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HEART OF A STRANGER by Christina Hamlett 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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THE WALLS HAVE EARS by Sam Reisman 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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SOME WORDS WITH A MUMMY by Craig Sodaro 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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DEAR JOURNAL by Judy Culp 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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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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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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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.

 
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MACBETH Adapted from Shakespeare by Elizabeth Boiko Burdick 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 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 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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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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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.

 
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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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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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DRACULA by Bram Stoker and adapted by Joellen Bland 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 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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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.

 
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THE BISHOP'S CANDLESTICKS (Les Miserables) by Victor Hugo and adapted by Lewy Olfson THE BISHOP'S CANDLESTICKS (Les Miserables) by Victor Hugo and adapted by Lewy Olfson

Upper Grades; 6 male, 2 female; 25 minutes. After nineteen years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread, the Bishop's gift of stolen candlesticks allows a poor man to get a new start on life, in this adaptation of a scene from Les Miserables.

 
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LETTER FROM A STRANGER by Leslie Wolfson 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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THE TAX-FREE GIFT by Bonnie Davidson 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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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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FOR THE LOVE OF GINNY, by Joanna Evans 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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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!

 
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SHOP TILL YOU DROP! by Donna Hall 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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THANKSGIVING AT RUBINO'S by Helen Louise Miller 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 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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PELLEAS AND MELISANDE by Claude Debussy and adapted by Jesse J. Martin PELLEAS AND MELISANDE by Claude Debussy and adapted by Jesse J. Martin

Upper Grades; 4 male, 2 female, 2 male or female; 40 minutes. Two brothers share an intense love for the same melancholy woman in this classic tragedy based on Debussy's opera.

 
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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.

 
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ROMEO AND JULIET by William Shakespeare, Adapted for round-table reading by Lewy Olfson ROMEO AND JULIET by William Shakespeare, Adapted for round-table reading by Lewy Olfson

Upper Grades; 8 male, 2 female, 2 male or female; 30 minutes. The greatest love story—and tragedy—of all time.

 
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CRUSH by Samara Siskind 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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JANE EYRE, adapted by Lewy Olfson 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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THE BRAZILIAN CAT, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and adapted for round-table reading by Maurine V. Eleder THE BRAZILIAN CAT, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and adapted for round-table reading by Maurine V. Eleder

Upper Grades; 4 male, 1 female, 2 male or female; 25 minutes. In this tale of terror, a double-dealing relative will do anything to protect his interest in the family fortune.

 
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GHOST LIGHT, by Craig Sodaro GHOST LIGHT, by Craig Sodaro

Upper & Middle Grades; 7 female, 2 male; 30 minutes. Unexpected inheritance makes a young couple's dream of owning their own theatre come true. . . but ghostly occurrences may thwart their plans for a successful start.

 
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THIEF OF THE NILE, by Craig Sodaro 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 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 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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TATTOOS by Joanna Evans 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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TURNABOUT by Margaret Bunel Edwards 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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JO'S SACRIFICE, from Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, adapted by Cheryl Capshaw JO'S SACRIFICE, from Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, adapted by Cheryl Capshaw

Upper and Middle Grades; 6 female, 1 male; 20 minutes. A heartwarming holiday tale — of sacrifice, generosity, and giving to others — starring one of this classic novel's most favorite characters.

 
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STEALING CHRISTMAS by Craig Sodaro 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 ANCESTORS' BOX by Christina Hamlett 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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STANDING BY by Tracy Wells 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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PUZZLING IT OUT by Judine Brey 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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EVERYTHING'S COMING UP ROSIES by Christina Hamlett EVERYTHING'S COMING UP ROSIES by Christina Hamlett

Upper Grades; 14+ actors: 10 female, 4 male; 35 minutes. The story of a “Rosie the Riveter” and the women who joined the previously all-male workforce when the men left their jobs and joined the military to fight in World War II. Historical notes are included to give perspective to the role women played in the war effort and the jobs the women lost when the war ended and the men came home.

 
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HOW SHALL I BE LOVED? by Michael Weems HOW SHALL I BE LOVED? by Michael Weems

Upper Grades; 2 actors: 1 female, 1 male. 15 minutes. A sweet, adult conversation between siblings after their grandfather’s funeral about the love and kindness they received, without really knowing it at the time. Remember the time you won the hamburger eating contest….and you didn’t realize that your burgers were smaller than the others?

 
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ABOVE THE FOLD: THE STORY OF NELLIE BLY by Christina Hamlett ABOVE THE FOLD: THE STORY OF NELLIE BLY by Christina Hamlett

Upper & Middle Grades; 10 female, 9 male; 30 minutes. America's first female investigative reporter set the standard for the best in newspaper journalism.

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THREE TULIPS by Craig Sodaro 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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BORDERLINE by Christina Hamlett 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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THE ADVENTURE OF THE SOLITARY CYCLISTby Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted for roundtable reading or radio by Carol D. Wise THE THIRTEEN GHOSTS OF THE GIMME MINE, by Amy Green

Upper & Middle Grades. 17 actors: 9 male, 8 female; 30 minutes. Siblings get a kick out of playing tricks on the tourists in an old mining town—until the tables are turned and the tricks are on them.

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AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE, by Henrik Ibsen and adapted by Paul T. Nolan AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE, by Henrik Ibsen and adapted by Paul T. Nolan

Upper Grades; 10+ actors: 8 male, 2 female, and extras for townspeople; 30 minutes.

A courageous doctor fighting for the environmental health of his community and the safety of visitors faces violent backlash from friends and neighbors who are more interested in making money.

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