About the Play:

Competition Piece is a one-act comedy by John S. Wells. Three groups of students – The Preppies, The Arties and The Metal Heads – are preparing for a drama competition. Competition Piece is a crazy look at theatre kids, their wacky teachers and their passion (or sometimes lack thereof) in putting on a show, from choosing a play to the realities of performance. A play within a play. Especially recommended for school and contest use.

Competition Piece fast-paced comedy about three very different groups of school students competing in an annual play festival. A perfectionist director leads "The Preppies", a clique that has lots of rehearsal time and chooses a romance. A failed basketball coach "demoted" to theatre director leads "The Metal Heads", a group who decide to do a typical teen problem play. An artsy director leads "The Arties", a group that wants to do a one-act version of King Lear as a Japanese Noh drama. The notes in the script encourage directors to let the actors explore giving each role a distinctive personality within the specified stereotype. Competition Piece is an ideal high school competition play.

Competition Piece was the first play written by John S. Wells. It premiered in 1991 at the Northwest Region Play Competition. Winner of several competitions, it remains an ideal choice for high school drama contests and one-act festivals.

Cast: 10 female, 10 male

About the Playwright:

John Sherman Wells has been teaching and directing theatre at Loudoun County High School in Leesburg, Virginia since 1982. He received his B.A. in Communication Arts/Theatre in 1977 from James Madison University and his M.A. in Theatre/Directing from West Virginia University in 1983. He has directed over 175 productions at LCHS and has led casts to a variety of district, regional, and state championships in theatre and forensics. He is also the author of numerous plays, including Competition Piece.