Open Forum

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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Check out Discover Plays | Playscripts, Inc.  Good website.  Highly searchable.

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Ryan Moore
Theatre Teacher and Forensics Coach
Royal Oak MI
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Playscripts is a great resource. Some writers you might want to check out are Don Zolidis, D. M. Larson, Wade Bradford, and Jonathan Rand. I think all of them are on Playscripts.

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Shira Schwartz
Chandler Unified School District
Chandler AZ
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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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Mary Hall Surface has a collection of plays, scenes and monologues for middle school students that is quite good. She is a very good writer.  Here is a list of her plays..

• Prodigy: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart" (1988) – author. Published by Anchorage Press.
• "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" (1994) – author. Published by Anchorage Press.
• "Most Valuable Player and Four Other All-Star Plays for Middle and High School Audiences (Young Actors Series)" (1999) – author. Published by Smith & Kraus.
• "Short Scenes and Monologues for Middle School Actors" (2000) – author. Published by Smith & Kraus.
• "More Short Scenes and Monologues for Middle School Students: Inspired by Literature, Social Studies, and Real Life (Young Actor Series)" (2007) – author. Published by Smith & Kraus.
• "Spirit Shall Fly" (2007) – author. Published by Anchorage Press.
• "The Tales of the Custard Dragon" (2009) – co-author with Danny Whitman. Published by Samuel French.

• Sing Down The Moon: Appalachian Wonder Tales (2000)

.. Also Dramatic publishing has a collection of plays about bulling that has several plays which are good for this age group. 

Cathy
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Cathy Archer
Rutland VT
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Have you looked at other pieces from Theatrefolk?  Snow Show, Hoodie, Wait Wait Bo Bait, School Daze, - all are by Lindsay Price and our middle school program has used all of them with great success!!!   WWBB has a middle school addition! 

Of all, I would say Hoodie!  It has serious moments of great relevance and then great humor! 

Best of luck in planning!
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Carolyn Cork Greer
Owensboro KY
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Alvin Fernald, Mayor for a Day might be an option. Easy set and hilarious script and perfect for Middle School