Honing your Acting skill: Monologues for actors under quarantine

May 06, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in children, comedic, Community, dark comedy, dramatic, Education, monologue collections, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, romance, social, Teen

For many of us during this global pandemic, our theaters are closed down, acting classes are held virtually and auditions are video or streaming-only. Theater is a communal art-form by nature, so without the physical community, this distancing can be counter-intuitive and disheartening. However, artists are also resilient and creative by nature, and it did not take long for theater folks to form groups where readings and performances were held online, and actors, in their own isolation, have dedicated unanticipated space to honing their craft during this time of furlough….

The Beanstalk Monologue: Featured on Unknown Playwrights Monologue Monday

March 03, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in children, comedic, dramatic, monologue for female acto, Monologue Performances, Monologues, monologues for male actor, Plays, Teen, ten-minute plays, fairy tale

Twisting up a classic tale from a new angle is a never-ending well, and I love it as much as the next fairy-tale-raised dramatist or thespian! So here is my monologue, The Beanstalk, edited from the 10-minute play of the same name, The Beanstalk, featured on Unknown Playwrights Monologue Monday series. This monologue has been dissected for years, being one of my earlier pieces, and I’ve loved seeing teachers and students analyze this, and the various unique performances and interpretations of the piece. From Monologue Mondays:

Meddaugh’s monologue is like a snapshot of Jack when he first tries to climb the beanstalk and dude is scared. He talks to a crow for comfort and what follows is a character-rich psychological study of fear with a bit of humor…Any way you cut it, Meddaugh’s monologue is a fresh take on a millennia-old story with a lot of physicality. Let’s see what our brave acting heroes have accomplished…

New Children's Comedic 1-Minute Monologue: I Don't Wanna Be A Jedi

February 19, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in children, comedic, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, Teen, star wars, Halloween

For those of you feeling the Star Wars vibe (or for those of you who are not!), check out my new 1-minute comedic monologue for a male or female child (or young teen) actor. Joel has to break some tough news to his Star-Wars-Superfan dad. Is his dad going to cry when he hears the news? Will he stop making BB8 donut hole treats? Joel doesn’t know, but it’s time for the truth, before his dad makes him wear those Jedi pajamas. Ready? Okay. So… Joel really just isn’t into Star Wars. The truth is, he’d prefer Captain Underpants. So. There you have it. Enjoy my new monologue, I Don’t Wanna Be A Jedi. …

Drama in an Epic Disney Star Wars Ride: Rise of the Resistance

February 18, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in Drama in real life, children, dramatic, family, Teen, star wars

I recently visited the “most magical place on earth,” AKA, the place “where dreams come true.” These are some of Walt Disney World’s slogans for a reason. The designers of the 4 amusement parks in Orlando, Florida know that story is important—and not just viewing a story, but being in a story. So it is magical that a deck of cards and a plastic monkey are taller than you in the Toy Story Mania line. It does feel like magic that you can fly on a banshee over Pandora or interact in real time with a cartoon sea turtle you’ve seen from a movie. Your dreams of going to space can come true when you almost throw up on your flight to Mars which simulates g-force….

Fourteen (14) Romantic Monologues About Hopeful Love

February 11, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in comedic, dark comedy, dramatic, love, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, romance, Teen, valentine's day, monologue collections, comedy monolog collection, dramatic monolog collecti, 1-minute monologue, 2-minute monologue, 5-minute play, 10-minute monologue, fairy tale, mermaids, mystical creatures

Love is complex, and the beginning phases, when there is doubt mixed with infatuation, it’s that hope of a romance that keeps you going. Check out these 8 romantic monologues where characters experience their own ranges of that spectrum. Whether the character is after brand new love or reconciling a love that has withered, join them on their quest for romance!
(Click the title for excerpts and the complete monologue)

29 Unique Monologues About Love...

January 29, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in comedic, dark comedy, dramatic, love, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, romance, Teen, thriller, valentine's day, monologue collections, comedy monolog collection, dramatic monolog collecti

With Valentine’s Day a couple weeks away, enjoy this collection of unique monologues all about love…Some characters are hopeful, wistful, romantic; some characters are jealous, scorned, lonely; and…one thinks he’s a klingon. So… Wherever you are at in the love-spectrum, I hope the season brings you joy, hope, theatrical creativity—and you can kick it all off with these memorable monologues!…

