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When we stop looking inward, we start to see who’s really in the boat with us. Boat is a powerful middle school vignette play about empathy, connection, and realizing we’ve never been alone. Click to learn more!

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The Hope and Heartache Diner

The Hope and Heartache Diner

by Lindsay Price

Diners are a special place. You can get your coffee, fall in love, and find light when the world is dark. Duke’s is a family business - four generations strong.

Felix wants one last hurrah before leaving for college. She’s doing the full run - open to close - just like her grandpa did when he was a teenager. But why? Everyone knows Felix can barely wipe tables. Why is she trying so hard to connect? And what happens when Felix’s parents announce they’re selling the diner?

A wonderful character piece with parts for everyone.

Comedy

Average Producer Rating:

Also available in a one-act version here.

Recommended for High Schools

About 70 minutes
Times given are approximate and do not include intermissions/scene changes/breaks
16 Characters
6 M | 7 F | 3 Any Gender
Unit set
66 pages

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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
6 M, 7 F, 3 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.

FELIX BROWN [A] 190 lines
(17) A teen with a big imagination, a big heart, but also a little self-centred.
SAM BROWN [M] 57 lines
(53) Felix’ dad. Loves to feed people. He solves problems with food. Plays himself as a teen and an adult. Married to…
NELL BROWN [F] 58 lines
(45) (Nelka Rolek) Nell is practical, stern but filled with love. Plays herself as a teen and an adult.
LOO BROWN [A] 68 lines
(19) Lucja (Lubomir if male). Loo is confident and knows what she wants. Can be male or female.
WIKI BROWN [F] 8 lines
(15) Wikoria. Timid. Loud places scare her. She bakes and is home schooled.
RAT [A] 79 lines
(19) Rat is rough around the edges, to the point that violence is always just under the surface. But she’s working on it. She has plans for the future. Can be male or female.
MISSION [F] 84 lines
(17) Mission is a southern belle with an unstable past. In the present she is bright and bubbly. But don’t cross her.
Earl [M] 53 lines
Felix’s Great-grandfather. A jokester. A ghost that purposefully looks as he did as a teenager.
Betty [F] 64 lines
Felix’s Great-grandmother. A sweetheart with smarts. A ghost that purposefully looks as she did as a teenager.
Felix Sr. [M] 62 lines
Felix’ grandfather. A ladies’ man as a teen, married once and never again after his wife died young. He and Felix were together every day of Felix's life. He is the source for all of Felix's stories.
The Diners
BLT [M] 7 lines
CHOPPER [M] 7 lines
STEW [M] 4 lines
JELLY [F] 4 lines
LADYBUG [F] 4 lines lines
SUNNY [F] 4 lines
The DINERS also play CUSTOMERS
RAINE 6 lines
HAMIL 14 lines
MS. BRONSTEIN 6 lines
LOST 21 lines
SHRUG 16 lines
ASHLEY 16 lines
AMBER 3 lines
ERIC 11 lines
MAUDE 13 lines
MS GILLMAN 15 lines
MILO 14 lines
DONNIE 33 lines
REBECCA 19 lines
AVERY 22 lines
SHANNON 35 lines
JAENA 23 lines
DEAN 28 lines
LIAM 31 lines
COOPER 34 lines
The DINERS also play WORKERS
PAULA 27 lines
BRENDA 14 lines
CRYSTAL 8 lines
FALCON 7 lines
ANNABELL 17 lines

Praise for The Hope and Heartache Diner

Brandy Brewer
Brookland High School
Absolutely loved this show! Script is perfectly written!
Sara Ghazikhanian
Rancho Cotate High School
The students loved it, and it got rave reviews from staff and audience members!

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From the Drama Teacher Learning Centre

A Comedic Character Experience: The Hope and Heartache Diner

A Comedic Character Experience: The Hope and Heartache Diner

A Deep-Dive into Characterization: The Hope and Heartache Diner

A Deep-Dive into Characterization: The Hope and Heartache Diner

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