Mill Girls (one-act)

Mill Girls (one-act) by Eliza Anderson

(5)
Productions (51)
Drama
|
40 - 50 minutes
12 W, 3 M,  (15-24 actors possible: 12-20 W, 3-4 M)
Set: Moveable elements including stool, table, benches, barrels, crates, and ladder.

Octavia, Hannah, and other girls from dissimilar backgrounds are thrust into the American industrial revolution of the 1840s when they take on jobs in a New England mill. There they discover the unique rewards of factory work, as Hannah earns money to send her brother to Harvard, while Octavia saves for her own tuition. As Irish immigration provides a wave of cheap labor to the mills, wage cuts and miserable working conditions become the norm -- but the mill girls are determined to gain reasonable pay and conditions. With compelling characters and theatrical staging, the play brings history vividly to life. (A full-length version of this play is also available.)

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Pricing Information

Min. Performance Fee* $55
Standard Edition $11.99
Stage Manager Edition $24.99
Archival Video License $75

*The per performance fee begins at $55. Your per performance fee will be provided during the ordering process.


Playscripts is pleased to offer an Archival Video License for an additional $150 for full-length plays and $75 for one-act plays.

Media Gallery

Play Details

Octavia, Hannah, and other girls from dissimilar backgrounds are thrust into the American industrial revolution of the 1840s when they take on jobs in a New England mill. There they discover the unique rewards of factory work, as Hannah earns money to send her brother to Harvard, while Octavia saves for her own tuition. As Irish immigration provides a wave of cheap labor to the mills, wage cuts and miserable working conditions become the norm -- but the mill girls are determined to gain reasonable pay and conditions. With compelling characters and theatrical staging, the play brings history vividly to life. (A full-length version of this play is also available.)

  • Drama
  • |
  • 40 - 50 minutes
  • 12 W, 3 M,  (15-24 actors possible: 12-20 W, 3-4 M)
  • Set: Moveable elements including stool, table, benches, barrels, crates, and ladder.

