRANGER by Christina Hamlett is a moving, contemporary drama that serves as one of the most poignant scripts for school plays designed for Upper Grades. Set during the December holidays in a bustling Boston coffee shop, the play centers on a young woman who is struggling to cope with the loss of her beloved sister. A seemingly chance meeting gives her a new, powerful outlook on the world and the meaning of giving. This production is a sensitive exploration of friendship and the profound subject of "the gift of life" (organ donation). Bring this heartwarming, vital discussion to your stage this holiday season. Order yours today!
  • A sensitive, heartwarming drama focused on profound contemporary issues.
  • Ideal for the December holidays, offering an alternative to traditional festive plays.
  • Large, flexible cast size (4 female, 5 male or female additional roles).
  • Concise 25-minute running time, perfect for competition or assembly performances.
  • Explores important themes of grief, friendship, and organ donation.
This play is an exceptional teaching tool, allowing high school actors to delve into complex emotional material and deliver a message that is both uplifting and critically important. The flexible casting is a huge benefit for directors working with large or unbalanced groups. The themes of hope and giving make this an unforgettable choice among serious scripts for school plays. Secure this impactful holiday drama from PLAYS Magazine today!

Why Your Group Will Love This High School Play Script

  • Emotionally Resonant Narrative: A sensitive drama focusing on modern issues like grief and hope.

  • Alternative Holiday Theme: Ideal for December performances that seek a deeper message beyond traditional festive plays.

  • Flexible Casting: Written for 4 females with 5 additional male or female roles to suit your specific group.

  • Competition Ready: A concise 25-minute running time makes it perfect for one-act competitions or school assemblies.

Educational Value: Provides an excellent platform for high school actors to explore complex emotional material.

Heart of a Stranger by Christina Hamlett is a moving, contemporary drama and one of the most poignant play scripts available for Upper Grades. Set during the bustling December holidays in a Boston coffee shop, the play centers on a young woman struggling to cope with the loss of her sister. A seemingly chance meeting provides her with a powerful new outlook on the world and the profound meaning of "the gift of life." This production offers a sensitive exploration of friendship and the vital subject of organ donation. Bring this heartwarming, essential discussion to your school’s stage this season. Order your copy today!
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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THE WALLS HAVE EARS by Sam Reisman THE WALLS HAVE EARS by Sam Reisman

THE WALLS HAVE EARS by Sam Reisman is an award-winning, powerful drama that provides timely and essential scripts for school plays focused on contemporary student issues. Winner of the 2005 PLAYS/California Student Playwriting Contest (High School), this 10-minute piece addresses the immediate consequences of a high schooler's inappropriate joke at a school assembly. It culminates in a dramatic and vital heart-to-heart conversation with the guidance counselor, making it perfect for discussing social responsibility and mental health. Bring this crucial, contemporary discussion to your stage. Subscribe to PLAYS Magazine today!
  • Winner of the PLAYS/California Student Playwriting Contest (High School).
  • Focuses on relevant and sensitive social issues for high school audiences.
  • Minimalist production required, perfect for classroom reading or competition.
  • Short, 10-minute running time.
  • Royalty-free performance rights for all current subscribers.
For drama teachers and coaches seeking material that resonates deeply with high school students, this is an indispensable resource. THE WALLS HAVE EARS provides a safe, structured medium for students to explore complex emotions, responsibility, and the power of words, directly addressing the pressure points and anxieties of the modern school environment. This powerful script is designed not just for performance, but for sparking necessary conversation. Order your access to these vital scripts for school plays from PLAYS Magazine today!
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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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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ROMEO ON THE INTERNET by Juliet Garver 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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AMAZING GRACE by Christina Hamlett 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 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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GENUS DE MILO by Christina Hamlett 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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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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MRS. JAYE by Eric Alter MRS. JAYE by Eric Alter

Upper Grades; 1 male and 1 female; 25 minutes. The poignant story of a man’s visit to his favorite teacher in the twilight of her life, set in a nursing home with flashbacks to the incredible impact she had on his life.

 
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CYRANO DE BERGERAC Adapted by Joellen Bland 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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