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 AFTER MATH from Playscripts!
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 mnay others--as they search for connection in the magic hour. Written specifically for teen actors. (30-35 minutes, flexible cast of 6-30+) and soon to be published by Playscripts. In the meantime, perusal copies are available here through YouthPlays.com.
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 on the title to read a synopsis, read an excerpt, and even listen to 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!
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."
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.
UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS! We're heading into the slower part of the year, but look for announcements of upcoming productions here soon. HIGH SCHOOL (non) MUSICAL will be produced by Damascus High School (Damascus, MD) in December 2009.
STUDY PLAYWRITING WITH ME! I teach Introduction to Playwriting for the Writers Store's Writers University. The next session begins on July 13, 2009. 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)
GUEST ARTIST! I will be returning as a guest artist to the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, NE in June 2009! Teachers, look for my playwriting master class at the EdTA National Conference in September!
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.
4 A.M. 
High School (non) Musical now has its own dedicated website! Check it out at 
