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2025 One-Act Synopses
“Small Actors” by Stephen Gregg; Northwestern High School. Emily wants to play Juliet in her school’s production of Romeo and Juliet. Instead she’s cast as the four-line-delivering Second Servant. Since her parents will be out of town, Emily decides to tell her parents that she got the role of Juliet. The lie spirals out of control when her parents cancel their trip to Hawaii and invite distant relatives to come to the performance. Lies, loss, their consequences and the roles we all play are explored in this play.
12 Angry Jurors by Reginald Rose, Adapted by Sherman L. Sergel; directed by Katrina Brunner, Middleton High School. 12 Angry Men was written by Reginald Rose is an examination of the American jury system. Twelve strangers must deliberate on the case of a teenager charged with murder. The decision to convict or acquit on the basis of reasonable doubt lies on the shoulders of the jury, and will change a young man’s life forever. When disagreement and conflict arises, the jurors are forced to question their morals and values.
A Game by Dennis E. Noble; Hamilton High School. Three people accept an invitation to take part in an experiment—a game in which a small room is divided into three equal areas—one for each person. At intervals they recite a slogan: “This is my land. It is mine. It is beautiful, and it is mine.” As the game progresses, we see the drive that makes each human want to possess more than their neighbors—a drive that causes hatred … and starts wars. A Game begins as farce and ends in deadly earnest.
And Then There Was One: A Spoof by Michael Druce; Lincoln High School – Wisconsin Rapids. Who will be left? One by one, each guest staying at the Reef Mansion is murdered in a unique way. But who is the killer if no one else is on the island? A spoof and comedic homage of Agatha Christe’s book and script, “And Then There Was None.”
Anybody for Tea? by C.B. Gilford; Oconto Falls High School. Detective Dennis O’Finn, investigating the death of an elderly lady, discovers that he is the motive for the murder. Six sweet but balmy spinsters are all in love with their bachelor neighbor, the handsome fortyish O’Finn. To get him to visit them, they stage a homicide. To keep him around, another one must be arranged. This is a comical look at what happens when the Golden Girls meet Law and Order.
As the Window Closes by Addison Arnold; Plymouth Comprehensive High School. As the Window Closes explores an unnamed girl’s struggle with the concept of moving on, as she is visited by a mysterious boy. The ticking of an unseen clock seems to go on, the objects of her past seem to scare her, and the boy consoles, taunts, and makes peace with her struggle of facing the never-ending flow of time. As a new piece of absurdist drama, this piece attempts to examine the humanity that faces us all when we are forced to continue on with our lives and face the unknown.
Booby Trap by Ed Monk; Owen-Withee High School. In the near future, an American solider sits in a combat zone, trapped by a land mine. As he waits to see what will happen to him, scenes from his past, present, and future unfold around him.
Brian the Comet by Emily Hageman; Wrightstown High School. Brian the Comet is an interstellar tale and powerful drama of unexpected beauty, hope, friendship, and perseverance.
Class Action by Brad Slaight; De Pere High School. Being a teen is about learning to navigate relationships. This play explores a variety of teen encounters, ranging from humorous and hopeful, awkward and embarrassing, to more serious issues going on beneath the surface.
Dark Road by Laura Lundgren Smith; West De Pere High School. In Nazi Germany, Greta seizes the chance to support herself and her sister by taking a job as a guard at a nearby women’s camp. What begins as survival soon twists into complicity, as Greta learns to excuse the inexcusable. Her gentle sister Lise is horrified at the transformation, yet the two remain bound by blood, love, and the brutal machinery of the Reich. A gripping drama about ordinary choices, extraordinary evil, and the fragile ties that hold us together.
Dear Anne, From Nina by Claudia Haas; Drummond High School. This episodic play is based upon the true story of a pair of sisters in Iowa who were pen pals with Anne and Margot Frank during the early 1940’s and the relationships and life events they experienced during those years.
Death’s Door by Lizz Thomas and Cast; Gibraltar High School. This is a story done in the style of Story Theatre that incorporates Door County ghost stories. From an assistant lighthouse keeper, to a Washington Island’s farmers daughter, to Al Capone’s son, Johnny Redman and Huey Melvin. These stories are a part of Door County Lore which we compiled into stories told by the campfire on a not so typical Door County evening.
