Halloween Thriller Dramatic Monologue: Her Mouth is Moving

September 12, 2024 by Tara Meddaugh in Halloween, monologue for female acto, Suspense, Teen, thriller

If you’re looking for a creepy thriller monologue about guilt, regret, murder and going a little out of one’s mind, check out HER MOUTH IS MOVING. In the monologue, Meghan has murdered a "frenemie" out of rage and now is face to face with the dead corpse. At least, she is pretty sure the victim is dead… except that it seems her mouth is still moving and this is really freaking Meghan out. Meghan is filled with horror and guilt at her own actions, and can barely understand what she has done, but she is starting to grasp the realty and the terrible consequences that she will now face.

HER MOUTH IS MOVING runs around 1 -2 minutes, for a female actor (or any gender if it resonates with you), and is suitable for late teens through mature adult. This monologue gives the actor the opportunity to show a breakdown as Meghan spins out in horror and guilt, due to her impulsive murder.

Right now, HER MOUTH IS MOVING is only available on PerformerStuff. You can read an excerpt and get the full monologue there.

Monologue from "When Marshmallows Burn" Published in The Best Men's Stage Monologues Anthology

January 25, 2023 by Tara Meddaugh in 1-minute monologue, absurdist theater, blind casting, comedic, dark comedy, dramatic, gender neutral casting, inclusive casting, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, monologues for male actor, Monologues, mystical creatures, one-act plays, outdoor theater, Plays, Publications, Teen, Suspense, ten-minute plays, theater of the absurd, thriller, tween

I’m honored that my monologue from When Marshmallows Burn has been published in Smith & Kraus’s anthology, The Best Men’s Stage Monologues 2022, edited by Debbie Lamedman. Did you know Smith & Kraus has been publishing anthologies of the best men’s and women’s stage monologues for over 30 years? Very cool! In my dark comedy/drama:

Sammy and his mom are enjoying roasting marshmallows over the fire under the full moon when something very strange starts to happen. Sammy’s arms look a little furry. His teeth look a lot like fangs. And he has a sudden urge to kill squirrels—and eat them raw. What (or who) else will he have an urge to kill? Is there anything his mother can do to stop him, or can she ultimately accept and love her wereson? Read the whole play here.

Missy Flower and Buchanan Highhouse in When Marshmallows Burn, directed by Nate Flower. Photography by @designbyraegan.

This is a play about a werewolf, yes. But moreover, it’s a play about a mom and her son. I recently read Celeste Ng’s new novel Our Missing Hearts and in it, a central mother character says, “But in the end every story I want to tell you is the same. Once upon a time, there was a boy. Once upon a time there was a mother. Once upon a time, there was a boy, and his mother loved him very much.”

This hits me hard.

And when I was telling my 2 sons basically the whole story of Our Missing Hearts, you can bet I was choking up relaying this part of the book (and then hugging them!).

When Marshmallows Burn is not only a dark comedy about a boy becoming a werewolf. It’s a story about familial acceptance and the love of a mom and a son, in the face of changing identity.

The monologue selected for the anthology (What My Fangs are For) takes place the moment Sammy has returned from his first kill in the woods. He is proud he found his late-night snack without troubling his mom for help. As he relays killing the squirrel to her, he realizes his mother is becoming increasingly scared of him and his pride turns to fear that she will no longer love him as a werewolf.

Sammy’s monologue runs about 1 minute long and is great for any gender actor. It gives the performer a significant journey from being proud of something new and exciting to being deeply worried and terrified to lose what matters most. It also lets an actor showcase both dark comedy as well as dramatic skills.

I was so lucky to have an outstanding team bring this play to life for the first time: Missy Flower as the mom, Buchanan Highhouse as the son, and Nate Flower as the director (produced by Free Space Theater, in collaboration with the Harrison Public Library). We performed the play around Halloween, at night in the great outdoors, and this was an absolute amazing backdrop for the play, which takes place at night, in the great outdoors…

Along with Sammy’s monologue, this anthology includes dozens of other wonderful monologues. As Ms. Lademan writes in her foreword, “These pieces present great acting challenges, and actors will have the pleasure of sinking their teeth into this sublime material while continuing to perfect their craft in their online or in-person workshops.”

