Two One-Act/Ten-Minute Plays About Sisters - for Youth and Mature Adult Actors

January 27, 2023 by Tara Meddaugh in children, Children's theatre, comedic, dramatic, family, historical, one-act plays, outdoor theater, Plays, pre-teen, Teen, ten-minute plays, tween, women, all female cast, mature actors, play for mature actors, play collection

I’ve written about sister-relationships before (in The Bronze Lining and The Moon River Raft to name a few), but the relationship is especially unique in my two Ruby and Millie plays. These plays both feature the same sisters, but at two very different points in their lives.

In Ruby and Millie and the Dying Cucumbers, Ruby is a child around 9 years old and her older sister, Millie, is around 16. It’s 1943 and their father is a Prisoner of War in Europe. He has charged Ruby to lead her apartment building’s rooftop Victory Garden on the homefront in White Plains, NY. With their mother working long hours and their father gone, teenage Millie carries weighty responsibilities of her own. In the play, Millie has been searching for her little sister at night, and finally finds her on the rooftop. While Millie tries to convince Ruby to come inside to bed, Ruby discovers some of her vegetables are dying, and fears this is a harbinger of bad news for her father and the war.

In Ruby and Millie and The Old Chemical Plant, we fast forward 50+ years. The war is a distant memory while Seinfeld blares on the tv at night. Ruby has had a successful career but never married; Millie is a widow with children living all over the globe. The sisters live in the same senior apartments, and are tending to a fig tree in their 1990s community garden together. Ruby and Millie have always been close. Neither one can imagine life without the other by her side. But now they struggle with decisions that may, for the first time in 60+ years, take them very far away from each other.

JACK AND DEAR RAVEN: A new 10-minute 2-person comedy/drama

September 14, 2022 by Tara Meddaugh in 10-minute play, allegory, animal theater, children, Children's theatre, comedic, dramatic, fairy tale, family, gender neutral casting, inclusive casting, one-act plays, outdoor theater, Plays, pre-teen, Reader's Theater, Teen, ten-minute plays, tween

Jack is known as being a “dull boy” around the village. But would a “dull boy” impulsively climb up a random giant beanstalk that grew up in his back yard over night and then once he reached cloud-level, suddenly miss his mom and turkey and fence post, want to go back home, and now be too scared or stuck to climb back down?

Um…Maybe…

At least, this is one of Jack’s worries (besides being pecked to death, falling to death, starving to death—stuff like that!). He has something to prove to his village. He IS more than the boy who chased a baby bear thinking it was a sack of gold coins. He may get into more pickles than the average fairy tale boy, but he also always finds ways to get out of those pickles. He’s made it up this giant beanstalk because he has the spirit of adventure inside of him—and that passionate spirit will ultimately get him off this beanstalk too. It’s just might happen in the order he thinks it will…

In Jack and Dear Raven, high in the clouds, Jack begs for the help of a raven passing by—the only creature who has shown Jack any attention as he’s clung to this slippery beanstalk through the wee morning hours. This bird, whom Jack quickly dubs “Dear Raven,” has their own worries in raising a brood of birdlings while trying to finish their novel, Aviary Ethics (which no other bird seems to care about). Dear Raven is not only curious about this human in the sky, but also irritated as Jack and his giant beanstalk are blocking an important flight path. Jack and Dear Raven need to figure out a way for Jack to get off this beanstalk. Now. Before the hawks and eagles come to peck out his eyes after their morning mice.

New Christmas One-Act Play for a Large Cast: Chaos in a Christmas Snow Globe

November 30, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in blind casting, children, Children's theatre, comedic, Community, family, gender neutral casting, holiday, inclusive casting, mystical creatures, one-act plays, Plays, pre-teen, Reader's Theater, Teen, tween, winter, Christmas

If you’re looking for a large cast Christmas play for young actors or young audiences, with lots of gender inclusive/neutral roles, check out Chaos in a Christmas Snow Globe. Yup, it takes place inside a Christmas Snow Globe, complete with Christmas Tree, train and ice skating pond. Designers can be as detailed or as representative as desired for this world which leaves lots of room for creativity.

The Christmas Gang loves their place of honor in 8-year-old Stella’s bedroom, come the Sunday after Thanksgiving when all the Christmas decorations are displayed, but they’re also getting a bit bored of the same routine. Luckily, they’re in a Snow Globe with Santa himself who has a pretty cool ability to evoke, oh, I don’t know…a little something called…

Christmas Magic!

