Distance Learning by Christian Kiley - Theatrefolk

Distance Learning

Recommended for High Schools and Middle Schools

Distance Learning

by Christian Kiley

A play about trying to survive and thrive in a virtual classroom.

 About 25 minutes

Times given are approximate and do not include intermissions/scene changes/breaks

 13
13 Any Gender

Virtual Performance

Drama

Average Producer Rating:

Reviews from Past Producers

Distance Learning takes us inside the student experience of trying to survive and thrive in a virtual classroom. What’s the future of virtual classrooms? Are they the new normal? Will we ever experience the old normal again? There are no rules to help overcome feeling alone. It’s time to get class started. Won’t you join us?

This ensemble play has been written specifically to be performed on an online platform.

Click here to read production tips for this play.

13 Characters
13 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.

RULES [A] 32 lines
A student who knows, recites, and celebrates the rules.
MAESTRO [A] 45 lines
A teacher trying to have a good attitude about distance learning.
REBEL [A] 25 lines
A disruptor who is constantly trying to keep the class off task.
REENTER [A] 18 lines
A student who keeps exiting and reentering.
TALKTALK [A] 9 lines
A student who loves to tell stories about their Nana.
FREEZE [A] 8 lines
A student who keeps glitching and freezing during the video conference call.
CLOSE [A] 8 lines
A student who is almost always very close to the camera.
SCREEN [A] 11 lines
A student who has their video turned off for almost the entirety of the play.
TECHIE [A] 8 lines
A student who has all the tech gadgets.
MIRROR [A] 8 lines
A student who uses the video conference call as a chance to primp and check out their own image.
AFAR [A] 8 lines
A student who is almost always as far away from the camera as they can be.
BOOMBOMB [A] 4 lines
A person who derives a great deal of joy from interrupting video conference sessions.
SHUSH [A] 8 lines
A student who seems to fear distance learning and does not speak for most of the play.

Subgenres
Historic Issue-based

Settings
Present day

Dress
Contemporary costumes Simple costumes

Audience
All audiences

Features
Gender neutral cast Online Performance Audience participation Ensemble Multimedia Readers Theatre Student directors Variable gender breakdown

Set
Simple set

Themes
Adolescence Anxiety Illness/Health Kindness Overcoming odds Technology

Cross-Curricular Uses
Technology

Other uses
Class work Scene work

Multimedia

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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.

We accept orders worldwide using the following payment methods:
Purchase Orders accepted from US and Canadian Schools.
Info for your purchasing department.

A vignette play is a collection of short scenes on a theme. You'll love working with the variety and flexibility of the scenes. Your actors will love the fast pace and fun characters.

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