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Plays Magazine presents a curated selection of captivating play scripts designed specifically for high school performances. Dive into a collection of royalty-free plays tailored to engage and inspire upper-grade students in high schools. Explore a variety of genres, themes, and topics that are perfect for school productions and drama classes.


Discover high school plays that challenge actors, spark creativity, and offer unique opportunities for theatrical expression. Elevate your drama program with top-quality play scripts that cater to the dynamic and diverse interests of high school students.


Whether you are seeking plays for high school productions or looking to enhance your drama curriculum, we offer a wide range of compelling options to enrich the theatrical experience for upper-grade performers. Step into the spotlight with our premium selection of play scripts created to bring out the best in high school actors and leave a lasting impression on audiences.



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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THE SHOP GIRL'S REVENGE by Robert Downing THE SHOP GIRL'S REVENGE by Robert Downing

Upper and Middle grades; 4 female; 3 female; 1890s; 25 minutes.
A turn-of-the-century melodrama, complete with maiden-in-distress, moustache-twirling villain, and hero in disguise. . .all swirling around a pile of missing money and a long-lost daughter. And of course, it's curses, foiled again!

 
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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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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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