Children's Theatre Plays

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  A Little Misunderstanding

one-act by Kendall Krueger

39 pages

13 Actors


Little is a local weatherman, who is about to give his first ever TV weather report. While he is on the air, the intern, McGee, trips. Trying to help him, Little yells, “This guy is falling!” While trying to save his friend, the station’s camera breaks, causing a broadcast blackout. Audiences at home believe Little, as a weatherman, has claimed that the “SKY” is falling. Suddenly, Little becomes an internet sensation! And the news station viewership booms at the cost of thinking Little is a crazy reporter. Chaos ensues as Little tries to tell people the truth...

  The Reality Show of Prince Absurdly Handsome

Comedy by Eddie Zipperer

32 pages

3 m, 4 w, 8 flexible, some doubling possible


Princess Beauteous is the ultimate grand prize winner and gets to marry Prince Absurdly Handsome on his reality TV show. On the journey to the prince’s kingdom, she and her lazy servant, Falada, get hijacked by Repulsa, a hideous, desperate-to-be-famous peasant girl. Repulsa tricks the princess, switches places with her, and even has Falada’s head cut off. (But don’t worry, he’s okay. He’s just a little decapitated.) The arrival of the hideous new fiancée and her beautiful servant throws the reality show into a hilarious fiasco. But all ends well…at least for...

  Get Up and Go

Fantasy by Stephen Murray

46 pages

Flexible cast


Here is a collection of humorous sketches which explore the world of travel and transportation, and answer the timeless question that has plagued mankind from the beginning: "Are we there yet?" Whether walking, on wheels, with wings or by water, performers and audience alike will embark on a rollicking, hilarious adventure about the human need to get from one place to another. Travel way back in time to when walking was the only way to get somewhere. Then came the discovery of the wheel, and things really started rollin'! Soon mankind conquered the sea, the s...

  Woolfie

Theatre Youth by Sybil St. Claire

28 pages

Approx. 6 m, 8 f, easily expandable and gender flexible


"Woolfie" takes place in a series of flashbacks as the wolf must defend himself in the Trial of the Century! Accused of a variety of heinous crimes that include blowing down other people's houses, impersonating grandmothers, and gobbling up little girls, the much maligned and misunderstood Woolfie must defend himself or face dire consequences. This new look at an old tale explores prejudice in its many forms, and features such characters as Judge Billy Goat Gruff, Little Bo Peep as the bailiff, gangster pigs, a befuddled attorney, and an interactive panel of ...

  Thumbelina

Classic Comedy by Wade Bradford

41 pages

5 m, 8 w, 4 flexible, extras (including a few children from the audience)


In this adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's beloved tale, all of the town's children gather round a traveling storyteller to hear the story of a wayward little fairy girl. When an old woman wishes on a magic flower, her heart's desire for a child of her own literally blossoms before her eyes. Her magical little girl, only a few inches high, is named Thumbelina, and although the friendly child is very helpful around the house, and very kind to the nearby forest creatures, she just doesn't feel as if she fits in. A gossipy Frog Lady convinces Thumbelina tha...

  'Round the World and Back Again

Fantasy by Stephen Murray

40 pages

Flexible cast from 12 to 60


This happenin' history lesson presents a fresh perspective as to who, what, where, when and how this crazy planet and its people came to be. From dinosaur extinction to space exploration, they're all rediscovered in this clever, chaotic, comical cataclysm of creativity. Doing their best to contribute to the world's development are the solar system (each planet has his or her own personality); the dinosaurs (the herbivores are higher class than the lowly carnivores); the first humans (totally clueless!) and the daring, early explorers including Columbus with h...

  Pinocchio

Classic by Sam Kuglen

48 pages

2 m, 2 w, 11 flexible


This stage adaptation closely follows the original story by Carlo Collodi. Pinocchio is a mischievous puppet who is trying to become a real boy. Once he is carved by Gepetto, his adventures begin. Along the way he almost meets his doom at a puppet show, is waylaid by an evil Cat and Fox, sidetracked by Lampwick who takes him to The Island of the Toys, and is swallowed by a huge whale, where he is reunited with Gepetto. After saving Gepetto, the Blue Fairy helps Pinocchio attain his dream of becoming a real boy. Perfect for touring.

