Power Play

Power Play cover art

Full-length comedy

Power Play

by Amanda O’Donnell

Power Play is a mockumentary-style, updated retelling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth—set not in medieval Scotland, but in the hallways of Dunsinane High.

Running time90 min
Cast22 or more actorsGenders can be changed
SetSimple locationsSuggest each place with a few pieces
LicenseFrom $399 a yearNo approval wait
ForMiddle and high school
No application, no approval wait
License today, announce today
Unlimited performances, no royalties on top
Change lines, roles and genders without asking

Pick your license

Billed once for a full year. Nothing auto-renews. No approval wait: your scripts are ready the minute you check out. Paying by purchase order? We take POs.

Full-Length Solo
$399 / year
Just this play. Unlimited performances and script printing.
Best value
Full-Length Flex
$599 / year
This play plus every full-length we publish, with new titles monthly. Only $200 more.
Llama Plan
$799 / year
Every one-act and full-length, plus Dramallama U curriculum.

The story

Power Play is a mockumentary-style, updated retelling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth—set not in medieval Scotland, but in the hallways of Dunsinane High. Told through the lens of a student filmmaker, the play unfolds with “talking head” confessionals in the style of The Office, capturing every awkward pause, overblown pep talk, and behind-the-scenes meltdown. What begins as a simple junior class election spirals out of control when underdog Quinn Mackey—pushed by her ambitious best friend Taylor—decides to challenge the beloved incumbent, Morgan. With hive-minded guidance counselors echoing the Weird Sisters, smear campaigns, and hacked social media posts, this high school election becomes a modern cautionary tale of power, ambition, and betrayal.

Fast-paced, funny, and a little too real, Power Play blends Shakespearean tragedy with the inside of high school. The result is a production that feels both epic and intimate, with plenty of opportunities for creative staging, multimedia, and ensemble work. Perfect for schools, the show offers bold roles, flexible casting, and humor—while leaving audiences questioning just how far someone will go for a win.

Producing it

Cast22 actors, and the ensemble can grow as large as you like. As written, 15 female and 7 male roles. You can change lines, roles and genders to fit your students.
SetSchool rooms in sequence; playable on a unit set.
TechPlan for lighting shifts and freezes for confessionals, a projector screen for a documentary video, lots of phone notification sounds, a homecoming dance with music, and campaign buttons.
For your scene-stealersDirect-address confessionals give many actors a solo moment, plus a comic counselor trio speaking in unison, an optional dance team number, and a full homecoming dance scene.

Quick answers

Can I change lines or genders?Yes. Change lines, roles and genders to fit your students. You never have to ask.
Can we take it to competition?Yes. Competition rights are in every plan, with no extra fee and no approval to request.
Can my school pay with a PO?Yes. Request an invoice at checkout. Your access is set up as soon as the PO arrives.
Read it tonight. Cast it tomorrow.
80% of the script is free. Licensing takes two minutes and needs no approval.