Winner of the 2005 PLAYS/California Student Playwriting Contest, Talk to Me! by Daniella Hicks and Estefania Morales is a touching contemporary drama perfect for directors seeking impactful middle school play scripts. The story features a heartfelt conversation between two sisters—one in high school and one in middle school—as they navigate the complexities of their evolving relationship. This 10-minute piece is a masterclass in realistic dialogue and emotional depth, offering young actresses a chance to explore the bond of sisterhood in a way that feels authentic and relatable. Bring this award-winning story to your stage. Order yours today!

• Award-Winning Writing: Recognized by the PLAYS/California Student Playwriting Contest for its excellence.

• Relatable Subject Matter: Explores the universal dynamics of sibling relationships and growing up.

• Minimalist Production: A contemporary setting with only two characters makes it easy to stage in any environment.

• Acting Showcase: Ideal for two strong female performers to demonstrate their emotional range and chemistry.

• Efficient Length: A 10-minute running time is perfect for drama festivals, classroom workshops, or showcases.

Directors looking for middle school play scripts that move beyond broad comedy often struggle to find material that treats younger teenagers with maturity. Talk to Me! provides that rare opportunity, offering a script written with the insight of student playwrights who truly understand the voices of their generation. It’s an intimate, powerful look at the small moments that define a family, making it an unforgettable choice for your next production. Start rehearsals with Plays Magazine today!

• A hilarious modern spoof of classic fairy tale characters and TV talk shows.
• Short, 10-minute running time—perfect for competition, drama festivals, or class time filler.
• Large, flexible cast size (5 female, 1 male, 2 male or female roles).
• Ideal for Middle and Lower Grades.
• Royalty-free performance rights for all current subscribers.

A LOAN FOR COLUMBUS by Inez Carvalho is a brilliant one-act play perfect for Middle Grades looking for engaging scripts for school plays. This clever comedy takes you back to the 15th century, reimagining the famed explorer’s quest for funding. The plot centers on a bold explorer’s meeting with a skeptical bank loan officer that goes poorly, only to end with a surprising lunch date with the Queen. The rest, as they say, is history! This short, impactful piece is ideal for classroom presentations and youth theatre. Spark imagination in your students—subscribe to PLAYS Magazine now!

• Historically-inspired comedy perfect for Middle Grades.
• A short, 25-minute runtime ideal for festivals or class work.
• Features a small, focused cast of 2 male and 2 female roles
  
• Setting: 15th Century.
• Royalty-free performance rights for all current subscribers.

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 a touch of magic to a modern-day dilemma with The Stockbroker and the Fairy Godmother by Glenda Leznoff. This charming and relatable short play is an ideal middle school play script for classrooms or small drama groups. The story follows a hardworking, busy father who has lost sight of what truly matters. Enter a "thoroughly modern" fairy godmother who uses her wit and magic to help him realize the vital importance of spending time with his daughter. It is a heartwarming tale that balances humor with a powerful message about family and priorities. Order yours today!

• Contemporary Theme: A modern twist on the classic fairy godmother trope that resonates with today's families.

• Intimate Cast: Features just 2 roles (1 male, 1 female), making it perfect for focused acting exercises or small-scale performances.

• Meaningful Message: Encourages discussions about work-life balance and the value of personal connections.

• Quick Performance Time: At just 15 minutes, it fits easily into a class period, assembly, or multi-play showcase.

• Easy to Stage: Requires minimal sets and props, ideal for schools with limited resources or touring productions.

Drama teachers searching for a middle school play script that offers depth without requiring a massive ensemble will find The Stockbroker and the Fairy Godmother to be a perfect fit. The play provides a wonderful opportunity for two actors to explore character development and comedic timing while delivering a story that leaves the audience reflecting on their own busy lives. It’s a sweet, impactful production that proves you don’t need a large stage to tell a big story. Start your production with Plays Magazine today!

Experience a hilarious twist on a literary classic with The "True" Story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This reading play is designed to be performed with a heavy emphasis on comedic timing and creative sound effects, spoofing the original tale of horror and suspense. It’s an excellent way to introduce students to Victorian literature while keeping the mood light, engaging, and absolutely ridiculous.

Bring some spooky fun to your classroom—download this script today!

Features

• Comedic Spoof: A lighthearted take on the classic horror story that students find hilarious.

• Sound Effect Focus: Designed as a reading play that encourages student creativity with Foley sounds.

• Large Cast: 15 speaking roles (7M, 5F, 3 flexible) to ensure plenty of participation.

• Target Audience: Perfect for Middle Grade students.

Drama teachers often look for school play scripts that can bridge the gap between classic literature and modern humor. This spoof allows students to explore the famous themes of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde without the intensity of a traditional drama, making it accessible and high-energy. By focusing on the reading play format, you can sharpen your students' vocal acting and coordination as they sync their lines with wacky sound effects for a truly memorable performance.

Unlock this clever spoof and hundreds of other scripts with a Plays Magazine subscription today!

