FULL-LENGTH PLAYS
INSANE WITH POWER
Cast size: 6 (3M, 3W)
Length: Approx. 100 minutes
(Community theatre version)
Lois Lancaster is a big-city journalist writing a story about the current state of modern mental health facilities. Her research takes her to a hospital populated with a unique group of quirky inmates who imagine they are crime-fighting superheroes. At first Lois finds their elaborate superhero fantasies to be an entertaining diversion, the wild delusions of unstable minds, until something unusual happens that makes her wonder... /// Three versions available: “Insane With Power” (full-length for community theatres), “Super Freaks” (full-length appropriate for schools), and “Superhero Sanitarium” (one-act version for both).
SUPER FREAKS
Cast size: 6 (3M, 3W)
Length: Approx. 100 minutes
(All-ages school version)
Lois Lancaster is a big-city journalist writing a story about the current state of modern mental health facilities. Her research takes her to a hospital populated with a unique group of quirky inmates who imagine they are crime-fighting superheroes. At first Lois finds their elaborate superhero fantasies to be an entertaining diversion, the wild delusions of unstable minds, until something unusual happens that makes her wonder... /// Three versions available: “Insane With Power” (full-length for community theatres), “Super Freaks” (full-length appropriate for schools), and “Superhero Sanitarium” (one-act version for both).
MIND OVER MATT
Cast size: 11 (6M, 5W), or 10-16
Length: Approx. 90 minutes
Ever argue with yourself? Ever said, “I don’t know what got into me?” This is the story of Matthew Lane. Matt is a successful illustrator with a couple of deadlines and several squabbling inner personalities who do weird and wonderful things. As Matt tries to gather up enough nerve to ask out the girl of his dreams, Matt’s egos, who all have their own hang-ups, lead him in one too many directions. When Matt’s overworked boss comes to believe that Matt has a crush on her, the conflicted egos manage to make a bad situation much, much worse. /// (Available in both full-length and one-act versions. Standalone sequel “Penny For Your Thoughts” also available.)
PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS
Cast size: 10 (3M, 7W), or 9-15
Length: Approx. 90 minutes
Penny Ramsey is a wonderful young woman who, like all of us, has different sides to her personality. The five Egos make up her decision-making process, which gets a lot more complicated when Penny mistakenly believes her boyfriend Matt has betrayed her. It’s a stressful time for Penny, made even more confusing by the introduction of a new suitor named Rick and the nosy involvement of Penny’s mother (and Matt’s boss) Mrs. Killian. Maybe things could get straightened out if the people in Penny’s head could just get along, for once! /// (Available in both full-length and one-act versions. Standalone prequel “Mind Over Matt” also available.)
WAGE WARFARE
Cast size: 7 (3M, 4W)
Length: Approx. 110 minutes
If you've ever had a job, or wished you hadn't, this office comedy is for you. Even on a good day, tensions run high in the customer service department of the Treasure Box because of two female co-workers who can't stand each other, and a third who is constantly stuck in the middle. But when a chance for promotion suddenly appears, all three women find themselves fighting for the job, although they don't all fight fair. Will the promotion go to daydreamer Hope, saintly Bonnie, or snarky Louise? A madhouse free-for-all of schemes, sabotage and unlikely alliances erupts, unseen by their idiotic boss. This story is a ridiculous farce...but then, so are a lot of offices!
GREAT MOMENTS IN INDIANA HISTORY
Cast size: 21 (7M, 8W, 6 flex.), + or -
Length: Approx. 90 minutes
Journey through 200 years of Indiana history and witness some great, and a few not-so-great, events that shaped not only the Hoosier state, but the entire world. Learn about pivotal moments in the worlds of politics, crime, sports, and entertainment, and meet the people--some famous, some ordinary--who made history there. Encounter a young Abraham Lincoln, attend the first Indy 500, visit academia with Amelia Earhart, and much more. Contains 92% factual information, 14% nonsensical silliness, and 2% blatant math errors. (Available in both full-length and one-act versions.)