Click here to get The Best Men’s Stage Monologues on amazon. You can also get Sammy’s monologue, What My Fangs are For, by itself here. Additionally, you can read an excerpt here of When Marshmallows Burn, or click below for the complete digital copy of that play:

When Marshmallows Burn, a 10-minute dark comedy by Tara Meddaugh

$5.99

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Dramatic and Comedic pieces for Halloween Monologue Competitions

October 18, 2022 by Tara Meddaugh in 1-minute monologue, 10-minute monologue, 2-minute monologue, 5-minute monologue, child monolog collection, comedic, comedy monolog collection, dark comedy, dramatic monolog collecti, dramatic, Halloween, monologue collections, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, mystical creatures, Suspense, Teen, teen monologue collection, thriller, tween

If you’re looking for a great monologue to use in a Halloween Monologue Competition, check out the monologues below, beginning with creepy Halloween monologues, followed by comedic Halloween monologues. Monologues range from 1 minute to 10 minutes, children, teen and adult.

Monologue from When Marshmallows Burn to be published in Smith & Kraus's "The Best Men's Stage Monologues”

February 15, 2022 by Tara Meddaugh in 1-minute monologue, animal theater, allegory, dark comedy, dramatic, monologue for female acto, monologues for male actor, Monologues, mystical creatures, outdoor theater, pre-teen, Suspense, Teen, ten-minute plays, thriller, thriller play, tween, 10-minute play

I’m honored that a monologue from my dark-comedy play, WHEN MARSHMALLOWS BURN, has been selected to be published by Smith & Kraus in the anthology, “The Best Men's Stage Monologues 2022” (editor Debbie Lamedman).

In the play, When Marshmallows Burn, Sammy and his mom are enjoying roasting marshmallows by the fire, under the full moon, when something very strange starts to happen. Sammy’s arms look a little furry. His teeth look a lot like fangs. And he has a sudden urge to kill squirrels—and eat them raw. What (or who) else will he have an urge to kill? Is there anything his mother can do to stop him, or can she ultimately accept and love him? This is a dark comedy about a boy becoming a werewolf, but it’s also a story about acceptance and love, in the face of changing identities.

A Whole Lot of Monologues About Love

February 02, 2022 by Tara Meddaugh in 1-minute monologue, 2-minute monologue, 3-minute monologue, 5-minute monologue, comedic, comedy monolog collection, dark comedy, dramatic, dramatic monolog collecti, holiday, love, monologue collections, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, romance, Suspense, Teen, teen monologue collection, valentine's day

Well, we are less than 2 weeks from Valentine’s Day! If you’re looking for a monologue about love for a performance, monologue slam, audition or anything else, check out these pieces. From dark to hopeful, you can find passionate monologues for women and men (and many for any gender), highlighting love in its various dramatic forms.

October 2021 Newsletter: New one-woman ghostly play, 👀 Halloween monologues and support for an impactful organization!

October 30, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in 10-minute monologue, dramatic, giving back, Newsletters, Suspense, ten-minute plays, thriller, thriller play

Check out my October 2021 newsletter here.

Don't Close The Doors: New 10-minute thriller/dramatic monologue

October 06, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in 10-minute monologue, dramatic, Grief, Halloween, monologue for female acto, Monologues, Plays, Suspense, Teen, ten-minute plays, thriller, thriller play

If you’re looking for a solo thriller performance piece, consider my new 10-minute monologue play, Don’t Close the Doors. There’s no gore, no blood, yet the ominous atmosphere is consuming. This is a perfect choice for spooky Halloween theater, but is also powerful as a dramatic tragedy any time of year.