  Jack and the Ruffians

Comedy by Laura Joye

32 pages

15 - 30


Jack's family makes and sells the best cheese and butter in the world. That is, until the competition gets jealous. Vegetable merchants Vlad (who is not-so-nice) and his sister Carol (who is missing a few cards in the deck) make a wish with some pink magic beans to ruin Jack's family's livelihood. When Jack's cows suffer strange and dramatic demises, and Jack's dad is captured by ruthless and revolting Ruffians for his cheese-making skills, Jack's mom goes on a daring adventure to rescue her husband with a ladle as her only weapon. Jack is left to do one thin...

  The Commedia Aladdin

Commedia by Lane Riosley

45 pages

2 m, 2 w


The zany antics of the commedia style, with lots of bumbling, scheming, incorrigible improvisations and very physical comedy, allows just four traveling actors to create this fast-paced story of Aladdin. Arelquin, Punchin, Columbine and Rosetta portray all the many roles in the story of a lazy young boy who needs to work to help support his mother, especially since his father froze up and is standing in a forest where birds nest in his hair! Aladdin almost falls for the machinations of an evil magician, but instead he saves himself and gains access to the Gen...

  Tales from Five Continents

by Claudia Haas and Richard Cash

36 pages

Cast of 15 to 53


Take your young audience on a journey around the globe discovering other cultures. From Africa we have the tale of why the Sun and Moon live in the sky. From the Pacific Northwestern Native Americans is the story of the ocean and its tides. From South America we learn how the beetle got its beautiful coat, while from Asia is the tale of why toads croak before a rain storm. The play ends with an Aesop fable from Europe that tells why the bat flies alone and at night. Weaving it all together is a Cherokee fable that explains the bringing of stories into the wor...

  The Princess and the Pea

Comedy by Richard Davis Jr (Rick Davis)

30 pages

2 m, 2 w, 2 flexible parts


The overbearing Queen has already determined whom her precious sonny boy, Prince Handsome, will marry. So when a muddy and very dirty Princess Jasmine catches the Prince's eye unexpectedly, the Queen insists she pass the "pea under the mattress" test to prove she really is a princess. Only it's not one thin mattress we're talking about here, it's thirteen mattresses, four feather comforters, and eight queen-size pillows! And not only that, but Jasamine wears ear muffs, a night mask, and is very, very tired! Yet Jasmine passes the extremely unfair princess tes...

  The Adventures of Cyclone Malone

Melodrama by Lane Riosley

35 pages

14 parts. (with doubling 2 m, 1 w, 3 flexible)


Yazoo! Get ready for one tall tale of adventure as Sheriff Cyclone Malone must protect his town, Yazoo Junction, from evil pirates! The pirate captain, along with two bumbling crewmen, has somehow managed to build a submarine – with torpedoes! – and is sailing on the river outside of town. Cyclone’s gonna need help to deal with this problem. The sweet schoolmarm (and Cyclone’s gal) Cozy Dumond tries to get a message to the neighboring sheriff, but she is tricked by the disreputable Violent Lavender, captured and tied to the submarine’s periscope. Cyclone and ...

  Not Another Bedtime Story!

one-act by Bobby Keniston

36 pages

7 m, 7 w, 2 flexible, extras and doubling possible


Katie and Max Grimm are tired of having to listen to their mom’s bedtime stories about fluffy hamsters and magic smiles. When they tell her they've outgrown them, she asks for one more chance to tell the best bedtime story ever. Their dad, who loves to write zombie fan fiction, overhears and wants in on the challenge to tell the "King of Bedtime Stories"! Katie and Max have some tricks up their sleeves, however, since telling their own scary stories at summer camp. Zombie bunnies! Evil scientists! Gloomy gamma rays! Post-apocalyptic survivalists! One thing is...

  Pecos Bill's Wild West Show

Comedy by Lane Riosley

34 pages

3 m, 2 w, 1 puppet.


Y’all know of Pecos Bill, the first Texas cowboy! He was raised by coyotes, made the first lasso out of a rattlesnake, broke a cyclone down to a gentle breeze, tamed the longhorn cattle and almost married Slewfoot Sue, who caught his attention by riding a giant catfish. Unfortunately, this Pecos Bill is a little confused. Ya see, the setting is in the present at a performance of “Pecos Bill's Wild West Show,” patterned after the Wild West shows of the late 19th century. But Bill and the other performers still live in the past. They believe everyone comes to t...

