Short plays (also known as skits) are an excellent way for new actors start out.
Rather than giving them a full play, give them something short to work with and "play" with theatre before jumping into something big.
These skits may also be used for Reader's Theatre in the classroom as a quick and easy lesson.
Use the short play as an introduction to get students interested in a topic or as a fun way to get students up and moving.
Or you can create an entire evening of entertainment in the style of Saturday Night Live by using several sketches (another way of saying a short play or scene).
Shorts are a wonderful tool for actors, directors, teacher and students.
Check out some of the recommended scripts below.
PROFESSOR WHAT
By D. M. Larson
(Scene 2 from the play “Blondes Prefer Gentlemen”)
(PROFESSOR WHAT enters wearing a red fez, a multicolored scarf and Converse shoes of two different colors. DEBBY enters in strange scifi / medieval princess outfit)
DEBBY: Is this the Professor What set?
PROFESSOR: Absobloodylootely.
DEBBY: What a minute, are you Professor What?
PROFESSOR: I am today and was yesterday, but maybe not tomorrow.
DEBBY: That’s one of your catch phrases, isn’t it?
PROFESSOR: Hard to say. I have so many. Doesn’t really feel like a catchphrase if I’ve only said it once or twice, but it works on a shirt, so that’s all the matters really.
(DOTTY rushes in carrying her costume)
DOTTY: Is this the Professor Why show set?
DEBBY: What.
DOTTY: I said, is this the Professor Why set?
(PROFESSOR WHAT laughs and exits)
DEBBY: No, it’s “What.”
DOTTY: What?
DEBBY: Yes.
DOTTY: Why?
DEBBY: I don’t know. It just is.
DOTTY: What?
DEBBY: Yes.
DOTTY: What are you talking about?
DEBBY: No, who am I talking about.
DOTTY: Who?
DEBBY: Yes.
DOTTY: What?
DEBBY: Right.
DOTTY: Whatever.
DEBBY: That’s one of his catchphrases.
DOTTY: Who?
DEBBY: Professor What.
DOTTY: Oh!
DEBBY: Get it?
DOTTY: Got it.
DEBBY: Good.
DOTTY: Where are we?
DEBBY: They’re about the shoot a scene with Gretta Griffin.
DOTTY: The famous child actress? She’s on this show?
DEBBY: She’s a guest star. She’ll be on a few episodes this coming season.
DOTTY: That’s so cool. I wondered what happened to her. I don’t think I’ve seen her in anything as an adult.
DEBBY: Maybe she’ll be one of those child actors who actually makes it.
DOTTY: That must be so hard to get all that attention when you’re a kid and then become yesterday’s news when you’re an adult.
DEBBY: I hear it’s a pretty rough way to grow up.
DOTTY: It is still cool to be in a scene with her even though she’s not as famous now. I wonder if she still looks the same.
DEBBY: As when she was a kid? I hope not. That would be a weird looking adult.
DOTTY: Here she comes. She does look a little bit the same.
DEBBY: Yeah, kind of. Weird.
(GRETTA enters looking grumpy and annoyed followed by the director, HARVEY)
GRETTA: You all better be ready. I don’t want to be working on this scene all day.
(SYLVIA joins HARVEY and PROFESSOR WHAT readies himself for his entrance)
HARVEY: Here we go. Quiet on set everyone. Rolling. Action.
(GRETTA suddenly turns sad and vulnerable. She takes out a handheld recorder)
GRETTA: Why did you leave me here?! I didn’t ask for this. You drag me on some adventure and then drop me off with no clue how to get back. That’s just great. Wonderful! I’m so glad I was spontaneous and rushed off for something exciting and mysterious. How could I be so stupid?! I didn’t even know you that well. Sure, you were cute… and fun. And made me laugh. But I didn’t really know anything about you. You offered me something I never had before though… freedom. I was trapped in my life. I didn’t think there was ever a way out. It’s strange how easily we get trapped in our lives. You get things you want, but then you become a slave to those things, having to make payments, having to keep them repaired, and then paying more money to fix or replace them. Nothing is ever paid for. Or on those rare occasions where you do pay something off, then it breaks soon after, or some new flashy model comes along that you have to have. I guess that’s what you were. You were some flashy new model that got my attention and offered me something better. But that’s all you were… flash. Flash and no substance. You gave up on me like everyone else. Gave up and left me here… alone… worse off than when I started. Am I worse off though? You did show me some amazing things that I’d never seen. I did feel more alive than I ever felt before. My old life left me feeling dead. But you made me live… and live well… even if it was for a little while.
(PROFESSOR WHAT rushes in)
GRETTA: There you are! Where have you been?!
