One-Act Comedies

THE CHRISTMAS SKETCHES

Comedy  |  60 - 75 min

Cast of 10+ Any Gender

Recommended as a Community Holiday Show

Themes: the unabashed joy of the holiday season

A fun-filled series of non-religions sketches to celebrate the Christmas season! An absolute crowd-pleaser that is easily adaptable. 

Sketches include an alternative to Elf on the Shelf, a Christmas Telenovela, a Christmas Tree who just wants a drink of water, an increasingly chaotic retelling of A Christmas Carol, and the secret history of gingerbread cookies that may or may not involve the Queen of England. 

If you're looking for a joyful, unforgettable community show, this is it!

DRAMA CLASS IS SO STUPID!

Comedy  |  25 - 30 min

Cast of 13 - 26 Any Gender + 1 Adult

Recommended for Children's Theatre

Themes: facing your fears, theatre really is for everyone!

A shy kid, a jock, a science nerd and a big mouth all think their drama class is a waste of their time. Fortunately, a gaggle of theatre goblins arrive to show the four doubters "the practical application of theatre." 

The science nerd and big mouth learn that theatre can help make them a more effective doctor or profitable boss, and the shy kid and jock discover there's not much difference between acting and being a crazy sports fan. 

A terrific show to introduce both students and parents to the benefits of a theatre education.

THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR

Comedy/Satire  |  35-40 min

Cast of 13 -15

Recommended for Grades 6-12

Themes: mistaken identity, the trappings of greed, don't judge a book by its cover

When a mysterious stranger arrives in a small village, the lives of the corrupt townsfolk are thrown into disarray in this raucous retelling of the classic Russian farce. 

While the stranger is actually the spoiled heiress who has run off with a satchel full of money, the mayor and his cronies mistake her for a government inspector, and quickly set about trying to curry her favor. The results are predictably disastrous. 

The perfect show for students to explore satire, melodrama, physical comedy, and ensemble dynamics. Past productions have set this story in a variety of times and places, from 1800's Mexico to the Antebellum South to an army barracks!

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A DREAM

Comedy  |  30 - 35 min 

Cast of 15

Recommended for Grades 6 - 12

Themes: friendship, following your dreams, the absurdity and annonmity of Hollywood

John never, ever, wanted to end up in Hollywood. And he definitely never wanted to end up working the concession stand at some broken down movie theater off Sunset. But that's exactly where he finds himself when a film crew shows up to shoot a feature film in the lobby, and he suddenly finds himself under contract alongside an eccentric director, and a pair of prima donna movie stars. Let's just say John's childhood best friend, Whitney, who actually does have dreams of being an actress, feels a little conflicted about John's overnight success.

KEEPING UP WITH THE CAVEMEN

Comedy  |  35-40 min

Cast of 15

Recommended for Grades 6-8

Themes: the search for purpose, found family, the trappings of wealth

Dirt, an industrious caveman, is tired of his life as a hunter-gatherer. When he discovers that the Shmardashians, a neighboring cave family, have a cave painting, he hatches a plan to create the first ever "cave-people of leisure". Of course, not all is as it seems in this pre-history spoof of the reality television industry, especially when it is revealed that the Shmardashians might not have actually painted their cave painting after all. 

SURVIVING MIDDLE SCHOOL

Comedy  |  35-40 min

Cast of 15

Recommended for Grades 6-8

Themes: skewering stereotypes, navigating friend groups, the importance of integrity

Kate is the new girl in 7th grade, and since she's showing up halfway through the school year she has a lot to learn about her new middle school's social hierarchy. From the "cool kids" to the Dungeons and Dragons enthusiasts, everyone is vying for Kate's attention and allegiance. Will Kate be able to stay true to herself? Or will the allure of popularity -- which includes nerds who will do your homework for you -- prove too tempting? This OAP appears inside of the full-length play THE END OF THE MIDDLE. 

THE WISH GIVERS GUILD

Comedy  |  30 - 35 min 

Cast of 16

Recommended for Grades 5 - 12

Themes: what makes something a good wish? how much control do we have over our own dreams coming true?

Hannah isn't quite sure what to do with her life, but she's pretty sure it isn't staying in her boring office job. That is until a trip to the supply closet leads her to discover a supernatural support group that gives her a new perspective on her aspirations. From a disgruntled tooth fairy and devious gnome, to a weepy satellite mistaken for a shooting star, the Wish Givers Guild would like a word about the sad state of human wishes.

THE BATTLE OF THE THREE CLANS

Drama  |  30 - 35 min 

Cast of 23

Recommended for Grades 5 - 12

Themes: xenophobia, the power of unity, the practical benefits of inclusivity

In the Iron Age village of the Rumah Clan, there are calls for war. The Rumah's longtime enemy, the Delani Clan, has been threatening their land and resources, but those who fought in the last war are wary of waging another. After much debate, the villagers are faced with a choice: should they defeat the Delani once and for all, or welcome them into their village to guard against an even greater threat. As the Priestess says, "every question is one question." 