Epic Adventures in a Rinky-Dink Art Museum by Ken Preuss; Tomahawk High School. A trip to a small town local art museum turns into more than just a class assignment as both a mystery and new relationships are revealed.
Freak by Angela Hill; Greenwood/Loyal High School. Monique dreads school. The constant torment makes her feel like a sideshow freak. Monique finds herself out of high school and in an “unusual and disturbing” sideshow. Monique the freak, the freakiest freak of all, wonders how she got there, why she is there, and what other outcasts lurk inside. This fantasy social drama explores bullying and its extreme consequences. Though sometimes dark, Freak emphasizes hope, and it is hope that finally leads her home.
GREEK MYTHOLOGY OLYMPIAGANZA (FULL LENGTH) Selected Scenes by Don Zoldis; Brookwood High School. As a school assignment, two battling narrators attempt to cover the entirety of Greek mythology. As occurs in many projects with partners, one partner is prepared and the other is not, and their presentation fails before it even starts. In an effort to rectify the problem, they rely on classmates to pull together reenactments of many of the myths of Greece. Their script includes famous myths, perhaps with some adaptations.
Horror Movie 101: Failing can be Deadly by Steven Stack; Holmen High School. You know the rules: never open a door if someone knocks after the lights go out. If your car runs out of gas and a girl on the side of the road asks you to take her home to her mother, don’t. Haunted houses are never a good idea, and neither are cabins in the middle of the woods. And if you use an ancient burial ground to bring someone back, they’ll come back wrong. Everyone knows that.
I and You by Lauren Gunderson; Tremper High School. One afternoon, Anthony arrives unexpectedly at classmate Caroline’s door bearing a beat-up copy of Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, an urgent assignment from their English teacher. Homebound due to illness, Caroline hasn’t been to school in months, but she is as quick and sardonic as Anthony is athletic, sensitive, and popular. As these two let down their guards and share their secrets, this seemingly mundane poetry project unlocks a much deeper mystery that has brought them together.
I Don’t Want to Talk About It by Bradley Hayward; Algoma High School. A look at the challenges teenagers face while growing up and the issues/topics they can’t, won’t, or don’t feel they can talk about due to feeling ashamed, embarrassed, or scared to open up and being judged or labeled.
I Was There by Sam Guzman; Kettle Moraine High School. A group of high school students recount the intimate and harrowing details of a school shooting. Told through a series of monologues, we hear from many perspectives—from the jock, to the artist, to the so-called “loser.” This piece is a haunting exploration of what might drive someone to such violence, and how those left behind struggle to cope with the aftermath, leading them to question themselves and their peers.
Lost Girl by Kimberly Belflower; Prescott High School. Lost Girl by Kimberly Belflower follows Wendy Darling after her return from Neverland. Now a teenager, she struggles with growing up, first love, and finding her place in the world while still haunted by memories of Peter Pan. Through friendships, heartbreak, and self-discovery, Wendy learns how to let go of the past and step into her future. This modern, lyrical play reimagines a classic tale with honesty and heart.
Month-O-Logues by Hillary DePiano; Tigerton MS/HS. Tigerton Drama proudly presents the world premiere of a witty and heartfelt new play. Set during a high school photo shoot for a fundraising calendar, each student shares a monologue revealing their hopes, fears, and dreams. Funny, moving, and deeply relatable, it celebrates identity, belonging, and the stories that make us who we are. Directed by Andrew, Samantha, and Catherine Rewerts.
Oscar by Brian Nissen; Waunakee Community High School. 50 years after WWII, Oscar, a frail elderly German Immigrant, is keeping a secret. When his daughter realizes the secret, Oscar struggles to defend his actions and keep his daughter’s love.
Pearl by Mandy Conner; Oshkosh West High School. Nineteen-year-old Pearl is tethered to two ghosts: One is her sister, the other a stranger. Both girls are determined to help Pearl discover the truth about what happened to them, unspoken by the haunted women still living in the Monroe estate. But time is running out before Pearl’s abusive father will force her to marry a neighboring landowner’s son. Can Pearl unravel the generations of trauma in her family and free them all?