We’re familiar with the creepiness a bedroom closet can evoke: What’s inside those closed doors when we’re sleeping in our bed, when we’re practicing the violin, talking to a friend…? Does closing those doors keep out whatever it is that might be lurking from within? But what if that presence in the closet doesn’t want to be there any more than we want it there? What if that presence in the closet is the one being tortured, not us? In Don’t Close the Doors:

Abigail, a ghost in Stephanie’s closet, is sorry she must use her powers to freeze Stephanie in place, but what she must share with Stephanie is so dire that sometimes these things must be done. At first, it appears Abigail’s ominous presence is a threat to Stephanie. However, as Abigail relays the tragedies which have left her paralyzed in Stephanie’s closet, we realize it is Abigail who desperately needs Stephanie’s help to end her heartbreaking torture.

New Thriller Monologue: Where's Your Hand, Chloe?

September 17, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in 2-minute monologue, 3-minute monologue, dramatic, gender neutral casting, Halloween, inclusive casting, monologue for female acto, monologues for male actor, Monologues, outdoor theater, pre-teen, Suspense, Teen, thriller, tween

Let’s be honest - the woods at night can be creepy for even the bravest of us. It’s not quite so bad though if we have someone by our side. But what if that someone suddenly…disappears? And leaves us alone, calling their name, only to find…someone else appear instead?

That is the premise behind my new thriller/dramatic/horror monologue, Where’s Your Hand, Chloe? Addison’s friend, Chloe, disappears on their walk home in the woods (NEVER TAKE THE SHORTCUT THROUGH THE WOODS!). At first, Addison is relieved when she thinks the person in the distance is her friend. But she soon discovers the bloodied soul that is getting closer and closer to Addison is not at all Chloe. Addison’s panic increases as she sees the grotesque Being holds Chloe’s braid wrapped around its shoulder.

As we round the corner toward Halloween and all things spooky, check out my new suspenseful 2-3 minute monologue, Where’s Your Hand, Chloe? This is a great monologue for actors who really want to tap into their horror/frightened/panicking-but-trying-to-stay-calm side. The monologue arrives to you just in time for those awesome Halloween Monologue Slams! Enjoy an excerpt below and check out other suspenseful monologues here or creepy monologues here.

Celebrate National Frog month with some Frog Theater!

April 24, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in 5-minute play, allegory, children, Children's theatre, comedic, 3-minute monologue, dark comedy, dramatic, full-length plays, inclusive casting, Monologues, outdoor theater, Plays, Suspense, Teen, theater of the absurd, thriller, tween, frog, animal theater

Did you know April is National Frog Month in the US? World Frog Day is March 20, but if you missed applauding our amphibian friends that day, rest assured you still have this month to celebrate this awesome creature! Frogs play a vital part in our ecosystem, not to mention they’ve been instrumental in scientific advancements in many fields. They make up about 90% of all amphibians (there are over 6000 species of frogs!), they have adapted to do some really neat things (like survive basically frozen for months in the Arctic or carry around tadpoles in their vocal sacs!), and they are super cute and unique!

So what better way of paying tribute to our beloved frogs than by exploring some frog theater? (Okay, there are lots of other ways to pay tribute to these important cuties. Sadly, “at least 2,000 species [are] estimated to be in danger of extinction," so let’s be kind to them and their environment too. Here are ways to make your yard more habitable for frogs and additional things you can do for frogs.)

Yes, I can happily say I have a whopping (should I say “hopping?” harhar) three (3) theatrical pieces about frogs! A 10-minute dark comedy, a 5-minute children’s play, and a quirky dark comedy/dramatic monologue.

Frog Band-Aid: New dark comedy monologue

April 14, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in absurdist theater, comedic, dark comedy, dramatic, monologue for female acto, Monologues, outdoor theater, Suspense, Teen, theater of the absurd, thriller

What do you do when you’re confronted with a jealous force in your life who demands that you abandon your new and precious human connection? And what do you do when this jealous force happens to be…um…a bingo chip?

