One-Act Plays
Stage Partners is home to some of the best one-act play scripts for high schools, middle schools, and theatres. From large cast comedies to intimate dramas for competition, Stage Partners' exciting collection of short plays features some of the most popular playwrights in the world.
Browse our selection below and READ EVERY PLAY SCRIPT FOR FREE!
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Queens (one-act)
Length: 40-45 minutesCast Size: 9-35 actors (suggested casting: 6F, 2M, 7 any)Genre: DramaSynopsis:
King Henry VIII is trapped in purgatory, bound to his throne by a sinister Fool and the ghostly Women in White. Here in his gilded cage, he is forced to relive the sins he committed against his queens, mistresses and people of the court, over and over again, for an eternity. (A full-length version of this play is also available.) -
In the Forests of the Night
Length: 25-30 minutesCast Size: 13 actors (suggested casting: 13 any)Genre: DramaSynopsis:
Thirteen students are compelled by their dreams to play a game in the woods to keep a mysterious monster at bay. Not everyone gets to play it again. (If you like The Giver consider In the Forests of the Night.) -
Will You Be My Nemesis?
Length: 35-40 minutesCast Size: 5-30 actors (suggested casting: 10 any)Genre: ComedySynopsis:
It's hard to find your perfect match, someone you really connect with; someone who will dedicate their life to destroying you at all costs. Yes, sometimes it feels like you'll NEVER meet your nemesis. But Captain Battle and Dr. Nightmare are willing to try out every hero and villain in town to find the enemy of their dreams. Of course, you're going to meet a few weirdos along the way... An ultra-f... -
I Quit! - A Guide To Leaving Your Job in Style
Length: 30-35 minutesCast Size: 5-30+ actors (suggested casting: 15 any)Genre: ComedySynopsis:
Are you ready to leave that horrible job, but you want to go out in style? Well, you've come to the right place. Join Gayle Staverson and her group of players as they teach you a variety of fun ways to quit your job with a flourish. From bringing your own audience, to singing the perfect "I quit!" song, Gayle and company will show you how to leave your job and never be forgotten. So come on down t... -
Murder by the Book
Length: 35-45 minutesCast Size: 9 actors (suggested casting: 6F, 3M)Genre: ComedySynopsis:
When mystery writer Mary Graves is found dead, it's up to a detective with anger issues to figure out who among Graves' guests is a murderer. Is it the oil tycoon, the scientist, the Shakespearean actor, the countess, the psychic, or the maid? ...Say, this is starting to sound like a mystery novel! A hilarious one-act whodunnit brimming with larger-than-life characters. -
The Heart and Soul of Thomas Elegie
Length: 35-45 minutesCast Size: 7 actorsGenre: DramaSynopsis:
Thomas is a very precise pianist who's being pushed by his mom to win competitions for scholarships, he's losing his love of music in the process and it shows in his playing. He meets a new friend at school who reminds him how to have fun with the piano, but when it turns out she's terminally ill he freaks out - this is a relationship he can't "win" - but ultimately decides to prioritize love of... -
Pushed
Length: 30-35 minutesCast Size: 10 actors (2M, 8 any)Genre: DramaSynopsis:
This play is coming soon. Contact Stage Partners to request a prepublication perusal script. Rumor is that Mason Humphrey, a shy and quiet young man, pushed Travis O’Neill so hard into the lockers that he sprained his elbow. Nobody knows why. It shouldn’t be a big deal, right? But suddenly, it kind of is. -
When Jack Met Jill
Length: 25-35 minutesCast Size: 4-20+ actors (suggested casting: 2F, 2M, 4 any)Genre: Dramedy, ComedySynopsis:
You never know what moments will be pivotal. An existential crisis, or a change in your soda-drinking habits. An unfathomable loss, or a moment of uncertainty about whether you’re looking at a possum or not. For Jack and Jill, it’s all of the above, as moments across time (and sometimes, between realities) converge into a poignant collage rendering of their relationship. -
Dracula (one-act)
Length: 30-35 minutesCast Size: 11 actors (suggested casting 7F, 3M, 1 any)Genre: DramaSynopsis:
A swift one-act adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic horror novel that is easily staged for the most-effective frights. Eva Van Helsing, the vampire hunter, has decided to confront and kill Dracula before he bites again. Lucy is already wandering the asylum as an undead, and it isn’t long before more victims fall prey. Mina is willing to be human bait to lure Dracula out of hiding, but will Van H... -
The Visitors
Length: 25-30 minutesCast Size: 7-14 actors (suggested casting: 7F, 4M, 3 any)Genre: DramaSynopsis:
KB is in a coma. How she got there, no one knows. As she lies unconscious on a hospital bed, family, friends, and other well-wishers reflect on KB and how she has affected their lives. But as KB's physical condition worsens and her visitors struggle with their grief, KB embarks on a mysterious journey that will change her forever. (If you like The Lottery consider The Visitors.)