  Incantation: The Frog Prince Fairy Tale

Classic by Sybil St. Claire

42 pages

Flexible cast of 12 (approximately 2 m, 10 w), extras


This comedic tale begins with the familiar version of the fairy tale featuring an overly kind Princess, a vain Prince and the traditional evil witch, but there are twists to come as the story gets retold from the viewpoints of the Prince and witch. The second version zigzags in a totally new direction as the poor Prince is turned into a frog and is then plagued and pursued by a horrid giggler of a Princess, who actually wants to kiss him! The third version lights up the stage as a beautiful young woman with magical abilities turns the Prince into a frog in an...

  Anansi, the Clever Spider

by Claudia Haas

28 pages

1 m, 2 w, 5 flexible


Based on the African fable of Anansi, the play tells the story of a "brave" spider's desire to bring stories into the world and the difficult challenges he faces achieving his goal. Anansi must battle the python, outwit the tiger, protect himself from the hornet's sting, and endure a frustrating encounter with Mmotia, the bad-tempered fairy. In addition, he even has to deal his critical mother-in-law! Throughout it all Anansi thinks himself clever, but in reality, it is only with the help of his wife Osa, who is really the clever one in the family, that Anans...

  Treasure Island

Classic by Charles Dewald

34 pages

8 m, 6 w, extras, doubling possible


This re-creation of Robert Louis Stevenson's well-loved action classic will delight audiences of all ages and can easily be taken on tour. Young Jim Hawkins finds a treasure map and the adventure is on. If crossing the ocean is not adventuresome enough, Long John Silver and his band of pirates plan to take over the ship and steal the treasure for themselves. With the help of a castaway named Ben Gunn and a group of islanders, the pirates are defeated in battle and the treasure is recovered by Jim and his friends. About 40 minutes.

  The Pirate Princess

Comedy by James Armstrong

32 pages

2 m, 2 w, 2 flexible


You might think it's fun to be a princess like Alwida, and to live in a castle. But her castle is so lame! It doesn't even have a moat. Tired of parents who never listen and are always telling her what to do, Alwida runs away from home in search of adventure. Instead she finds Alf, the prince from a nearby country. The two hit it off at first, until Alwida's parents ground her in her tower. She escapes, but is captured by bloodthirsty pirates. Finally! An adventure! The pirates think they've taken a frail, simple girl as their prisoner, but they are about to ...

  The Velveteen Rabbit

Classic by John Stephens

32 pages

Flexible cast of 7 to 18


A lonely boy receives a wonderful Christmas gift and a toy rabbit learns some valuable lessons about life and love. In this humorous and touching adaptation of the children's classic, the Velveteen Rabbit encounters the antics of toys and wild rabbits in his faithful quest to be "real." About 40 minutes.

  Wizard of the Mall

Theatre Youth by Lisa Erb

26 pages

4 w, 5 flexible, extras


At last Auntie Em is allowing Dorothy and her little bunny FuFu to go to the mall alone! But just as Dorothy enters the revolving doors, they spin out of control knocking her unconscious and killing the wicked sales clerk of the East Mall. Luckily, Glinda, a good sales clerk, helps Dorothy on the quest to find Kaufmann's Department store. Along the way Dorothy travels with Burnout, who needs new brain cells; Security Guard, who needs a heart; and the Nerd who needs some courage. A modern twist on an all-time favorite story. About 30 minutes.

  Heidi

Classic by Lane Riosley

35 pages

5 m, 5 w, 1 B, 2 G + chorus (can be doubled to 3 m, 3 w, and 3 chorus)


Joanna Spyri's classic story of the orphan who spreads sunshine everywhere she goes is well represented in this fast-paced adaptation. Heidi conquers her grandfather, Peter, Klara, Herr Sesemann and all those with whom she comes in contact.

  Prince Eugene and the Cinder Queen

Fairy Tale by Mickey Wright

44 pages

3 males, 7 females, 1 flexible, extras


Here’s the Cinderella story retold, with a little help from above! Overworked and derided by her stepmother and three stepsisters, kindhearted Cinderella can only dream of attending a ball at the castle. Suddenly her Angel Godmother appears, but she almost blows the whole fairy tale before the Godfather rushes to the rescue on his Zucchini 500. (There’s a shortage of pumpkins!) Prince Eugene dreams of finding an honest girl, but his eccentric fans make a nightmare of his party. His only hope is the sweet young woman who isn’t afraid to state her own thoughts....

