An Experiment

Book By: Brent Holland
Play #: 2512
Pages: 28 pgs
Cast: 6 Actors

Portrayed in a fantasy world, five confused participants wake up with no memory of their past life … with only one word, a personality descriptor (such as compassionate, courageous or orderly) written in type on their shirts.  The doctor explains that each is here willingly, and that they are all being compensated for their participation in a research study. Will the assigned attribute of each participant affect their behavior when under extreme duress? Once the experiment begins and they find out that to lose is to die, all five do what they must to survive the experiment.  The Hunger Games meets Survivor in this experiment. This show requires very little set, few costumes, and is entirely gender flexible.  It is perfect for one-act competitions. About 25 - 30 minutes.

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Productions

THE PLAZA THEATRE, INC. 1 Performance(s)
WHARTON, TX 3/12/2025
ABBOTSLEIGH 2 Performance(s)
WAHROONGA, AUSTRALIA 3/6/2025
PERSONAL USE 1 Performance(s)
POTTSTOWN, PA 2/1/2025
GRAHAM HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
BLUEFIELD, VA 2/1/2025
CAPE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL 4 Performance(s)
CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO 12/5/2024
LEICESTER DRAMA SOCIETY 5 Performance(s)
LEICESTER, UNITED KINGDOM 11/27/2024
MANILA HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
MANILA, AR 11/16/2024
GRAHAM HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
BLUEFIELD, VA 11/9/2024
HITCHCOCK COUNTY SCHOOLS 3 Performance(s)
TRENTON, NE 11/9/2024
EAST RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
CLERMONT, FL 11/7/2024
MOSINEE HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
MOSINEE, WI 11/6/2024
BLUE STREAK THEATRE 4 Performance(s)
ELGIN, IL 11/1/2024
TEXARKANA ISD WAREHOUSE 1 Performance(s)
TEXARKANA, TX 10/31/2024
LAKE OLYMPIA MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
SUGAR LAND, TX 10/23/2024
THEATER LEGACY 1 Performance(s)
LEESBURG, FL 10/20/2024
COUNCIL HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
HONAKER, VA 10/15/2024
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF POYNETTE 3 Performance(s)
POYNETTE, WI 10/12/2024
RICHLAND NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL PCA THEATRE 3 Performance(s)
COLUMBIA, SC 10/11/2024
TAYLOR HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
PIERSON, FL 9/27/2024
MANILA HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
MANILA, AR 9/14/2024
THE LIND THEATRE 1 Performance(s)
MOOLOOLABA, AUSTRALIA 8/17/2024
UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
CARMEL IN, IN 8/15/2024
NA 1 Performance(s)
BAWLF SCHOOL, CANADA 6/19/2024
PRIVATE 1 Performance(s)
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA 5/29/2024
SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
FRONT ROYAL, VA 5/13/2024
THE LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE COMPANY 2 Performance(s)
ALBERTVILLE, AL 5/10/2024
FREDERICKTOWN HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
FREDERICKTOWN, MO 5/8/2024
DELBARTON SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
MORRISTOWN, NJ 4/26/2024
BETHANY COLLEGE 1 Performance(s)
BETHANY, WV 4/22/2024
WHITLEY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
WILLIAMSBURG, KY 4/18/2024
ST. MARYS HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
CALGARY, CANADA 4/16/2024
CIPLC 1 Performance(s)
VIENNA, VA 4/12/2024
HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
CORNWALL, CANADA 4/4/2024
TORRANCE HIGH SCHOOL THEATER DEPT. 1 Performance(s)
TORRANCE, CA 3/27/2024
HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
CORNWALL, CANADA 3/21/2024
CODY HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
CODY, WY 3/15/2024
GREENVILLE HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
GREENVILLE, SC 3/8/2024
FRYEBURG ACADEMY 2 Performance(s)
FRYEBURG, ME 3/7/2024
DODEA 2 Performance(s)
FPO, AP 2/28/2024
SALEM HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
SALEM, MA 2/26/2024
TERRACE LITTLE THEATRE 2 Performance(s)
TERRACE, CANADA 2/24/2024
SPRING VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
COLUMBIA, SC 2/17/2024
PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PLAINS, MT 2/16/2024
CLEVELAND HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
CLEVELAND, TN 2/13/2024
FAIRMONT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
FAIRMONT, WV 1/27/2024
WEST CREEK HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
CLARKSVILLE, TN 1/26/2024
PINNACLE THEATRE COMPANY 1 Performance(s)
PHOENIX, AZ 1/23/2024
NODAWAY VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
GREENFIELD, IA 1/20/2024
GILBERT HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE 1 Performance(s)
LEXINGTON, SC 12/13/2023
JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
SHENANDOAH JUNCTION, WV 12/1/2023
NUCLA HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE 3 Performance(s)
NUCLA, CO 11/30/2023
THE BARACK OBAMA MALE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY 2 Performance(s)
DALLAS, TX 11/15/2023
TAYLOR HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PIERSON, FL 11/10/2023
WISCONSIN LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL 5 Performance(s)
MILWAUKEE, WI 11/8/2023
COSUMNES OAKS HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
ELK GROVE, CA 11/3/2023
MIDDLEBURGH CSD DRAMA CLUB 2 Performance(s)
MIDDLEBURGH, NY 11/3/2023