This playscript explores a wide range of issues -- from the historical spread of cultures and technologies to the economics and morality of warfare and immigration -- and as such can make an excellent companion piece to your school's Social Studies curriculum.

BURIED

Drama 35 - 40 min 

Cast of 11

Recommended for Grades 9 - 12

Themes: rumors have consequences, the ghosts of economic decline, bigotry, the AIDS epidemic in the 1980's

Inspired by the classic Edgar Allan Poe short story "The Cask of Amontillado", this script blends humor with horror, tenderness with savagery. At a high school keg party in woods in rural Vermont, rumors swirl and grudges are stoked. Set in the year 1989, the ghosts of economic decline, bigotry and the AIDS epidemic all swirl in the heads of our main characters. Eventually, two people will find themselves in the abandoned stone quarry, and one of them will not return. 

CALL ME BLOOD

Drama |  30 - 35 min

Cast of 5

Recommended for Grades 9-12

Themes: identity, relationships, addiction, facing down intolerance, and family 

Call Me Blood is a contemporary drama that explores a number of highly charged themes in teenage life. When Cam comes out as non-binary, the consequences are wide ranging. At first, Cam's older sister, Jess, is furious, as she believes that Cam's revelation has led directly to her being dumped by her boyfriend and ostracized socially. But as the narrative unfolds, Jess comes to empathize with her sibling, and Cam finds connection in an unexpected place. With authentic dialogue, dark humor, and raw honesty, this ultimately uplifting one-act speaks to the power of love between siblings

FIND YOUR FUTURE

Dramedy   |   35 - 40 min 

Cast of 18+

Recommended for Grades 6 - 8

Themes: identity, making your own destiny, friendship, found family, 

In the not too distant future, when a child comes of age, they are sent, according to their personality, to spend the rest of their life in one of four worlds: Qian for the competitive; Esthete for the artists and critics; Kazi for those who seek peace in labor; and Taiga, for the untamed heart. But what happens when you don't fit neatly into any of those boxes? If you're anything like Cora, you run, who hopes a reunion with her childhood best friend will offer her some answers. But with a terrifying Agent hot on her trail, she will need to find allies all across four worlds if she is to survive long enough to find her own future. 

HEY, I GET IT...

Dramedy  |  35-40  min 

Cast 14 (plus potential non-speaking roles, great for getting tech on stage)

Recommended for Grades 6 - 12

Themes: teenage loneliness, first love, the dangers of Artificial Intelligence 

Sometimes, when you're at your lowest point... when your family is a mess and you feel like no one knows your are sees you... the perfect friend comes along. And they get you! They really do. Even if they're... "Artificial".

But what happens when you outgrow your AI friend?

What happens if they get jealous?

IF WE SHADOWS

Dramedy  |  35-40  min 

Cast 9 - 40+

Recommended for Grades 7 - 12

Themes: sisterhood, neurodiversity, the history of theatre

Isha wants more than anything to audition for her school’s Shakespeare production, but her sensory sensitivities makes it feel impossible.

Still, she dares to dream. 

In this emotionally-charged dramedy, Isha’s imagination ushers in a vibrant cast of characters across the spectrum of theatre history. 

Meanwhile, her very real relationship with her sister anchors this award-winning play’s heart and soul.

MONSTERS

Dramedy  |  35 - 40 min 

Cast of 15 - 17

Recommended for Grades 6 - 8

Themes: allegories for... lots of things in today's schools

Teenage Eleanor is mortified that her mother, an elementary school teacher, has been accused of poisoning the minds of her young students with stories that "monsters are real".  Worse, when the story becomes national news, Eleanor suffers her own social consequences for being the daughter of an adult who believes in make-believe things. What Eleanor never expected to discover is that monsters really are real! Eventually, it is up to Eleanor, and her quirky group of friends, to clear her mother's name, and explain to the local school board that the real monsters aren't the ones who live under her bed. 

WITHIN

Dramedy  |  30 - 40 min  

Cast of 15+

Recommended for Grades 6 - 12

Themes: finding yourself, found family, superhero satire

It's hard to be a hero if you don't feel like one. And Sara definitely does not feel like a superhero. Not when she doesn't have any powers. Not after her father abandoned after. 

But here she is, at The School for the Uniquely Gifted, because someone -- or something -- is quiet certain her powers will be coming in any day now. 

As the story unfolds, Sara will come to discover exactly what sort of hero she is, and what kinds of villains await her. 

A one-act that blends the raucous fun of PUFFS with subtle social satire, this script will challenge your ensemble to make huge choices and find the  moments of humanity that exist within the incredible.