Theatrefolk - The Drama Teacher Resource Company

Poverty-Themed Play Scripts for Schools

Failure and Fortitude: The Female Edison

by Lindsay Price

Failure and fortitude are the touchstones for every inventor, but even more so for 19th century female inventors.

  • About 40 minutes
  • 1 F + 12 Any Gender, plus 3 groups (3/4/4)
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools

The Female Edison

by Lindsay Price

Margaret E. Knight was a 19th century inventor with two big but forgotten stories.

  • About 70 minutes
  • 2 F + 22 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 79 pages

Finding Jo March

by Laramie Dean

You should know right away that this is not a traditional adaptation of Little Women.

  • About 120 minutes
  • 5 M + 5 F + 1 Any Gender + 3 F or NB
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 85 pages

The First Herald Angel

by John Donald O'Shea

On the first Christmas Eve, a shepherd meets an angel who states something miraculous is about to occur. The shepherd's wife has her doubts.

  • About 25 minutes
  • 1 M + 2 F + 2 Any Gender
  • Unit Set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 15 pages

Free - Version 1

by Lindsay Price

A free picnic forces a struggling town to reconcile their belief systems with their greed.

  • About 45 minutes
  • 6 M + 10 F + 3 Any Gender
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 40 pages

Free - Version 2

by Lindsay Price

A free picnic forces a struggling town to reconcile their belief systems with their greed. More parts for girls in Version 2.

  • About 45 minutes
  • 4 M + 12 F + 2 Any Gender
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 40 pages

Humbug High: A Contemporary Christmas Carol

adapted by Lindsay Price from Charles Dickens

A modern take on the classic Dickens tale. Eddie Scrooge is a 17-year-old Bah Humbug of a guy. Till one Christmas Eve when three ghosts change his life.

  • About 70 minutes
  • 6 M + 13 F, Expandable to 11M 20F
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 63 pages

Just Girls Talking

by Robert Wing

A drama for six women that will have your audience talking long after they leave the theatre.

  • About 30 minutes
  • 6 F
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 30 pages

Little Nell and the Mortgage Foreclosure

by John Donald O'Shea

A delightful melodrama replete with broad comedy, memorable characters, and plenty of booing and hissing for the stovepipe-hat-wearing villain!

  • About 45 minutes
  • 2 M + 3 F
  • Unit Set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 30 pages

Malled: Two One Act Plays for Young Women

by Colleen Neuman

Many things happen in a mall. Heartbreak, Uncomfortable truths,True friendship, Cosmic questions with your french fries. Two plays. Great parts for girls.

  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 38 pages

Patterns and Power: The Female Edison

by Lindsay Price

How did a 12 year old girl, with little education and no experience with mechanical engineering invent a safety part for a power loom?

  • About 30 minutes
  • 2 F + 17 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 37 pages

The Pauper Princess

by Holly Beardsley inspired by Mark Twain

A retelling of Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper.

  • About 75 minutes
  • 10 M + 28 F + 34 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 71 pages

Sweep Under Rug

by Lindsay Price

In the future the issue of poverty is solved through separation and subserviance. A teen causes trouble simply because she wants to better herself.

  • About 35 minutes
  • 1 M + 3 F + 1 Any Gender
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 34 pages

Tuna Fish Eulogy

by Lindsay Price

The tragedy of a young boy's death is examined. Written in the Ladder play format the text runs in vertical columns for fuller choral work.

  • About 40 minutes
  • 1 M + 2 F + 1 Any Gender, Easily Expandable
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 40 pages

Wenceslas

by Lindsay Price

A moving interpretation of the classic carol Good King Wenceslas. With music, song, a touching message and great roles for actors of all levels.

  • About 45 minutes
  • 2 M + 2 F + 14 Any Gender, Easily Expandable
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 30 pages

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