ONE-ACT PLAYS
ANNIE PLAY WILL DO
Cast size: 17 (7M, 8W, 2 flex.), + or -
Length: Approx. 65 minutes
Because of a miscommunication with the Principal, High School Drama Teacher Mr. Morris finds himself with only ONE DAY to cast, stage and perform the school play. In desperation, he turns to two of his best students, Paul and Laura, to take charge and co-direct the show, unaware that the two are in the middle of a nasty break-up and are no longer speaking. Things go from bad to much, much worse when Paul and Laura, practicing with their friends independently, don't realize they are rehearsing for TWO DIFFERENT SHOWS, and the problem isn't discovered until the curtain opens. It's a theatre nightmare brought hilariously to life!
ATTACK OF THE CLOWN DENTIST ZOMBIES
Cast: 22 (2M, 4W, 16 flex.), or 13-50
Length: Approx. 40 minutes
Susan and Xander patiently sit through their dad’s meeting, a gathering of local dentists, where it is decided that the best way to keep patients from being scared is for the dentists to dress like clowns. Refreshments are offered, but serving cookies from the new bakery -- conveniently located right between the nuclear waste treatment plant and the experimental chemistry lab – wasn’t the best idea. The result is a full-scale epidemic...It's the clown dentist zombie apocalypse! The jokes and silliness fly fast and furious in the craziest apocalypse you'll ever survive.
GREAT MOMENTS IN INDIANA HISTORY (ONE-ACT VERSION)
Cast size: 18 (6M, 8W, 4 flex.), + or -
Length: Approx. 50 minutes
Journey through 200 years of Indiana history and witness some great, and a few not-so-great, events that shaped not only the Hoosier state, but the entire world. Learn about pivotal moments in the worlds of politics, crime, sports, and entertainment, and meet the people--some famous, some ordinary--who made history there. Encounter a young Abraham Lincoln, attend the first Indy 500, visit academia with Amelia Earhart, and much more. Contains 92% factual information, 14% nonsensical silliness, and 2% blatant math errors. (Available in both full-length and one-act versions.)
HEX MARKS THE SPOT
Cast size: 13 (4M, 4W, 5 flex.), or 14
Length: Approx. 50 minutes
Jean Emery is a normal high school girl whose world gets turned upside-down when she receives a surprising letter in the mail from her eccentric aunt. The letter claims that Jean has magical powers, and the ability to grant wishes. Jean dismisses it as a joke, but unfortunately, her rival gets possession of the letter and plans to use it to blackmail her. Neither one believes for a moment that the crazy story in the letter could possibly be true, or what kind of disasters could happen if everybody were to suddenly get exactly what they wished for.
HIGH SCHOOL HINDSIGHT
Cast: 16 (6M, 4W, 6 flex.), or 8-30
Length: Approx. 45 minutes
Bobby Summers is a shy high school student who gets picked on by bullies, and cannot get up the nerve to ask out the girl of his dreams. Then one day, he gets a visit from the last person he expected to see…his adult self, visiting from 20 years in the future. Older Robert just wants to help young Bobby cope with the pressures of high school life and put it all in perspective. But do teenagers ever take the advice of adults, even if the adult in question is them?
THE LAME NAME CLUB
Cast size: 8 (3M, 4W, 1 flex.)
Length: Approx. 45 minutes
We all have our favorite stories about people who have been saddled with bizarre and embarrassing names. Well now, there's help. Witness the origins of a support group for people like Les Plack, Carrie Oakey, and Paige Turner. (And all of the ridiculous names in the story are real names taken from past U.S. Census records.) The only thing these people have in common is that they are all ashamed of their names...or is it? (Previous title: “The Name of Shame Club.”)
