Welcome to my newest plays. You may now read them in their entirety for free! (Just don't produce them for free. Not that you would do that.) The majority of my work features teen performers portraying teens who have done remarkable things. Need tiny plays for drama class? I have you covered on my FREE SCENES FOR TEENS page. I have a rotating variety. The NEWS will give you updates on awards and publications and the contact page makes it easy for you to drop by and say "hello." Thanks for the visit. Click the type of plays you are looking for from the above menu or click below to read.
At the Fair
CAST: 12 (7f, 3m, 2 m or f) - all teen cast
Extras welcome and desired.
60 minutes
Unit Set
Labor Day at the State Fair 1947
The State Fair opens after being closed for two years because of the polio epidemic. It's the last day of the fair and young people find dreams, grant wishes for each other and regain a renewed appreciation for the magic of the fair and everyday life. An early version of the script titled "Meet Me at the Fair" was produced by the Lakeshore Players Summer Youth Project.
Read for free: At the Fair
CAST: 12 (7f, 3m, 2 m or f) - all teen cast
Extras welcome and desired.
60 minutes
Unit Set
Labor Day at the State Fair 1947
The State Fair opens after being closed for two years because of the polio epidemic. It's the last day of the fair and young people find dreams, grant wishes for each other and regain a renewed appreciation for the magic of the fair and everyday life. An early version of the script titled "Meet Me at the Fair" was produced by the Lakeshore Players Summer Youth Project.
Read for free: At the Fair
Under Spacious Skies
CAST: 18 (7 female, 6 male, 5 any gender)
75 minutes
Unit set
Summer 1942-Winter 1943
Sixteen year-old Lotte has been on the run with her family for three years. She wants to be American and shed her German-Jewish identity. Her parents never practiced their faith so why should she? Her brother Hans harbors a protected object he found in a burned-out synagogue after Kristallnacht. A young Iowa citizen hides a secret from her past that could upend her family. The play chronicles these stories and more centered on a Hostel called "Scattergoods" that Quaker volunteers set up in West Branch, Iowa. The purpose? To help dissidents and Jewish families fleeing Nazi Germany to learn English, new skills and learn to live in the country that offers them freedom - America. Based on historical events, the hostel operated from 1939-1943 and saved 188 lives. The cast of 18 has 14 characters ages 12-20 making this large-cast play accessible to high schools and universities. Read for free: Under Spacious Skies
A One-Act version (13 characters) for the High School One-Act competition is available on the One Acts Page.
CAST: 18 (7 female, 6 male, 5 any gender)
75 minutes
Unit set
Summer 1942-Winter 1943
Sixteen year-old Lotte has been on the run with her family for three years. She wants to be American and shed her German-Jewish identity. Her parents never practiced their faith so why should she? Her brother Hans harbors a protected object he found in a burned-out synagogue after Kristallnacht. A young Iowa citizen hides a secret from her past that could upend her family. The play chronicles these stories and more centered on a Hostel called "Scattergoods" that Quaker volunteers set up in West Branch, Iowa. The purpose? To help dissidents and Jewish families fleeing Nazi Germany to learn English, new skills and learn to live in the country that offers them freedom - America. Based on historical events, the hostel operated from 1939-1943 and saved 188 lives. The cast of 18 has 14 characters ages 12-20 making this large-cast play accessible to high schools and universities. Read for free: Under Spacious Skies
A One-Act version (13 characters) for the High School One-Act competition is available on the One Acts Page.
LOUISA AND HER LITTLE WOMEN
CAST: 14 (8 Female, 6 male; extras possible)
Serio-Comic
80-90 minutes
Area Staging
The play chronicles Louisa May Alcott's teen years at Hillside House in Concord, MA. Those years became the basis for the famous novel Little Women. As Louisa struggles to become a published author, she starts to find her voice. The play utilized diaries and anecdotes from the Alcott sisters. Read for free: Louisa and Her Little Women
Need a One-Act version? Louisa and Her Little Women - One Act
CAST: 8 (5 female, 3 male)
Serio-Comic
35-40 minutes
Area Staging
Read for free: Louisa and Her Little Women One Act
CAST: 14 (8 Female, 6 male; extras possible)
Serio-Comic
80-90 minutes
Area Staging
The play chronicles Louisa May Alcott's teen years at Hillside House in Concord, MA. Those years became the basis for the famous novel Little Women. As Louisa struggles to become a published author, she starts to find her voice. The play utilized diaries and anecdotes from the Alcott sisters. Read for free: Louisa and Her Little Women
Need a One-Act version? Louisa and Her Little Women - One Act
CAST: 8 (5 female, 3 male)
Serio-Comic
35-40 minutes
Area Staging
Read for free: Louisa and Her Little Women One Act
YOURS UNTIL NIAGARA FALLS Cast: 2-10 females Serio-Comic 75-85 minutes Residency: Utah Valley University *No set; no memorization Can "best friends forever really last forever? A tale of friendship, coming-of-age, and change told through school notes, letters and e-mails. Read for free: Yours Until Niagara Falls 
REMEMBERING MARGOT
