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Dive into our "Historical/Biographies" category, specifically designed for middle schoolers. These captivating plays bring history to life by featuring notable figures and significant events, igniting a passion for learning through the performance arts. Each script is meticulously crafted to engage young actors and audiences, enriching their understanding of past influences that shape our world today.

Participating in these plays not only enhances students' appreciation for history but also fosters critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork. By portraying diverse characters, middle schoolers gain insight into different perspectives and cultures, encouraging empathy and a broader worldview. These engaging narratives inspire curiosity and spark discussions about social issues and historical relevance, making them an exceptional resource for educators. Transform your classroom or drama program with our historical and biographical plays, and empower your students to connect with the past while honing their skills in the performance arts!

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A JOURNEY TO THE STARS by Mary Satchell A JOURNEY TO THE STARS by Mary Satchell

Middle Grades; 3 female, 3 male, 3 female/male, and 12+ extras; 30 minutes.
A Reader’s Theater: The inspirational story of Cuban singer Celia Cruz, who rose from poverty, fled Communism in Cuba, and rose to the top of the music industry and beloved throughout the world as the “Queen of Salsa.”

 
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HISTORY IDOL by Kate Wagner HISTORY IDOL by Kate Wagner

Middle and Lower Grades; 6 female; 4 male; 1 male/female for Terry and as many male and female extras as desired. 20 minutes. Six famous quotes from history—by Abraham Lincoln, Neil Armstrong, Lou Gehrig, Chief Joseph, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr.—are celebrated in this spoof of a popular TV show.

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FIRE AND FRIENDSHIP by Renee C. Rebman FIRE AND FRIENDSHIP by Renee C. Rebman

Middle Grades; 7 female, 3 male, and as many extras as desired; 20 minutes. Set in 1911 New York City. The true story of the tragic fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory that killed 146 garment workers—most of them young women—and sparked the creation of laws to improve working conditions around the country.

 
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BALANCING ACT by Christina Hamlett BALANCING ACT by Christina Hamlett

Upper and Middle Grades; 5 male, 1 female, 8 male or female; as many male and female extras as desired. 30 minutes. High above the streets of New York City, Native American construction workers connect the giant steel beams that create the City’s skyscrapers, while telling stories about the Iroquois Nation and its culture.

 
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SHIRLEY CHISHOLM: "UNBOUGHT AND UNBOSSED" by Mary Satchell SHIRLEY CHISHOLM: "UNBOUGHT AND UNBOSSED" by Mary Satchell

Upper and Middle Grades; 11 female, 7 male, and 20+ males or females; 30 minutes. Scenes from the inspirational life of Shirley Chisholm (1924-2005), the first black woman elected to the U.S. Congress and an outspoken advocate for the rights of women and minorities.

 
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THE PRESIDENTS' DAY IN COURT, by Kathy Applebee THE PRESIDENTS' DAY IN COURT, by Kathy Applebee

Middle Grades; 7 male, 3 female, and 5 male or female, plus as many extras as desired; 20 minutes. When Patty O’Phurniture’s date with Jim doesn’t meet her expectations, she sues in court for breach of contract, and is confronted by the historical feats of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Susan B. Anthony, and others who are pictured on American coins.

 
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A MAN LIKE LINCOLN by Helen Miller A MAN LIKE LINCOLN by Helen Miller

Middle Grades; 5 male and 4 female; 25 minutes. A present-day lawyer who is running for Governor as “A Man Like Lincoln” comes to terms with his son’s decision on his future direction, and in the process reaches common ground in the tradition of our 16th President.

 
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RALPH BUNCHE, MAN OF PEACE by Mary Satchell RALPH BUNCHE, MAN OF PEACE by Mary Satchell

Upper and Middle Grades; 7 male, 4 female, 25 male or female; 30 minutes. The inspiring story of Detroit-born Ralph Bunche (1904-1971), the first African-American to receive the Nobel Peace Prize (1950) for his work with the United Nations to help create a cease-fire in the Middle East.

 
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THE PIE THAT CHANGED HISTORY by Maureen Crane Wartski THE PIE THAT CHANGED HISTORY by Maureen Crane Wartski

Middle & Lower Grades; 4 female, 3 male; 20 minutes. The story (maybe true, maybe not) of a couple who baked their way on to a wagon train to Oregon so they could open a school where Native people and settlers could learn together in peace. Their children settled in Kansas, where they were active in the 1850s Underground Railroad.

 
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RACE TO THE FUTURE, by Janet Carl RACE TO THE FUTURE, by Janet Carl

Middle and Lower Grades; 5 male, 5 female, plus many extras; mid-1800s; 25 minutes. A young girl invited to a "Bloomer" picnic—an unheard-of event for women to wear pants!—stands up for her beliefs in women's rights and freedom of expression.

 
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