Facebook Pixel Skip to main content

đź“ŁSCRIPT SALE! Treat yourself to an easier Fall. Save 30% on 5+ perusal scripts with code SPRING30 before May 3 and head into summer stress-free.

Learn more
The Butterfly Queen

The Butterfly Queen

by Christian Kiley

One teacher protects her class from danger. One bystander helps someone timid overcome a fear. One stranger saves another from a burning building.

We all have the capacity to put others before ourselves regardless of the consequences. That is the theme of The Butterfly Queen.

A touching ensemble piece where sacrifice is as simple as a pair of wings.

Drama Issue-Based Movement-based

Average Producer Rating:

Recommended for High Schools

Running Time
About 25 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
19 Characters
3 M4 F12 Any Gender
Set
Simple set
Length
19 pages
Free Excerpt
Classroom Study Guide
Download a free Classroom Study Guide

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.

19 Characters
3 M, 4 F, 12 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.

Teacher (Miss Victoria) [F] 29 lines
A brave and selfless teacher. Her lessons reverberate through the lives of her students.
Greg [M] 21 lines
An inquisitive student. Sometimes disruptive, but never boring.
Madison [F] 1 line
A girl in Miss Victoria’s class.
Donna [F] 1 line
Another girl in Miss Victoria’s class.
Wasp [M] 19 lines
The ever-present antagonist. A threat to caterpillars everywhere.
Students 1-17: Miss Victoria’s Students. They help those around them however they can.
Student #1 [A] 2 lines
Student #2 [A] 1 line
Student #3 [A] 1 line
Student #4 [A] 2 lines
Student #5 [A] 7 lines
Student #6 [A] 1 line
Student #7 [A] 11 lines
Student #8 [A] 21 lines
Student #9 [A] 1 line
Student #10 [A] 1 line
Student #11 [A] 1 line
Student #12 [A] 1 line
Student #13 [A] 1 line
Student #14 [A] 1 line
Student #15 [A] 1 line
Student #16 [A] 1 line
Student #17 [A] 1 line
Pedestrian [A] 3 lines
Get away from him! He’s walking here!
Dad [A] 7 lines
Caught up in an argument.
Mom [A] 7 lines
Just wants the argument to stop.
Child [A] 0 lines
Caught between the two parents.
Kid [A] 5 lines
Just a regular kid. Doesn’t want trouble.
Sidekick 1 & 2 [A] 1, 1 lines
Repeats the bully’s sentences for dramatic effect.
Persons 1-3: Caught in, or witness to a burning building. Caught a glimpse of a person with… wings?
Person 1 [A] 7 lines
Person 2 [A] 4 lines
Person 3 [A] 5 lines
Timid [A] 11 lines
Has trouble crossing the street.
Worker [A] 4 lines
Tries their best, despite criticism.
Criticals 1-8:If they can’t say anything nice, why say anything at all?
Critical 1 [A] 2 lines
Critical 2 [A] 1 line
Critical 3 [A] 1 line
Critical 4 [A] 1 line
Critical 5 [A] 1 line
Critical 6 [A] 2 lines
Critical 7 [A] 1 line
Critical 8 [A] 2 lines
Jumper [A] 8 lines
A desperate person, at the brink of the abyss.
Onlookers
No lines. Played by ensemble.

Praise for The Butterfly Queen

Carol Moncriffe
Quail Valley Middle School
The kids loved the way the playwright euphemized the sensitive topics and the actors loved their ability to interpret with different movement.
Kathleen Switzer
El Dorado
This is a beautiful show that allows some really wonderful artistic work to be done. My students loved the metaphorical nature of the show.

More Plays Like The Butterfly Queen

Funhouse

by Lindsay Price

Funhouse

This middle school play looks at the bullied, the bully, and the bystander through mostly non-verbal vignettes.

Body Body

by Lindsay Price

Body Body

Madeline has body issues. So much so that her different body parts are coming to life and talking back. But Madeline is tired of feeling bad about her body.

Clowns with Guns (A Vaudeville)

by Christopher Evans

Clowns with Guns (A Vaudeville)

The question everyone’s asking is “Am I walking out alive today?”

The Happiness Shop

by Lindsay Price

The Happiness Shop

Why aren't middle school students full of smiles, hugs and hi-fives? They’re too young to have problems.

Agatha Rex: Competition Version

adapted by Lindsay Price from Antigone by Sophocles

Agatha Rex: Competition Version

A competition-length adaptation of Agatha Rex by Lindsay Price

Power Play

by Lindsay Price

Power Play

The realities and the stereotypes of school violence. Not just the school shooting, but harassment and bullying. Violence is about power. So is high school.

From the Drama Teacher Learning Centre

Theatrefolk’s Top Program-Building Plays
New Drama Teachers

Theatrefolk’s Top Program-Building Plays

Time for a Tfolk Top Plays List For….Building a Theatre Program. You’ve had a large group of seniors graduate. You’re starting at a new school that doesn’t have a theatre program You’re taking over...
Theatrefolk’s Top 10: Competition Pieces
Featured Plays

Theatrefolk’s Top 10: Competition Pieces

Time for a Tfolk Top Ten Plays About…Competition Pieces. You want winning plays. You want plays that fit competition rules. You want something that’s going to be easy to stage if you’re performing...
Social Issue Plays for High Schools / Middle Schools
Teaching Drama

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

In addition to the above payment methods, Purchase Orders are accepted from US and Canadian Schools.

Info for your purchasing department