Pressure
by Lindsay Price
Four teenagers struggle with pressures. The Refugee, the newbie, the perfectionist and the less than perfect. Everything comes to a head the week before prom.
About 45 minutes
Times given are approximate and do not include intermissions/scene changes/breaks
14
4 M | 10 W, Plus Ensemble
Simple Set
35 pages
Not a typical "teen angst" play.
Four teenagers struggle with life. Alex is a refugee. Tera is faced with an unpopular decision when all she wants to be is popular. Penny is getting up at five in the morning just so she can accomplish all she has to do in a day. And Kyle can't live up to his parents' expectations. It is the week before the prom and for these four characters, everything is coming to a head.
This play is candid and uncompromising, with no easy answers or neat and tidy endings. The script is ideal for groups who have varying degrees of ability. There are parts for both novice and advanced actors.
Awards and Accolades
- Chapter Select Showcase at the 2006 International Thespians Festival
- Freeman Academy chosen to perform at 2007 SD One Act Play State Championship
Characters
14
4 Men, 10 Women, Plus Ensemble
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.
MALE
-
Kyle
[M]
61 lines
- Wants to be a Doctor. But does he, really? One Monologue.
-
Alex
[M]
50 lines
- Struggling to get accustomed to his new life. Two Monologues.
-
Dave
[M]
35 lines
- Knows everyone worth knowing. A dangerous date.
-
Father
[M]
20 lines
- Puts a lot of pressure on Kyle to follow in his brother’s footsteps.
FEMALE
-
Penny
[W]
74 lines
- A perfect student with a full schedule. Pressured to excel. One Monologue.
-
Tera
[W]
103 lines
- Invited to the prom by Dave. She should be thrilled, right? One Monologue.
-
Mrs. Keely
[W]
32 lines
- A supportive, kind teacher.
-
Sarah
[W]
67 lines
- Tries to support Penny as best as she can. One Monologue.
-
Ally
[W]
70 lines
- Wants to help Alex learn the ways of his new country.
-
Sam
[W]
44 lines
- Eager to date Dave in Tera’s stead.
-
Mother
[W]
19 lines
- Pressures her son to do his best.
-
Mama
[W]
19 lines
- Ailing mother of Alex.
-
Georgia
[W]
13 lines
- Penny’s academic rival.
-
Amy
[W]
13 lines
- Tells a chilling tale of what Dating Dave might mean.
-
The Mob
[A]
12 lines
- The voice of pressure itself.
- Subgenres
- Character study
- Settings
- Present day
- Dress
- Contemporary costumes
- Audience
- Teen
- Features
- Character study Movement-based
- Set
- Simple set Interior set
- Cautions
- Alcohol Adult themes
- Themes
- Friendship Illness/Health Parenting/Family Relationships Individuality Obedience Adolescence Economic issues Peer pressure Personal responsibility Self-image Sexual abuse Depression
- Other uses
- Competition Audition material Class work Scene work
- Awards & Accolades
- Plays with Awards & Accolades
Prop List
Sunglasses, Math book, Compact, Tickets, Joke book, Bag of streamers, Clipboard, Large box, Knapsack, Paper, Couple of balloons, Bowl of soup, Letter, Stack of drawings, Coin, Test paper, Tape
Production Photos
Multimedia
Related Titles
Purchase Orders accepted from US and Canadian Schools.
Info for your purchasing department.
All others must pay at the time of ordering.
Not sure what you need to order? Check out our pricing and ordering guide.
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.
Pressure
by Lindsay Price
About 45 minutes
Times given are approximate and do not include intermissions/scene changes/breaks
14
4 M | 10 W, Plus Ensemble
Simple Set
35 pages