Pericles as Presented by Ms. Gower’s 1st Grade Class by Jeffrey T. Bower; Madison East High School. Ms. Gower’s 1st grade class proudly presents PERICLES by William Shakespeare! A classic is restored as a group of hyper and unfocused children try their best at performing a light hearted and comical version of the traditional tale.
Return of the Script by Don Zolidis; Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School. When high school theatre director Miss Walters forgets to return a borrowed script to licensing giant Music Theater Global. Now, MTG has sent their best agents to retrieve the script by any means necessary. A comedic chase unfolds across the globe as all involved learn the importance of always reading the terms and conditions.
Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare; Whitnall High School. A retelling of the tragic Shakespearean love story with a brand new framing. In a timeless, barren place, two opposing factions reluctantly work together to survive the end of society. As tensions run high and their fires burn low, the tattered remnants of an old script is found, and for thirty minutes their woes disappear as they bring the characters to life once more. Loosely inspired by the true story of The Christmas Truce of 1914, eight actors portray R&J in a barebones blackbox style.
Scenes from The Arabian Nights by Mary Zimmerman; Appleton North High School. King Shahryar marries, loves, then kills a young woman each night—until he encounters Scheherezade. For one thousand and one nights, he delays her murder as he eagerly awaits her next tale of love, hilarity, or sorrow. Strongly visual and theatrical in its approach, Zimmerman’s work features several lesser-known tales from the literary classic. Live Arabic music as well as Middle Eastern dance and movement help to create the rich cultural backdrop of ancient Baghdad.
Shuddersome: Tales of Poe by Lindsay Price; Pulaski High School. An ensemble of shudders accentuates the action of four of Poe’s tales: “The Tell-Tale Heart”, “The Oval Portrait”, “The Raven”, and “The Masque of the Red Death”. In typical Poe fashion, moments that seem calm shift to horror.
Silenced On Barbour Street by William Prenetta; Monona Grove High School. Silenced on Barbour Street is a part historical drama, part mystery, and part psychological thriller. The story of the fire at the July 6, 1944, Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey’s Circus is told, which claimed the lives of 144 spectators and circus performers. This is an ensemble drama where the victims of this tragic event must face their deepest fears in order to escape from a sadistic Ringmaster.
The Blossom Canyon Fire by Don Zolidis; Osseo-Fairchild High School. As a ferocious wildfire threatens to destroy the town of Blossom Canyon, California, ten people rush to survive the disaster, and find their fates intertwined with strangers. A play about kindness, family, and strength in the midst of tragedy.
The Blue Hour by Emily Hageman; Neenah High School. Thea’s grandpa has died, and she would give anything to see him one more time. A remarkable miracle sends her back in time to meet her grandpa while he was serving in the Korean War. A powerful and poetic play about grief, and what we can do with it.
The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathan by Don Zolidis; Regis High School. Join us for a wild ride as two narrators and an “elite” acting troupe attempt the impossible: retelling all 209 stories collected by the Brothers Grimm as one giant mega-story.
The Devil in Sherman Marsh by Don Zolidas; directed by Andrew G Stoltenberg, Badger High School. Incorrigible nerd Sherman Marsh is tormented by his peers, ignored by his teachers, and shot down by his crush. His world changes when he discovers a Yu-Gi-Oh card which summons a devil to his side. Risking his eternal soul, he makes a wish to ensure his popularity. Unfortunately, deals with supernatural beings rarely turn out as intended. A hilarious modern reimagining of the Faustus story, culminating in an epic collectible card battle and an introspective realization for Sherman.
The Fullest by Min Kahng; Waunakee Community High School. Lily must come to terms with her Grandmother’s end of life decisions and comes to learn what it means to live life to the fullest.
The Great Gatsby One-Act Edition by Book by: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Playwrights: Providence Academy Players and Julie K. Phillips; Monroe High School. The Great Gatsby (One-Act) follows Nick Carraway as he is drawn into Jay Gatsby’s world and his pursuit of Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby’s dream collides with Daisy’s selfish callousness and Tom Buchanan’s affair with Myrtle Wilson, exposing the corruption beneath wealth and privilege. Ensemble moments weave in backstory during parties, highlighting the glamour and emptiness of the Jazz Age while exploring themes of ambition, illusion, betrayal, and the American Dream.