ASHVILLE HIGH SCHOOL BOWTIE BULLDOG THEATRE COMPANY 1 Performance(s)
ASHVILLE, AL 11/3/2023
HANOVER HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
MECHANICSVILLE, VA 10/26/2023
DAVIDSON HIGH SCHOOL 7 Performance(s)
MOBILE, AL 10/25/2023
COUNCIL HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
COUNCIL, VA 10/21/2023
RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY SCHOOLS 4 Performance(s)
WASHINGTON, VA 10/20/2023
POQUOSON HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
POQUOSON, VA 10/13/2023
GLENBARD NORTH HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
CAROL STREAM, IL 10/5/2023
SEYMOUR COLLEGE 2 Performance(s)
PLYMPTON, AUSTRALIA 8/17/2023
LITTLE THEATRE OF WATERTOWN, INC. 2 Performance(s)
WATERTOWN, NY 6/23/2023
EAGLE POINT HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
EAGLE POINT, OR 5/27/2023
HAROLD C. UREY MIDDLE SCHOOL, UMS DRAMA CLUB 1 Performance(s)
SOUTH BEND, IN 5/19/2023
REDLANDS HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE ARTS CO. 1 Performance(s)
REDLANDS, CA 5/18/2023
SPRING GROVE AREA HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
SPRING GROVE, PA 5/12/2023
OLA HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE 1 Performance(s)
MCDONOUGH, GA 5/12/2023
BARTOW SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
BARTOW, FL 4/28/2023
BATON ROUGE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
BATON ROUGE, LA 4/25/2023
EDMONTON CATHOLIC SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
EDMONTON, CANADA 4/25/2023
APPLETON CITY R-2 1 Performance(s)
APPLETON CITY, MO 4/21/2023
STRAKE JESUIT LOWMAN THEATER 5 Performance(s)
HOUSTON, TX 4/20/2023
CSU THEATRE 1 Performance(s)
COLUMBUS, GA 4/19/2023
DERBY HIGH SCHOOL,USD 260 1 Performance(s)
DERBY, KS 4/13/2023
BYRON P. STEELE II HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
CIBOLO, TX 4/11/2023
MIDLOTHIAN ISD 1 Performance(s)
MIDLOTHIAN, TX 4/6/2023
LAKE MELVILLE SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
HAPPY VALLEY GOOSEBAY, CANADA 3/28/2023
AROUND THE CURTAIN CHILDREN'S THEATRE 1 Performance(s)
HUNTSVILLE, AL 3/18/2023
VERITAS COLLEGE 1 Performance(s)
NIGEL, SOUTH AFRICA 3/16/2023
MERAKI HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
FAIR OAKS, CA 3/16/2023
WAREHAM HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
WAREHAM, MA 3/4/2023
PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
PLAINS, MT 3/3/2023
ST. JOSEPH'S HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
KANATA, CANADA 3/2/2023
HULL HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE ARTS 2 Performance(s)
HULL, MA 3/1/2023
DAVIS SCHOOL DISTRICT 2 Performance(s)
FARMINGTON, UT 2/24/2023
HOOVER HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
HOOVER, AL 2/3/2023
WARD MELVILLE PLAYERS 2 Performance(s)
SETAUKET, NY 2/2/2023
WAUSAU WEST HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
WESTON, WI 1/27/2023
MANKATO EAST HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
COURTLAND, MN 1/27/2023
METEA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
AURORA, IL 1/26/2023
LIBERTY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
GALLATIN, TN 12/9/2022
ST. AGNES ACADEMY 1 Performance(s)
HOUSTON, TX 12/7/2022
PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY 2 Performance(s)
PITTSBURG, KS 12/2/2022
PERFORM AUSTRALIA 3 Performance(s)
GRIFFITH, AUSTRALIA 11/29/2022
BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL 4 Performance(s)
BURLINGTON, KS 11/9/2022
3 Performance(s)
BUCHANAN, VA 11/5/2022
LOUDOUN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
LEESBURG, VA 11/4/2022
CANTERBURY HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
FORT MYERS, FL 11/4/2022
MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA 2 Performance(s)
MIDDLETOWN, MD 10/29/2022
MAYS HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
ATLANTA, GA 10/15/2022
LEDUC DRAMA SOCIETY 1 Performance(s)
LEDUC, CANADA 10/1/2022
USD 471 - DEXTER SCHOOLS 1 Performance(s)
DEXTER, KS 9/15/2022
LEDUC DRAMA SOCIETY 2 Performance(s)
LEDUC, CANADA 7/22/2022
ELIZABETH PULLMAN 1 Performance(s)
WHITEHALL, MT 6/25/2022
TAYLORSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
TAYLORSVILLE, UT 5/20/2022
PORT HURON NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PORT HURON, MI 5/20/2022
MDHSA, CO-OP SOUTH 1 Performance(s)
SHIPPENSBURG, PA 5/7/2022
PLYMOUTH NORTH HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PLYMOUTH, MA 5/5/2022
DUNCAN HIGH SCHOOL THEATER 2 Performance(s)
DUNCAN, OK 4/21/2022
LITCHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
LITCHFIELD, MN 1/27/2022
CEDAR RAPIDS COMM SCHOOLS 1 Performance(s)
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA 1/22/2022
MAYFIELD HS THEATRE 3 Performance(s)
LAS CRUCES, NM 12/3/2021
JAMES F BYRNES HS 2 Performance(s)
DUNCAN, SC 11/20/2021
DONIPHAN TRUMBULL HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
DONIPHAN, NE 11/13/2021
CLARKE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
BERRYVILLE, VA 11/13/2021
WOODLAWN HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
BATON ROUGE, LA 11/10/2021
HUNTERS LANE HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
NASHVILLE, TN 11/9/2021
NEBRASKA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY THEATRE DEPARTMENT 2 Performance(s)
LINCOLN, NE 11/8/2021
ROYAL HIGHLANDS COMMUNITY THEATER 1 Performance(s)
LEESBURG, FL 11/5/2021
SUN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
MONROE, NC 11/4/2021
