Playwright

Title

Performance Rights

Ages

Characters

Format

Censorship Flags

Cultural Indications

Time Period

Synopsis

Alvarez, Lynne

Eddie Mundo Edmundo

Joyce Ketay Agency

H.S.

3F, 4M

Full

Hispanic- Mexican

1970's

An orphaned young man grows up with an Aunt in rural Mexico.

Anderson, Maxwell

Elizabeth the Queen

Anderson, Robert

Tea and Sympathy

Samuel French

H.S.

2F, 9M

Full

Intolerant Language, Sex

1950's

A teacher's wife befriends an outcast student at a boarding school. She has sex with him at the conclusion of the play.

Anouilh, Jean

The Lark

Asher, Sandy

Workout!

HarperCollins Children's Books

H.S.

1F, 1M, 1voice

One Act (Short)

Romance

Any

Modern

Two college students get to know one another during an aerobics class.

Brancato, Robin F.

War of the Words

HarperCollins Children's Books

12+

6F, 6M

One Act

Romance, Violence

Various

Two opposing groups of teenagers, one intellectual, the other anti-intellectual, have a poetry competition. The audience decides the winner.

Bush, Max

Ghost of the River House

Max Bush

10+

2F, 4M

One Act

Ghost

Any

Modern

A young girl explores a haunted house with her grandfather.

Bush, Max

Hansel and Gretel

Anchorage Press, Inc.

8+

4F, 2M

One Act

Witch, Child Abuse

Any

Once Upon a Time

A scripted version of the traditional fairy tale

Bush, Max

The Emerald Circle

Max Bush

13+

2F, 3M

One Act (Long)

Romance, Violence

Any

Modern

A young man deals with the aftermath of a man trying to abduct his girlfriend while he was present

Bush, Max

Puss in Boots

New Plays, Inc.

8+

2F, 6M, 4N

One Act

Any

Late 1600's, France

The traditional French fairy tale adapted for the stage

Bush, Max

13 Bells of Boglewood

Anchorage Press, Inc.

12+

3F, 4M

One Act (Long)

Romance, Magic

Any

Modern

A Landowner uses a young man to help him gain treasure, and they encounter supernatural creatures

Bush, Max

The Crystal

Max Bush

12+

3F, 5M

Full

Swordplay, Magic

Any

Anytime

A fantasy in which two brothers go in search of a crystal and a mysterious woman.

Bush, Max

The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers

Max Bush

10+

9F, 8M

One Act

Ghost, Mild Violence,

Any

Long Ago

A story of a boy who is not so much brave as completely sensible.

Bush, Max

Rockway Café

New Plays, Inc.

H.S.

3F, 2M

One Act (Music)

Any

Present, Suburbia

A teenage girl interacts with the characters on her favorite TV show, a la Purple Rose of Cairo.

Bush, Max

Rapunzel

New Plays, Inc.

12+

3F, 2M, 1N

One Act

Witch, Romance

Any

Long Ago

A scripted version of the traditional fairy tale

Bush, Max

Voyage of the Dragonfly

Anchorage Press, Inc.

H.S.

3F, 4M

One Act

Romance, Magic, Swordplay

Any

Long Ago

A Queen travels with her companions to seize a magic flame which can save her country

Carter, Alden R.

Driver's Test

HarperCollins Children's Books

13+

3F, 3M

One Act

Romance

Any

Modern

A young man is devastated when he can't pass his driver's test.

Chodorov, Jerome and Joseph Fields

Junior Miss

12+

Anti-Feminist message

White-Wealthy

1950's

An "ugly duckling" is jealous of her older sister until she transforms herself.

Collier, James Lincoln

The Teddy Bear Habit

Dahl, Roald

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Dramatic Publishing Co.

8+

9F, 9M, 1N, Chorus

One Act

Punishment

Any

Based on Roald Dahl's book of same title- several children are punished for vices in appropriate manners.

Dee, Peter

Voices From the High School

Baker's Plays

H.S.

10-25 (variable)

Full

Profanity, Sex, Alcohol, Romance,

Various

Modern

A montage play with music which reflects the experience of modern teenagers. Some of the dialogue is dated in the early 80's.

