Skip to main content
The Art of Rejection: Two One Act Plays by Christian Kiley play script cover

The Art of Rejection: Two One Act Plays

by Christian Kiley

Rejection is a universal experience. Whether it's being picked last for a team, not getting the part in the school play, or simply feeling like you don't belong, everyone knows what it feels like to be rejected.

This collection includes two mid-size cast one-act plays that explore this theme from different angles:

  • The Art of Rejection: A stylized ensemble piece where a character named "R" struggles to exist in a world dominated by Numbers who refuse to accept a Letter.

  • Chaired: A metaphorical look at the paralyzing fear of failure, where a character named Potential is afraid to stand up and face the world.

Both plays use humour, absurdity, and vulnerability to ask the question: How do we keep going when the world tells us to stop?

Comedy Black Comedy Character Study Experimental Form Issue-Based

Recommended for High Schools

At a Glance

Cast
29 Characters
1 M 1 F 27 Any Gender
Productions
Produced by 80+ schools
Licensed by schools and youth theatres around the world
Set
Simple Set
Length
39 pages
Free Excerpt
Classroom Study Guide
Download a free Classroom Study Guide

This Book is a Collection of 2 Plays

License the entire book, or license individual plays separately. To license a single play, click its title below.

The Art of Rejection

1 M, 1 F, 14 Any Gender · Approx. 20 minutes

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.

Chaired

13 Any Gender · Approx. 20 minutes

Potential sits centre stage in a chair. At times Potential is forced to remain seated by family, teachers and friends. At other times Potential will do anything not to stand. It's better to stay in place, not move, not reach out. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is just stand up…

What to order?

Not sure what you need to order? Check out our pricing and ordering guide.

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.

29 Characters

  • 1 Male
  • 1 Female
  • 27 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 ART OF REJECTION:

  • 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.

CHAIRED:

  • Potential Any gender 70 lines
    Afraid to stand up.
  • Older Sibling Any gender 11 lines
    Bossy and controlling.
  • Teacher Any gender 11 lines
    Never gives Potential a chance.
  • Perfect Any gender 5 lines
    Can do no wrong.
  • Coach Any gender
    Doesn’t trust Potential.
  • Friend Any gender 8 lines
    Wants to help if it is convenient.
  • Critic Any gender 6 lines
    Disagrees with everything.
  • Panicked Person Any gender 7 lines
    Scared of everything.
  • Offstage Monster Any gender
    The monster’s voice. Assorted growls.
  • Offstage Voice Any gender 5 lines
    A bully with a short attention span.
  • Person in Need Any gender 6 lines
    Needs to make a “critical” phone call.
  • Motivator Any gender 114 lines
    A mediocre motivator.
  • Thought Any gender 10 lines
    The compassionate supporter.

More Plays Like The Art of Rejection: Two One Act Plays

A Box of Puppies

by Billy Houck

We can all relate to feeling small in a big world. The characters in A Box of Puppies share their insecurities, their frailties and how they cope.

Floating on a Don't Care Cloud

by Lindsay Price Canadian Author

An emotional tug of war between a sister and brother and what really happens in the world of teenage marijuana use. A vivid personification of drugs.

Layers

by Gary Rodgers Canadian Author

Step inside Robin’s world as he grapples with his conscience and his anti-conscience. And then deeper still as the writer tries to figure out an ending... which he may not be able to do if he’s not actually the writer.

The Pregnancy Project

by Lindsay Price Canadian Author

A pregnancy project turns real when Lucy's test turns pink. No statistics. No preaching. Just well-drawn characters and an engaging story.

Being Bianca: The Semi-Complete Guide

by Alan Haehnel

Bianca wants to help everyone be the best they can be. Well, she wants everyone to be just like her. Because what's better than being Bianca? Huge cast comedy.

Free - Version 2

by Lindsay Price Canadian Author

A free picnic forces a struggling town to reconcile their belief systems with their greed. More parts for girls in Version 2.

From the Drama Teacher Learning Centre

Themed Play Lists

Theatrefolk’s Top 10: Recommended High School Plays

Time for a Tfolk Top Ten Plays For….High School. We’re a company that focuses on high school performers so the majority of our scripts are high school plays. But we know the score: you want a play...
Themed Play Lists

Theatrefolk’s Top 10: Large Cast Plays

Time for a Tfolk Top Ten Plays For…Large Casts! Maybe your policy is to give a part to everyone who auditions. Or maybe your drama club is bursting with students. Either way, you need plays with a...
Choosing a Show

What Play Do I Do Now?

Some drama teachers have their whole production year figured out before the first day of school. If you’re doing a big musical, you need to get that paperwork started way in advance. Or maybe you...
Themed Play Lists

Social Issue Plays for High Schools / Middle Schools

Our website lists all of our plays with social issue themes but it struck me that they’re only lumped as “issue plays” without a good guide to sorting out which title addresses which issue. So I’ve...
We accept
Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Google Pay, and Apple Pay
We accept school purchase orders too. Info for your purchasing department
How can we help? Open chat