Poorly Wrapped, a One-Act Play for 2 actors about Desire, Obsession, Power

January 21, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in comedic, dark comedy, dramatic, love, monologues for male actor, Monologues, one-act plays, Plays, romance, Teen, thriller, thriller play, valentine's day, Halloween

We’re less than a month away from Valentine’s Day, so check out the one-act play, Poorly Wrapped, on the topic of Love…or at least, lust, obsession, greed, power, and desire! It has 2 great roles for 1 male and 1 female actor and runs around 25 minutes long. It’s a dark comedy/drama, a bit eerie, a bit funny, some elements of the absurd mixed in with some potential creepiness…

Finding the Right 5-Minute and 10-Minute Monologues

January 07, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in 5-minute play, comedic, dramatic, historical, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, Teen, ten-minute plays, dramatic monolog collecti, mermaids, monologue collections, teen monologue collection, comedy monolog collection

Have you been looking for a great 5-minute monologue or 10-minute monologue?

30 second to 2 minute monologues are ideal for auditions, videos, reels and showcases and I have many unique and memorable comedic and dramatic monologues of that length. But you might be looking for something longer and having difficulty finding the perfect fit (check out benefits to learning a monologue of this length). While there is a lot of room for me to create more monologues of this length (And I will! New Year’s Goal!), since I am asked for this length frequently, I’ve compiled some of my 3-10 minute monologues below.

5 Benefits of Learning a 5 to 10 Minute Monologue

January 07, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in 5-minute play, comedic, dramatic, Education, family, Festivals, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, Plays, Reader's Theater, Teen, ten-minute plays

So you’re interested in learning a 5-minute to 10-minute monologue! Great! Shorter monologues are perfect for many things, such as auditions, showcases, reels, videos, and you can find monologues of that length here: comedic monologues and dramatic monologues. But if you’re considering learning a longer monologue, check out my 3-10 minute monologues here. And peruse some of the benefits to learning a monologue of this length below!

New 30-second Christmas monologue: Meeting Blitzen

November 20, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in children, Children's theatre, Christmas, comedic, dramatic, family, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, one-act plays, Teen

Have you ever dreamed of being that special person chosen to hear the voice of an animal? Or better yet, to be chosen to be the friend of a very special animal? Say…a special animal who knows someone pretty famous, especially come December 24? Annie gets to experience just that in the play, Christmas Superpowers and Believing in Blitzen. Santa’s reindeer, Blitzen, chooses to befriend her, and he supports her during Christmas crafts, her role in the local pageant, and even through a single-parent household. This is one cool reindeer! So enjoy this 30-second monologue, Meeting Blitzen, when Annie tells her friends that she’s seen a talking reindeer for the first time. The monologue is designed for children, but really could apply to anyone of any age who might dream of being seen by someone special—as someone special.

New teen comedic monologue: Those Jimmy Choo Shoes

November 04, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in comedic, dramatic, monologue for female acto, Monologues, Teen

We all know high school is not easy. But it’s especially difficult when you have a classmate making your life miserable! Find out how Sarah handles her resident mean girl in this new free monologue, Those Jimmy Choo Shoes. This comedic/dramatic monologue runs about 1 minute long, and is great for teens and young adults.

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!

Creepy Monologues

October 17, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in comedic, dark comedy, dramatic, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, thriller play, Teen, monologue collections, comedy monolog collection, dramatic monolog collecti

If you’re looking for some creepy monologues this Halloween, check out these 10 monologues. From a disappointing journey in Hell to a blood-stained Banana Republic dress, take an eerie ride with these unique characters and their drama.

New 5-minute dramatic monologue for female actor: The Adventure of the Seed

October 15, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in 5-minute play, dramatic, historical, monologue for female acto, Monologues, Teen

Imagine graduating from High School, marrying your sweetheart, relishing one week together as husband and wife, then seeing your love off to fight a war in another country—and then finding out you’re pregnant with his child! Your husband may, or may not, return. You’re a newlywed, young, excited, elated—but also nervous, worried, frightened, alone. My new dramatic piece takes us back to 1940s WWII, as this scenario unfolds in Alice’s monologue, The Adventure of the Seed. This monologue stands alone as its own piece, but it also comes from the collection of shorts in the full-length play, The The Victory Garden Plays. Forever grateful to Megan Benjamin who originated this role beautifully in the Winter 2019 production. It runs approximately 4-5 minutes, for a female actor, late teen to early adult.

