Pressure by Lindsay Price - Theatrefolk

Pressure

Recommended for High Schools

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
4M | 10W, Plus Ensemble

Simple Set

 35 pages

Drama Character Study Choral Work Issue-Based

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
14 Characters
4M, 10W, 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

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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.

There's more. Every Theatrefolk vignette play holds the unexpected. A showcase monologue. A dramatic moment. A change in form. A left turn.

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