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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!

Issue-Based Plays

Issue-Based Plays

Step into the world of issue-based plays, where relevant and relatable themes take centre stage.

From everyday challenges to pressing societal issues, these stories spark conversations, ignite empathy, and invite your audience to ponder the world we live in.

Get ready for thought-provoking drama that goes beyond the stage!

Alienation / Feeling Alone In The World

Among Friends and Clutter

by Lindsay Price

This character-driven piece explores the most important relationships in life: friends, family, and love.

  • About 60 minutes
  • 3 M + 4 F, Easily Expandable
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 43 pages

Anonymous

by Allison Green

Anonymous is a story of every teenager: trying to fit in, trying to belong, trying to fall in love. It's hard to be an individual when you're trying to survive.

  • About 30 minutes
  • 1 M + 3 F + 15 Any Gender
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 32 pages

Apostrophe's

by Bradley Hayward

A silly comedy about how the misuse of apostrophes are ruining the lives of students. Flexible casting, audience participation, and fun staging.

  • About 40 minutes
  • 13 Any Gender
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 31 pages

The Art of Rejection: Two One Act Plays

by Christian Kiley

R is the only letter in a sea of numbers. Potential sits in a chair. These two one acts - Art of Rejection and Chaired can be performed separately or together.

  • 1 M + 1 F + 27 Any Gender
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 39 pages
This collection contains The Art of Rejection and Chaired

The Art of Rejection

by Christian Kiley

An avant-garde look at the price of popularity.

  • About 20 minutes
  • 1 M + 1 F + 14 Any Gender
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools

Ashland Falls

by Steven Stack

Who will pay the price when the real world and the play collide?

  • About 90 minutes
  • 3 M + 11 F
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 82 pages

Baalzebub

by Rachel Atkins

Will they establish civility or fall apart?

  • About 80 minutes
  • 1 M + 11 F, Easily expandable
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 71 pages

Baalzebub - One Act Version

by Rachel Atkins

Will they establish civility or fall apart?

  • About 35 minutes
  • 11 F, Easily expandable
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 34 pages

The Blue and the Grey

by RS Paulette

This award-winning piece is haunting, exhilarating and theatrical.

  • About 35 minutes
  • 3 M + 4 F, Plus Students
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 34 pages

Boat

by Lindsay Price

In this one-act middle school vignette play, characters come face-to-face with the fact that there are other people in their boat. Some are different. Some only seem different.

  • About 35 minutes
  • 4 M + 7 F + 3 Any Gender, Expandable to 32
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for Middle Schools
  • 35 pages

The Bright Blue Mailbox Suicide Note

by Lindsay Price

Jake finds a suicide note in his mailbox. Is it real? Is it a joke? Jake is determined to find out but instead learns a secret he didn't want to know.

  • About 45 minutes
  • 4 M + 5 F + 2 Any Gender
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 34 pages

The Burgundy Letter

by Kirk Shimano

Hester90 is publicly shamed and shunned for a racial slur against another student.

  • About 50 minutes
  • 1 M + 2 F + 6 Any Gender, plus 0-100 “The Anonymous” characters
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 39 pages

Chemo Girl and Other Plays

by Christian Kiley

A collection of plays that examine the impact of cancer as seen through the eyes of teenagers. Can be performed as a full length or one acts.

  • About 90 minutes
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 70 pages
This collection contains Chemo Girl, The Other Room, Red Rover, and Waiting Room

Chicken. Road.

by Lindsay Price

A group of teenagers grapple with unanswered questions as they try to understand why someone who has it all would kill themselves. Powerful monologues.

  • About 45 minutes
  • 1 M + 1 F + 13 Any Gender
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 34 pages

Chicken. Road. Competition Version

by Lindsay Price

A competition-length version of Chicken. Road. by Lindsay Price

  • About 35 minutes
  • 15 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 25 pages

Commence

by Christian Kiley

A group of students want to regain normalcy and recoup what they’ve lost as seniors: prom, school play, graduation. But nothing is normal.

  • About 15 minutes
  • 1 M + 1 F + 9 Any Gender
  • Online Performance
  • Recommended for High Schools

darklight

by Lindsay Price

An examination of depression and anxiety in teens.

  • About 35 minutes
  • 2 M + 4 F + 10 Any Gender, Plus THOUGHTS (10 to 20 actors)
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 38 pages

A Deep, Poetic Journey Into Something

by Forrest Musselman

Jane wants to break out of her box. Colour cows green and the sky purple. She wants a deep poetic journey into something. The problem is she has no idea where to start.

  • About 30 minutes
  • 3 M + 4 F + 6 Any Gender
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 25 pages

Distance Learning

by Christian Kiley

A play about trying to survive and thrive in a virtual classroom.

  • About 25 minutes
  • 13 Any Gender
  • Virtual Performance
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools

Emotional Baggage

by Lindsay Price

Seven strangers meet in a train station. Instead of luggage, they all carry their "emotional baggage." The most unique play we sell - it has no dialogue.

  • About 30 minutes
  • 4 M + 4 F
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 27 pages

Everyman

translated by Lindsay Price from Everyman by Anonymous

A modern translation of the original text

  • About 30 minutes
  • 17 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 24 pages

Friend Request

by Bradley Hayward

Thanks to a series of ill-fated friend requests, a doctored photo of a student spreads like wildfire among a group of teenagers.

