Category: Original

NEW on Lasting Impact!: Scripts for Competition and the Stage

Posted on by Heather Neumann

We’re excited to announce that scripts are now available in the SHOP at Lasting Impact!—a growing collection of thoughtfully crafted works designed for speech competitions, one-act festivals, and full theatrical productions.

Whether you’re a student preparing for competition, a coach searching for quality material, or a director looking for meaningful scripts for your program, these works were created with purpose, performance, and impact in mind.

Explore the full collection here:
https://lastingimpact.info/product-category/scripts/

What You’ll Find at Lasting Impact!…

1. Competitive Scripts

Perfect for interpretive speech events, these scripts are crafted to:

  • Highlight strong characters and clear themes
  • Fit within competitive time limits
  • Offer flexibility for creative interpretation
  • Provide emotional depth and clarity

These pieces are ideal for students who want material that is engaging, followable, and judge-friendly, while still allowing room for originality and personal voice. These scripts are high quality, ready for you to make your own! Whether you are an individual looking for a DRAMATIC, OPEN, or HUMOROUS Interpretation or you are a dynamic DUO looking for the perfect INTERP… look no further! We have variety of SCRIPTS… and more will be posted monthly!

2. One-Act Plays

Our one-act plays are designed for:

  • Speech and debate competition
  • School performances
  • Festivals and showcases

They offer strong storytelling, manageable casts, and themes that resonate with both performers and audiences—making them excellent choices for programs looking for quality material without the commitment of a full-length production. One Act plays are typically between 20-40 minutes in length. They have more to cut, but are a great option for competition.

3. Full-Length Plays

For theater programs seeking meaningful, performance-ready material, our full-length plays provide:

  • Compelling narratives
  • Rich characters
  • Clear themes
  • Opportunities for ensemble and lead performers

These scripts are ideal for schools, community theaters, and homeschool groups looking for stories that challenge performers and engage audiences. Our collection has been written, published, and produced by Heather Neumann, founder of Lasting Impact! These plays are not all posted yet, but will be available in 2026 for production. Contact heather@lastingimpact.info for rights and royalty information. Plays include…

  1. Light in the Darkness – An Adaptation of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables
  2. A Christmas Carol
  3. Pirates of Penzance ~ A Play with Music
  4. Pride and Prejudice
  5. Little Women
  6. The Importance of Being Earnest

Written and Curated with Experience

All scripts on Lasting Impact! are written or curated by Heather Neumann—author, coach, and educator who has worked with thousands of students and coached dozens of National Champions.

Heather Neumann is an author, playwright, and nationally recognized speech coach who has worked with thousands of students and coached numerous Speech Champions. She is the author of The Ultimate Guide to Interpretive Speech and Lasting Impact’s Speech Grab and Go, as well as multiple stage adaptations, including Light in the Darkness, inspired by Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables. Her work centers on meaningful storytelling, clarity of interpretation, and as always, a lasting impact!

Heather finds deep joy in working with young performers, helping them discover their voice and the power it carries to impact the world. With a gift for transforming timeless literature into accessible and compelling dramas for students and adults of all ages. Heather’s work is infused with purpose, beauty, and grace. Her greatest delight is in revealing the love of the Father through every performance. She treasures her faith, her family, and the way theater can draw hearts closer to Jesus.

But success has never been measured by awards alone. These scripts reflect years of experience understanding:

  • What works on stage
  • What resonates with judges and audiences
  • What challenges and grows students
  • What builds confidence, creativity, and communication skills

Each piece is created with the belief that performance is not just about winning—it’s about growth, connection, and lasting impact. If you believe you have a public domain or an original script that you feel is competition and Lasting Impact! worthy, contact heather@lastingimpact.info

Why Choose Lasting Impact! Scripts?

✔ Competition-ready
✔ Stage-worthy
✔ Student-centered
✔ Coach-approved
✔ Purpose-driven

Whether you’re preparing for a tournament, selecting a play for your program, or looking for meaningful material that stretches performers, these scripts were written to serve both excellence and heart!

We invite you to browse the growing script collection and find the piece that fits your students, your program, and your goals.