Christmas Magic will bring some excitement to the snow globe, for sure! But what the friends don’t realize is that Christmas Magic has a mind of its own. And what it decides to bring is…um… well…

A Jack-o-Lantern (Whaaaa? Yes!) who has been pining away to join the Christmas Snow Globe for years! But can this Halloween decoration convince the Christmas Friends (especially the stickler Elf) that it truly belongs with them? Or will it be booted back to the dusty shelf? Enjoy this family-friendly one-act Christmas play about acceptance and appreciation.

This play runs approximately 20 minutes. The whole class, club, church or company can perform in this show! It has 11 speaking roles (9 gender inclusive/neutral roles, 1 female, 1 male), and an unlimited number of non-speaking reindeer. There’s some group singing (just “Jingle Bells” - don’t worry), opportunities for dancing, and fun scene setting. Check out the list of characters here.

New Comedic Christmas Monologue: "Santa Just Wants You to be Healthy"

November 02, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in 1-minute monologue, 2-minute monologue, Christmas, comedic, family, holiday, monologue for female acto, Monologues

Today on an afternoon walk, I spied a silver bell and garland on a friend’s railing, while another friend mentioned she saw a Hallmark Christmas rom-com last night. I’ve been receiving royalty requests for a Christmas play for a few months now, so I think we are all justified to be looking to holiday theater on November 2, right? In the spirit of the holiday season to come, enjoy a new comedic monologue, Santa Just Wants You to be Healthy:

It’s Christmas morning and Vita’s child, Cameron, has just come to her bedroom at 5am to complain that Santa gave him a boring orange in his stocking. Vita tries to make Cameron understand that Santa simply cares about him and is looking out for his good health and happiness. Knowing the orange is a bit less than exciting though, Vita encourages Cameron to dig down deep to find another treat—most likely something spectacular. But what her child finds is (d’oh!) not exactly what Vita had in mind!

This is a monologue for a female actor (could also be male), 20s-40s and runs about 1.5 minutes long. Check out an excerpt below:

Over 15 Great Plays for Outdoor Theater

August 31, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in 5-minute play, absurdist theater, allegory, animal theater, Children's theatre, comedic, dark comedy, dramatic, fairy tale, family, frog, monologue for female acto, mystical creatures, outdoor theater, one-act plays, Reader's Theater, socially distant theater, ten-minute plays, theater of the absurd, thriller, Plays, play collection

Outdoor theater has always evoked a unique energy to its cast and audience, and throughout the covid-19 pandemic, more people have been taking advantage of staging and enjoying theater outside. The abundance of fresh air and space coupled with the natural environment can be appealing and invigorating. So if you’re looking to stage theater outside, consider these 10-minute and one-act comedies, dramas, and dark comedies for adults, teens and children. From a garden to a campfire, a beanstalk to a forest, a zoo to a parking lot, all of these plays are naturally set outdoors. You don’t need to force a kitchen sink into your local park. The world of these play is already outside. Enjoy!

Giving Back Initiative Quarter: Fighting ALS and Supporting those with this disease

June 11, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in activism, Community, family, Education, giving back

For May through July, my Giving Back Initiative supports the ALS Association and I Am ALS.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. People with ALS gradually lose voluntary muscle function, resulting in the loss of mobility of legs, arms, speech, and eventually the ability to breathe. While people with ALS become paralyzed and often cannot speak, their minds are usually not affected so they remain aware. ALS is fatal and patients typically pass away in three (3) years. There is no cure. Yet.

This must change. And you will find this sentiment reiterated in my post.

Giving Back: Spotlight on Barbershop Books

February 04, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in activism, children, Community, Education, family, giving back, social

From February through April, my Giving Back Initiative will support an impactful and innovative organization called Barbershop Books. A few months back, I heard a Ted Radio Hour, which spurred me to do a bit of research after the show (not terribly uncommon for the Ted Radio Hour!). This episode, School of Life, was about exploring “life lessons that teach us far more than any textbook.” Part three featured Alvin Irby, an educator, author, comedian and founder of the intuitive-upon-reflection, brilliantly modeled organization that captured me in an instant. Barbershop Books’ mission is this:

“Help Black boys ages 4-8 to identify as readers by connecting fun books to a male-centered space and by involving Black men in boys' early reading experiences.”

So how does Barbershop Books do this?

Irby came up with his idea, while watching one of his first-grade students in the Bronx squirm impatiently at a local barbershop. Irby kept wishing he’d had a book to lend the boy, which naturally led to the thought, someone should put books for kids at the barbershop… This idea, coupled with Irby’s impressive background in education and leadership, transformed into his nationally recognized organization.