PROFESSOR WHAT: Blimey! Don’t get your knickers in a twist. I came back for you.
GRETTA: I thought you left me.
PROFESSOR WHAT: I didn’t mean to scare you there. But I found myself looking at various bits ‘n bobs and ended up lost some place I’d been before. And I was puzzled, because I shouldn’t be lost, I knew the place. Yet, I didn’t know where to go. That’s what happens when you travel through time and space. You get caught up in the weirdest boobly doobly clocky wocky kind of stuff. What you got there, lass?
GRETTA: This? I was just making a recording… I was leaving you a message.
PROFESSOR WHAT: A message for me? What does it say?
GRETTA: It doesn’t matter. What matters is you and me and today. Where are we going next?
PROFESSOR WHAT: The question should be, when are we going next?
(PROFESSOR WHAT turns to the camera dramatically)
HARVEY: And cut. Fantastic. I smell a new catchphrase. “When are we going next?”
SYLVIA: Good one, eh?
HARVEY: I love it. Send that to advertising.
GRETTA: Please tell me I don’t have to do that scene again.
SYLVIA: That was brilliant. I loved it. You captured the words perfectly. You made me feel like I was reliving a moment in my life… the moment in my life I was writing about… when I was young and foolish… and this dashing young man caught my eye. He swept me off my feet and I don’t think I hit solid ground for at least a year. But then he was gone.
GRETTA: Whatever. I’m just doing my job. Hire a method actor if you want someone to get all emotional about it.
SYLVIA: Oh, okay.
GRETTA: You can stop talking to me now.
(SYLVIA exits. GRETTA notices DOTTY and DEBBY and gets a sour look)
GRETTA: Are these the two aliens for the next scene?
HARVEY: Right.
DEBBY: It’s wonderful to meet you, Gretta.
(GRETTA ignores DEBBY and turns to HARVEY)
GRETTA: They’re too pretty.
DOTTY: Thank you.
GRETTA: It says in my contract that there are to be no distractions in my scenes.
DOTTY: Are we distractingly pretty? Wow.
DEBBY: I don’t think that’s good, Dotty.
HARVEY: I’ve already cast them. We’re shooting that scene next.
GRETTA: Pull some people from the crew or something. I’m not sharing my scene with them.
(GRETTA stomps out)
HARVEY: Sorry, ladies. I’m going to have to let you go.
DOTTY: Go? Where?
DEBBY: What? You’re firing us! Because we’re too pretty?
HARVEY: I just want to get this over with so I don’t have to deal with her anymore. Sorry about that.
DEBBY: This was our big chance to get a speaking role. You know how hard we worked for this? We must have done a million auditions before getting this. We’re starving ourselves, struggling to make a living in this town, trying to get a job like this, and you take it away, just like that. This was huge for us.
HARVEY: You’ll still get paid. Just go, please, before she comes back.
DEBBY: It’s more than the pay. This was going to be our moment.
DOTTY: Let’s go, Debby. We’re still getting paid.
DEBBY: I demand satisfaction. I demand justice.
HARVEY: Security!
DEBBY: No! This isn’t right. Where’s the producer? I’m taking this to the top.
(SECURITY enters and drags DEBBY out. DOTTY stands frozen in confusion)
END OF SCENE
from “Blondes Prefer Gentlemen”
ISBN-13: 978-1985331877 Book and Kindle
Buy a Low Cost PDF of "Professor What" Scene at Sellfy.com
NEW IN 2018! "Rednecks vs Aliens" is a wacky comedy scene for 2 males and 2 females about a redneck named JJ who is kidnapped by two beautiful alien women.
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"The Last Can" A short play about two people in love... at the end of the world... with only one can of food left (for 1 male and 1 female) from “When Mel Fell for Nell“ ISBN-13: 978-1512007183
"The Waiting Room" A short dramatic scene for 3 actors (written for 3 men but can be done by any gender) from "Death of an Insurance Salesman" ISBN-13: 978-1518665547
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ISBN-13: 978-1482739626
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"Waiting for Gal Gadot"
a short one act duologue stage play script for one male and one female actor about meeting your hero from the play "Losers in Love" ISBN: 9781549653186
RANDY
Where’s the line to see Wonder Woman?
MARIANNE
Linda Carter or Gal Gadot?
RANDY
They’re both here?!
MARIANNE
Amazing, isn’t it? This has to be the best WonderRificCon ever!
RANDY
Totally. Linda Carter was like the first Wonder Woman, right?
MARIANNE
Many actresses have played Wonder Woman. Lucy Lawless has been her too.
RANDY
The chick who played Xena Warrior Princess?
MARIANNE
The same.
