Broadway and Gangsters

A Short Play for ESL Students

Characters (7 Students)

1. Narrator – Sets the scene for the audience.

2. Rosie Romano – A young singer dreaming of Broadway. Gohar
3. Dolly DeLuca – A powerful gangster who controls the city. Aramyan
Meri
4. Gina Moretti – Dolly’s smart and loyal assistant. Ani Badalyan
5. Frankie Russo – A small-witty girl who wants to move up. Milena
6. Officer O’Connor – A determined cop trying to stop the
gangsters.Michael
7. Violet Caruso – A nightclub owner who knows everyone’s secrets.
Irina
8

Narrator:
"New York City. The Roaring Twenties. A time of jazz, speakeasies, and big dreams. But under
the bright lights of Broadway, shadows lurked. Gangsters ruled the streets, and in this town, if
you wanted to make it big, you had to play by their rules. This is a story of ambition, danger, and
a girl who just wanted to sing. Welcome to… ‘Broadway and Bullets.’”

(Lights fade as the play begins.)

Scene 1: New York Dreams

(Lights up on a smoky New York nightclub, 1925. Rosie stands center stage,
nervously singing. Violet leans against the bar, listening. The audience in the
club murmurs as Rosie finishes her song.)

🎶 One day, I’ll sing on Broadway,

🎶 My voice will touch the sky.
🎶 The lights will shine so brightly,
🎶 And I will never cry.
(Scattered applause. Rosie looks hopeful but unsure. Violet approaches her.)

Violet: "Not bad, kid. You got a voice. But in this city, a voice ain’t enough."

Rosie: "I just want a chance, Miss Caruso. One chance to prove myself."

Violet: "Listen, Broadway’s tough. You need connections, protection. And

protection… comes with a price."

(Dolly DeLuca enters, flanked by Gina and Frankie. She moves smoothly,
with confidence. The room falls silent as people notice her.)

Dolly: "Did someone say ‘price’? Now that’s my kind of language."

(Rosie freezes as Dolly walks toward her, smiling like a shark.)

Scene 2: An Offer You Can’t Refuse

(Dolly sits at a table, motions for Rosie to join her. Gina and Frankie stand
nearby, arms crossed.)

Dolly: "So, you wanna be a star, huh?"

Rosie: "Yes, ma’am."

Dolly: "Call me Dolly, sweetheart. I could help you. I got friends in the
business. But nothin’ in this town comes free."

Rosie: (hesitant) "What… what do you want?"

Dolly: "Oh, not much. Maybe one day, I ask you for a little favor. Just a little
one."

(Frankie grins and tosses a fake dollar bill on the table.)

Frankie: "Everything in this city has a price."

(Rosie looks at the money but doesn’t pick it up. Violet watches silently. Gina
leans in.)

Gina: "You think Broadway is a fairy tale? It’s a jungle, kid. You need
someone watching your back."
(Rosie swallows hard. The lights dim slightly. A police whistle blows. Officer
O’Connor enters, looking sharp and determined.)

Scene 3: The Law Closes In

(O’Connor strides across the club, stopping near Dolly’s table.)

O’Connor: "Dolly DeLuca. Still making deals in the dark, I see."

Dolly: (smirks) "Ah, Officer O’Connor. Still pretendin’ the law runs this city?"

O’Connor: "One day, Dolly. One day, you’re gonna slip up. And when you
do, I’ll be there."

Dolly: "Officer, I’m just helping a young lady chase her dreams. Ain’t that
right, Rosie?"

(Rosie hesitates. Violet steps in.)

Violet: "Rosie’s got real talent. She don’t need trouble."

Dolly: "Talent’s not enough. Not in this city. Rosie, you want to make it, or
do you want to stay a nobody?"

(Rosie looks between them. The tension builds. Then—)

Scene 4: The Gamble

(At a poker table in the back room. Lena "Lucky" Santoro, another gambler,
deals cards. Gina, Frankie, and Dolly sit around the table. Rosie watches
nervously. Violet stands near the bar.)

Gina: "Alright, Rosie. You got talent, but can you take a risk?"

Frankie: "We’re making a bet. If you win, you go to Broadway. If you lose…
well, let’s just say, Dolly owns your future."

