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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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Items 21 - 30 of 46
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  • The Quiz That Almost Killed Me - Stage Partners

    The Quiz That Almost Killed Me

    Written By: M.G. Davidson
    Length: 25-30 minutes
    Cast Size: 11-30 actors (suggested casting: 2F, 4M, 10 any)
    Genre: Comedy
    Synopsis:
    A student journeys through space, time and a hilariously idiotic Dickensian theatrical landscape to discover the importance of studying for a quiz. Entertaining for students from the past, present, and future. School was never so terrifying.  (​If you like This is A Test by Stephen Gregg, consider The Quiz That Almost Killed Me.)
  • Last Day of School (one-act version) - Stage Partners

    Last Day of School (one-act version)

    Written By: Ian McWethy
    Length: 40-45 minutes
    Cast Size: 4-12 actors (suggested casting: 8F, 4M)
    Genre: Dramedy, Comedy
    Synopsis:
    On the final day of classes at Rochester High School, a renegade student takes over the morning announcements and proposes that everyone do something bold. Or unexpected. Or brave. Or stupid. The point is, you may not have another chance, so now's the time to stop being a wallflower and kiss the girl (or guy!). To let your enemies know that you have always hated their guts. Or to do something as s...
  • Dress Rehearsal Disaster - Stage Partners

    Dress Rehearsal Disaster

    Written By: Emily Hageman
    Length: 40-45 minutes
    Cast Size: 16 actors (any gender)
    Genre: Comedy
    Synopsis:
    It’s the final dress rehearsal for The Olive Tree, an inaccessible 1800s Russian play. When overachieving student Derek learns that their director Mr. Norbert is sick (with fake-it-itis), he decides to lead the final rehearsal himself. But as Derek’s attempts to wrangle his fellow cast of misfits only leads to unmitigated chaos, he begins to wonder if the show really must go on.
  • Wild Waves Whist - Stage Partners

    Wild Waves Whist

    Written By: Patty MacMullen
    Length: 35-40 minutes
    Cast Size: 10 actors (8F, 2M)
    Genre: Drama
    Synopsis:
    A young teacher hoping to be hired as a coach at a private boys' school is instead assigned as literature and theatre teacher at its sister school - a private school for girls. There he is charged with the task of directing Shakespeare's The Tempest with his motley crew of adolescent female scholars, a play that effectuates an inner storm for all involved with the production. Wild Waves Whist is a...
  • Eating Crayons by Ryan M. Bultrowicz, a ten-minute play, part of the short play collection Ten(ish): Comedies - Stage Partners

    Eating Crayons

    Written By: Ryan M. Bultrowicz
    Length: 10 minutes
    Cast Size: 3 actors (2F, 1M)
    Genre: Comedy
    Synopsis:
    Growing up, we shared their classrooms. We may have even judged them. Now it's their turn to speak. Eating Crayons is a delightful ode to the beautiful misfits who dared to taste the many colors of  every kid's world. This play is part of the short play collection Ten(ish): Comedies.
  • The Bargain by Kathryn Funkhouser, a ten-minute play, part of the short play collection Ten(ish): Comedies - Stage Partners

    The Bargain

    Written By: Kathryn Funkhouser
    Length: 10 minutes
    Cast Size: 3 actors (suggested casting: 1F, 1M, 1 any)
    Genre: Comedy
    Synopsis:
    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.
  • Justice for Pluto - Stage Partners

    Justice for Pluto

    Written By: Barry Weber
    Length: 40-45 minutes
    Cast Size: 21-45 actors (suggested casting: 4F, 1M, 16 any)
    Genre: Comedy
    Synopsis:
    It’s time for the “Save Our Solar System” celebration! Tonight, experts from the Globex Corporation will show you how to clean up the planet Saturn by recycling your napkins. You’ll also get to sign a petition to preserve Neptune’s Great Dark Spot, and even sing along to a new pop song demanding a stop to Venus’ acid rain! But nothing compares to the biggest quest of all: reinstating P...
  • Ten(ish): Horror - Transfer by Elinor T Vanderburg. 10-minute horror play

    Transfer

    Written By: Elinor T Vanderburg
    Length: 10 - 20 minutes
    Cast Size: 5 actors (suggested casting: 4F, 1M)
    Genre: Drama
    Synopsis:
    Bow returns to her senior year of high school after a personal tragedy that no one wants to discuss head-on. But coming back isn't easy – especially not with the presence of a transfer student who is all smiles, light, and brilliance – and taking over every relationship Bow holds dear. A little Black Swan, a little more Hitchcock, Transfer is a sparse, noir-inspired drama t...
  • All I Really Need to Know I Learned From Being in a Bad Christmas Play - Stage Partners

    All I Really Need to Know I Learned From Being in a Bad Christmas Play

    Written By: Werner Trieschmann
    Length: 30-35 minutes
    Cast Size: 10-25 actors (suggested casting: 2F, 1M, 12 any)
    Genre: Comedy
    Synopsis:
    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...
  • Superhero Issues - Stage Partners

    Superhero Issues

    Written By: A.M. Dittman
    Length: 30-35 minutes
    Cast Size: 8-28 actors (suggested casting: 4F, 4M, 8 any)
    Genre: Comedy
    Synopsis:
    The one where it's hard to be a superhero, whether dating a school of eels or applying for a job at a fast food restaurant or letting your therapist alter your memories. Robots from outer space and dastardly plots collide with superfans and a girl who is terrific. What else do you need in a play?
Items 21 - 30 of 46