RANDY
Wow, she gets all the cool parts. So, which line is this? Old or new Wonder Woman?
MARIANNE
Don’t call Linda Carter old. That’s not polite.
RANDY
How about spinning Wonder Woman or sword Wonder Woman?
MARIANNE
Better. What was the question again?
RANDY
I don’t remember.
(They laugh)
MARIANNE
Oh, thats right. You asked which line is this? It’s to meet both. I bought the super deluxe wonder pack. I get to meet them both, get their autographs and get a picture with them. It wasn’t cheap. Quite expensive actually. That must be why I’m the only one in the line.
RALPH
You rich or something?
MARIANNE
No, not at all, I’ve been saving for this ever since I found out. I gave up my cable and my smartphone. And cut back on eating out. Well, I cut out most food in general. Ramen noodles are good and cheap. I found all kinds of way to cook them. All the sacrifices are worth it. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. They’re my heroes.
RALPH
Wonder Woman isn’t real, you know?
MARIANNE
She’s real to me.
(MARIANNE is very forceful about this and pouts. RANDY looks around a minute before asking:)
RALPH
How long have you been waiting?
(RANDY notices her sleeping bag)
MARIANNE
I’ve been waiting here for two days. I’m first in line too!
RANDY
It must be a pretty expensive line if you’re the only one.
MARIANNE
It shows I’m the most dedicated fan of all. I’m their biggest fan!
RANDY
Isn’t that a quote from a horror movie?
MARIANNE
Maybe.
RANDY
You’re scaring me.
MARIANNE
You have nothing to fear. Wonder Woman is here.
RANDY
Where?
MARIANNE
In the building somewhere. Two of them actually. I wonder what’s going on? It seems like hardly anyone is here now.
RANDY
I think everyone went to the other building for something.
MARIANNE
There’s another building at the convention center?
RANDY
I came over here because I hate crowds.
MARIANNE
They told me this was line. Do you think they told me the wrong place?
RANDY
Who did you talk to?
MARIANNE
She sounded like she thought she was important. I think she said her name was Ashley. Her clothes were very sparkly.
RANDY
That’s our state beauty queen pageant winner Ashley Addams. Miss Walla Walla Washington. She thinks she going to be the next Miss America.
MARIANNE
Why is she here?
RANDY
Doing a comic book store promo for her cousin or something as a favor. My theory is that she has to do community service for some crime she’s committed.
MARIANNE
Please tell me she told me the right place to go.
RANDY
Judging by the way she is pointing over here at you and laughing with her friends… maybe not.
MARIANNE
This is terrible! Why would she do this to me?
RANDY
Because she’s a jerk. She thinks she’s better than everyone else and tries to make sure us pee-ons know it.
MARIANNE
What am I going to do? What if I missed it? I’m going to be last in line!
ANNOUNCER (OFF)
Last call for fans waiting to see Gal Gadot in building C, floor 12.
MARIANNE
This is building A.
RANDY
There’s a third building?
MARIANNE
With 12 floors! I’m going to miss them!
RANDY
Not if I have anything to do with it. Come on!
MARIANNE
What are you doing?
(RANDY gathers all her stuff)
RANDY
Helping you see Wonder Woman! Here I come to save the day! Randy is on the way!
(RANDY takes her hand and they run)
MARIANNE
Hurry!
RANDY
And when we’re done, we’ll come back and tell everyone about Ashley’s life of crime. How about that Miss Community Service?!
END OF SCENE
Copyright (c) 2017
All Rights Reserved
Please contact doug@freedrama.net if you would like to use the script (include the title "Waiting for Gal Gadot" in your request).
"Polly Wants a Cracker" A short play for two actors (one man, one woman, optional non-speaking extras) from a published play “The Weird, Wild and Wonderful Days of School”
ISBN-13: 978-1482739626
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"The Gingerbread Girl" This wacky play takes place after the story of the Gingerbread Man. It's a mix of the fairy tales and the story of Frankenstein! Buy a low cost PDF at Sellfy.com
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ISBN-13: 978-1502982308
"The Hysterical History of Cleopatra" - short comedy play about the famous Egyptian Queen - for 9 or more actors (as few as 7 with doubling) 2-4 females and 4-6 of any gender. Buy a low cost PDF at CurrClick.com
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This Freedrama.net play features our website mascot the Kachu! Kachus can been found all over the website... on the Freedrama title... acting out some of the plays in pictures... but now you can see these cute little birds in action in a quest for their favorite food... cupcakes! They make friends with Snow White (who makes the best cupcakes ever) and help save her from the evil Queen who wants to stop her from making these treats which give her a tummy ache.
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