7 Best One Act Plays For Competition That Showcase Your Actors’ Range

Your child’s drama teacher just sent the email: it’s time to pick a play for the one-act competition. Suddenly, you’re hearing terms like "character arc," "ensemble," and "judges’ feedback" at the dinner table. Choosing the right play is the single most important decision for a young cast, as it sets the stage for either frustration or incredible growth.

Selecting a One-Act for Competition Success

Finding the perfect one-act play feels like a treasure hunt. You’re not just looking for a good story; you’re looking for a vehicle that fits your specific group of young actors like a glove. The goal isn’t just to win, but to choose a piece that will stretch their skills, build their confidence, and give each performer a moment to shine.

Think of it like choosing a sports team for your child. You wouldn’t put a brand-new soccer player in a hyper-competitive travel league, nor would you keep a seasoned player in a purely recreational one. The same applies here. A play that is too difficult can crush morale, while one that is too simple can lead to boredom and disengagement. The best competition pieces hit that sweet spot: challenging but achievable.

Before settling on a script, consider the real-world logistics. How many actors do you need to feature? Do you have strong male or female leads? What are your technical limitations for set and costumes? A great choice showcases the talent you have, rather than highlighting the talent you wish you had.

Trifles: Nuanced Drama for Strong Actresses

Perhaps you have a couple of high school actresses who are ready for a serious dramatic challenge. They’ve moved beyond broad comedy and are ready to dig into characters with deep, unspoken emotions. Susan Glaspell’s Trifles is a masterpiece of subtext and quiet tension, making it an exceptional choice for mature performers.

The play centers on two women who, while their husbands investigate a murder scene, piece together the motive by observing small domestic details—the "trifles" the men overlook. It’s a powerful exercise in showing, not telling. The actors must convey years of shared understanding, empathy, and quiet rebellion through subtle glances and pauses. This is an advanced skill that judges notice.

Because the action is so contained, the play places immense focus on the performers’ ability to build a world with their words and reactions. It teaches young actors that the most powerful moments on stage are often the silent ones. If you want to showcase emotional depth and control, Trifles is a brilliant and timeless option.

The Actor’s Nightmare: A Comedic Lead Showcase

You see it every year: that one student with impeccable comedic timing and a gift for physical comedy who is just waiting for their moment. Christopher Durang’s The Actor’s Nightmare is that moment. This play is a hilarious and frantic sprint for a single lead actor, who plays an accountant who suddenly finds himself on stage, unsure of what play he’s in.

The lead character is forced to bluff his way through scenes from Hamlet, a Noël Coward comedy, and a Samuel Beckett play, among others. This requires an actor with incredible versatility, confidence, and the ability to switch characters and intentions on a dime. It’s a high-wire act that, when done well, is an absolute showstopper and a judge’s favorite.

While the focus is on the lead, the play can’t succeed without a sharp, disciplined supporting cast that can perfectly execute the different theatrical styles. They are the "straight men" to the lead’s chaos. This makes it a fantastic piece for a group with one standout comedic talent and a solid ensemble to back them up.

Sorry, Wrong Number: Building Solo Vocal Tension

What if your most compelling performer isn’t a physical comedian, but someone with an incredibly expressive voice? Lucille Fletcher’s radio play Sorry, Wrong Number is a tour-de-force for a single actress, relying almost entirely on vocal performance to create heart-pounding suspense. The entire story unfolds through a series of phone calls made by a frantic, bedridden woman who overhears a murder plot.

This play is a masterclass in pacing, pitch, and volume. The actress must convey rising panic, frustration, and terror using only her voice. It’s an incredible challenge that builds core acting skills that translate to any future role, teaching a young performer how to command a stage without taking a single step.

Because the set is minimal—often just a bed and a phone—all the audience’s focus is on the performance. There’s nowhere to hide. This makes it a bold choice for competition, perfect for a confident student who is ready to carry a show on her own. It proves that powerful theater doesn’t always need a big cast or an elaborate set.

