Horror Movie 102: Failing Just Got Deadlier
by Steven Stack
It’s Halloween and a new collection of teens are about to discover the perils of growing up in St. Claire while violating the rules of horror movies in Horror Movie 102: Failing Just Got Deadlier. These fast-paced scenes will frighten you, make you laugh out loud, shock you, hurt your heart and ultimately make you thankful that you don’t live in St. Claire, Minnesota, where the killing of teens in a traditional horror movie style is far too common.
All scenes can be done as standalone pieces or performed together. Easy to stage with few set, sound, or light requirements. The scares are completely theatrical and the ghosts are all in your imagination. Or are they…
Recommended for High Schools and Middle Schools
At a Glance
This Book is a Collection of 5 Plays
License the entire book, or license individual plays separately. To license a single play, click its title below.
Bean attempts to convince her boyfriend Travis to remove the ribbon around his neck. But it turns out the ribbon is more than just decorative.
A group of teens gather in a cabin where something horrible happened. As in, in the past. It's all fun and games until Kevin, a cow's head, appears.
Chris is about to go on his first date. He’s practiced the steps for success, he has his best friends as a dating model, what could go wrong? Only everything. Demons on a date are never good.
Pippa is destined to be a horror movie-style serial killer, but she could really use some help developing her skillset.
Dane is a zombie but prefers you use the term "zoman." And even though he's a zoman, he doesn't have to eat like one. You can make tofu taste like anything these days...
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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.
22 Characters
- 7 Males
- 14 Females
- 1 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.
The Ascot Ribbon
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TRAVIS Male 53 lines16, and has an affinity for his looks, Bean, his mother, and his ascot ribbon.
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BEAN Female 54 linesAlso 16, a somewhat normal teen except for her name (and the story behind it) and her odd affection for Travis.
Slash, Slash!!!
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MARVIN Male 59 lines16, the studious, kind of dorky one, a fan of horror movies. Recently started dating Sasha.
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BROOKE Female 38 lines18, the jock who’s good at everything she does. Is dating Nate because he’s quite attractive. Not one for feelings.
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SASHA Female 68 linesBrooke’s best friend, dating Marvin, also a fan of horror movies, and clearly would be the “last girl” in horror movies because she is the least threatening and most likable.
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NATE Male 36 lines17, the traditional heartthrob with nothing else to offer; dating Brooke and is Erika’s brother, though he has his doubts about this.
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ERIKA Female 28 linesThe friend who’s the least likable and most expendable of the group. Also, Nate’s sister.
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PIPPA VANDERWAY Female 93 linesA serial killer, reminiscent of 80’s Slasher films. Well, except for the fact that she’s British, wears paint-splattered overalls, has pigtails, and is terrible at it.
The Cow’s Head
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SAGE Female 37 lines14, Very headstrong and in denial due to her older brother’s death and her parents’ inability to love the one they still have. The leader of the group.
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LANDRY Female 27 lines14, the logical one of the friend group who tries to be the bridge between Sage and Kendra. Is also protective of Sage because she doesn’t seem to want to protect herself.
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KENDRA Female 33 lines13, lives her life in fairy tales because her real life is clearly no fairy tale.
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KEVIN Any gender 27 linesThe Cow’s Head, the star of a Ukrainian urban legend, oddly similar to Cinderella.
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KAREN Female 1 lineWas the older sister of Cassie, but now is merely a vessel for a virus that is keeping her alive.
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CASSIE Female 1 lineWas the younger sister of Karen, but now is merely a vessel for a virus that is keeping her alive.
The Date
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CHRIS Male 89 lines15, best friends with Ray and Felicia, who are dating. Speaking of dating, Chris has never been on a date. Until tonight.
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FELICIA Female 63 lines16, dating Ray. Likes to research the odd happenings in St. Claire. Very loyal and direct.
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RAY Male 52 lines16, dating Felicia. Sees Chris as a little brother even though he’s only a few months older. Seems to have it all together.
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JINNY Female 89 linesProbably 15. A girl who is inhumanely attractive and mysterious. Started school at St. Claire three weeks ago and is very attracted to Chris, for reasons unknown.
Tofuman
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DANE Male 51 lines17, dating Tara, died last year and is now a Zoman, half-zombie/half-human. Tends to place lots of things in his “denial box.”
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BLOOD-DAY MA-RAY Female 37 linesThe urban legend Bloody Mary, only here she rips out hearts and sings about her love of ripping out hearts.
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TARA Female 34 lines17, died last year with Dane, her boyfriend, when she gave Hook Hand back her hook. Is really embracing this Zoman thing, including the eating human part.
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PHILLIP Male 14 lines18, went on a date with Tara, rather dumb, loves playing the ukulele and being found edible.
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From the Drama Teacher Learning Centre
Theatrefolk Featured Play – Horror Movie 102: Failing Just Got Deadlier by Steven Stack
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