  The Three Prince Charmings

Theatre Youth by Edith Weiss

43 pages

With doubling: 3 m, 3 w, 1 flexible


Meet the Prince Charmings of Cinderella, Rapunzel and Snow White. Steve, an itinerant freelance narrator, starts with the first story of Cinderella's hero, Prince Charming Hair who is introduced at a ball, a nightmare of young ladies playing push-and-pull with him. Luckily, he finds Cinderella and they have a traditional happy ending. Prince Charming Smile is distraught because he does not have a Lady Fair. When he meets Rapunzel, "imprisoned" by two wicked witches, he falls instantly, deeply into shallow love. But this Rapunzel, monosyllabic and whiny, doesn...

  Jack and the Beanstalk

Classic by William Springer

27 pages

12 to 14 flexible parts


All the familiar characters from the classic fairy tale are here but with a little bit of a modern-day twist, including gullible, inquisitive Jack and his poor mother; a smart, determined cow; the magical egg-laying goose; and a not-so-scary Giant and his wife. Children will be laughing out loud when Jack's cow refuses to be sold and is constantly chased across the stage, first by the bean seller and then additional characters from other fairy tales! The smart aleck Narrator almost gets into a fight with the Mother about the magical qualities of the beans and...

  A Caterpillar’s Tale

Children by Carlos Perez

39 pages

Flexible cast of 8 to 15. Min: 1 m, 1 w, 6 flexible


Periwinkle, a curious caterpillar, feels compelled to find out what happens when caterpillars climb up the Great Tree –and never return! He decides to follow grumpy Thistle, who seems to be next to do the climb, but Periwinkle encounters some big obstacles he must overcome, including evading the clutches of a black widow spider. Meanwhile, on the ground, Periwinkle’s worried “family,” Sepia and two boisterous babies, escape their own predators, vicious wasps and a praying mantis, along with a comical pair of hungry flies. Finally, Thistle emerges from his coc...

  Rip Van Winkle

Comedy by Patrick Rainville Dorn

33 pages

Widely flexible cast, minimum of 12. (Approx. 4 m, 3 w, plus 5-23 flexible, extras)


Adapted from Washington Irving's short story. No one will be caught napping as Washington Irving's supernatural tale comes to vibrant life in this action-packed comedy that combines faithfulness to the original text with slapstick humor, hilarious dialogue and fascinating characters. Young Rip Van Winkle escapes from an overly-critical wife, bowls with the ghostly Henry Hudson in the Catskill Mountains, then mysteriously awakens 20 years later to find life in his colonial village vastly changed. With minimal set requirements and maximum involvement by an extr...

  Jo White and the 7 Campers

Comedy by Craig Sodaro

20 pages

3 m, 11 w


Take seven inept campers who must win a variety show competition on which the whole camp's reputation is based and what have you got? Instant disaster! Luckily for the campers, Jo White, who would rather sing than whistle while she works, has escaped to their cabin. Hilarity and confusion follow, but the camp's reputation is saved!

  The Case of the Missing Homework

Comedy by Gary H. Smith

23 pages

6 m, 7 w, extras


In this melodrama for fifth and sixth graders, Peter Prune steals Priscilla's homework to give to his girlfriend to gain brownie points. Foulfellow Fern, a not very efficient detective, is called in. But as always, the hero, Godfrey Goodfellow, methodically narrows the suspects down to the nasty villain.

  Sonoma White and the Seven Dolts

Classic by Vin Morreale, Jr

23 pages

Flexible cast of 11


Humor abounds in this bubbly, high-spirited one-act version of the classic fairy tale. Meet Sonoma White (Snow's cousin), the seven dolts (no relation to the dwarves), a wicked queen who still isn't the most beautiful (even with 49 face-lifts), and an aging magic mirror which is hard of hearing. After the wicked queen bops Sonoma on the head with a MacIntosh (that's apple, not computer), Sonoma is rescued by the dolts, Sloppy, Crabby, Silly, Sneaky, Wimpy, Smelly, and Spam. Even though Sonoma is one of those irritatingly upbeat people, the dolts soon fall in ...

  Sleeping Beauty

Classic by Richard Davis Jr (Rick Davis)

29 pages

3 m, 5 w


Two good but somewhat ditzy fairy sprites, Flora and Fauna, are having a delightful time at a gathering for the royals' new baby, Princess Aurora, when - you guessed it - the evil fairy Maleficent crashes the party! Irritated at not being invited, as well as for generally evil principles, Maleficent places a curse on the beautiful child: when Aurora turns 16, she will cut her finger on a spinning wheel and the whole kingdom will fall asleep, never to awaken. Later, Prince Charming breaks the curse by kissing the lovely Princess awake in spite of warnings from...