Yeeeess…

This is part of the story of my full-length dark comedy/absurdist thriller, Free Space. Amelia views hosting her own Bingo Night as a way to escape her lonely life. Not only does she have the excitement of planning this magical night, but planning this night has led to a growing bond between her and Ricky, a kind-hearted boy who works at the local cannery. But as Amelia starts to envision a brighter future, a talking Bingo Chip begins calling the shots. Amelia is losing control of her own Game—and relationship with Ricky.

Frog Band-Aid is a monologue from Free Space. Ricky has just given Amelia a private tour of the cannery he works at. During the tour, the two joyfully plan the event, and discuss visiting a pet store together. After Amelia leaves the cannery, she walks home, speaking to the mysterious Bingo Chip in her pocket which has become increasingly demanding.

This dark comedy/dramatic monologue runs around 3 minutes and is appropriate for an older teen through adult actor. Enjoy the excerpt below and check out Free Space to learn more about Amelia and her story.

Alfred and Lily and Their Marvelous Tank in the Forest: Publication in Best New Ten-Minute Plays/2020

February 12, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in absurdist theater, allegory, comedic, dark comedy, dramatic, love, Plays, outdoor theater, Publications, Suspense, Teen, ten-minute plays, theater of the absurd

I’m honored my play, Alfred and Lily and Their Marvelous Tank in the Forest, was selected as one of 30 plays in “The Best New Ten-Minute Plays/2020” published by The Applause Acting Series, edited by Lawrence Harbison. This absurdist dark comedy is about reality manipulation, propaganda, what to accept as truth, or question and fight. It's also about love and sacrifice, and yes, it's about frogs. In a tank. In a forest. All this in 10 minutes!

A high-energy, high-stakes short play with meaty roles for 2 actors and lots of room for creativity for the production team, Alfred and Lily and Their Marvelous Tank in the Forest is a fun play to sink your teeth into (much like Alfred wants to do to Lily’s leg…). Thanks to my original amazing cast at Westchester Collaborative Theater, featuring Missy Flower, Buchanan Highhouse, directed by Nathan Flower.

You can check out an excerpt of Alfred and Lily, get the full play here, or check out the The Best New Ten-Minute Plays 2020.

11 Short Plays About Love

February 09, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in 5-minute play, absurdist theater, dark comedy, dramatic, love, mermaids, Monologues, mystical creatures, one-act plays, outdoor theater, Plays, romance, Teen, Suspense, ten-minute plays, theater of the absurd, thriller, valentine's day

As Valentine’s Day is rounding the corner, I’ve compiled a collection of eleven (11) short plays, all centering around the idea of love, from various angles. Whether marrying out of spite, longing for romance in another world, or sacrificing for your life partner, these plays showcase high stakes drama about love. The roles and worlds created in these plays are unique and memorable, making for fun theatrical challenges for actors, directors, designers and production teams. Enjoy!

Clippers by Tara Meddaugh: A dramatic monologue from the one-act play, Seventeen Stitches

January 21, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in blind casting, dark comedy, dramatic, gender neutral casting, inclusive casting, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, one-act plays, Teen, Suspense, thriller, Halloween

If you’re looking for a 2-minute dramatic monologue from a play, check out my newly released monologue, Clippers, from my one-act play, Seventeen Stitches. Clippers is appropriate for tweens, teens and young adults; it is suitable for actors of any gender. In this monologue, Peter struggles to make sense of his father’s actions and intentions. When Peter was attacked by a bully who wanted his bike, Peter’s father rescues his son, but lets the bully take the precious bike. Peter doesn’t understand why his loving father would not punish the bully, and from that moment on, feels abandoned by his father.

