One-Act Comedies
From large cast original play scripts to adaptations of classic works, Stage Partners has an exciting collection of one-act comedies by some of the funniest playwrights working today. These plays are perfect for high schools, middle schools, and theatres.
Browse our selection below and READ EVERY PLAY SCRIPT FOR FREE!
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The Elf on a Shelf Must Die
Length: 30-35 minutesCast Size: 12-20 actors (suggested casting: 17 any)Genre: ComedySynopsis:
When Sammy and Mook's parents present them with Pip, an Elf of a Shelf, they are less than happy. This little snitch is going to be reporting all their activities to Santa, so their hopes to get an Xbox look doomed. And that's before Sammy accidentally murders Pip. What follows is a Tarantinoesque Christmas caper as the two kids race against the clock to bring their elf back to life before Santa... -
How (Not) to Be A Wizard
Length: 35-45 minutesCast Size: 8-25+ actors (suggested casting: 18 any)Genre: ComedySynopsis:
It's a (magical) disaster! A school of wizardry needs a new professor...and classes start tomorrow. Everyone's coming through the portal for an interview, from a suspiciously fake-looking centaur to this one guy from Oz who can't even DO anything. Can anybody save the day? A spellbinding comedy that has created the completely new concept of a school for wizards and is definitely not making fun of... -
Game Night (Humans Only, Please)
Length: 35-40 minutesCast Size: 9 actors (9 any)Genre: ComedySynopsis:
It's game night at the end of the world. The library is one of the only places still above the water line, and the nerds are living it up while they can. But when the soccer team shows up because their field went underwater, they begin a more dangerous game. A high-stakes dark comedy about mutant lizards, climate change, and being the generation born to watch the water level rise. -
Holiday Party
Length: 30-35 minutesCast Size: 3-15 actors (suggested cast size: 3F, 3M, 3 any)Genre: ComedySynopsis:
Make yourself at home—Evelyn’s annual holiday partyis always warm, welcoming, and full of surprises. Youmight meet a pair of wallflowers finding connection in thecorner, a pair of elves whose friendship is devolving intobitter rivalry, or a couple sharing a guest room with theirhost’s improbable menagerie of pets. A sweet one-acttreat for the holidays. -
Zombie Boyfriend
Length: 30-35 minutesCast Size: 6-30 actors (suggested casting: 5F, 5M, 5 any)Genre: ComedySynopsis:
Melissa's best friend has a crush on the new guy, but Melissa's not so sure about Arghn. Maybe it's the grunting, or the insatiable desire for brains. Nobody but Melissa seems to notice as the horde of zombies starts to spread through the school - or if they do, they don't want to rock the boat. Can a zombie hunter and an awkward doctor help Melissa save the staggering population from themselves?... -
Don't Wake the Dragon
Length: 30-40 minutesCast Size: 12-35 actorsGenre: ComedySynopsis:
A mundane school day is hilariously upended in this wild homage to Eugene Ionesco’s classic Rhinoceros. When a fierce and deadly dragon flies over a school, the teachers are rightly alarmed. However, thanks to social media and other influences, the dragon inspires a mass popular movement. Soon students and faculty alike are wearing tails, roaring, and inciting chaos! The only person who seems to... -
Head Elf
Length: 25-30 minutesCast Size: 6-18 actors (suggested casting: 2F, 2M, 6 any)Genre: ComedySynopsis:
When Santa's head elf is unexpectedly fired, a desperate search is conducted for a replacement. From Rudolph's bodyguard to a Grinch to the Tooth Fairy, the interviews prove...difficult. Put this play on your Christmas list and you won't regret a single laugh-inducing second. -
Shakespeare, Clearly: A Midsummer Night's Dream
Length: 25-30 minutesCast Size: 10-35 actors (suggested casting: 6F, 6M, 9 any)Genre: ComedySynopsis:
Shakespeare’s most-popular comedy of adventure, marriage, and forest creatures is boiled down to a brisk 30 minutes in this one-act adaptation. This straightforward adaptation mixing contemporary and classical language emphasizes story and character rather than the poetry. Master director and acclaimed playwright Jon Jory has reimagined the classic tale to serve as an early introduction for yo... -
The Bargain
Length: 10 minutesCast Size: 3 actors (suggested casting: 1F, 1M, 1 any)Genre: ComedySynopsis:
When you sell your soul, Dan is the demon who comes to collect. But things aren't as simple as that - especially if evil coworkers object to working overtime, people don't respect a cool trench coat, and worst of all, the doomed mortal has a cat. This play is part of the short play collection Ten(ish): Comedies. -
All I Really Need to Know I Learned From Being in a Bad Christmas Play
Length: 30-35 minutesCast Size: 10-25 actors (suggested casting: 2F, 1M, 12 any)Genre: ComedySynopsis:
A lovable yet inept drama crew -- with a director wired on Frankenstein energy drinks -- attempts to tackle a traditional Christmas show but with more energy. A mash-up of A Christmas Carol and Death of a Salesman with cheerleaders might just work. The put-upon stage manager is trying to get into the spirit of the season by not yelling at the lazy actors, the Narrator is forced to dress as Santa C...