Choices: A Ten-Minute Play

by James McLindon

A debtor burdened by crushing student loans is offered a way out … but is the deal too good to be true?

A debtor burdened by crushing student loans is offered a way out … but is the deal too good to be true?

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Choices: A Ten-Minute Play

Recommended by

  • Caleb Barron: Choices: A Ten-Minute Play by James McLindon
    “

    I used this for a directing lab project and it was a perfect script to explore how to work with actors. The story is so nuanced with a healthy dose of comedy and bleak reality. James McLindon is a master of pulling the audience by trusting them to put the puzzle pieces together. Nothing is quite as it seems in "Choices".

    I used this for a directing lab project and it was a perfect script to explore how to work with actors. The story is so nuanced with a healthy dose of comedy and bleak reality. James McLindon is a master of pulling the audience by trusting them to put the puzzle pieces together. Nothing is quite as it seems in "Choices".

    ”
  • Kelly Grayum: Choices: A Ten-Minute Play by James McLindon
    “

    Very funny, until it is not. This piece allows the audience to come into the knowledge of what is being spoken of and it is a dark delight.

    Very funny, until it is not. This piece allows the audience to come into the knowledge of what is being spoken of and it is a dark delight.

    ”
  • Jack Seamus Conley: Choices: A Ten-Minute Play by James McLindon
    “

    Topical but not overly heavy handed, CHOICES is an excellent satire that at first appears comical (and it does have its genuinely funny moments), but then hits you in the face (in a good way) with the dark reality and relatability of its subject matter. JAMES MCLINDON has given us something to really stop and think about with this piece... and it's one I'll be pondering for a while.

    Topical but not overly heavy handed, CHOICES is an excellent satire that at first appears comical (and it does have its genuinely funny moments), but then hits you in the face (in a good way) with the dark reality and relatability of its subject matter. JAMES MCLINDON has given us something to really stop and think about with this piece... and it's one I'll be pondering for a while.

    ”
View all 14 recommendations

Character Information

PROSPECTIVE CLIENT . . . . . . MID-20s to 30s, ANY GENDER OR AGE

DEBT COUNSELOR. . . . . . . . MID-20s to 40s, ANY GENDER OR AGE

Race-blind and diverse casting is encouraged.
  • Prospective Client
    A little anxious, crushed by debt and hence quite poor, really needing this offer to work, but doubtful how it is not a scam.
    Mid-20s to 30s
    Any
    Any gender
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
  • Debt Counselor
    He has an enthusiastic love of his product and the confidence that it practically sells itself, once the customer recovers from their initial surprise. For that reason, he does not rely on high-pressure tactics. He’s also alert to steer clear of the troubling aspects of his presentation with a ready euphemism. Nothing here fazes him; he's heard and has an answer for every question and concern.
    mid-20 to 40s, probably older than Prospective Client
    Any
    Any gender
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s

Development History

  • Reading, Murmuration Theatre Company, 2023
  • Reading, TEDxAsburyPark, 2021

Production History

  • Professional, Windmill Arts 2025 Short Play + Film Festival, Atlanta, GA, 2025
  • Community Theater, Bangkok Community Theatre, Bangkok, Thailand, 2024
  • Professional, Bluebird Theatre Company, 2024
  • Professional, Break A Leg One Act Slam Festival, 2024
  • Professional, Choices: Streaming Production: Rainy Day Artistic Collective Let’s Get Digital Festival, 2024
  • Professional, Silver Spring Stage, 2024
  • Professional, The Barrow Group, 2024
  • Professional, Whiskey Radio Hour, 2024
  • University, Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL, 2024
  • High School, St. John's School, Houston, TX, 2023
  • High School, The Liberty Bell Drama Company, Winthrop, WA, 2023
  • Professional, Stillwater Short Play Festival, 2023
  • Professional, T. Schreiber Studios Schreiber Shorts, 2023
  • University, Appalachian State University, 2023
  • University, Northeast Mississippi Community College, Booneville, MS, 2023
  • University, Seattle University, 2023
  • University, Simpson College, 2023
  • University, Simpson College, 2023
  • University, Theatre Intime, Princeton University, 2023
  • Community Theater, Rome Community Theater, 2022
  • Community Theater, Stockton Civic Theatre, 2022
  • High School, Burlington Township High School, 2022
  • Professional, GATHER BY THE GHOST LIGHT Radio Theater Podcast, 2022
  • Professional, Jakespeare VTC Podcast Plays, 2022
  • University, Amherst College Death Without The Benefits Festival, 2022
  • University, Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, TX, 2022
  • University, University of Northern Iowa, 2022
  • Community Theater, Bangkok Theatre, 2021
  • High School, McCall-Donnelly High School, McCall, Idaho, 2021
  • Professional, American Lives Theatre Second Annual Short Play Festival, 2021
  • Professional, Lake Placid Center for the Arts, 2021
  • Professional, Playhouse on Whitelake Summer Theatre Festival, 2021
  • Professional, Theatre One Productions Slice of Life New Works Festival, 2021
  • University, Intime Theatre, Princeton University, 2021
  • University, Southern Union State Community College, 2021
  • Community Theater, Anacortes Community Theatre’s Thank You, 10! 10 Minute Play Festival, 2020
  • Community Theater, Choices: Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre New Play Festival, 2020
  • Community Theater, Choices: Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre New Play Festival, 2020
  • High School, Amherst Regional High School Ten-Minute Play Festival, 2020
  • Professional, Aurora Theatre COVID & Cigarettes Zoom Festival, Hong Kong, 2020
  • Professional, Boston Theater Marathon Zoom Edition, 2020
  • Professional, Delta Center Stage, 2020
  • Professional, Fifth Avenue Theatre of New York Virtual Fall 2020 Play Festival, 2020
  • Professional, Little Fish Theatre’s 18th Annual PICK OF THE VINE short play festival, 2020
  • Professional, OnStage/OffStage Podcast, 2020
  • Professional, Open Fist Theatre Company Political Pop Up Festival, 2020
  • Professional, Open Fist Theatre Company Political Pop Up Festival, 2020
  • Professional, Silverthorne Theater Company’s Short & Sweet Festival of New (tiny) Plays, 2020
  • Professional, Winding Road Theater Eight 10s in Tucson 10-minute Play Festival, 2020
  • Professional, Fusion Theatre’s 14th Annual The Seven New Works Festival, 2019

Awards

  • Outstanding Show
    Silver Spring Stage
    Runner Up
    2024
  • The Ten Show
    The Hive Collaborative, Provo, Utah
    Finalist
    2022
  • Lake Placid Center for the Arts Zoom Playfest
    Lake Placid Center for the Arts
    Winner
    2021
  • Sparks Festival
    NoMads Art Collective
    Semi-Finalist
    2020
  • Schreiber Shorts
    T. Schreiber Studio, NY
    Finalist
    2019
  • Andaluz Prize (Jury Award)
    Fusion Theatre’s 14th Annual The Seven New Works Festival
    Winner
    2019