Lockdown: Relevant Drama for a Modern Ensemble

Sometimes, the most impactful stories are the ones that reflect the world your students are living in right now. Douglas Craven’s Lockdown is a gripping, relevant drama that speaks directly to the experiences of today’s teens. The play takes place in a dark classroom where a group of students is hiding during a school lockdown, exploring their fears, prejudices, and hidden truths under extreme pressure.

This is a true ensemble piece. There is no single star; instead, the play works as a tapestry of distinct characters, giving eight to ten actors meaningful roles and significant emotional arcs. It’s an excellent choice for a program that wants to showcase the depth of its entire group, not just one or two leads. It fosters a powerful sense of teamwork and shared ownership.

The dialogue is naturalistic and the situation is intensely relatable, allowing young actors to connect with the material on a personal level. Choosing a play like Lockdown shows judges that your program is brave, current, and dedicated to telling important stories. It’s a play that will stick with the audience, and the performers, long after the competition is over.

The Boor: Mastering Classic Physical Comedy

Is your group ready to tackle a classic, but you want to avoid stuffy, inaccessible material? Anton Chekhov’s The Boor is a surprisingly hilarious and accessible farce that serves as a perfect introduction to period style and heightened physical comedy. It’s a short, explosive comedy about a grieving widow who is hounded by a boorish landowner demanding his dead-of-debt.

This play is all about energy. It requires actors to make bold, decisive choices, from sweeping gestures to rapid-fire dialogue. It’s a fantastic piece for teaching young performers how to fill a stage and play "big" without losing the truth of their characters. They’ll learn about comedic timing, building tension, and the art of the verbal duel.

For students accustomed to modern, naturalistic acting, The Boor is a wonderful stretch. It forces them out of their comfort zones and into a style that is physically and vocally demanding. It’s a fantastic way to diversify their skill set and show judges they have the range to handle more than just contemporary drama.

Poof!: Exploring Dark Comedy and Subtext

When your actors have a good handle on both straight drama and light comedy, they might be ready for the next level: dark comedy. Lynn Nottage’s short play Poof! is a brilliant and challenging piece that walks the fine line between tragedy and absurdity. It begins with a woman whose abusive husband has just spontaneously combusted into a pile of ash on the floor.

The play is a powerful two-woman scene that explores themes of freedom, grief, and friendship in a completely unexpected way. The actors must navigate complex emotional shifts, finding the humor in a horrifying situation. This requires a sophisticated understanding of tone and subtext, as the characters often say one thing while feeling another entirely.

This is not a play for beginners. It demands two mature, fearless actresses who can trust each other and are willing to explore uncomfortable emotional territory. For the right performers, Poof! is an unforgettable experience and a chance to tackle the work of a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, demonstrating a high level of artistic maturity.

The Insanity of Mary Girard: A Chorus Challenge

You have a large, talented cast, and the last thing you want is for half of them to be stuck in the background with nothing to do. The Insanity of Mary Girard by Lanie Robertson is the perfect solution. This haunting and visually stunning play uses a Greek-style chorus, called the "Furies," to tell the story of a woman in the 18th century committed to an asylum for becoming pregnant by another man.

The Furies are not just background actors; they are a central character in the play. They narrate, torment, and physically manifest the main character’s inner turmoil. This requires the entire ensemble to work as a single, cohesive unit, mastering synchronized movement, choral speaking, and intense physical characterization. It’s a director’s dream for building a disciplined and connected cast.

This play is a fantastic choice for a competition because it is so visually and aurally dynamic. A well-rehearsed chorus is incredibly impressive to watch and demonstrates a high level of group skill. It gives every single student a crucial role in the storytelling, making it a deeply rewarding experience for a large group.

Ultimately, the "best" play is the one that ignites a passion in your young actors and gives them the tools to grow. Trust your director’s instincts and your child’s enthusiasm. The right script will not only create a memorable performance but will also build skills and confidence that last a lifetime.