The official website of professional playwright Jonathan Dorf, co-chair of the Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights, resident playwriting expert for Final Draft, resident playwriting expert for The Writers Store and creator of Playwriting101.com, and a member of the Dramatists Guild of America.

 

Welcome!  Looking for a play to produce?  You've come to the right place.  Visit my Play Catalogue to read synopses and excerpts of my plays available for production, or go to Teen Favorites to find plays that are great choices for youth theatres and schools.  There's even a rotating play listing below, Hot Script Picks for Schools, to highlight some of my most popular works for young people.  You'll also find free monologues for use in class and for auditions, free playwriting tips, information on guest artist visits, classes I teach, and much more.  So come in and stay a while!

 
Hot Scripts Picks for Schools

"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, former Executive Director of the Paul Mellon Arts Center and Head of the Choate Rosemary Hall Arts Department.

 Just Add Zombies
Comedy. 35-45 minutes. 3+ males, 8+ females.
Middle school and older.

When a desperate high school drama troupe gambles that adding a zombie or two to the cast will bring them enough audience to save their program, their hungry new actors threaten to change forever the meaning of "live theatre."  Order it now from YouthPLAYS!

(more info)

 Thank You for Flushing My Head in the Toilet and other rarely used expressions
Dramedy. 30-35 minutes. Flexible cast of 8-30+.
Middle school and older.

Using scenes and monologues and a combination of wild theatricality and quiet, thoughtful moments, the play explores one of the toughest issues facing teens today: bullying. As two bullied students try to survive their daily lives, they wrestle with a terrible question: is the only way out to become the people they hate?  Order it now from Playscripts!

(more info)

 4 A.M. (the musical)
Musical. 75-80 minutes. Ensemble cast of 8-30+ (minimum of 4 males, 4 females).
Suitable for high school and older actors (possibly skilled middle school performers) and middle school or older audiences.

A world full of teen characters, ranging from a lonely short-wave radio DJ to a modern Romeo and Juliet to the writer of a most unusual letter, try to balance their fears and dreams and navigate that magical hour between night and morning.  Order it now from YouthPLAYS!

(more info)

 
Recent News
Upcoming Productions
Thank You for Flushing My Head in the Toilet and other rarely used expressions
Edgecombe Early College (Tarboro, NC), February 2012

Thank You for Flushing My Head in the Toilet and other rarely used expressions
Cheyenne Mountain High School (Colorado Springs, CO), February 2012

Harry's Hotter at Twilight (one-act version)
Century High School (Bismarck, ND), February 2012

Harry's Hotter at Twilight (one-act version)
Cedar Heights Junior High School (Port Orchard, WA), February 2012

Supermodels in Jeopardy
Marian Baker School (San Jose, Costa Rica), February 2012

From Shakespeare with Love?
Sodbury Players (Badminton, United Kingdom), February 2012

Now You See Me
Bondy Intermediate (Pasadena, TX), February 2012

Harry's Hotter at Twilight (one-act version)
Wilson Central High School (Lebanon, TN), February 2012

Harry's Hotter at Twilight (one-act version)
Raton High School (Raton, NM), February 2012

4 A.M.
Toronto Montessori School (Richmond Hill, ON, Canada), February 2012

4 A.M.
Quabbin High School (Barre, MA), February 2012

Pepperoni Apocalypse
Antigo High School (Antigo, WI), February 2012

4 A.M.
Woodcreek High School (Roseville, CA), February 2012

Thank You for Flushing My Head in the Toilet and other rarely used expressions
Alta High School (Alta, IA), February 2012

Harry's Hotter at Twilight
The Winsor School (Boston, MA), February 2012

After Math
Bancroft's School (Woodford Green, United Kingdom), February 2012

Harry's Hotter at Twilight (one-act version)
Salina Central High School (Salina, KS), February 2012

Thank You for Flushing My Head in the Toilet and other rarely used expressions
Richard Henry Dana Middle School (Hawthorne, CA), February 2012