(Rosie looks at the cards, then at Violet. Violet shakes her head slightly,
warning her.)

Rosie: "I don’t want to play games."

Dolly: "Life’s a game, sweetheart. You either play… or you get played."

(O’Connor enters again, hands on her hips.)

O’Connor: "Dolly, step away from the kid."

(Tension. Dolly stands, hands up, feigning innocence.)

Dolly: "Fine. I’ll let her go—for now."

(She exits with Gina and Frankie. Rosie looks shaken but relieved. Violet
hands her a piece of paper.)

Violet: "That’s the address of a real Broadway agent. No tricks, no deals.

But you gotta be brave, kid."

Rosie: (determined) "I am."

Scene 5: The Big Night

(The lights go up on a stage. Rosie stands in a dazzling dress. The audience

murmurs. O’Connor, Violet, and even Frankie watch from different spots.
Rosie takes a deep breath and begins to sing.)

🎶 One day, I’ll sing on Broadway,

🎶 My voice will touch the sky.
🎶 The lights will shine so brightly,
🎶 And I will never cry.

🎶 No more shadows, no more fear,

🎶 This is my time, my year.
🎶 I will rise, I will stay,
🎶 One day… on Broadway.

(The audience erupts in applause. Rosie beams, tears in her eyes. But in the
back of the room, Dolly watches from the shadows and smirks.)

Dolly (whispers to Gina): "She’s got fire. Let’s see how long she lasts in
this town."

(Lights fade to black.)

Narrator's Closing (At the End of the Play)

(After the final scene, the narrator steps forward as the lights dim on the characters.)

Narrator:
"Some people rise, some people fall, and some just keep running. The streets of New York never
forget, and neither do the people who walk them. Rosie had a voice that could light up
Broadway, but in a city like this, even the brightest stars have to fight to shine. And as for Dolly
DeLuca? Well… some legends never die."

In the End two students sing

Lyrics
Start spreading the news, you're leaving today (tell 'em, Frank)
I want to be a part of it, New York, New York
Your vagabond shoes, they are longing to stray
And step around the heart of it, New York, New York

I wanna wake up in that city, that doesn't sleep

And find your king of the hill, top of the heap
Your small town blues, they're melting away
I'm gonna make a brand-new start of it, in old New York

You always make it there, you make it anywhere

It's up to you, New York, New York

In New York, New York

I wanna wake up in that city, that doesn't sleep

And find I'm king of the hill, top of the list (you bet)
A number one, king of the hill

These little town blues, they have all melted away

And I'm gonna make a brand-new start of it, right there in old New York
You better believe it, folks
You always make it there, you make it anywhere
Come on, come through, New York, New York

New York

Narrator (standing at a podium or center stage, soft spotlight):

“New York City. The Roaring Twenties. A time of jazz, speakeasies, and big dreams.
But behind the bright lights were shadows.
Gangsters, bribes, secrets—running through the veins of every nightclub and alley.
This story isn't about glitz.
It’s about grit.
About a girl with a voice.
And a city that makes you pay for wanting more.
Welcome to… Broadway and Bullets.”

(Narrator steps aside. Lights dim. A piano tune begins softly in the background.)

Scene 1: New York Dreams

(No stage. Just chairs and a standing mic placed near center. Rosie stands with a vintage-style
mic in her hands. Violet sits off to the side at a “bar” — a small table with two chairs. A few
extras play club patrons sitting casually with coffee cups or fake cocktails.)

Rosie (singing nervously):

🎶 One day, I’ll sing on Broadway,
🎶 My voice will touch the sky.
🎶 The lights will shine so brightly,
🎶 And I will never cry.

(Light applause from "club patrons." Rosie lowers the mic and glances toward the side. Violet
stands and slowly walks over to her.)

Violet:
"You sing from your heart. That’s rare in this city."

Rosie (anxious):
"Thank you. Do you really think I have a chance?"

Violet (measured):
"Maybe. But talent’s only half the story, kid. This city listens to money, not music."

(Sound of clicking heels. Dolly enters from the auditorium aisle, flanked by Gina and Frankie.
The "club" falls quiet. They slowly make their way to Rosie.)

