Resident Playwriting Expert of The Writers Store. Click on the box
for all of your playwriting and screenwriting book, software and supply needs.
Looking for a play to produce? Click here to read synopses (complete
with casting information) and PDF excerpts of
my plays that are available for production.
Click here to view
my monologues, available for use in class and for auditions.
They're organized by age and gender and include many monologues
for teen actors.
Looking for a screenplay? Click
here to learn more about my work available for production.
"Jon Dorf is
the voice of this generation's high school student. He has
captured the inner and outward struggles that confront today’s
youth and brings light to those issues that we deem important
but are too afraid to broach. The significance of his work
is far beyond that of his writing genius. It speaks to everyone
on a personal level and gives a voice to a growing population
that has so much to say. His plays have proven vital, not
only to the growth of our young actors but also to the development
of their young minds. We continue to use Jon’s works here
at Choate Rosemary Hall and look forward to his next creation."--Paul
Tines, Executive Director of the Paul Mellon Arts Center and
Head of the Choate Rosemary Hall Arts Department.
AFTER MATH. A student
mysteriously disappears in the middle of math class. What
happened? Why? Those
left behind try to find some answers. Did anyone really know
who he was? And why is it they've only noticed him now that
he's gone? Written specifically for teen actors, with a flexible
cast and a length (35 minutes) that's ideal for school
festivals and competitions. Check out three monologues
from the play,
or click here to order it from Playscripts now!
4 A.M. What's it like to be awake when the rest of your world is asleep? Meet an early-morning jogger, a short-wave radio DJ, a modern Romeo and Juliet, and even the monster under the bed--among many others--as they search for connection in the magic hour. Written specifically for teen actors. (30-35 minutes, flexible cast of 6-30+) Click here to order it from Playscripts now!
TINY TIM RUNS THE MARATHON. An abandoned set of crutches. Tiny Tim in training to run the marathon. A chance to inspire millions, unless...somebody else already has that job. With the powers-that-be backing Oliver Twist, once lowly orphan and now panic attack-ridden pitchman for juicers and cereal who is forced to endlessly reenact his walk to London and his days in the workhouse, Tiny Tim may not make it to the starting line. (90-100 minutes, flexible cast of 14-50+) Click here to order a free perusal copy from YouthPLAYS now!
HIGH SCHOOL (NON) MUSICAL is a full-length parody of the Disney hit, but it also stands on its own. Join Toy Boatin, Gaberella, Shitzu, Cryin and the rest of your favorites as the Roswell High bowling team competes for the state championship, young actors pursue their dreams of performing in the Winter Muse Cycle, and surgical decathletes perform in real surgery. But when Gaberella's singing voice turns out to be so bad it could cause mass casualties... Click here to order it from Playscripts now!
The Springfield Academy of Arts and Academics premiere of High School (non) Musical (Springfield, OR--photo by Stephen Speidel)
MUSICAL!!! DAY ONE (music by James Balmer and Mary Nelson) is a full-length musical written for high school performers (cast size is flexible and can include an almost unlimited number of performers) and developed at the Choate Rosemary Hall Summer Arts Conservatory. Some people wish high school would last forever. Others would do anything to get it over with. Who will win out? Click here to order a free perusal copy from YouthPLAYS now! You can even listen to demos of some of the songs!
DEAR
CHUCK captures the lives of its collection of teen characters in moments that range from the ridiculousness of taking over
the kiddie pool at the local swim club to the wrenching aftermath
of a friend's suicide. What they all have in common is the
search for their "Chuck," that elusive moment of
knowing who you are. It has both a flexible length (35-55
minutes) and a flexible cast size (from 10-30+). Click
here to order it from Eldridge Publishing!
NOW
YOU SEE ME tackles the hot-button topic of school violence. Written for teen actors and using fast-paced, often comedic scenes, it examines what causes young people to slip through
the cracks and what drives them to violence. It has a flexible
cast size and is just the right length for festivals and competitions--and it's a great conversation starter to talk about a serious issue. Click here to order it from Brooklyn Publishers!
TWISTING
CAROL is a one-act slaughter of the Dickens classic. Young
Ebenezer Scrooge dancing with a popsicle stick, a ghost named
Bob, another ghost who thinks his name is Bob and a Tiny Tim
who considers himself short but not tiny. Flexible cast size,
anywhere from 8 to 40+. Click here to order it from Playscripts!
In FROM SHAKESPEARE WITH LOVE?, four of the Bard's characters wait for an overdue flight to London. When Romeo reveals his plan to revenge himself upon Shakespeare by killing him in a duel, it's up to the others to save Shakespeare by convincing Romeo that Shakespeare does indeed love love. Interwoven with real Shakespearean scenes, the play is available from Eldridge Publishing. You can read the first half on the ProPlay website!
Can't figure out
why your script isn't working? I can help. For a reasonable rate,
I will give you detailed feedback to get your project back on track.
Click here for information.
Starting out as a writer? Get
help by clicking here. You'll find playwriting instructional tips, links to young playwrights contests, sample query and cover letters and even a suggested reading list!
Young Playwrights 101 is the complete resource for young playwrights and those who teach them! Inside you'll find detailed instruction, organized in easy-to-follow lessons, including practice exercises: it's a full playwriting course, available as a paperback or as a downloadable e-book!