High School (non) Musical
Heath High School (Heath, OH), March 2012

Harry's Hotter at Twilight (one-act version)
Pine Prairie High School (Pine Prairie, LA), March 2012

Thank You for Flushing My Head in the Toilet and other rarely used expressions
Washington High School (Martinsburg, WV), March 2012

4 A.M.
Randolph High School (Randolph, MA), March 2012

4 A.M.
Blue Valley Northwest High School (Overland Park, KS), March 2012

Thank You for Flushing My Head in the Toilet and other rarely used expressions
Magnolia High School (New Martinsville, WV), March 2012

After Math
Bold as Brass Productions (Stoke on Trent, United Kingdom), March 2012

High School (non) Musical
Morris County School of Technology (Denville, NJ), March 2012

Harry's Hotter at Twilight (one-act version)
Immaculate High School (Danbury, CT), March 2012

Harry's Hotter at Twilight (one-act version)
Newton Falls Drama (Newton Falls, OH), March 2012

4 A.M.
STARS (Tucson, AZ), March 2012

Run Like the Dickens
Central MN Christian School (Prinsburg, MN), March 2012

The White Pages
H. Harcastle School (Edam, SK, Canada), March 2012

After Math
Sock & Buskin Community Theatre (Sidney, OH), March 2012

From Shakespeare with Love?
Central College (Pella, IA), March 2012

After Math
Bill Sybert School (El Paso, TX), April 2012

4 A.M.
Holy Rosary Catholic School (Argyle, TX), April 2012

X Marks the Spot
Lemon Bay Playhouse (Englewood, FL), April 2012

After Math
Florence High School (Florence, AL), April 2012

Thank You for Flushing My Head in the Toilet and other rarely used expressions
Annapolis Area Christian School (Severn, MD), April 2012

Just Add Zombies
High Desert Middle School (Bend, OR), April 2012

Harry's Hotter at Twilight (one-act version)
Thoreau High School (Thoreau, NM), April 2012

4 A.M.
Edmondson County High School (Brownsville, KY), April 2012

Thank You for Flushing My Head in the Toilet and other rarely used expressions
Edmondson County High School (Brownsville, KY), April 2012

Thank You for Flushing My Head in the Toilet and other rarely used expressions
Academy ACL (Colorado Springs, CO), May 2012

High School (non) Musical
Riggs High School (Pierre, SD), May 2012

4 A.M.
Jay M. Robinson Middle School (Charlotte, NC), May 2012

Harry's Hotter at Twilight (one-act version)
Jane Addams Middle School (Bolingbrook, IL), May 2012

Harry's Hotter at Twilight (one-act version)
Excelsior Springs High School (Excelsior Springs, MO), May 2012

Harry's Hotter at Twilight (one-act version)
The Capitol School (Tuscaloosa, AL), May 2012

Harry's Hotter at Twilight (one-act version)
Edgren High School (Misawa, Japan), May 2012

Thank You for Flushing My Head in the Toilet and other rarely used expressions
Jefferson Middle School (Jefferson City, TN), May 2012

Harry's Hotter at Twilight (one-act version)
South Park High School (Fairplay, CO), May 2012

Harry's Hotter at Twilight (one-act version)
East High School (Cheyenne, WY), May 2012

Harry's Hotter at Twilight (one-act version)
Sequoia Middle School (Pleasant Hill, CA), June 2012

Harry's Hotter at Twilight
Drama With a Difference (Melbourne, VIC, Australia), October 2012

 
The Locker Next to Mine: 

Stay tuned for more information about this play commissioned by Wantagh High School (NY), coming in spring 2012.


Rumors of Polar Bears: 

Though the one-act version, available from Playscripts, stands on its own (and is perfect for competition!), this play was always intended to be a full-length composed of three acts:  Rumors of Polar Bears, Ursa Major and Northern Lights.  Look for the other two plays in the cycle sometime in 2012.


Home
Plays for Production
Free Monologues
Screenplays
Young Playwrights 101
Script Consulting
About Me
Links
Connect With Me
 
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!
 
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.