OAK MOUNTAIN ACADEMY 2 Performance(s)
CARROLLTON, GA 10/28/2021
CLARKE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
BERRYVILLE, VA 10/25/2021
WRIGHTSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
DE PERE, WI 10/19/2021
SARANAC HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA CLUB 1 Performance(s)
SARANAC, NY 6/16/2021
THE WINCHENDON SCHOOL | BROOKLYN 1 Performance(s)
BROOKLYN, NY 6/8/2021
SOUTH FORSYTH HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
CUMMING, GA 4/1/2021
MAGNET ACADEMY FOR CULTURAL ARTS 1 Performance(s)
OPELOUSAS, LA 4/1/2021
BLOOMBURG HIGH SCHOOL OAP 1 Performance(s)
BLOOMBURG, TX 3/2/2021
MARINER HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
CAPE CORAL, FL, FL 2/5/2021
SHENANDOAH CSD 3 Performance(s)
SHENANDOAH, IA 1/23/2021
POSTVILLE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT 1 Performance(s)
POSTVILLE, IA 1/23/2021
ESTELLINE SCHOOLS 2 Performance(s)
ESTELLINE, SD 1/8/2021
VALLEY VIEW SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
NORTH BROOKFIELD, MA 12/5/2020
HAMPTON ROADS ACADEMY 2 Performance(s)
NEWPORT NEWS, VA 12/3/2020
DRUMMOND AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT 2 Performance(s)
DRUMMOND, WI 11/15/2020
HERITAGE PERFORMING ARTS 3 Performance(s)
HOMER, IL 11/7/2020
HILLSBORO HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
HILLSBORO, ND 11/5/2020
GLENROCK HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
GLENROCK, WY 10/30/2020
HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
SUSSEX, WI 10/27/2020
MUHLENBERG COLLEGE STUDENT ACT 1 Performance(s)
ALLENTOWN, PA 10/20/2020
JENNINGS LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT 1 Performance(s)
CLOVERDALE, OH 10/9/2020
UNIVERSITY SENIOR COLLEGE 1 Performance(s)
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA 9/20/2020
SPAIN PARK HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE 1 Performance(s)
BIRMINGHAM, AL 5/18/2020
PAW PAW HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
PAW PAW, MI 4/18/2020
HANSEN HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
HANSEN, ID 4/3/2020
MOUNTAIN GROVE HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
MOUNTAIN GROVE, MO 4/2/2020
LEAVITT AREA HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
TURNER, ME 3/21/2020
FAIRMONT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
FAIRMONT, WV 3/16/2020
SPARKS 1 Performance(s)
WATERLOO, ON 3/9/2020
LEAVITT AREA HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
TURNER, ME 3/6/2020
SPARKS 1 Performance(s)
WATERLOO, ON 3/4/2020
MOUNTAIN GROVE HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
MOUNTAIN GROVE, MO 3/3/2020
SOUTH SHORE CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
QUINCY, MA 2/29/2020
SPANGDAHLEM HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
APO, AE 2/6/2020
FAIRMONT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
FAIRMONT, WV 2/1/2020
WHEATON AREA SCHOOLS 1 Performance(s)
WHEATON, MN 2/1/2020
ANKENY CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
ANKENY, IA 1/25/2020
BOULDER CITY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
LAS VEGAS, NV 1/25/2020
ARCHBISHOP RUMMEL HIGH SCHOOL GENESIANS 1 Performance(s)
METAIRIE, LA 1/24/2020
GROTON THEATER DEPARTMENT 3 Performance(s)
GROTON, SD 1/22/2020
STAGEWORKS NORTHWEST 2 Performance(s)
LONGVIEW, WA 1/18/2020
WHEATON AREA SCHOOLS 3 Performance(s)
WHEATON, MN 1/17/2020
MOSSYROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT 1 Performance(s)
MORTON, WA 1/11/2020
OSAGE CITY HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
OSAGE CITY, KS 1/10/2020
ALMA BRYANT HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
IRVINGTON, AL 12/7/2019
ROGERS HERITAGE HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
RODGERS, AR 11/22/2019
CARTERET HS DRAMA CLUB 2 Performance(s)
CARTERET, NJ 11/22/2019
THEATRE GROUP 2 Performance(s)
ORANGE CITY, FL 11/18/2019
CHARLESTON COUNTY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS 1 Performance(s)
CHARLESTON, SC 11/16/2019
BROAD RUN HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
ASHBURN, VA 11/16/2019
STRAWBERRY CREST HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
DOVER, FL 11/15/2019
NORTHSIDE ISD 3 Performance(s)
SAN ANTONIO, TX 11/15/2019
HEBRON DRAMA 3 Performance(s)
HEBRON, ND 11/12/2019
ROCKY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
CHARLOTTE, NC 11/8/2019
LAMOURE HIGH SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
LAMOURE, ND 11/6/2019
MADDOCK PUBLIC SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
MADDOCK, ND 11/5/2019
CANTERBURY HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
FORT MYERS, FL 11/5/2019
ALMA BRYANT HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
IRVINGTON, AL 11/2/2019
CMCSS 1 Performance(s)
CLARKSVILLE, TN 10/28/2019
BROAD RUN HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
ASHBURN, VA 10/26/2019
SWITZERLAND COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA CLUB 2 Performance(s)
VEVAY, IN 10/19/2019
MATER DEI HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
SANTA ANA, CA 5/16/2019
EUREKA SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
EUREKA SPRINGS, AR 5/6/2019
CENTRAL BUTTE SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
CENTRAL BUTTE, SK 5/2/2019
LORENA HIGH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
LORENA, TX 4/24/2019
BEV FACEY COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
SHERWOOD PARK, AB 4/17/2019
1970 1 Performance(s)
BATON ROUGE, LA 2/27/2019

