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, then Executive Director of the Paul Mellon Arts Center and
Head of the Choate Rosemary Hall Arts Department.
RUMORS OF POLAR BEARS. A band of teenagers struggles for survival and to find the little moments of joy in the wake of a global warming disaster. Written specifically for teen actors and idealy for festivals and competition. Laced with humor--kiddie pool required. (30-35 minutes, flexible cast of 12-25+). Click here to order it from Playscripts now!
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 it from Playscripts 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!
UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS!HIGH SCHOOL (non) MUSICAL will be produced by Brookville High School (Brookville, OH) in November 2010, and by Florence High School (Florence, AL) in Feb-May 2011. Morgan County Middle School (Madison, GA) will produce THANK YOU FOR FLUSHING MY HEAD IN THE TOILET AND OTHER RARELY USED EXPRESSIONS in October 2010, and Schutz American School (Alexandria, Egypt) will produce it in November 2010. 4 A.M. will be produced by Rappahannock County High School (Washington, VA) in October 2010, by Augusta Christian School (Evana, GA) and Tipton High School (Tipton, IA) in November 2010, by East St. John High School (Reserve, LA) in December 2010, by Evans Middle School (McKinney, TX) and Pauline Johnson Collegiate and Vocational School (Brantford, ON, Canada) in February 2011, and by Mississippi School of Mathematics and Science in March 2011. Lawrence High School (Lawrenceville, NJ) will produce TWISTING CAROL in December 2010. Alta Loma High School (Rancho Cucamonga) will produce AFTER MATH in October 2010, Vista Ridge High School (Colorado Springs, CO) will produce it in March 2011, and Yokohama International School (Yokohama, Japan) will produce it in April 2011.
HONORED IN CALIFORNIA. I was thrilled to be 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." The showcase of my plays (which featured excerpts from BEEF JUNKIES, AFTER MATH, 4 A.M. and HIGH SCHOOL (NON) MUSICAL) went wonderfully--thanks to the dedicated student actors, to director Mark Scott, and to everyone from California Thespians who helped it run so smoothly.
HONORED IN MINNESOTA. I was delighted to visit Cambridge-Isanti High School (Cambridge, MN) in May, not only to see their superb world premiere of RUMORS OF POLAR BEARS, finish developing the script prior to publication and spend some time with a wonderful and dedicated cast and crew, but at the end of a wonderful weekend, they surprised me by announcing my induction into the Cambridge-Isanti High School Theatre Hall of Fame! I'm deeply honored.
Rumors of Polar Bears at Cambridge-Isanti High School (Cambridge, MN).
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.
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.
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 September 20, 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.
4 A.M. the musical! A full-length (80-90 minutes) musical version of my hit one-act play. We will be doing our first work-through on the show in late September 2010, and we expect it to be ready for production by spring 2011.
Rumors of Polar Bears, the full-length. Though the one-act version stands on its own (and is perfect for competition!), this play was always intended to have a full-length version as well. Look for it sometime in 2010-2011.