View Scripts Here:
https://lastingimpact.info/product-category/scripts/

Because the right script doesn’t just fill time on stage—it tells a story worth sharing.

An Original Start for Your Original Interpretation by: Serenity Spada

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Twelve years ago, Seven-year-old Serenity mindlessly walked around at her first official Speech and Debate Tournament. Here, I was exposed to interp speeches that exploded my little brain. I watched with awe at the phenomenal acting skills, blocking, and characterization and quickly fell in love and couldn’t wait to begin myself. So, I wrote and performed my first interp speech, which was adorable for a six-year-old. But then something extremely unfortunate happened—I grew up, and twelve-year-old Serenity could no longer hide behind her cuteness. I was abruptly thrown into a new type of competition that required a much higher level of acting, writing, and blocking. After eleven years of writing and competing in interp speeches, I have learned many lessons that have improved my skills over the years. I wanted to share some of the first steps you would need to take as you start writing your own Original Interpretation…

Continue reading “An Original Start for Your Original Interpretation by: Serenity Spada” →

Scripts and Writers Wanted!!

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Lasting Impact! is excited to announce that we are going to start publishing some of YOUR stories as scripts! WE NEED YOU!

What? Now accepting script applications! We know that our students are some of the most talented people. Your original interp script can be the next Open Interpretation, Humorous Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, or even Duo Interpretation! Don’t let your original work sit and get dusty on the shelves…

Why? Every year kids write and perform amazing speeches. So why not give them another opportunity to shine? If you have a script or story that you or your student has written and you want to share your gifts with others… this is an opportunity for you! Our readers span a multitude of leagues and we can’t wait to show the world your talent.

How? The process- We will be having an application process. We have a limited amount of ISBN numbers that will be published for our 2018-19 Lasting Impact! Scripts. Winning pieces will be announced July 1, 2018 and will be available for purchase through our site.

When? Throughout the month of April and May we will be accepting potential scripts to be marketed for the 2018-2019 Speech Season.

The Application Process

Fee- $5 (per script)  – Please go here to apply and submit.

Please submit your piece IN A GOOGLE DOC to- lastingimpact2016@gmail.com

Your cover letter should include-

  • Name
  • Age
  • Address
  • Email
  • Phone number
  • Year written
  • Accomplishments of Speech (if any)
  • League performed in or written for
  • Title
  • Description of Piece (less than 200 words)

Once you submit your piece you will receive a confirmation email. You will be notified whether or not your speech has been chosen in early July or before.

FAQ

1. What if you don’t use my script? We welcome you to make edits or revisions and try again next year.

2. Will there be editing done to my piece? Every great masterpiece may need some revisions. Our team knows what scripts need to look like and the potential transitions needed. No revisions will be made until you release your script and an agreement is made.

3. Will I be a published author? Yes! Your piece will have an isbn number and sold through our site.

4. Will I receive royalties? Yes, it will be in the contract that you will need to sign.

5. How many words does my script need to be? We prefer under 2000.

6. Can I use a script from this year? Absolutely! This year, last year, or ten years ago.

7. What if I never broke with my script? That’s ok!

8. Can I submit a story? Yes!

9. What type old speech are you looking for? We are looking for it all! Funny, dramatic, serious, goofy… you guys have talent! Let’s see what you got!

10. What if I have another question? Feel free to comment below or send an email to lastingimpact2016@gmail.com

Please go here to apply and submit.

Comedy v. Tragedy – Open to Interpretation

Posted on by Kristi Eskelund

"Woe!  Woe to me!  I have to do my funny piece after a tragedy!?"

I hear it all the time.... Students doing dramatic material bemoan the fact that funny wins.  Students doing funny material hate walking into a room where judges are wiping away tears.  If Dramatic Interpretation and Humorous Interpretation are separated into different rooms, the conflict doesn't occur, but I maintain that there is room for every place on the emotional spectrum in Open Interpretation...

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More Tips for your Original

Posted on by Heather Neumann

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Whether you feel creative or not… I encourage you to write! Make your students write! There is probably nothing more rewarding in “The Interp World of Speech” than being able to Interp your own work. Here you have the ability to create your storyline, characters, and you will be able to tweak your story whenever you want, because it's yours!

Here are some tips to help you with your Original Interp…

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