Barbershop Books offers early literacy training to barbers while placing engaging children’s books into barbershops. Formerly antsy boys can read funny books while hanging at the barbershop! This may sound simple, but the thought behind it is well-researched and effective—which is why it’s so exciting and promising. Reading is power and when there is a stark reading gap among race or gender (see # 2 below), this inequity can follow these individuals for the rest of their lives. Barbershop Books is making progress to close the reading inequity gap, and in so doing, empower these boys for the rest of their lives. Here’s how:

Chat-n-Read Dramatic Read-Aloud of "Fly Guy and the Frankenfly" by Tedd Arnold

October 22, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in chat-n-read, children, Community, Education, family, Literary

If Creepy Carrots are not creepy enough for you, what about a FRANKENFLY?? Or, just, how about a fly who can talk at all?

Enjoy my latest Chat-n-Read where I pose the most thought-provoking question yet…

Would you share your chemistry set…with a FLY???

In Fly Guy and the Frankenfly by Tedd Arnold, Buzz makes all sorts of fun creations for him and his best bud, Fly Guy. Fly Guy wants to make something special for Buzz too. But what happens when Fly Guy’s creation gets a little out of hand?

Find out in this fun Halloween-appropriate read-aloud!

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!”

Hallmark Christmas Movies Announced: Are You Ready? Plus Theater Actors join MFTV Christmas Magic

September 24, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in Christmas, Community, Drama in real life, family, Film, Movies, romance, social, Television, holiday

Okay. It’s still September. SEPTEMBER. But I have been seeing social media posts and hearing friends talk about putting up Christmas trees and lights extra early this year. Not like, November 25 early. I’m talking September 25 early! And really, in this very tense, anxiety-filled, unprecedented, relentless season of our lives, who can blame anyone for wanting to elongate a traditional feel-good season?

The Christmas season is cozy, cold but warm; it brings us hot chocolate, eggnog and peppermint, calming lights, early dark evenings, soothing music, colors everywhere amidst a landscape of mainly brown. It is comforting and familiar, and those are two things that we all crave—especially now when both feel a bit out of reach. And so…you know what also brings comfort and familiarity around that time of year, right? Hallmark Made-For-TV (MFTV) Christmas Movies! Keeping pace with the Christmas trees going up in NYC apartments, they’ve announced their Holiday Season already! You can check out Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas line-up here. And don’t worry, Netflix and Amazon will have their own Cheesy Christmas Movies coming too (“A Royal Toddler Goes to Virtual Preschool” perhaps?), but I have to give props to the originator, Hallmark.

New Full Length Play: The Victory Garden Plays by Tara Meddaugh

August 20, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in children, comedic, Community, dramatic, family, Plays, Teen, ten-minute plays, full-length plays

How many of you decided that Pandemic 2020 would be the year you started your own edible garden? Whether it was in a luscious back yard, an upper story deck, or a window sill (friends and I started seeing how many vegetables we could grow in water jars from mere root cuts!), people all over seemed to be growing vegetation to eat like no other time in the 21st Century. In March, many of us found flour, bread and toilet paper impossible to purchase and there was a panic as we contemplated our food supply chain breaking. Growing our own produce seemed to offer stability, predictability, a tiny sense of control and perhaps even purpose during our unsettling time staying at home. (click below for continued post or click here for The Victory Garden Plays)

Dramatic Read-Aloud from Chat-n-Read: Goldilocks and The Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems

July 31, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in chat-n-read, children, Education, family, Reader's Theater

Check out my latest Chat-n-Read video where I read the fabulously funny, Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs, as “retold by” Mo Willems. And before our story together, we chat about dinosaurs! Our modern day world is full of toys, movies, tv shows, books, scientists all dedicated to dinosaurs! (Oh, and you get to see one super cool dino toy in my video: my son’s Jurassic Park RC dino that can do all sorts of things! Big thanks to my husband’s parents for that rockin’ toy!) But why are dinosaurs so fascinating to us? I think there are lots of reasons, but what stands out to you?

New children's comedic monologue about Animal Crossing: Your Crucian Carps are Blocking the Doorway, Mom

July 20, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in children, comedic, Drama in real life, family, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, Video games

Okay, I’m not exactly a gamer, so my children were thrilled when I mentioned how Nintendo Switch’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons looked like a game I might be able to get into. A few adult friends shared how they were loving playing it and the idea of setting up my own paradise island amidst our pandemic quarantine near New York City sounded, well, pretty darn appealing. I wasn’t alone in that thought. Apparently, this game sold more than 13 million copies in the first 6 weeks after it was released in March. [Skip to my new comedic children’s monologue, Your Crucian Carps are Blocking the Doorway, Mom]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Thank you!