The Greek Mythology Olympiaganza by Don Zolidis ; Waukesha South High School . Two battling narrators attempt to cover the entirety of Greek mythology using Barbie dolls, mime, and general theatrical insanity. Famous myths such as Orpheus and Eurydice (The Original Emo Love Story), Jason and the Argonauts (the original Super Friends), and Hercules: Intern God, lead to The Iliad complete with a full-scale battle of little green army men. This play is wild, silly, and a complete blast for audiences of all ages.
The Last Straw by Patti Veconi; Northland Pines High School. The Last Straw is a lively and more fully realized adaptation of the classic fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm. In this version we meet many of the equally outrageous and wildly interesting characters surrounding the journey of our heroine as she attempts to escape the dire predicament she finds herself in.
The Music Lesson by Tammy Ryan ; Burlington High School. The Music Lesson tells the story of Irena and Ivan, two musicians who escaped war in Sarajevo. In the US in the late 1990s, Ivan meets Mrs. Johnson, a single mother, and brings home two students: talented violinist Eddie and unwilling Kat. While her passion for teaching music helped Irena survive the war, she now stands torn between Maja, the piano prodigy she left behind in Sarajevo, and Kat, the bright but angry American teenager who wants to learn, but resists her teaching.
The One Act Play That Goes Wrong (HS) by Jonathan Sayer; Luxemburg Casco Middle/High School. The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong is a farcical play-within-a-play where an amateur drama society attempts to perform a 1920s murder mystery, but their performance devolves into utter chaos due to accidents, missed lines, falling props, and unconscious actors, all while the cast desperately tries to salvage the show.
The Secret Garden by Erin Detrick; directed by Brett Price, DeForest Area High School. The Secret Garden is a classic tale of growth from heartbreak. Newly orphaned Mary moves to a large manor, and stumbles upon a garden locked away. Her curiosity leads her on a journey to revive the garden, and along the way she befriends her sickly cousin who has been hidden away by his father. Their friendship blossoms, along with the garden. This adaptation utilizes a chorus to set the scene and tone, allowing the garden to be a character in its own right, and grow alongside the characters
The Sweet Science of Bruising by Joy Wilkinson; Waterford Union High School. Set in 1869, it tells the story of four women who have been lured into the mysterious world of boxing by Professor Charlie Sharp: Matty, whose intellectual interests amounted to nothing in the real world; Violet, who dreamed relentlessly of becoming a doctor; Polly, who yearned for a taste of real freedom, and Anna, who was trapped in an abusive marriage. In the ring, they escaped the struggles of the outside world, competing for the ultimate prize – enough money to pay their way to freedom.
The Tempest by William Shakespeare; Homestead High School. On a remote island, an exiled Duke prepares to perform her swansong, her great act of revenge. Prospera summons her magical gifts into a devastating sea storm, which hurls her usurping sister’s ship to shore. Old scores must be settled; her son Mirando must find love. But as her vision unfolds, a different ending emerges – one of forgiveness, love, compassion. And with it, the chance to renounce her magic forever. This is a Gender-bent production.
Too Many Detectives at the Murder Mansion by Ian McWethy; St. Mary Catholic Schools. In Too Many Detectives at the Murder Mansion by Ian McWethy, a murder has been committed—but every famous detective shows up to solve it. Instead of cracking the case, they argue, compete, and cause chaos in this fast-paced comedy that spoofs classic murder mysteries.
Wit by Margaret Edson ; Waukesha West High School. Dr. Vivian Bearing is a sharp-witted yet profoundly solitary English professor, renowned for her deep dives into John Donne’s metaphysical poetry. When she’s hit with a diagnosis of advanced ovarian cancer, she faces grueling experimental chemotherapy overseen by Dr. Kelekian and his detached medical team. In a series of clever, introspective monologues and poignant flashbacks, Vivian grapples with a lifetime spent prioritizing razor-sharp intellect over simple human warmth and connection.