MIND OVER MATT (ONE-ACT VERSION)
Cast size: 8 (5M, 3W)
Length: Approx. 50 minutes
Ever argue with yourself? Ever said, “I don’t know what got into me?” This is the story of Matthew Lane. Matt is a successful illustrator with a couple of deadlines and several squabbling inner personalities who do weird and wonderful things. As Matt tries to gather up enough nerve to ask out the girl of his dreams, Matt’s egos, who all have their own hang-ups, lead him in one too many directions. When Matt’s overworked boss comes to believe that Matt has a crush on her, the conflicted egos manage to make a bad situation much, much worse. /// (Available in both full-length and one-act versions. Standalone sequel “Penny For Your Thoughts” also available.)
MONSTER RECORDS
Cast size: 9 (3M, 2W, 4 flex.), + or -
Length: Approx. 45 minutes
It's Amanda's last day as an employee at the campus music store Monster Records. She'll miss Steve, her father-figure manager, and the employee discount, but that's about it. She definitely won't miss Lewis, the snobbish, arrogant employee who isn't allowed to talk directly to customers. Now all Amanda has to do to put the store behind her is survive the suspicious-looking criminal who just came through the door looking to sell stolen property. Maybe she can begin the next phase of her life, if she can manage not to get shot.
PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS (ONE-ACT VERSION)
Cast size: 10 (3M, 7W), or 9-15
Length: Approx. 55 minutes
Penny Ramsey is a wonderful young woman who, like all of us, has different sides to her personality. The five Egos make up her decision-making process, which gets a lot more complicated when Penny mistakenly believes her boyfriend Matt has betrayed her. It’s a stressful time for Penny, made even more confusing by the introduction of a new suitor named Rick and the nosy involvement of Penny’s mother (and Matt’s boss) Mrs. Killian. Maybe things could get straightened out if the people in Penny’s head could just get along, for once! /// (Available in both full-length and one-act versions. Standalone prequel “Mind Over Matt” also available.)
THE SCHOOL SPIRIT
Cast size: 11 (2M, 9W), + or -
Length: Approx. 40 minutes
Faith and Ivy are best friends for life…and beyond. On the surface, they don’t have much in common. One is respectful, the other sarcastic. One is studious, the other a troublemaker. One is a friendly actress, the other a reclusive poet. And oh yeah, one is alive, the other, not so much. Ivy has been dead for weeks, and only Faith can still see or hear her. How can a ghost help to achieve Faith’s goal of landing the lead in the school play? And for that matter, why is Ivy still hanging around, anyway?
SPEED DATING NIGHTMARE
Cast size: 13 (6M, 1W, 6 flex.), + or -
Length: Approx. 45 minutes
Speed dating is a great way for singles to meet other people; each "date" only lasts a few minutes, and if it doesn't work out, you can hope the next one will be better. For Cindy, those few minutes feel like an eternity, as she is subjected to a seemingly endless parade of jerks and losers. To make matters worse, she can't help but imagine what their children would be like, and they all display the worst qualities of their fathers. Will she find a good match, or resign herself to staying single forever?
STORYBOOK REUNION MURDERS
Cast size: 14 (5M, 3W, 6 flex.)
Length: Approx. 60 minutes
The alumni of Aesop Academy, a prestigious school for nursery rhyme characters, is having a long overdue reunion. Unfortunately, so are the alumni of Grimm High, their bitter cross-town rivals…and both gatherings have been scheduled for the exact same time and place! But things go from bad to worse when members on both sides are mysteriously murdered, and everyone is a suspect. The two warring schools must learn to get along to solve the mystery…or suffer the same fate.
SUPERHERO SANITARIUM (ONE-ACT VERSION)
Cast size: 6 (3M, 3W)
Length: Approx. 45 minutes
Lois Lancaster is a big-city journalist writing a story about the current state of modern mental health facilities. Her research takes her to a hospital populated with a unique group of quirky inmates who imagine they are crime-fighting superheroes. At first Lois finds their elaborate superhero fantasies to be an entertaining diversion, the wild delusions of unstable minds, until something unusual happens that makes her wonder... /// Three versions available: “Insane With Power” (full-length for community theatres), “Super Freaks” (full-length appropriate for schools), and “Superhero Sanitarium” (one-act version for both).
