YOU'RE NEXT

By Jon Dorf

ABOUT THE PLAY

You're Next received its first full production at Lyman High School as part of the International Thespian Festival. It has a cast of two male performers, and it's probably best suited for high school performers and audiences, though its subject, bullying, is relevant to many ages. It even made it into the curriculum at John F. Ross CVI (a high school) in Guelph, Ontario, where the supervising teacher reported that "It was the favourite of four plays studied for almost two-thirds of the kids." It runs 15-20 minutes.

You're Next can either stand alone or play with Ticking and Play's End as part of the Gunplay trilogy, chronicling a day in the life of the Doe Family and their relationship with guns.

"It was an amazing journey working on Gunplay. We took this trilogy all the way to the State level of competition and learned something new with every performance. This piece offers many educational opportunities without preaching the dangers of guns."--Michelle Backel, Faculty Director, Lyman High School (Longwood, FL)

Jay shows Peter how his little brother fires out the window.

Jay (Michael Strong) shows Peter (Blake Elmquist) how his little brother fires a gun out of the window. Photos are from a made-for-video production at The Haverford School.

SYNOPSIS

JAY, still dripping water from being thrown in the shower again by the school bully, huddles with his best friend, PETER, in a room just off the locker room. Peter has brought a gun and wants Jay to use it on the bully. When Jay hesitates, Peter first tries to reason with him, then questions his courage and even his sexuality. But Jay holds firm—son of a gun salesman, he hates guns—and it finally becomes clear that it is Peter who needs help; the bully has told Peter that he’s next on his list, and he doesn't know what to do.

Peter tries to lend Jay his jacket.

Peter tries to lend Jay his jacket in return for Jay taking the gun.



READ AN EXCERPT

To read the beginning of You're Next as a PDF, CLICK HERE.

If you are unable to read PDF files, CLICK HERE to download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

TO ORDER

To request perusal materials and a production contract for You're Next, go to our online order page by CLICKING HERE.

Amateur rights for You're Next are $40.00 for the first performance and $25.00 for subsequent performances. These prices include the right to print as many copies of the script as your production needs. Professional rights should be negotiated directly with the playwright, who can be reached by email at: jon@jondorf.com.

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