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Thought Traps by Lindsay Price play script cover

Thought Traps

by Lindsay Price Canadian Author

Ariane walks around with her own personal black cloud. She throws up barriers, lashes out and refuses to tell anyone what she’s thinking.

Kate is the exact opposite. Happy, bubbly, outgoing and personable.

But even happy people have issues. And there are more similarities between the two teens: both Ariane and Kate deal with people from their past who invade their head space, and pull them into thought traps. Will either be able to set themselves free?

Dramedy

Recommended for High Schools

At a Glance

Running Time
About 35 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
10 Characters
2 M 5 F 1 M or F 2 Non-Binary
Set
Simple set
Length
37 pages
Free Excerpt
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Performance Royalty Fees

Royalty fees apply to all performances whether or not admission is charged. Any performance in front of an audience (e.g. an invited dress rehearsal) is considered a performance for royalty purposes.

Exemption details for scenes and monologues for competition.

10 Characters

  • 2 Males
  • 5 Females
  • 1 Male or Female
  • 2 Non-Binary

Characters in this play are currently identified as male or female. Directors are welcome to assign any gender (binary or non-binary) to any character and modify pronouns accordingly. **The exception to this is the character SHANE**

  • ARIANE Female 182 lines
    (she/her). A deeply moody teen who walks around with their own personal black cloud.
  • ESSA Female 62 lines
    (she/her). Ariane’s older sister. Left home a year earlier. Exists in the play only in Ariane’s memory.
  • KATE Female 131 lines
    (she/her). Presents as a perfect, happy girl. But is she?
  • ANDY Male 23 lines
    (he/him). Kate’s older brother. Exists in the play only in Kate’s memory.
  • BENITA Female 38 lines
    (she/her). Member of The Buzzy Bees. This improv group is always thinking. The problem is they overthink everything and can never agree.
  • BILLIE 42 lines
    (they/them) Member of The Buzzy Bees. This improv group is always thinking. The problem is they overthink everything and can never agree.
  • BRAD Male 41 lines
    (he/him) Member of The Buzzy Bees. This improv group is always thinking. The problem is they overthink everything and can never agree.
  • BARBARA Female 49 lines
    (she/her) Member of The Buzzy Bees. This improv group is always thinking. The problem is they overthink everything and can never agree.
  • SHANE 26 lines
    (they/them) Ariane’s foster parent. Non-binary. Uses the honorific Mx. (pronounced Mix) Very easy going even though they have faced opposition to their choices.
  • MR./MRS. LANG 23 lines
    (she/her OR he/him) The Vice Principal. A little out of touch but trying.

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