If you have the time, as I'm not sure how close your production dates are, you could try doing some literary adaptations with the students. For example, when I taught middle school we adapted Runny Babbit as a class exercise, but you would need to check about any copyright issue for public performance. Since you are looking for something older, you could have them try several Shakespeare or Moliere comedic monologues or scenes. As a suggestion, have one set of students doing the reading in character while another set "shows the action" by doing the blocking itself, then they trade for a new scene. Another resource is YouthPLAYS. I've done Peg Sheldrick's Murder in the Air. Not the highest quality of writing, but it's fun. You may check out freedrama.net. I can't attest for all of scripts, as I've only had students do one 10-minute play before, however, several middle school plays are listed on there and free sometimes is the right price.
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Jo Strom Lane
Roosevelt HS
Theatre Teacher and Director
Portland Public Schools
Portland OR
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-14-2015 09:23
From: Susan Speidel
Subject: Middle School Plays
I am looking for a script for my Middle School Theater class (grades 6, 7, 8 combined). We do a staged reading or reader's theater piece, rather than a fully realized production, and it is rehearsed in class and then performed for parents one day after school. I've done Shuddersome from TheaterFolk, which worked great, some old radio scripts, and adapted a few things myself in the past, but would love some new ideas. There are 17 in the class with a pretty even mix of boys and girls. They have requested something "contemporary and funny" but they don't want to do fractured fairytales or anything that is, as they said, "for little kids!" Suggestions?
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Susan Speidel
Chairman of the Performing Arts Department
Morristown-Beard School
Springfield NJ
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