Short Plays for Teens and Kids
Some are for school audiences; some are for churches. Either way, this is where you'll find for short scripts aimed at teenagers and children. Royalties are only $15 on the honor system.
Bully Game, The
For middle school audiences
Synopsis: It's the hottest game show at your school! Three bullies compete to see who can do the best job of abusing their victim with words, blows, and even Your Mama jokes. But how will they respond when they discover their victim's terrible secret?
Themes: Bullying, compassion.
Comedy/ Drama, 15 minutes, 1 male, 4 females, 2 either gender.
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Clean-Up Cantata
For middle school/ high school audiences
Synopsis:Mr. Wilson, a high school band teacher, tries to determine the students responsible for toilet papering his house. Meanwhile, his ensemble struggles mightily with cooperating to play their music well. Finally, he catches the perpetrator and gives everyone a lesson in working together.
Themes: Cooperation, teamwork, unity.
Comedy, 7 minutes, 1 adult male, 1 teen male, 2 teen females, extras (either gender).
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Coming Home
For high school audiences
Synopsis: Chris comes home after curfew with alcohol on his breath. Stacy, his mother, is furious--until he confronts her with the reality of her own drinking at parties.
Themes: Parent/ teen conflicts, drinking, hypocrisy.
Drama, 6 minutes, 1 teen male, 1 adult female.
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Eulogy
For high school audiences (church-oriented script)
Synopsis: Roger remembers his girlfriend Tasha at her funeral. In a touching conclusion, he challenges the audience to follow her example of faith.
Themes: Heaven, death, salvation.
Drama, 5 minutes, 1 male.
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Free Cookies!
For high school/ college audiences (church-oriented script)
Synopsis: Matt and George, two misguided young evangelists, try to persuade Toby to "accept Jesus into his heart" by offering him free cookies in exchange. Toby accepts their offer and "prays the prayer"—but not very sincerely.
Theme: Christian Evangelism.
Comedy, 8 minutes, 3 males (can be converted to females).
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Grasshoppers and the Ants, The
For elementary school audiences
Synopsis: In this hilarious retelling of Aesop's Fable, three Li’l Ants are tired of working to store food for the winter. When they see the Grasshoppers' easy life, they sneak away from the Anthill. But as soon as the winter winds begin to blow, our friends come back to beg for help!
Themes: Delayed gratification, perseverance, the value of hard work.
Comedy, 12 minutes, 3 males, 4 females, extras.
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Jerry’s Kids
For middle school/ high school audiences
Synopsis: Jerry, a mentally handicapped high school student, is taking silly pictures of Greg, who is trying to befriend him. Greg gets so frustrated with Jerry’s social ineptness that he mocks Jerry behind his back. Kim (who is listening to Greg vent) discovers that Jerry has been watching their whole exchange--and is very hurt.
Themes: Loving the unlovely, handicaps, gossip.
Drama, 6 minutes, 2 males, 1 female.
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May Bear
For high school/ college audiences
Synopsis: Lyla, a teenage girl, relates the story of how she was molested at age six. For mature audiences.
Themes: Sexual abuse.
Drama, 4 minutes, 1 female.
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Past Tense
For high school audiences
2nd place winner in the 2007 CITA National Playwriting Contest (drama sketch category)
Synopsis: A teenage guy meets his girlfriend “the morning after” they have slept together for the first time. The previous night’s intimacy leads to unintended consequences on their friendship.
Themes: Sex, relationships, dating, infatuation vs. love.
Drama, 8 minutes, 1 male, 1 female.
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SafeSex Man
For middle school/ high school audiences
Synopsis: Rob, a high school senior and certified “Horny Little Devil,” tries to talk his girlfriend Amy into a “date” that has huge potential for trouble. SafeSex Man, an unlikely superhero, crashes into the scene to give naïve Amy a little advice—and Rob a cold shower.
Themes: Dating, sexuality, evaluating relationships.
Comedy, 6 minutes, 2 males, 1 female.
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Since I Got Saved
For high school audiences (church-oriented script)
Synopsis: Five teenagers have become disillusioned with God for a variety of reasons. They thought when they chose to follow Jesus, life would get better . . . and in some ways, it’s gotten worse.
Themes: Christian Salvation, accountability, backsliding, doubt, “dirty secrets” of being a Christian. Drama, 5 minutes, 2 males, 3 females.
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Testimony
For high school/ college audiences (church-oriented script)
Synopsis: Andrew, a college freshman who’s drifted away from the Church, visits his old pastor to explain his reasons for not following Christianity anymore.
Themes: Faith and doubt, falling away from God, pluralism.
Drama, 4 minutes, 1 male.
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If you're looking for a longer play for young audiences,
check out Happily Ever After.