Claudia Haas

Claudia Haas has devoted over twenty years to writing plays for youth and young performers. Honors include winner in the University of Central Missouri Children’s Playwriting Contest, finalist/winner in the Bonderman Symposium, first place in the Aurand Harris Children's Playwriting Contest, winner of the Anna Zornio Memorial Playwriting Contest, two-time winner in the Prince George's Children's Theatre Contest. Other honors include the Playwrights in our Schools Grant administered by the American Alliance for Theatre Education, one of three winners in the recent Unpublished Play Reading Project (also administered by AATE), winner at the East Valley Children's Theatre Playwrighting Contest, two-time winner of the Jackie White Memorial Play Writing Contest, and 2nd place in the Marilyn Hall Awards, and the Nantucket Short Play Contest. Her short plays have received five honors and over 400 productions and are featured in six anthologies. Her youth plays have seen over 1000 productions in every state in the U.S. as well as on five continents. Ms. Haas lives in White Bear Lake, Minnesota with a hugely supportive family.

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  A Day of Dreaming New Release

Comedy by Claudia Haas

43 pages

4 w, 4 m for small cast; 8 w, 7 m, 2 flexible for large cast


Melisande dreams of catching a unicorn, Ana dreams of capturing the perfect sunrise, River dreams of finding the all-consuming love of his life, while Kristi seeks to unlock her love. These are just a few of the stories of love lost and found in “A Day of Dreaming.” We meet young people with powerful dreams which they write in a Dream Journal that is nestled in a covered bridge (which exists today in Winterset, Iowa). There is always the hope that if they write down their dreams, they will come to fruition. The stories run the gamut of forging new connections...

  Pride and Prejudice

Classic by Claudia Haas

76 pages

10 m, 16 w, many extras. (With doubling 8 m, 11 w.)


Jane Austen's timeless tale of romantic love touched by pride and prejudice is brought to the stage in this adaptation conceived especially for schools and small theatres. All the components of the novel remain: romance, love, rivalry, friendship and the many foibles and delights of family. While the clash between the lively Elizabeth and the arrogant Darcy remains at the heart of the play, love in all its many facets dominate all of the characters’ lives. The play remains faithful to the marital rites and manners of Regency England as courtships are explored...

  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...

  Wild Island Adventure

Comedy by Claudia Haas

36 pages

4 – 23, optional extras


Young Erin loves to hear his father’s story of a baby dragon on Wild Island who needs rescuing. With the help of an alley cat, Erin finds himself in the adventure. Along the way, Erin realizes that he must use his wits, bravery, and cunning to outsmart numerous jungle animals including a gorilla, lion, crocodile, wild boars and a rhino! The use of masks and puppetry keep young audiences engaged as they watch Erin in his quest to set free the dragon. About an hour.

  The Haunting of Will Shakespeare

Comedy by Claudia Haas

58 pages

5 m, 14 w, 1 flexible


Enroute to London, young Will Shakespeare has a fanciful encounter in the woods outside of Stratford. In the space of one night, he finds himself chased by a young maiden, haunted by witches, bedazzled by spirits and enchanted by a group of rag-tag actors. Yearning to be an actor in London, he is in turn stopped by all in his path. The young maiden wishes to deter him from a low, base theatrical life. The witches mean to turn him into a playwright so he can write about their escapades and free them from the woods. Turning to the spirit world, the witches summ...

  Legends in a Snowfall

Classic by Claudia Haas

57 pages

10 m, 12 w, 11 flexible


Winter tales from around the world come together to celebrate the joys and wonders of this dark and cold season. Ellisandra, a weather spirit who hopes to become Frost Queen, takes a tired woman, Faith, on a journey of imagination. They first meet the Snow Maiden, a beautiful woman who can only live during winter, in a legend from Russia. Tempesta, a stormy weather spirit who also seeks the title of Frost Queen, presents her own Native American tale from Minnesota. It's about a young poet at odds with a warrior lifestyle and his encounter with a Great White B...

  Casting Juliet

Comedy by Claudia Haas

25 pages

3 to 5 w


Things are seldom what they seem in the world of theatre. That is never truer than in "The Audition" (3 w). On the morning of a (maybe) life-altering audition, three (maybe) actresses come early to scope out the theatre and immerse themselves into the needs of the (maybe) director. As Phoebe, Celia and Rosalind vie for the chance of lifetime, secrets are revealed and plans unravel in this one-act that is never exactly as you think it to be. The play gives three actresses their own shining moments in the spotlight. Running time is about 20 minutes. In the seco...

  Rescuing Dreamwood

Comedy by Claudia Haas

57 pages

5 m, 11 w, 3 flexible, extras possible


Prince Ernie needs to be married quickly! Dreamwood Castle is broke and a rich princess with impeccable lineage (and money!) must be found immediately. Unfortunately, the evil fairy Liesl has plans to take over the castle. As Queen Marta holds a fundraiser ... er...ball to auction off Prince Ernie, it is found that Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Rapunzel and Beauty are not proper princesses at all. The decidedly unsuitable Princess Hank shows up with a plan to make things right. She has a pal who can spin straw into gold. Unfortunately, no one will ...

  There's No Business Like Snow Business

Comedy by Claudia Haas

21 pages

14 w


Is it possible to perform a Shakespeare scenefest without male actors, costumes, or scenery? A blizzard has stranded the guys who went to pick up everything for the evening's performance. So now the gals are faced with performing alone on a bare stage. At first nobody thinks they can do it. With such different personalities, from the practical director to the spoiled daddy's girl, to the airhead and valley girl, it seems like too many egos clash. But even so, the drama students pull together to prove that the show must go on! A delightful play with such evenl...

  The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Classic by Claudia Haas

62 pages

5 m, 9 w, 1 flexible.


The story is really a question of belief. Does one believe in the tale of a galloping Hessian who rides through the woods ever searching for his lost head? Will the world end when a comet streaks the sky or a meteor falls to Earth? And what is it about the town of Sleepy Hollow that its residents are "given to all sorts of marvelous beliefs, the people are subject to trances and frequently see strange sights and hear music ... voices in the air." Come visit this enchanted region of the Hudson River Valley and decide for yourself if this is a place of dreamers...

  Happily Ever After

Skit by Claudia Haas

11 pages

2 m, 5 w


Five well-loved fairy tale princesses have had it! Married one year, they are definitely not living happily ever after. Rapunzel is tired of her long hair, Pia is tired of peas under her mattresses or any other test, Cinderella is tired of cleaning, and Aurora of Sleeping Beauty fame is just tired period! Snow White, leader of the princesses, helps them present their cases to King Frog while Prince Charming tries to defend himself and his brothers. But why should the princesses wait for the king's decision? They take matters into their own hands to live happi...