Production History

NOV 14, 2024 - NOV 19, 2024
Rogers Theatre
Prosper, TX United States
 Rogers Theatre Prosper, TX United States
NOV 01, 2024 - NOV 02, 2024
The Winsor School
Boston, MA United States
 The Winsor School Boston, MA United States
NOV 10, 2023 - NOV 10, 2023
Trinity Christian School
Kerrville, TX United States
 Trinity Christian School Kerrville, TX United States
OCT 20, 2023 - NOV 01, 2023
Trinity Christian School
Lubbock, TX United States
 Trinity Christian School Lubbock, TX United States
MAR 11, 2023 - MAR 11, 2023
South Charlotte Middle School
Charlotte, NC United States
 South Charlotte Middle School Charlotte, NC United States
JAN 15, 2022 - FEB 11, 2022
Belle Plaine High School One Act
Belle Plaine, MN United States
 Belle Plaine High School One Act Belle Plaine, MN United States
OCT 24, 2020 - NOV 20, 2020
Burlington High School
Kenosha, WI United States
 Burlington High School Kenosha, WI United States
JAN 25, 2020 - JAN 27, 2020
Creekwood Theatre
Kingwood, TX United States
 Creekwood Theatre Kingwood, TX United States
NOV 12, 2019 - NOV 13, 2019
Dealey Montessori & International Academy
Dallas, TX United States
 Dealey Montessori & International Academy Dallas, TX United States
MAY 09, 2019 - MAY 30, 2019
Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence
Providence, RI United States
 Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence Providence, RI United States
APR 27, 2019 - APR 27, 2019
Furnace Brook Middle School
Marshfield, MA United States
 Furnace Brook Middle School Marshfield, MA United States
JUN 08, 2018 - JUN 08, 2018
Greater Sioux Falls Home School Association
Sioux Falls, SD United States
 Greater Sioux Falls Home School Association Sioux Falls, SD United States
MAR 09, 2018 - MAR 10, 2018
Maine Girls' Academy
TBD, ME United States
 Maine Girls' Academy TBD, ME United States
DEC 01, 2017 - DEC 01, 2017
Huron Heights Secondary School
Kirchener, ON Canada
 Huron Heights Secondary School Kirchener, ON Canada
NOV 30, 2017 - NOV 30, 2017
Huron Heights Secondary School
Kirchener, ON Canada
 Huron Heights Secondary School Kirchener, ON Canada
NOV 09, 2017 - NOV 10, 2017
Corey Academy Of Fine Arts And Dual Language
Arlington, TX United States
 Corey Academy Of Fine Arts And Dual Language Arlington, TX United States
APR 07, 2017 - APR 08, 2017
Boerne ISD
Boerne, TX United States
 Boerne ISD Boerne, TX United States
NOV 11, 2016 - NOV 12, 2016
Indian Hill Middle School Theatre
Cincinnati, OH United States
 Indian Hill Middle School Theatre Cincinnati, OH United States
NOV 02, 2016 - NOV 12, 2016
Denton Calvary Academy
Denton, TX United States
 Denton Calvary Academy Denton, TX United States
JAN 27, 2016 - FEB 05, 2016
Herndon High School
Herndon, VA United States
 Herndon High School Herndon, VA United States
NOV 26, 2015 - DEC 05, 2015
Biloxi High School
Biloxi, MS United States
 Biloxi High School Biloxi, MS United States
OCT 22, 2015 - OCT 23, 2015
Franklin Acadeny
Wake Forest, NC United States
 Franklin Acadeny Wake Forest, NC United States
JAN 30, 2015 - JAN 31, 2015
N/A
Fort Wayne, IN United States
 N/A Fort Wayne, IN United States
APR 04, 2014 - MAY 03, 2014
The Bromfield School
Harvard, MA United States
 The Bromfield School Harvard, MA United States
APR 04, 2014 - MAY 03, 2014
Furnace Brook Middle School
Marshfield, MA United States
 Furnace Brook Middle School Marshfield, MA United States
MAR 14, 2014 - MAR 14, 2014
D E Caversmill Theatre Company
Stoke on Trent, United Kingdom
 D E Caversmill Theatre Company Stoke on Trent, United Kingdom
NOV 01, 2013 - DEC 31, 2013
Adams Central Public School
Hastings, NE United States
 Adams Central Public School Hastings, NE United States
OCT 17, 2013 - OCT 19, 2013
Incarnate Word Academy
Houston, TX United States
 Incarnate Word Academy Houston, TX United States
MAY 04, 2013 - MAY 07, 2013
Cohasset Middle High School
Cohasset, MA United States
 Cohasset Middle High School Cohasset, MA United States
APR 25, 2013 - APR 29, 2013
Stony Brook Theater Arts
Westford, MA United States
 Stony Brook Theater Arts Westford, MA United States
FEB 26, 2013 - MAR 02, 2013
Kingwood Middle School
Kingwood, TX United States
 Kingwood Middle School Kingwood, TX United States
OCT 18, 2012 - OCT 28, 2012
LaVoce: Theatre That Speaks
Providence, RI United States
 LaVoce: Theatre That Speaks Providence, RI United States
DEC 09, 2011 - DEC 10, 2011
West Hall High School
Oakwood, GA United States
 West Hall High School Oakwood, GA United States
JUN 30, 2011 - JUN 30, 2011
The Magnolia School
Tallahassee, FL United States
 The Magnolia School Tallahassee, FL United States
APR 30, 2011 - APR 30, 2011
Atlantic Middle School
Whitman, MA United States
 Atlantic Middle School Whitman, MA United States
JAN 27, 2011 - FEB 11, 2011
Belle Plaine High School
Belle Plaine, MN United States
 Belle Plaine High School Belle Plaine, MN United States
MAR 22, 2009 - MAR 22, 2009
Charlotte Christian School
Charlotte, NC United States
 Charlotte Christian School Charlotte, NC United States
FEB 25, 2009 - FEB 28, 2009
School For The Creative And Performing Arts
Lexington, KY United States
 School For The Creative And Performing Arts Lexington, KY United States
MAY 22, 2008 - MAY 22, 2008
Cincinnati Waldorf School
Cincinnati, OH United States
 Cincinnati Waldorf School Cincinnati, OH United States
APR 11, 2008 - APR 12, 2008
Sacred Heart Academy
Hamden, CT United States
 Sacred Heart Academy Hamden, CT United States
MAR 15, 2008 - MAR 15, 2008
Sacred Heart Academy
Hamden, CT United States
 Sacred Heart Academy Hamden, CT United States
FEB 01, 2008 - FEB 28, 2008
Cole Camp R-I School
Cole Camp, MO United States
 Cole Camp R-I School Cole Camp, MO United States
NOV 08, 2007 - NOV 10, 2007
Brookwood High School
Snellville, GA United States
 Brookwood High School Snellville, GA United States
MAY 28, 2007 - MAY 28, 2007
Cedar Park Christian High School
Bothell, WA United States
 Cedar Park Christian High School Bothell, WA United States
JAN 27, 2007 - JAN 27, 2007
St. Margaret's Fellowship
Sioux Falls, SD United States
 St. Margaret's Fellowship Sioux Falls, SD United States
NOV 11, 2006 - NOV 30, 2006
Franklin High School
Franklin, NE United States
 Franklin High School Franklin, NE United States
DEC 01, 2005 - DEC 02, 2005
Discovery Middle School
Alexandria, MN United States
 Discovery Middle School Alexandria, MN United States
OCT 22, 2005 - OCT 22, 2005
Southeast Guilford High Scool
Greensboro, NC United States
 Southeast Guilford High Scool Greensboro, NC United States
JAN 01, 2005 - DEC 31, 2005
Nathanael Green Middle School
Providence, RI United States
 Nathanael Green Middle School Providence, RI United States
JAN 01, 2001 - DEC 31, 2001
All Childrens Theatre
Providence, RI United States
 All Childrens Theatre Providence, RI United States
JAN 01, 1999 - DEC 31, 1999
All Childrens Theatre
Providence, RI United States
 All Childrens Theatre Providence, RI United States
No upcoming productions.
No professional productions.

Awards (2)

Moss Hart Award (1999)

Starred performance, 2011 Minnesota State Thespian Festival (2011)

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