Dolly (smiling):
"Now what do we have here? A nightingale with big dreams?"

Rosie (a little scared):

"I’m just trying to sing."

Dolly:
"Oh honey, everyone’s trying. It’s who you know… and what you're willing to owe."
Scene 2: The Offer

(Dolly pulls out a chair and sits casually. Gina and Frankie stand to either side, arms crossed.
Rosie remains standing.)

Dolly:
"Name’s Dolly. I’ve helped more girls get to Broadway than you’ve had hot dinners."

Rosie:
"I’m not looking for shortcuts… I just want to be heard."

Frankie:
"Then you’re in the wrong city."

Gina:
"You either find protection or become a target. You want safety? You call Dolly."

Dolly:
"I’m not asking for your soul, darling. Just a little favor... someday."

(Frankie tosses a fake dollar at Rosie’s feet.)

Frankie:
"Everything in New York has a price."

(Rosie doesn’t move. Violet watches nearby, tense. A loud whistle pierces the scene.)

Scene 3: The Law Closes In

(Officer O’Connor walks in from the side, not in full uniform but with a badge. She walks
straight to Dolly.)

O’Connor:
"Dolly DeLuca. Still collecting favors in smoke-filled rooms?"

Dolly (unbothered):
"Officer O’Connor. Still pretending the badge means anything?"

O’Connor:
"You’re walking a fine line, Dolly."
Dolly:
"And you're walking into my club without a warrant."

(She turns to Rosie.)

Dolly:
"Sweetheart, it’s your choice. Play it safe... or play for keeps."

(Rosie says nothing. Violet steps forward.)

Violet:
"She doesn’t need this. She needs a stage, not a leash."

Scene 4: The Gamble

(Chairs are rearranged to form a poker table. Lena “Lucky” Santoro walks in, dealing cards
from a deck. Rosie hesitates. Dolly, Gina, and Frankie sit. Violet stands off to the side.)

Gina:
"This is your chance. Win this hand, and Dolly opens doors. Lose... and she owns you."

Rosie:
"This isn’t how I imagined it."

Frankie:
"No one does, until it’s too late."

(Rosie sits but doesn’t touch the cards. O’Connor steps in from behind.)

O’Connor (calmly):
"Step back, Dolly."

Dolly (mocking):
"She’s old enough to make her own mistakes, right?"

(O’Connor walks over to Rosie and gently touches her shoulder.)

O’Connor:
"You’ve got talent, kid. Don’t waste it on people who want to sell it."

(Dolly stands, signals to leave.)

Dolly (to Rosie):

"You’ll be back. They always come back."
(They exit. Violet crosses to Rosie, quietly hands her a piece of paper.)

Violet:
"A real agent. Uptown. Tomorrow at 10. You go alone."

Rosie (resolute):
"I will."

Scene 5: The Big Night

(One spotlight. No props. Rosie walks to the center slowly, in a simple dress. The audience in the
auditorium becomes the “Broadway crowd.” Violet and O’Connor sit off to the sides watching.
Frankie watches, alone in the back. Dolly appears behind the last row, standing still. Rosie
breathes in, then begins to sing.)

Rosie (singing, stronger now):

🎶 One day, I’ll sing on Broadway,
🎶 My voice will touch the sky.
🎶 The lights will shine so brightly,
🎶 And I will never cry.
🎶 No more shadows, no more fear,
🎶 This is my time, my year.
🎶 I will rise, I will stay,
🎶 One day… on Broadway.

(Applause. Rosie smiles, eyes bright. O’Connor nods. Violet claps. Frankie turns and walks
away. Dolly watches from the shadows, whispering to Gina, who’s behind her.)

Dolly:
"She’s got fire. Let’s see how long she burns before the wind hits."

(Lights dim.)

Final Scene – Narrator Returns (standing at center or near aisle):

Narrator:
“Some people rise. Some people fall. And some… they dance on the edge and never stop
moving.
Rosie found her moment. But in this city, moments fade fast.
As for Dolly? She’s still out there.
Because some legends never die.
And in New York, the spotlight is always waiting… for its next dreamer.”
(Blackout.)