10 Challenging Short Scripts for Acting Students

10 Challenging Short Scripts for Acting Students offers actors handpicked acting scenes that have emotional highs and lows.

Monologue Blogger’s mission is to create stories for artists who are looking to express their inner voice.  Be sure to invest your time into our main Scenes Hub – you will find hundreds of scenes from our growing collection of published play works.

Why Practicing Short Scripts Develops Acting Craft

It may seem obvious, but working on script material is an essential path toward learning your craft as an actor. Finding ways to challenge yourself creatively is a good way to grow as an artist.

It’s not only important to find scenes to work on, but to find scenes that you feel challenged by.

One of the best ways to stretch yourself as an actor is to step out from your comfort zone and try things that allow you to take risks.

At Monologue Blogger, we support your creative risks. We’ve supplied 10 Challenging Short Scripts for Acting Students to help you build on various elements of acting:

• Practice your listening skills.
• Discover new ideas when developing character.
• Finding your voice with making creative choices.
• Increase your knowledge when working with others during collaboration.

Thin Ice (1 woman, 1 man)

• Genre: Drama
• Characters: Kyle, Scarlet
• Quote from the play script: “You ever listen to blues?” ~Scarlet
• Scene Description: Kyle is a loner in a new school in detention, until he makes a friend with Scarlet.

Them Candles (2 women, 1 man)

• Genre: Drama
• Characters: Kendra, Darla
• Quote from the play script: “It’s a quote place to chat.” ~ Kendra
• Scene Description: Kendra tries to avoid telling her mother that she’s going out with a guy she likes, but her mother reads between the lines.

Hurts When It Rains (2 men)

• Genre: Drama
• Characters: Frank, Salve
• Quote from the play script: “Don’t call me nuts, you know I hate that.” ~ Frank
• Scene Description: Salve tries to get his brother Frank to leave the girl he’s in love with because it’s bad for family business.

Mr. Bad Mood (2 men)

• Genre: Drama
• Characters: Bill, Vince
• Quote from the play script: “I have an ego cause I earned my ego.” ~ Bill
• Scene Description: A son visits his father after he’s failed to communicate from his job post and learns that his father isn’t well.

All That Matters Most (1 woman, 1 man)

• Genre: Drama
• Characters: Rosa, Clyde
• Quote from the play script: “How about hello?” ~ Rosa
• Scene Description: A husband finally admits to his wife that they are in a financial crises.

Lost and Found (2 women)

• Genre: Drama
• Characters: Jarla, Kimmie
• Quote from the play script: “Never in a million years did I think you’d be an actress.” ~Kimmie
• Scene Description: Kimmie and Jarla come together to figure out what they wish to do as a career in their life.

Mailbox Marvin (1 woman, 1 man)

• Genre: Drama
• Characters: Dr. Paulson, Mailbox Marvin
• Quote from the play script: “Have you seen my garden?” ~ Mailbox Marvin
• Scene Description: Mailbox Marvin is readying himself to face the contract he signed with Doctor Paulson.

Lenny (1 woman, 1 man)

• Genre: Drama
• Characters: Lenny, Mrs. Larner
• Quote from the play script: “I’m in this for life, Mrs. Larner.” ~ Lenny
• Scene Description: Lenny has gone through various changes in order to find his own happiness.

A Shade or Two Darker (1 women, 1 man)

• Genre: Drama / Family Drama
• Characters: Gertrude, Lyndon
• Quote from the play script: “We’ve tried everything, haven’t we?” ~ Lyndon
• Scene Description: A period drama about small family that suffers from indirect racism within their household.

Fever Dream (1 woman, 1 man)

• Genre: Drama
• Characters: Reggie, Don
• Quote from the play script: “Maybe there’s beauty in self-sacrifice.” ~ Reggie
• Scene Description: Reggie stops off at a pub before working up the nerve to visit her father in his hospital room.

Final Thought

Studying and practicing teen scenes from published plays is an opportunity to workshop your acting skills and grow in your technique. Whether it’s for drama class, collaboration amongst friends, or making online videos, working on your acting chops via scenes is always encouraged.

Want more?

You have to check out Monologue Blogger’s Scenes Hub, where you will find hundreds of scripts for two actors.