Specs

• Author: Bruce Berger

• Genre: Comedy / Spoof / Literary Adaptation

• Run Time: Approximately 20 minutes

• Format: Digital Download (Subscribers Only)

• Royalties: Royalty-free with an active subscription

Take a trip through time with History Idol by Kate Wagner, a hilarious spoof of a popular TV talent show. This clever script is one of our most popular plays for school, featuring six of the most famous quotes in history—delivered by figures like Abraham Lincoln, Neil Armstrong, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It’s a brilliant way for teachers to combine social studies with the performing arts, making historical education both interactive and unforgettable. Start your school play subscription today to bring these legendary voices to your classroom or stage!

Features

• Target Grade Levels: Suited for Middle and Lower Grades.

• Cast Size: 6 female, 4 male, 1 flexible role (Terry), and as many extras as you need.

• Performance Time: A full 20-minute production.

• Curriculum Link: Celebrates historical figures including JFK, Lou Gehrig, and Chief Joseph.

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.

Stomp back in time with The Prehistoric Follies by Jane Tesh, a roaringly fun script that turns the Ice Age into a talent show stage. This is a standout choice among plays for school for its ability to blend entertainment with educational facts about dinosaurs and extinct reptiles. As students cheer for their favorite prehistoric performers, they’ll be learning science and history in the most engaging way possible. It’s a prehistoric party that’s perfect for science-themed assemblies or end-of-year drama projects. Secure your school play subscription today and get ready for a "megafauna" performance!

Features

• Target Grade Levels: Suited for Middle and Lower Grades.

• Cast Size: 3 male, 2 female, plus as many male and female extras as desired.

• Performance Time: A fast and fun 10-minute runtime.

• Genre: Comedy / Educational / Skit.

Get ready for a hilarious, high-stakes classroom adventure with The Bubble Gum Escapade. When a student borrows a rare, valuable coin from Grandfather’s collection, things go from bad to worse as the coin ends up stuck to the underside of a cafeteria table. This relatable, fast-paced comedy is perfect for school performances, capturing the frantic and funny moments of childhood mishaps.

Stick with a winner—order this script for your class today!

Features

• Engaging Plot: A relatable trouble-at-school comedy that keeps students interested.

• Flexible Ensemble: Roles for 6 main characters plus as many extras as your class needs.

• Target Audience: Ideal for Middle and Lower Elementary grades.

• Performance Ready: A brisk 15-minute runtime that fits perfectly into school assemblies.

Every drama teacher knows the struggle of finding plays for elementary students that are actually funny and relatable to kids today. The Bubble Gum Escapade provides school play scripts that allow students to play characters they understand, in a setting they know well. By performing this sticky situation, your students will build teamwork and comedic timing while having a total blast on stage.

Access this script and hundreds more with a Plays Magazine subscription today!

Specs

• Author: Jo Ann Memming

• Genre: Comedy / Contemporary

• Run Time: Approximately 15 minutes

• Format: Digital Download (Subscribers Only)

• Royalties: Royalty-free with an active subscription

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

Lower Grades; 20 male or female; 15 minutes.

Puns, jokes, and music make math come alive in this clever skit.

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.

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.

Step into the world of nursery rhyme investigation with CSI: Mother Goose Land by Jane Tesh. This clever and engaging script asks the ultimate question: Did Humpty Dumpty really fall, or was he pushed? Perfect for teachers looking for plays for school that involve a large cast, this mystery brings together a host of familiar fairy tale characters in a "whodunit" format that keeps students and audiences guessing until the very end. It’s an ideal choice for elementary or middle school drama programs aiming to spark creativity and critical thinking. Secure your school play subscription today to access this and hundreds of other royalty-free scripts!

Features

• Target Grade Levels: Suited for Middle and Lower Grades.

• Flexible Cast Size: Features roles for 7 females, 6 males, and several gender-neutral parts (Cat, King's Horses, King's Men).

• Performance Time: A concise 10–15 minute runtime, perfect for assemblies or class projects.

• Genre: Mystery/Melodrama with a comedic fairy-tale twist.

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.

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.

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.

Celebrate the magic of the holiday season with Squeaknibble's Christmas by Helen Louise Miller. This charming and festive script is a perfect choice for educators looking for plays for school that capture the wonder of Christmas. The story follows a skeptical little mouse named Squeaknibble who, after a chance meeting with Master Cat, discovers that the spirit of Santa Claus is more real than he ever imagined. It is an ideal performance piece for younger students, offering a sweet message about faith and friendship. Start your school play subscription today to access this holiday classic and many others!

Features

• Target Grade Levels: Specifically written for Lower Grades.

• Cast Size: 2 male, 3 female, and 5 male or female roles.

• Performance Time: A delightful 15-minute runtime.

• Theme: Christmas, wonder, and unlikely friendships.

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.

Middle Grades; 20 male and female; 15 minutes.
Beloved nursery rhyme character and the Big Bad Wolf square off in a Mother Goose Land election.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Middle Grades. 5 female, 4 male; 30 minutes.
Deputy works to find his boss the perfect match.

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.

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.

Middle and Lower Grades; 11 actors flexible male and female; 25 minutes.
Students attempt to recreate authentic Thanksgiving dinner—without using modern-day ingredients.