Aaron blames homework for ruining his life but still he plugs away, ever hopeful that today will be the day he gets all his assignments done on time, makes his parents happy, and maybe even finds a girlfriend. Zeta cheats. A little. Loaded up with AP and Honors classes, she reasons that no sensible person would write every English paper from scratch or neglect to bring a cheat sheet to a French exam. The only class she enjoys is art—how could anyone not love the smell of clay? Will, on the other hand, could breeze through school if he chose to. And he always goes to class when there’s a good reason. But usually there’s not, so he’s flunking out. Ordinarily, these three students would never talk to each other, but when a group project for French class brings them together, they're forced to confront their stereotypes and their anxieties—and even more troubling, their wishes and dreams. 30-40 minutes. 2 males, 2 females. Ideal for high schools, youth theatres, universities, and community theatres. Published and performances licensed by YouthPLAYS (www.youthplays.com), publisher of plays for young actors and audiences.

Clay

Literature & Fiction

Lashof, Carol S.

Dramas & Plays

YouthPLAYS

Stressed-out high school senior Molly is way too busy to date. Her fondest wish is to get a good night’s sleep. Her similarly over-achieving friend Ellen recommends a way out of the frenetic round of resume building: accidentally on purpose forget the condoms on prom night. At first, Molly resists the suggestion to find a boyfriend in time for prom. But as the two girls survey the prospects at a school dance, Molly begins to waver. Will college be pretty much the same as high school—with more sex and drugs but with just as much pressure? Maybe she should keep her options open... 7-10 minutes. 2 females. Ideal for high schools, youth theatres, universities, and community theatres. Published and performances licensed by YouthPLAYS (www.youthplays.com), publisher of plays for young actors and audiences.

Options

Princess Ariadne is heir to the throne of Crete and sister to The Minotaur. She promises her brother that she will not let anyone hurt him. But now, beneath the palace, an elaborate maze is under construction. It will serve as the prison for the fourteen youths and maidens sent every nine years from Athens to Crete as a sacrifice. It is said that in the center of the maze, a terrible monster awaits, half-man, half-bull, and thirsty for human blood. Hearing these rumors, The Minotaur wants to run away—and he wants Ariadne to come with him. She counsels patience, and then it is too late. The ship from Athens has arrived; on board is the hero Theseus who hopes to slay The Minotaur and free his country from bondage. If Ariadne is to save her brother, she must devise a way to lead him and his would-be slayer out of the maze, and she must convince Theseus that the creature he has come to kill is only a young man like him and not a monster who feasts on human flesh. 45-60 minutes. 5-15+ males, 4-20+ females (12-35+ total performers possible). Ideal for middle schools, high schools, youth theatres, universities, and community theatres. Published and performances licensed by YouthPLAYS (www.youthplays.com), publisher of plays for young actors and audiences.

The Minotaur

What would you do if your daughter ran away with the boyfriend from hell? Literally. If you are Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, you have the power to hold the whole earth hostage. One afternoon, Demeter’s daughter Persephone is gathering flowers in a field with her mortal friends when she hears an otherworldly melody emanating from a cave. Seeking the source of the music, she meets a mysterious young demigod who proves to be the nameless son of Hades, the lord of the dead. Drawn to his tales of a world of endless adventures, she follows him. Meanwhile, Demeter hears rumors that her beloved daughter has been abducted by Hades and comes in search of her, demanding that she return home, now or never. But when Persephone refuses, Demeter likewise refuses to keep the seasons turning, threatening to destroy the mortal world with drought and famine... 45-60 minutes. 2-15 males, 7-20+ females, 8-10 either (19-45 performers possible). Ideal for high schools, youth theatres, universities, and community theatres. Published and performances licensed by YouthPLAYS (www.youthplays.com), publisher of plays for young actors and audiences.

Persephone Underground

Get 15 challenging short plays from YouthPLAYS in a single collection! The works within are ideal for scene study, competition and production in festivals or for classroom projects. Young actors will find roles designed to make them stretch, as they navigate friendships, family and romance, and confront such real life issues as academic pressures, sexuality, and prejudice. Characters lose people they care about, come face to face with things that shock them, and yet still summon the courage to overcome their challenges and continue the march forward into adulthood. Anthology of 15 short plays running 7-20 minutes each. 2-12 males, 2-18 females (4-30 performers possible). Suitable for high school and older. Plays include Mother's Day by Kate McGrath; The Cooking Gene by Jonathan Dorf; Boys Gone Mild by Steven Korbar; The Trestle by Patricia Lamkin; Options by Carol S. Lashof; Sunset Johnson by Ed Shockley; Detention by Trevor Suthers; Girl Friend by Steve Lambert; Friends by Karin Diann Williams; The Cheshire Smile by Sara Glancy; Small Talk by Linda Kampley; Stars (2f version) by Evan Guilford-Blake; Pretty by Dan Berkowitz; Last Right Before the Void by Jonathan Dorf and An Actual Baby Person by Barbara Lindsay. Published and performances licensed by YouthPLAYS (www.youthplays.com), publisher of plays for young actors and audiences.

On the Edge: Challenging Short Plays for Teen Actors

Dorf, Jonathan

Lambert, Steve

Berkowitz, Dan

Glancy, Sara

Guilford-Blake, Evan

Kampley, Linda

Korbar, Steven

Lamkin, Patricia

Lindsay, Barbara

Countless would-be-heroes have tried to slay Medusa, the famous monster with snakes for hair, but each and every one has turned to stone, simply by meeting her gaze. The young Perseus is different, though. The Goddess Athena has given him a sword and shield and told him to beware of Medusa's tricks. But Perseus finds himself suddenly unprepared when Medusa's weapon of choice is a bedtime story—the story of her life. Will Perseus stay true to his course and slay the monster, or will the humanity of Medusa's tale slay the hero? 25-35 minutes. 3-4 females, 2 males (5-6 performers possible). Ideal for middle schools, high schools, youth theatres, universities and community theatres. Published and performances licensed by YouthPLAYS (https://www.youthplays.com), publisher of plays for young actors and audiences.

Medusa's Tale

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