Dietz, Steven

More Fun Than Bowling

Dunlop, Frank and Jim Dale

Scapino!

Dramatic Publishing Co.

H.S.

4F, 10M

Full

Romance, Deception

Any

Present, Italy

Based on Moliere's Les Fourberies de Scapin, it is a modern commedia del arte piece.

Durang, Christopher

The Actor's Nightmare

Dramatists Play Service

H.S.

3F,2M

One Act

Any

Modern

An actor finds himself in the situation all actors fear: he is onstage performing but does not know the play.

Ephron, Delia with John Forster, Judith Kahan

How to Eat Like a Child

Samuel French

5-15+

7+F, 8+M

Musical

Misbehavior

Any

A montage of the difficulties and joys of childhood. Very presentational in style, comedic, and easy to perform.

Fernandez, Jose

Fame

Music Theatre International

H.S.

7F, 7M, 8Chorus

Musical

Profanity, Romance

Various

Modern

Set at the New York High School of the Performing Arts, it follows a class from auditions to their senior performance.

Foote, Horton

1918

Dramatists Play Service

13+

6F,6M

Full

Romance, Illness

White

1918

A young lady falls in love with a young man her parents do not like, elopes with him, has a baby,

Foote, Horton

Valentine's Day

Dramatists Play Service

13+

4F,6M

One Act

Pregnancy, Romance

1917

reconciles with her parents, and nurses her husband through an illness.

Foote, Horton

Courtship

Dramatists Play Service

13+

5F, 3M

One Act

Romance, Pregnancy, Death

1915

With Valentine's Dayand 1918, part of the Orphans' Home Cycle.

Foote, Horton

The Widow Claire

Foote, Horton

Lily Daly

Foote, Horton

The Dancers

12+

7F, 3M

One Act

Romance

White

Early Summer, 1952

Young people rebel against their elders' matchmaking attempts.

Foote, Horton

A Young Lady of Property

13+

6F, 3M

One Act

White

1925-Texas

A young lady begins to take charge of her life, making dreams a reality.

Forshay-Lunsford, Cin

Riding out the Storm

HarperCollins Children's Books

H.S.

3F, 4M

One Act (Long)

Graffiti

Various

Modern

A group of teenagers deal with one of their friends' hospitalization after a motorcycle accident.

Friedman, Gary Wm.

The Me Nobody Knows

Samuel French

Musical

Based on a book of inner-city children's writings.

Friel, Brian

Lovers

Dramatic Publishing Co.

H.S.

5F, 3M

Two Parts

Sex,

Irish

The story of two young lover's romance.

Gibson, William

The Miracle Worker

Flora Roberts, Inc.

H.S.

7+F, 5M

Full

Mild Violence

White, Black

1880's

The story of Annie Sullivan's struggle to teach Helen Keller, a blind, deaf, and mute girl, to communicate.

Gibson, William

Monday After the Miracle

Giraudoux, Jean

Ondine

Samuel French

13+

7+F, 16M

Three Acts

Romance

Adaptable

Middle Ages

A fairy tale play which tells of the romance between a prince and an ondine, a water faerie.

Goodrich, Frances and Albert Hackett

The Diary of Anne Frank

Dramatists Play Service

11+

6F, 5M

Full

Romance

German, Jewish

World War II

The Frank family hides from the Nazis in an attic with four other Jews who fear capture. Anne keeps a record in her diary.

Gregg, Stephen

This is A Test

Guare, John

Lydie Breeze

Dramatists Play Service

H.S.

3F, 4M

Full

Religious Zealot, Death

1895

Hansberry, Lorraine

A Raisin in the Sun

H.S.

4F, 7+M

Full

African-American

1950's

A young black girl's coming-of-age in the city, she faces various pressures from family and friends.

Hellman, Lillian

The Children's Hour

H.S.

12F, 2M

Full

Lesbian Character

1930's

Rumors of impropriety force a teacher out of her school when a vindictive student takes revenge.

Herlihy, James Leo and William Noble

Blue Denim

Samuel French

H.S.

