The Spellbinders
Genre: Dark Fantasy Thriller
Keywords: climate change, near-future drama, teenage friendship, moral choice, ecological mystery, hope at the end of the world
Cast Size: 10 actors (4 male, 5 female, 1 nonbinary)
Duration: Approximately 105 minutes, in two acts
Time Period: Present day
Cautions: Strong language; suicide (backstory); onstage violence and deaths; depression and anxiety; references to drinking
At Prosper Elite Academy for Spellbinders, the school year ends with the Culling. One graduating student is raised to the all-powerful Supreme Council, and the least worthy are stripped of their magic…and their memories. This year, ten students wake up scattered across an empty campus with no memory of the past day, no access to their powers, and a fiery red clock counting down. Then the voices begin. Two hours, and only one survivor.
Trapped behind an unbreakable hex, the ten must decide whether to search for a way out or turn on one another. Siblings, ex-lovers, rivals, and near-strangers form uneasy alliances as the hex grows crueler, forcing them to face their worst fears and a tragedy they chose to forget. As the clock runs down and the bodies begin to fall, one question looms: who cast the hex, and why?
Darkly funny, The Spellbinders is a magic-school thriller about how grief and power affect the bonds between us. With ten richly drawn roles and theatrical magic that can be staged on any budget, it’s a bold choice for high school, college, and community stages.
How We Price
Our pricing is simple and transparent. Each play includes two parts: a one-time script fee of $150, which grants you immediate access to the play and permission to copy and share it within your program; and a performance license of $65 per performance, which covers your live productions for the selected license duration.
How You License
At checkout, select your license duration (for example, the current or next school year) and the number of performances you plan to give. Each license covers live, in-person performances.
What You Get
You’ll receive an instant download of the following:
- the full script
- a prop and costume guide
- a lesson plan set
- an Author Insights article
During your license period, you’re free to copy, print, and share the script within your school or theatre program for rehearsal and performance use—no per-script fees or copy limits.
Student Testimonials
“I’ve never felt so seen by a piece of media. … You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll see yourself onstage. It’s not overly sentimental like a lot of darker stories and has a great balance between drama and comedy that makes for a very entertaining watch.” - Rita D., Chloe, Upper Darby High School (2024)
“Everyone in the show is integral to the story — and each actor has the opportunity to establish their own motivations, back stories, and personal growth. Magic really did bind us all.” - Sabrina G., Maisie, Upper Darby High School (2024)
“The focus on mental illness and queerness is refreshing. What is even more unique is that the queerness of the characters does not define them. They have personalities and struggles outside of that part of themselves.” - Emilia D., Blake, Haverford High School (2025)
“If you want to make audiences think, touch hearts ... this is the show for you. … It’s fun, it’s quirky, it’s devastating, and it leaves audiences with an experience they will never forget.” - Syd M., Blake, Players Club of Swarthmore (2025)
“In an increasingly scary world, The Spellbinders provides a safe haven in its cast of wonderfully diverse characters. It’s a story of love, loss, and what it truly means to succeed in life when all the odds are stacked against you.” - Phoenyx H., Glenn, Players Club of Swarthmore (2025)