But what's even better about Young Playwrights 101 is that you don't have to be a student or drama teacher to benefit from it: no matter what your age or experience, if you’re looking for detailed, no-nonsense advice about the craft and business of playwriting, this is the resource for you. Click on the picture to order it now!
HONORED IN CALIFORNIA. I am thrilled to have been selected as the inaugural playwright for a brand new program that will be part of the California State Thespian Festival: "The Journey - Visiting California Playwrights." There will be a competitively auditioned half-hour showcase of my work as part of the mainstage performances at the Festival, which takes place in Ontario, CA from March 26-28. Stay tuned for details...
GUEST ARTIST!I will be heading to the Alabama Thespian Festival at the end of February, and stay tuned for exciting news about another international guest artist visit!
UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS! The world premiere of TINY TIM RUNS THE MARATHON will be produced by Hoover High School (Glendale, CA) in April 2010. HIGH SCHOOL (non) MUSICAL will be produced by West Geauga Local Schools (Chesterland, OH) in January-February 2010, and by Siuslaw High School (Florence, OR), West County High School (Park Hills, MO), Morrisonville High School (Morrisonville, IL) and Hoover High School (Fresno, CA) in March. 4 A.M. will be produced by Albany HS (Albany, MN) in January-February, by St. David's Catholic Secondary School (Cambridge, ON, Canada) in February, and by Alta Loma High School (Rancho Cucamonga, CA), South Carleton High School (Ottawa, ON, Canada), Glaslyn Central School (Glaslyn, SK, Canada) and St. Mary's Anglican Girls School (Karrinyup, WA, Australia) in March. THANK YOU FOR FLUSHING MY HEAD IN THE TOILET... will be produced by South Lakes High School (Reston, VA) and Ramona High School (Riverside, CA) in February, by Royster Middle School (Chanute, KS) in March and by Framingham High School (Framingham, MA) in May. AFTER MATH will be produced by Martin County West High School (Jackson, MN) in January-February, by the School for the Talented & Gifted (Dallas, TX) in March and by Lake Geneva Middle School (Waukesha, WI) in May. NOW YOU SEE ME will go up at North Harrison High School (Ramsey, IN) in February. PEPPERONI APOCALPYSE will be mounted by Antigo High School (Antigo, WI) in February 2010, and VITAL ORGANS will be produced at Eric Hamber Secondary School (Vancouver, BC, Canada) in March 2010. Riverheads High School (Staunton, VA) will stage both LEAPERS and TEN MINUTES in March 2010.
Check out this amazing student-made music video created to support a production of my anti-bullying play, THANK YOU FOR FLUSHING MY HEAD IN THE TOILET... at Foley High School (Foley, MN). Directed by Varrick Bruno, with special thanks to Saosin for allowing their song "You're Not Alone" to be used as the soundtrack.
CONGRATULATIONS to Pine Grove Middle School (Edson, AB, Canada), whose May 2009 production of THANK YOU FOR FLUSHING... at Alberta's Zone 2 West Drama Festival received an award for "Outstanding Achievement in Social Activism."
REFLECTIONS OF LINO IN PALM SPRINGSI'm excited to have collaborated recently with acclaimed composer Nathan Wang, choreographer Kate Hutter (LA Contemporary Dance Company) and director Ron Celona of Coachella Valley Rep on Reflections of Lino, a multimedia performance piece with original music, dance and narration (by yours truly) that was performed in October and November at the Palm Springs Art Museum. My narration was voiced by Donna Theodore (Tony nominee and Drama Desk winner for Shenandoah) and Don Martin (Grammy nominee for his work with the LA Jazz Choir). The piece was created to accompany the exhibition of the work of Lino Tagliapietra, perhaps the greatest glass artist in the world.
CONGRATULATIONS to Hampton High School (Hampton, NB, Canada), whose production of THANK YOU FOR FLUSHING... at the New Brunswick Provincial Drama Festival in May 2009 won Outstanding Student Director, Outstanding Choice of Material and two Outstanding Supporting Actor Awards.
CONGRATULATIONS to the world premiere production of 4 A.M., performed by Edwin Parr High School (Athabasca, AB, Canada) in April 2009 at the Zone 2E One Act Festival at the University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB, Canada). The play was selected as Best Play, and also won awards for Outstanding Technical Merit and Outstanding Ensemble Acting!
WHO KNEW? Apparently, THANK YOU FOR FLUSHING... makes a great piece for competitive forensics. How great? The 2009 Tennessee national qualifying tournament runners-up and Georgia state champion in duo dramatic interpretation and solo dramatic interpretation, respectively, both used it. Maybe you should too...
READ MY NEWSLETTER! Each newsletter has the month's news, featured plays, photos, and the exclusive Playwriting Tip of the Month! Click on each monthly link to read away! May 2009. April 2009. March 2009. February 2009, which includes Rights and Royalties for Dummies, a complete guide to copyright and royalties! January 2009.
STUDY PLAYWRITING WITH ME! I teach Introduction to Playwriting for the Writers Store's Writers University. The next session begins on March 15, 2010. The course goes through all of the playwriting basics, and for each of its four weeks, you'll be assigned writing exercises on which I'll personally give you feedback--and you'll have the opportunity to interact with me online to ask questions about playwriting. To learn more or to enroll, visit Writers University.
Jake River Fraser performs Stealing Saxophones from Homeless People in Canberra, Australia (photo by Pling)
Rumors of Polar Bears. A play about global warming.
Supermodels in Jeopardy. The larger/flexible cast version.
4 A.M. 