Behind The Scenes

Playwright Brent Holland Talks About His Play "An Experiment"

 

What Inspired you to write this play?

Desperation!  Seriously…we were headed to regional competition with a pair of plays that were both ensemble pieces and Hurricane Florence hit us with a vengeance.  No power for five days and no school for more than three weeks!  Two ensemble pieces went out the window as we didn’t have time.  What I did have was six students who could stay after school and put together another play so that we could still fill both our slots. I literally wrote this play on my lap top hooked into the power from my truck. Fortunately, I knew the kids I had pretty well, and the parts fit them pretty well. The play went great and ended up being the bright spot of hurricane Florence. (At least for me!)

 

What is your favorite line or part in the play?

It’s a tough call between the turn that Devious makes at the last moment (influenced by the actress that killed it on stage for me!) and the outro that shows how Devious wins her 9th consecutive experiment.

 

What did you try to achieve with this play?

I like telling stories and I love fantasy-based plays. There are so many unanswered questions in a piece like this that can be filled in by creative actors. At the core, I started just wanting a competitive play for the festival, but I really grew to like Courageous, Devious and the rest of the gang.

 

Do you have anything else you would like to add? 

I hope you have as much fun doing this play as we did.  The names of the original cast is listed in the front of the script and they did so much to add to what I originally put on the pages.  I am thankful to Eldridge for the opportunity to share this play with such a wide audience.