3F, 3M

Full

Sex, Pregnancy, Abortion

1950's

Hirschhorn, Elizabeth

Sonata

Foundation of the Dramatists Guild

10+

3F, 3M

One Act

Married Couple

Any

Modern

The only child of a married couple is kidnapped, and as a dectective tries to find her, the parents' lives seem to become better.

Inge, William

The Dark at the Top of the Stairs

Dramatists Play Service

10+

4F,7M

Full

Suicide, Romance, Profanity

1920's

A young lady goes out to a dance with a young man who later commits suicide.

Inge, William

The Rainy Afternoon

8,10

2F,1M

One Act (Short)

Doll Abuse

Any

Three children play a game of "house" that reflects their vision of adult life. May be scary for parents.

Inge, William

Picnic

Dramatists Play Service

H.S.

7F, 4M

Full

Romance

white

1950's

A teenage girl falls in love with the "wrong guy", and scandalizes the whole town. Very 50's.

Jones, Tom

The Fantasticks

Music Theatre International

H.S.

1-2F, 6-7M

Musical

Romance

Any

Any

A romance for two young people is plotted by their parents.

Kopit, Arthur

Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung you in the Closet and I'm Feeling so Sad

Samuel French

H.S.

3F, 2+M, 2N

One Act

Sex, Murder,

White

Modern

The subtitle is A Pseudoclassical Tragifarce in a Bastard French Tradition. That says it all.

Laurence, Kristen

Little Women

Dramatic Publishing Co.

10+

9F

Full

White

Civil War

Adapted From Louisa May Alcott's Novel, this is an all-female production.

Leslie, F. Andrew

The Pigman

Dramatists Play Service

H.S.

8F, 12M

Full

Death, Lying, Alcohol,

Various

Modern

Based on Paul Zindel's novel, the dialogue dates the play in the sixties, despite the time directive of the present.

Leslie, Richard

That Summer with Elaina

MacNamara, Margaret

Pride and Prejudice

Based on Jane Austen's novel of the same title.

Malmgren, Darin

Large Fears, Little Demons

HarperCollins Children's Books

10+

3F, 4M

One Act

Romance

Any

Modern

A young lady upsets her family by refusing to leave her bed because of what she sees as a prophetic dream.

Mason, Timothy

Ascension Day

William Morris Agency

H.S.

5F, 4M

One Act (Long)

Romance, Religion, Alcohol

White Lutherans

1947-Midwest

Campers at a Bible camp pray and play together.

Mason, Timothy

The Less Than Human Club

William Morris Agency

13+

4F, 4M

Full

Romance, Profanity, Illegal Activity, Alcohol

Various

1967-68

The experiences of a group of friends during high school, presented as memories.

McCullers, Carson

The Member of the Wedding

10+

7F, 6M

Full

White, Black

August, 1945

A pre-teen girl becomes emotionally involved in her brother's wedding.

McNamara, Robert

Present Tense

Miller, Arthur

The Crucible

Full

Romance, Occult

White Puritans

A scheming young woman starts a witch hunt in her Puritan town.

Myers, Walter Dean

Cages

HarperCollins Children's Books

H.S.

3F, 4M

One Act

Modern

A group of teenagers are imprisoned.

Namioka, Lesley

Herbal Nightmare

HarperCollins Children's Books

13+

4F, 3M

One Act

Getting High (Verbal)

Chinese, Various

Modern

A Chinese girl plays a trick on her classmates who come to see her parents herbal medicine shop just to get something that will "make them see things".

Nash, N. Richard

The Young and Fair

Norman, Marsha

The Secret Garden

Samuel French

8+

10F, 11M

Musical

Death,

White, Indian

Victorian England

An orphaned girl goes to live with her uncle, and discovers an ill cousin hidden in the manor.

Okimoto, Jean Davies

Hum it Again, Jeremy

HarperCollins Children's Books

H.S.

1F, 3M

One Act

Divorced Parents

Any

Modern

A young man deals with his troubled home life by escaping into basketball.

Overmeyer, Eric

On the Verge

Broadway Play Publishing, Inc.

H.S.

