Box

Sometimes we choose the way the world sees us. Black box - indestructible. Jewelry box - plain on the outside, shiny on the inside. Sometimes our box is defined by others - our parents, our friends, our enemies. A box built by others can feel small, confined, impossible.

How do we handle the boxes imposed upon us because of our gender? Our race? From peer pressure? From parent pressure? Do we have to live with our box for the rest of our lives? Can we change?

Box is a middle school vignette play with flexible casting. It can be expanded for a large cast or reduced to a cast of 10 with doubling. Excellent small scene and monologue opportunities.

» Box is now available in Spanish! Click here for details. «

Dramedy Issue-Based Movement-based Vignettes

Average Producer Rating: 5.0 out of 5

This is a vignette play!

Recommended for Middle Schools

Running Time

About 30 minutes

Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes

Cast

18 Characters

3 M 6 F 9 Any Gender

Set

Simple set

Length

35 pages

Production Tips

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Free Excerpt

Classroom Study Guide

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Performance Royalty Fees

Royalty fees apply to all performances whether or not admission is charged. Any performance in front of an audience (e.g. an invited dress rehearsal) is considered a performance for royalty purposes.

Exemption details for scenes and monologues for competition.

18 Characters

3 Males
6 Females
9 Any Gender

Characters in this play are currently identified as male or female. Directors are welcome to assign any gender (binary or non-binary) to any character and modify pronouns accordingly.

One Any gender 15 lines

Andrea, Claudia, Dori, Group A
Two Any gender 9 lines

The Voice, Rumour 3, Harper, Group A
Three Any gender 9 lines

Kasey, Lane, Group A, Cool
Four Any gender 9 lines

Hoax, Justice, Group A
Five Any gender 15 lines

Secrets, Tense, Group A
Six Any gender 8 lines

Jonah, Jumpy, Group A
Seven Any gender 12 lines

Maren, Amy, Shaky, Group B
Eight Any gender 10 lines

Patrick, Still, Group B
Nine Any gender 8 lines

Whisper, Student, Brenna, Group B
Ten Any gender 10 lines

Tattle, Student, Group B, Touchy
Eleven Any gender 7 lines

Hugh, Tom, Group B
Twelve Any gender 5 lines

Hearsay, Peace, Group B
Thirteen Any gender 6 lines

Marshall, Calm, Group C
Fourteen Any gender 6 lines

Rayna, Drama, Diamond, Group C
Fifteen Any gender 5 lines lines

Deputy, Rumour 1, Charlie, Group C
Sixteen Any gender 3 lines

Erin, Rumour 2, Stone
Seventeen Any gender 6 lines

Commentator 1, Ease, Group C
Eighteen Any gender 3 lines

Commentator 2, Taylor, Group C; 1 monologue

Praise for Box

Erika Dyk

Beulah High School

We had a fun time putting on this production and received much good feedback about how our audience appreciated the message.

Jesica Garrou

Greely Middle School

This play was perfect for a Zoom production with middle school kids who are literally in boxes- video boxes- discovering their personalities. It was enough of a challenge to feature some kids and easy enough for that kid that wanted a "small part to just try."

Marla Johnson

Eudora Middle School

The students enjoy playing a variety of characters and the adults in the audience feel that it presents a great message about being who you are. One Facebook comment even read, "All middle school students should see this play."

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