Skip to content

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!

Filter  
  1. Sub-genre Adaptation X
  2. Theme Absurd X
  3. Theme Family X
Clear All
Collections  
Performance Group  
Length Type  
Genre  
Sub-genre  
Production/Casting Filters  
Theme  
Cast Size  
Approx. Run Time (min)  
Items 1 - 10 of 14
Go to filters
  • A Wrinkle in Time 50-minute version) - Morgan Gould - Stage Partners

    A Wrinkle in Time (50-minute one-act)

    Adapted by Morgan Gould from the novel by Madeleine L'Engle
    Length: 45-50 minutes
    Cast Size: 7-30 actors (suggested casting: 7F, 4M, 6 any)
    Genre: Drama
    Synopsis:
    One of literature's most enduring young heroines, Meg Murry, is back -- braces, stubbornness and all. Once again, she's joining forces with Mrs Whatsit, Charles Wallace, Calvin O'Keefe and more to battle the forces of evil so she can rescue her father, save humanity and find herself. In the end, we know two things for sure: 1. Love CAN overcome evil and 2. There...
  • Wild Strawberries - Stage Partners

    Wild Strawberries

    Written By: Jerry Ayers
    Length: 35-40 minutes
    Cast Size: 11-20 actors (suggested casting: 8F, 3M, 4 any)
    Genre: Comedy
    Synopsis:
    “My brother has been shot dead!” And so begins our tale of lies, love, and lunch. It’s a bright morning on the di Nikoli estates and the loyal maid Truffledina just wants to eat breakfast. But her mistress, Nikolette di Nikoli, wants to disguise herself as her supposedly dead brother and go into the city to take care of his will and her inheritance. Nikolette and Truffledina head off to the...
  • A Wrinkle in Time (35-minute version) - Morgan Gould - Stage Partners

    A Wrinkle in Time (35-minute one-act)

    Adapted by Morgan Gould from the novel by Madeleine L'Engle
    Length: 35-40 minutes
    Cast Size: 7-30 actors (suggested casting 7F, 4M, 8 any)
    Genre: Drama
    Synopsis:
    One of literature's most enduring young heroines, Meg Murry, is back -- braces, stubbornness and all. Once again, she's joining forces with Mrs Whatsit, Charles Wallace, Calvin O'Keefe and more to battle the forces of evil so she can rescue her father, save humanity and find herself. In the end, we know two things for sure: 1. Love CAN overcome evil and 2. There IS such a thing as a tesseract. Per...
  • Every Novel You Read in High School in 25 Minutes or Less

    Every Novel You Read in High School (in 25 Minutes or Less)

    Written By: Ian McWethy
    Length: 25-30 minutes
    Cast Size: 8-40 actors (suggested casting: 4F, 4M, 6 any)
    Genre: Comedy
    Synopsis:
    The one where a theater group attempts ​ATTEMPTS​ to present all those novels you read in high school before school lets out for the summer. Pray for them. They're gonna need it and so are you. (If you like Shakespeare Abridged… consider Every Novel You Read in High School.)
  • As If, Cassandra - Stage Partners

    As If, Cassandra

    Written By: Jason Pizzarello
    Length: 40-45 minutes
    Cast Size: 9-20 actors (suggested casting: 9F, 2M, 4+ any)
    Genre: Dramedy, Drama
    Synopsis:
    Everybody's whispering: Something's wrong with Cassie. She walked out on her squad mid-routine; won't help her mom put up Christmas decorations; suddenly wants to back out of prom plans. Well, Cassie hears taunts about how fate is inescapable in every cheer, her mom doesn't seem to notice it's February, and she's haunted by premonitions of something terrible that will happen if prom night continue...
  • My Brother's Gift (one-act version) - Stage Partners

    My Brother's Gift (one-act version)

    Written By: Claudia Haas
    Length: 40-50 minutes
    Cast Size: 5-15 actors (suggested casting: 5F, 3M, 2 any)
    Genre: Drama
    Synopsis:
    Based on the remarkable true story of Heinz Geiringer -- neighbor and friend of Anne Frank -- we follow the story of a young artist and loving brother living in unconscionable circumstances. A trained musician at only 15 and now forced to live in hiding and silence, Heintz turns to painting and poetry to express his everyday terror but hope of the future. Through Heinz's inspired paintings, nostal...
  • Dear Anne, From Nina (one-act version) - Stage Partners

    Dear Anne, From Nina (one-act version)

    Written By: Claudia Haas
    Length: 40-45 minutes
    Cast Size: 7 actors (5F, 2m) 
    Genre: Drama
    Synopsis:
    In February 1940, a young girl in Iowa pulled the name of a pen pal out of a hat. That name was Anne Frank. There was a brief correspondence before the Nazis invaded The Netherlands. The play is a coming-of-age reflection of that time from 1940-1942. While Nina and Jeannie strive to be “citizens of the world” in their tiny town of Danville, Anne and Margot try to live their lives in a world th...
  • Dorothy and the Thief of Oz (one-act version) - Stage Partners

    Dorothy and the Thief of Oz (one-act version)

    Written By: Sean Abley
    Length: 40-45 minutes
    Cast Size: 10-17 actors (suggested casting: 7F, 6M, 1 any)
    Genre: Comedy
    Synopsis:
    Can Dorothy find the Tin Woodsman’s stolen heart and her parents on her second trip to Oz? Upon her arrival, she finds Tin Woodsman’s heart has been stolen, leaving him unable to love. Thrilled at the opportunity to pursue her dream of reuniting with her parents, but desperate to find her friend’s heart, Dorothy joins the beloved Oz characters in search of both. With the help of rabbit detec...
  • A Christmas Carol - one-act version - Stage Partners

    A Christmas Carol (one-act version)

    Adapted by Jon Jory & Marcia Dixcy Jory from the novel by Charles Dickens
    Length: 30-35 minutes
    Cast Size: 12-40 actors (suggested casting: 11F, 9M)
    Genre: Drama
    Synopsis:
    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...
  • Scrappy - Stage Partners

    Scrappy

    Adapted by Jon Jory from the plays Scapin and Sqanarelle by Molière
    Length: 30-35 minutes
    Cast Size: 10 actors (suggested casting: 8F, 2M)
    Genre: Comedy
    Synopsis:
    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.'
Items 1 - 10 of 14