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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The Great, Great Granddaughter of Sherlock Holmes: The Blue Diamond
Length: 30-35 minutesCast Size: 7-10 actors, flexibleGenre: ComedySynopsis:
Clever Sherla Gomes, the Great, Great Granddaughter of famous sleuth Sherlock, teams up with her loyal friend Lolo Watson to get to the bottom of some seriously mysterious happenings. In The Blue Diamond case, they have to figure out what an uncooked goose has to do with a missing jewel - and why Jenny the Scorpion is so dangerously irritable... Performed together or separately, these one-act myst... -
The Great, Great Granddaughter of Sherlock Holmes: The Speckled Band
Length: 30-35 minutesCast Size: 8-12 actors, flexibleGenre: ComedySynopsis:
Clever Sherla Gomes, the Great, Great Granddaughter of famous sleuth Sherlock, teams up with her loyal friend Lolo Watson to get to the bottom of some seriously mysterious happenings. In The Speckled Band, the girls must solve a high-profile murder involving a cheetah, and baboon, and an expiring inheritance. Performed together or separately, these one-act mysteries, inspired by the stories of Sir... -
The Scarlet Letter (one-act version)
Length: 35-40 minutesCast Size: 10-25 actors (suggested casting: 6F, 6M, 1 any)Genre: DramaSynopsis:
In this new and theatrical retelling of the classic tale by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Hester Prynne is forced to wear a scarlet letter on her chest as punishment for committing adultery in Puritan New England. Throughout time, The Scarlet Letter has endured as a way to examine societal expressions of shame, guilt, and ultimately, redemption. (A full-length version of this play is als... -
The Jungle Book
Length: 35-40 minutesCast Size: 15-30 actors (suggested casting: 20 any)Genre: DramaSynopsis:
This thrilling and fun-filled adventure is brought to the stage by the theatrical master Jon Jory who has crafted an accessible, flexible, and easily-staged version for all ages! When a human child named Mowgli is taken and raised by a family of wolves, he must learn the ways of the jungle. Fortunately he has the wise panther Bagheera and friendly Baloo the bear by his side. But soon Mowgli finds... -
The Trojan Women
Length: 25-30 minutesCast Size: 13-21 actors (suggested casting: 10F, 3M, 3 non-speaking men)Genre: DramaSynopsis:
Euripides' classic tragedy follows the fate of the women of Troy after their devastating loss in the Trojan War. Brought to the stage by theatrical master Jon Jory, this taut, accessible adaptation with a flexible, large female cast is the perfect one-act drama for competition. -
A Christmas Carol (one-act version)
Length: 30-35 minutesCast Size: 12-40 actors (suggested casting: 11F, 9M)Genre: DramaSynopsis:
A hit seasonal favorite at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, Jon Jory and Marcia Dixcy Jory's spirited adaptation of the classic Christmas tale will surely make for a lively holiday season. Charles Dickens himself narrates Ebenezer Scrooge's magical night’s journey as he visits his past, present, and future before discovering life's true gifts. A lean and theatrical adaptation with a large, flex... -
Romeo & Juliet & Aliens
Length: 40-45 minutesCast Size: 10-30 actors (suggested casting: 4F, 3M, 8 any)Genre: ComedySynopsis:
There’s something rotten in Verona High School, students mumble in robotic unison, the faculty keeps talking about “plotting something,” and the janitor…well okay he’s always like that. Nevertheless, resident student conspiracy theorist Benvolia Bobbins takes it upon herself to expose the truth, and uncovers a secret of interstellar proportions! But, of course, that’s all going to have... -
Scrappy
Length: 30-35 minutesCast Size: 10 actors (suggested casting: 8F, 2M)Genre: ComedySynopsis:
Adapted from the classic farces of Molière, this speedy one-act follows the arrogant, scheming, and brilliantly witty Scrappy who lies and tricks everyone in her path to get ahead. Secret marriages, mistaken identities, phony pirates, daring rescues, a feisty stage manager...somehow everything ends up 'happily ever after.' -
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (one-act)
Length: 35-40 minutesCast Size: 8-20 actors (suggested casting: 11F, 4M)Genre: DramaSynopsis:
When ten-year-old Rebecca Randall’s family falls into dire financial straits, she is sent away from the family farm to live with her two aunts in Riverboro, Maine. Rebecca’s spirited nature and zest for life quickly win her the affection of townspeople and classmates alike, but she must contend with her strict Aunt Miranda, who sees Rebecca’s behavior as nothing but troublesome. Adapted from... -
A Christmas Carol (short radio version)
Length: 30-35 minutesCast Size: 10-40 actorsGenre: DramaSynopsis:
A hit seasonal favorite at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, Jon Jory and Marcia Dixcy Jory's spirited adaptation of the classic Christmas tale will surely make for a lively holiday season. Charles Dickens himself narrates Ebenezer Scrooge's magical night’s journey as he visits his past, present, and future before discovering life's true gifts. A lean and theatrical adaptation with a large, flex...