3F, 1M

Full

Romance

White

1888 and on

Three women adventurers explore "Terra Incognita" .

Parnell, Peter

The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket

Dramatists Play Service

H.S.

5F, 5M

Full

Romance, Sexual Dialogue

Any

Modern

The ability to fly propels a young man to fame. Set in junior high, and then twenty years later.

Pfeffer, Susan Beth

World Affairs

HarperCollins Children's Books

14+

3F, 1M

One Act

Parental Affair

Any

Modern

A teenage girl finds out about her mother's affair, and tries to deals with her resulting emotions.

Pinutaro, Joe

Reindeer Soup

William Morris Agency

10+

4F, 4M

One Act

Profanity

Any

Modern

A family deals with the death of the mother and being stuck in the Arctic wilderness, and this is a comedy.

Rimmer, David

Album

Dramatist Play Service

H.S.

2F, 2M

Full

Sex, Profanity, Drug use

White

1963-1967

The play follows the adolescence of two boys and two girls through the mid sixties. Pop music of the time period heavily influences the characters.

Schulman, Charles

The Ground Zero Club

Dramatists Play Service

H.S.

3F, 2M, 3N

One Act

Profanity

Various

"Later Tonight"

Several people are at the top of the Empire State Building on the eve of imminent nuclear destruction.

Sebeysten, Ouida

Holding Out

HarperCollins Children's Books

15+

1F, 1M

One Act

Modern

A couple discusses the events of a siege involving the U.S. army and a tribe of Native Americans.

Sergel, Christopher

Cheaper by the Dozen

Dramatic Publishing Co.

8+

7F, 9M

Three Acts

Disobedience, Romance

1920's

Based on the autobiographical novel by the Gilbreths, it showcases the tribulations and triumphs of a family of twelve.

Shakespeare, William

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Open

10+

4F, 7M, 10N

Full

Romance, Magic

Any

Ancient Greece,but could be changed.

Fairies meddle with the love lives of humans when four young people run away to the forest.

Simon, Neil

Come Blow Your Horn

Slaight, Brad

Sightings

Bitter is Better Prod.

12+

1F, 2M

One Act

Mild Violence

Any

Modern, L.A.

A young man tries to convince his best friend to come with him when a spaceship comes to take him away to another planet.

Slaight, Brad

High Tide

Bitter is Better Prod.

H.S.

2F, 3M

One Act

Romance

Any

Modern, L.A.

Two young men discuss the death of a friend with two tourists.

Slaight, Brad

Class Action

Baker's Plays

12+

3-28F, 4-23M

Full

Profanity, Abuse, Romance, Pregnancy

Any

Modern

A montage play which presents high school in funny and serious scenes and monologues.

Smith, Evan

Remedial English

Foundation of the Dramatists Guild

H.S.

1F, 5M

One Act

Homosexual Character

Various

Modern

A young gay man has the opportunity to tutor a classmate on whom he has a crush.

Sommer, Edith

A Roomful of Roses

Stein, Joseph

Fiddler on the Roof

Music Theatre International

12+

9F, 14M, Chorus

Musical

Romance, Disobedience

Russian, Jewish

1905

Traditions are broken by the daughters of a Russian Jew when they choose who they will marry.

Swados, Elizabeth

Runaways

Samuel French

9+

8+F, 10+M

Musical

Sex, Drugs, Abuse

Any

A montage of the experiences and memories of runaway and throwaway children living on urban streets.

Van Druten, John

I Remember Mama

Full

A young lady's memoir of her mother's sacrifices for her family.

Wilde, Oscar

The Importance of Being Earnest

H.S.

4F, 5M

Full

Romance

English

Victorian England

A Drawing Room comedy which involves hidden identity and romance.

Wilder, Thornton

Our Town

Samuel French

H.S.

8F, 16M

Three Acts

Romance

New Englanders

1901-1919

The classic drama which follows the romance of two young people in the town.

Wilder, Thornton

The Happy Journey

Samuel French

10+

3F, 3M

One Act (Short)

1940's

A family car trip to visit a sick relative.

Wilder, Thornton

The Matchmaker