Dramatic Halloween Read-Aloud from Chat-n-Read: Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown

October 05, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in children, comedic, Community, dark comedy, Drama in real life, dramatic, Education, family, holiday, Literary, social, Suspense

Of all the holidays, Halloween just might be the most dramatic! Anything can become spooky melodrama when you put on an eerie voice, add a bit of black-and-white illustration, and make inanimate objects start FOLLOWING YOU! Kids - enjoy this spooky and fun read-aloud from Chat-n-Read (one of my other adventures!) of Creepy Carrots written by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by Peter Brown.

We’ll chat about what makes things creepy and then share the story of Jasper Rabbit and what happens to him when his favorite garden snack starts creeping him out! Make sure you stick around to the end, because it’s quite clever!

Now, say this in a spooky voice and wave your hands around all creepy-like: “Enjoooooooy!”

17 Suspenseful Monologues

September 30, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in comedy monolog collection, dark comedy, dramatic, dramatic monolog collecti, Halloween, monologue collections, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, mystical creatures, Suspense, teen monologue collection, thriller

Suspense is a powerful tool in theater. Who doesn’t want to keep the audience on the edge of their seat? Writers and directors can create entire plays or films that center on building suspense, ultimately paying off in the final scene. When you have only 1-2 minutes in a monologue to convey a scene or character, creating this world of suspense can be a challenge, but if you manage it, you’ll have your own payoff.

Here, I’ve compiled over 15 short monologues which cultivate a scenario of suspense, while conveying a memorable story and character. From murdered ferrets, floods and fangs, to guns, sirens and fires—these monologues are sure to keep your audience leaning in.

New dark comedy/Dramatic monologue: "What My Fangs Are For" by Tara Meddaugh

September 29, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in children, dark comedy, dramatic, gender neutral casting, Halloween, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, monologues for male actor, Monologues, mystical creatures, outdoor theater, Teen, ten-minute plays, thriller, Suspense

My new monologue, What My Fangs Are For, is the story of a werewolf child telling his mom about his first squirrel kill; it’s darkly humorous, a bit creepy, a bit dramatic. But…it’s also the story of a boy discovering a new identity, trying to make his mother proud, then worrying, with horror, that his new identity may drive her to not love him anymore.

Maybe the whole “eating a raw squirrel” part is not so relatable, but Sammy is not the only child (or adult) to have to reveal a part of their identity which they worry a loved one may not accept.

Weird or Creepy Plays for Halloween

October 29, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in dark comedy, dramatic, Halloween, one-act plays, Plays, ten-minute plays, thriller, thriller play, gender neutral casting, holiday, outdoor theater, Suspense, Teen

If you’re looking for some plays with a thrilling, weird, scary or eerie nature, just in time for Halloween, check out my list of 6 GREAT PLAYS FOR HALLOWEEN! From a domineering talking bingo chip to an apartment enveloped in human hair to a line of diamonds which seems rather painful—these dark comedies, dramas and thrillers give you a fun dramatic ride!

New dramatic/thriller monologue: Buddy's Mommy

October 24, 2018 by Tara Meddaugh in Halloween, thriller play, 2-minute monologue, love, Monologues, Suspense, thriller, women

If you’re searching for a dark, dramatic or thriller monologue for a female (in time for Halloween!), check out Buddy’s Mommy. In this 2-minute monologue, amidst the sounds of sirens drawing near, Cali imparts her final motherly words to her young son, Buddy. She hopes he will remember her for the strong love she has for him, not for the murder(s) he’s going to soon hear about…

This a great monologue for someone looking to tap into complex emotions and the process of a breakdown. Cali is riddled with grief, guilt, regret—but also love and her confidence that what she did was necessary and the right thing to do. There is horror, there is desperation, there is panic, and at the core, there is the deep, crazy, consuming love of a mother to her child.

I'm Your Frankenstein: A New Dramatic Monologue

November 16, 2016 by Tara Meddaugh in Monologues, Plays, dramatic, Suspense, Halloween

Check out my new dramatic monologue below for a male or female actor. A scientist cannot mask his familial love for the horrifying creature he has created (paying a bit of homage to Mary Shelley, post-Halloween)...