  • About 10 minutes
  • 3 M + 4 F
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools

The Happiness Shop

by Lindsay Price

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

  • About 35 minutes
  • 6 M + 9 F + 13 Any Gender
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 43 pages

Have You Heard?

by Krista Boehnert

This monologue-based play explores what happens when rumours and secrets spin out of control. What makes a secret more powerful: when it's true or a lie?

  • About 45 minutes
  • 2 M + 3 F
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 24 pages

Hoodie

by Lindsay Price

This middle school vignette play examines self-image and appearance.

  • About 35 minutes
  • 4 M + 7 F, Expandable to 18F 13M
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for Middle Schools
  • 38 pages

Huge Hands

by Billy Houck

A scrawny teenaged boy envisions the perfect way to fight back.

  • About 10 minutes
  • 1 M + 1 F + 8 Any Gender
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools

Layers

by Gary Rodgers

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.

  • About 35 minutes
  • 2 M + 1 F + 14 Any Gender, Doubling Possible
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 36 pages

Moonbow Miraculous

by Kirk Shimano

If someone has a secret they’ve been clutching to their heart, the moonbow’s glow will give them the courage to share their true selves

  • About 40 minutes
  • 14 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 33 pages

Moonbow Miraculous: Competition-Length Version

by Kirk Shimano

If someone has a secret they’ve been clutching to their heart, the moonbow’s glow will give them the courage to share their true selves

  • About 20 minutes
  • 8 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 21 pages

One Hundred Lies

by Alan Haehnel

In this poignant comedy, Liz Nostrand presents her life as a competition: 100 significant lies told by and to Liz. But what about the lies she's told herself?

  • About 30 minutes
  • 5 M + 10 F, Doubling Possible
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 27 pages

Pandemic Pancake

by Lindsay Price

How will you respond to this evolving new world?

  • About 35 minutes
  • 34 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools

Passing Period Purgatory

by Christian Kiley

Sometimes the hardest part of school is getting from one class to the next.

  • About 25 minutes
  • 15 Any Gender + 1 Non-Binary
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 26 pages

The Pretty Princess Dollhouse for Pretty Princesses

by Emma Fonseca Halverson

Gabi is suffering from metaphoric asthma. The walls are closing in and she can’t breathe.

  • About 20 minutes
  • 2 F
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 16 pages

The Redemption of Gertie Greene: Competition Version

by Taryn Temple

A competition-length adaptation of The Redemption of Gertie Greene by Taryn Temple

  • About 30 minutes
  • 4 M + 4 F + 8 Any Gender, Easily Expandable
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for Middle Schools
  • 23 pages

Scenes from a Quarantine

by Lindsay Price

This vignette style play can be easily performed using an online platform and has a variety of scenes to address all student skill levels.

  • About 25 minutes
  • 21 Any Gender, Minimum of 4
  • Online Performance
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools

Sixteen in 10 Minutes or Less

by Bradley Hayward

The lives of seven teenagers become intertwined in this humorous and oftentimes bittersweet collection of ten minute plays. Multiple lengths available.

  • About 100 minutes
  • 4 M + 5 F + 3 Any Gender, Expandable to 13M+17F+3 Any Gender
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 88 pages

Split

by Bradley Hayward

Children of divorce are united through humor in this honest and theatrical look at the day to day reality of growing up in a family that's been torn apart.

  • About 35 minutes
  • 2 M + 3 F + 4 Any Gender, Easily Expandable to 28
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 35 pages

Stereotype High

by Jeffrey Harr

High school is full of stereotypes – or is it?

  • About 105 minutes
  • 9 M + 9 F + 4 Any Gender, Plus onstage crew
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 107 pages

The Super Non-Heroes

by Taryn Temple

Charlie may not be a superhero, but when she digs deep she discovers her unique talents to save the day.

  • About 60 minutes
  • 3 M + 7 F + 13 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for Middle Schools
  • 50 pages

The Super Non-Heroes: Competition Version

by Taryn Temple

A competition-length version of The Super Non-Heroes by Taryn Temple

  • About 35 minutes
  • 3 M + 2 F + 9 Any Gender, Plus Other Students and Evil Sidekicks
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for Middle Schools
  • 33 pages

They Eat Sunshine, Not Zebras

by Dara Murphy

Nothing stands in the way of the green grass. Until they wake up one morning to see a yellow dandelion in their midst.

  • About 25 minutes
  • 11 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 30 pages

Tough City, Prone to Rain

by Alan Haehnel

A noir play featuring the ace detectives from the Broadly Speaking Detective Agency.

  • About 35 minutes
  • 10 M + 5 F + 10 Any Gender
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools
  • 29 pages

Tuna Fish Eulogy

by Lindsay Price

The tragedy of a young boy's death is examined. Written in the Ladder play format the text runs in vertical columns for fuller choral work.

  • About 40 minutes
  • 1 M + 2 F + 1 Any Gender, Easily Expandable
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools
  • 40 pages

Waiting Room

by Christian Kiley

A group of teenage cancer patients wait to hear about their progress. A bond is created as they discover their similarities and eccentricities.

  • About 25 minutes
  • 4 M + 7 F + 1 Any Gender, Doubling Possible
  • Simple Set
  • Recommended for High Schools

Wellness Check

by Christian Kiley

Three characters struggle with wellness in uncertain times.

  • About 15 minutes
  • 3 Any Gender
  • Online Performance
  • Recommended for High Schools & Middle Schools

who are we, who we are

by Forrest Musselman

Addresses anxiety and depression in teens.

  • About 30 minutes
  • 3 M + 14 F
  • Simple set
  • Recommended for High Schools