A VERY BAD DAY FOR BRANDON BUTTERWORTH
Cast size: 6 (3M, 3W)
Length: Approx. 45 minutes
Brandon Butterworth has apparently been playing the field. On one fateful night, his multiple girlfriends (grouchy Lucy, ditzy Rebecca, and shy Constance) accidentally discover each other. The three ladies realize their boyfriends, all named Brandon, are actually the same guy. Instead of fighting and bickering amongst themselves, they hatch a plan for revenge, teaming up to teach the three-timer a lesson. Brandon is about to have a very bad day, indeed!
WHERE SHOULD WE EAT (AND OTHER LIFE-ALTERING DECISIONS)
Cast size: 8 (2M, 4W, 2 flex.), + or -
Length: Approx. 40 minutes
Every day, we make a thousand choices that might not seem important at the time, but who knows which one has the potential to change the course of our entire life? Three high school friends, Summer, Victoria and Ariel, are simply choosing a place to eat that night, but where they end up might set their futures on very different paths. Explore four possible scenarios springing from the same mundane decision in this comedy/drama about friendship, destiny, and the surprises life has to offer.
TEN-MINUTE PLAYS
BE RIGHT BACK
Cast size: 2 (1M, 1W)
Length: Approx. 10 minutes
Jeff needs to run what should be a quick errand, but Emma continually stalls his departure with a barrage of inane questions. She seems bound and determined to prevent him from getting back in time to watch the game…or does she have an ulterior motive?
BREAK A LEG
Cast size: 2 (2M)
Length: Approx. 10 minutes
Saying “Break a leg” before a show has been a long-standing theatrical tradition, but it’s not supposed to be taken literally. Victor is only minutes away from taking the stage in a production of “Romeo & Juliet,” as Romeo no less, when a backstage accident leads to an injury he won’t quickly recover from. But another popular theatre phrase is “The Show Must Go On,” so Victor tries to convince his reluctant director Ted to take his place. However, stepping into one of the most famous roles in history at the very last minute is a daunting prospect for anyone. Can Ted handle the pressure, or will Juliet become a lonely spinster?
BYTE ME
Cast size: 2 (both flexible)
Length: Approx. 10 minutes
Chris is a kind-hearted soul who likes to help people when he can. Unfortunately, he bites off more than he can chew when he offers to help a techno-phobe named Rudy with a project on her computer. Will Rudy's maddening lack of computer skills drive Chris over the edge? A techie wizard meets a hopeless computer illiterate...and only one will emerge victorious!
CAN'T GET THERE FROM HERE
Cast size: 2 (1M, 1W)
Length: Approx. 10 minutes
Rita and Sean are nearing the end of a weekend in New York City, and their flight home is only a few hours away…or is it? When they learn there is a problem with their flight, they have to make other arrangements to get home quickly, but an escalating series of mistakes casts doubt on whether they will ever see their home again. In this true story, you’ll find it impossible not to laugh at their predicament…because it didn’t happen to you!
CELL MATES
Cast size: 4 (2W, 2 flex.)
Length: Approx. 10 minutes
Smartphones have become a way of life for most people these days, to the point where a large percentage of our interactions are done through a screen. But life looks a little different when you see it through a phone instead of looking around with your own eyes. In this comedic look at how reliant we are becoming on our cell phones, looking down at a phone could prevent things from looking up in your life.
CRUSHED!
Cast size: 4 (all flexible)
Length: Approx. 10 minutes
Four people struggling with addiction attend a support group to deal with their obsession. However, the addiction ruining their lives is not drugs or alcohol, but something much more evil and insidious. No matter what they try, they can’t seem to stop…playing “Candy Crush.”
DON'T BE SO HARD ON YOUR SHELF
Cast size: 2 (both flexible)
Length: Approx. 10 minutes
Jamie is having a pretty normal day, until the bookcase comes to life and begins to carry on a conversation. What can a piece of furniture possibly have to complain about, and what kind of compromises will need to be made for the two of them to get along?
