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The Art of Rejection: Two One Act Plays by Christian Kiley play script cover

The Art of Rejection

by Christian Kiley

R is the only letter in a sea of numbers. Always picked last for kickball, never part of the 'in' crowd, never gets the girl. What is a letter to do to get through life? An avant-garde look at the price of popularity.

Comedy Black Comedy Character Study Experimental Form Issue-Based

Average Producer Rating: 4.0 out of 5

Recommended for High Schools

At a Glance

Running Time
About 20 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
16 Characters
1 M 1 F 14 Any Gender
Set
Simple Set
Source
Part of The Art of Rejection: Two One Act Plays, a collection of 2 plays
Free Excerpt

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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.

16 Characters

  • 1 Male
  • 1 Female
  • 14 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 20 lines
    Ensemble, Team Captain, Beggar.
  • Two Any gender 18 lines
    Ensemble, Team Captain, Anti-Odd Leader.
  • Three Any gender 9 lines
    Ensemble, Cast List Spotter, Awards Host.
  • Four Any gender 13 lines
    Ensemble, Actor, Therapist.
  • Five Any gender 17 lines
    Ensemble, Actor, Nosey Relative.
  • Six Any gender 12 lines
    Ensemble, Actor, “Yep” Relative.
  • Seven Any gender 8 lines
    Ensemble, Actor.
  • Eight Any gender 7 lines
    Ensemble, Actor.
  • Nine Any gender 8 lines
    Ensemble, Actor.
  • Ten Any gender 7 lines
    Ensemble, Actor.
  • Eleven Any gender 11 lines
    Ensemble, Intense Actor.
  • Twelve Female 12 lines
    Ensemble, R’s Ex.
  • Thirteen Male 9 lines
    Ensemble, Twelve’s New Flame.
  • Fourteen Any gender 17 lines
    Ensemble, R’s Sibling, ATM.
  • Fifteen Any gender 12 lines
    Ensemble, Boss.
  • R. Any gender 44 lines
    The only letter. Constantly ridiculed.

Praise for The Art of Rejection

4 out of 5 stars
Maryam Mansoor
Marist College, Eastwood
The play was great! The boys loved it and the audience found it hilarious.

From the Drama Teacher Learning Centre

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