Cast: 8-14 (11 female, 3 male) Drama 85 minutes (A 35 minute one-act is also available; just ask for it) Reading: Utah Valley University, Utah. Selected Scenes: Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen Scotland Area staging The play is an imagining of Margot’s brief life taking into consideration newly published photos showing her love of sports, the outdoors, and her enjoyment of her friends. Yes, there was a good intellect at play, but there were also the carefree times, the teenage angst, and the hopes and dreams of who she would be when she grew up. Young Margot always took care to be kind but it wasn’t until she went into hiding that a true depression set it. Before hiding, life was ripe with possibilities until Auschwitz – where she had to make a choice between life or staying with her sister. Read for free: Remembering Margot 
AND THE UNIVERSE DIDN'T BLINK
Cast:11 (4 female, 1 male, 6 any gender) 75-85 minutes Drama Reading: Theatre Pro Rata, MN. Development: Purple Crayon Players, IL. Excerpts performed: Relative Theatrics, WY, Carroll College, MT. Area Staging Is there a science for grief? Grief comes in all forms. Otto Schmidt grieves for the loss of his "glory years," Elsie grieves for her past independence, and fifteen year-old Miranda dwells in the past. Any past – as long as the world is prior to her father’s death. Reeling from her mother’s remarriage, Miranda spends a week with her great aunt and acquaints herself with an ancestor from her father’s past – the Russian Polar explorer Otto Schmidt. In Elsie’s apartment, Miranda travels to the North Pole gleaning information about the nature of the universe, loss and ever-lasting presence. As Miranda visits Otto in the past, Elsie is struggling to keep her anxiety at bay. Elsie tries to give Miranda remembrance and closure. But Miranda will have none of it. She turns to the stars and devises a physics theory that she thinks will bring her face-to-face with her father one more time. But it's problematic - in order for it to work you need to travel faster than the speed of light. During her debates with Otto about the origins of the universe, Miranda carves a way to bring her back into the world. Part fantasy with a bit of particle physics thrown in for fun. A one act is available. Read for free: And the Universe Didn't Blink |
KAFKA AND THE DOLL - full length and one-act
Cast: 9-15
80-90 minutes or 35-40 minutes
Fantasy, adventure, comedy
Area Staging
There is a story that Kafka found a young girl weeping in a park. He tried to console her, but she was bereft. She had lost her doll and would never get over it. Kafka announces that he has a letter that he found and he wonders if it could be from her doll. It was! And so began a three-week correspondence where Kafka wrote daily letters for the girl from her traveling doll. Her doll was not lost. She was merely traveling to see the world. Sometimes people come into your lives briefly but make an impact. And so it was for Sofie and Kafka who meet during a challenging times in their lives and form a friendship that changes their worlds for the better. The story might have gone something like this…
Read for free full length: Kafka and the Doll
Read for free one-act: Kafka and the Doll One Act
Cast: 9-15
80-90 minutes or 35-40 minutes
Fantasy, adventure, comedy
Area Staging
There is a story that Kafka found a young girl weeping in a park. He tried to console her, but she was bereft. She had lost her doll and would never get over it. Kafka announces that he has a letter that he found and he wonders if it could be from her doll. It was! And so began a three-week correspondence where Kafka wrote daily letters for the girl from her traveling doll. Her doll was not lost. She was merely traveling to see the world. Sometimes people come into your lives briefly but make an impact. And so it was for Sofie and Kafka who meet during a challenging times in their lives and form a friendship that changes their worlds for the better. The story might have gone something like this…
Read for free full length: Kafka and the Doll
Read for free one-act: Kafka and the Doll One Act
FUMBLE AND THE FAIRIES
Cast: 10 (3 female, 2 male, 5 male or female; extras welcome)
60 minutes
Fantasy, folktale
Area Staging
Fumble-the-bee becomes the dancing partner of a charming butterfly (Flutterby) and is loving the break from his work-a-bee life. He longs for a summer of dancing with Flutterby and the fairies. Unfortunately, if he doesn't make honey when the sun shines, he won't last the winter. What's a bee to do? Ideal for young audiences, family audiences, and beginning/young teen/middle school performers. Adapted from "The Bee that Would Not Work" by Charlotte Herr. Tied for Best Play Adaption from Children's Books contest at Winneshiek Players in Canada and produced by them. Read for free: Fumble and the Fairies
Cast: 10 (3 female, 2 male, 5 male or female; extras welcome)
60 minutes
Fantasy, folktale
Area Staging
Fumble-the-bee becomes the dancing partner of a charming butterfly (Flutterby) and is loving the break from his work-a-bee life. He longs for a summer of dancing with Flutterby and the fairies. Unfortunately, if he doesn't make honey when the sun shines, he won't last the winter. What's a bee to do? Ideal for young audiences, family audiences, and beginning/young teen/middle school performers. Adapted from "The Bee that Would Not Work" by Charlotte Herr. Tied for Best Play Adaption from Children's Books contest at Winneshiek Players in Canada and produced by them. Read for free: Fumble and the Fairies