THE DUNLAP FAMILY CHRISTMAS CARD
Cast size: 5 (2M, 3W)
Length: Approx. 10 minutes
The holiday season is a time to reflect on the past year, and to update loved ones on your life … or at least, what you want people to perceive as your life. But what would happen if a Christmas card presented the cold, hard truth, for a change? It’s time for the Dunlap family to compose their Christmas card, but this year, it might not be sanitized and glowing … It may actually be honest.
EVERY MONDAY MORNING
Cast size: 3 (1W, 2 flex.)
Length: Approx. 10 minutes
It’s bright and early on a Monday morning, and Sarah is having trouble finding her motivation. As she struggles to begin a new workweek, two old friends – the Angel and Devil on her shoulder – weigh in with their opinions over whether she should do the responsible thing and go to work, or blow it off and sleep in a bit longer. The struggle is real, and the tug of war is a battle not only for the fate of Sarah’s job, but for her very soul!
FAULT OR NO FAULT
Cast size: 2 (1M, 1W)
Length: Approx. 10 minutes
What seems like a simple fender-bender turns out to be much more as Bill and Donna talk through the aftermath of a minor car crash. The events leading up to the crash reveal secret after secret, and they realize that their lives might never be the same.
PLAYDATE
Cast size: 2 (1M, 1W)
Length: Approx. 10 minutes
Like all children, 4-year-olds Cassie and Benjamin like to play grown-up from time to time, but these two new friends have very different views of adulthood. As they play together, both as children and as pretend-adults, they might just learn some secrets about life, parenthood, and the circumstances that have brought them together for their very first playdate.
SERVICE WITH A SMILE
Cast size: 3 (1M, 2W)
Length: Approx. 10 minutes
Customer service in the fast-food industry may not always be top-notch, but it’s rarely been this bad. All an unsuspecting customer wants to do is buy a sandwich at a sub shop, but he finds himself increasingly frustrated while dealing with the most ambivalent, clueless, maddening fast-food employee in the history of the world. Find out what happens when a sub shop…is out of subs!
SILENT TREATMENT
Cast size: 3 (all flexible)
Length: Approx. 10 minutes
Three friends are getting together for lunch, but June and Gretchen are surprised to find that Billie, normally the unstoppable chatterbox of the group, isn’t saying a word. Can two friends figure out why a third is giving them the silent treatment?
THE SWEET SMELL OF FAME
Cast size: 2 (both flexible)
Length: Approx. 10 minutes
Riley’s dream comes true when she has a chance encounter with Cameron Colby, the world’s most famous celebrity, and engages him in a private conversation. But in a world where some people are idolized for seemingly no reason, the so-called “talents” that are making people famous these days can really stink…
THE VENT BUTTON
Cast size: 2 (both flexible)
Length: Approx. 10 minutes
Chris can’t understand why Rudy isn’t more confrontational, and doesn’t stand up to people. But when Chris tries to get Rudy to become more vocal about the little annoyances of everyday life, it quickly becomes a clear case of “Be careful what you wish for!”
WRITER'S BLOCK
Cast size: 4 (1M, 2W, 1 flex.)
Length: Approx. 10 minutes
No ideas, no inspiration, no motivation … and a looming deadline. It’s an age-old dilemma that all writers face, and this aspiring playwright is desperate to overcome it. When this writer enlists the bored characters in his head to help fill up a blank page, the old axiom “There are no bad ideas” is proven to be false, once and for all. There definitely ARE bad ideas, and he’s cycling through all of them quickly! Will a good one manage to break through in the end?
YOU'RE IN MY THOUGHTS
Cast size: 4 (2M, 2W)
Length: Approx. 10 minutes
It’s their first date, and nerves are running high for two shy young people. They may not be saying much, but their thoughts speak volumes, as we learn by eavesdropping on their inner monologues. What they are saying aloud and what they are thinking are two very different things. But how different are their thoughts from each other? If you’ve ever had a first date, you’ll laugh at the fear, excitement and insecurity we’ve all felt in these situations but rarely express out loud.