14 Funny Monologues about Food!

October 07, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in Children's theatre, comedic, dark comedy, Drama in real life, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, Teen, monologue collections, comedy monolog collection

Food and Humor just go together, don’t they? I don’t know why, but isn’t a scene just funnier if someone mentions cheetos or some moldy blueberries (hm…idea for a new monologue?)? Food is real, tangible, something we all know. It’s messy, it tastes good or it tastes bad, it can make you sick, it can make you choke, it can make you happy, it can distract you. It brings out jealousy, love, anger, pride, selfishness, selflessness. Food is, when it comes down to it, a really powerful tool in life that fuels a lot of heavy emotion! So, of course it’s dramatic! Here are ten (10) funny monologues about food! From donuts and apple pies to skittles and jelly beans (and even a dog toenail in a can of corn), check out these comedic monologues all featuring food!

Unknown Playwrights Feature of my dark comedy monologue, "March in Line"

October 04, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in comedic, dark comedy, dramatic, monologue for female acto, Monologue Performances, Monologues, monologues for male actor, Teen, thriller play

It’s so much fun to see wildly different interpretations of the same monologue, right? Yet within all the differences, it’s telling to find the commonalities that run throughout. Unknown Playwrights Monologue Monday series does a great job of showcasing new monologues, and then compiling an A-Z video list of actors performing the piece. You can see three videos below of actors performing my monologue, March in Line, just to show how very different they can be!

New Dark Comedy Monologue: What I Did Before Bingo

February 06, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in dark comedy, dramatic, monologue for female acto, monologues for male actor, Monologues, Teen

If you’re looking for a dark comedy/dramatic monologue with a unique story, check out What I Did Before Bingo, from the full-length play, Free Space. Free Space is a dark comedy where canneries become bingo halls, mothers become sisters, and bingo chips give orders! Yes, it sounds weird (and it kind of is!), but Amelia is relatable in her desire to find her place and meaning in a cold world. Free Space, is a fast, funny “page turner,” and keeps the audience on the edge of their seat. It’s fun to act in, direct and design!

This free monologue is written for a female character, but the monologue is suitable for any gender, teen through young adult. It is somewhat dramatic, with pensive moments, but also has an eerie darkly comedic side, as, well, she is hearing a bingo chip talk to her! In the monologue,

New Dark Comedy Monologue: Growing Up on the Wrong Side of Bingo

February 05, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in dark comedy, dramatic, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, Teen

If you’re looking for a dark comedy monologue with dramatic intensity, from a full-length play, check out Amelia’s newly released monologue, Growing up on the Wrong Side of Bingo. It’s from the dark comedy play, Free Space, where canneries become bingo halls, mothers become sisters, and bingo chips give orders! Yes, it sounds weird (and it kind of is!), but Amelia is relatable in her desire to find her place and meaning in a cold world. Free Space, is a fast, funny “page turner,” and keeps the audience on the edge of their seat. It’s fun to act in, direct and design!

This free monologue is around 2 minutes long, written for a female character, but the monologue is suitable for any gender, teen through young adult. It’s funny, but dramatic also and a little strange. In the monologue…

Christmas Plays: talking reindeer, mistletoe melancholy, Christmas tree blood and more!

December 03, 2018 by Tara Meddaugh in children, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, monologue collections, 2-minute monologue, 3-minute monologue, 30-second monologue, 5-minute monologue, 5-minute play, child monolog collection, Children's theatre, Christmas, comedic, comedy monolog collection, dramatic monolog collecti, inclusive casting, one-act plays, Plays, pre-teen, socially distant theater, Teen, teen monologue collection, tween, virtual theater, play collection

As we sled into December, first, a very warm Happy Hannukah or Happy Chanukah (or use one of the other 14 spellings!)! And second, the Christmas Theater season is upon us! Is there a classic holiday play you see every year? Or a new Christmas show you are looking forward to this season? For me, I recently enjoyed A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live On Stage followed by one of those crazy milkshakes shared by 4 of us (check out the pic!)! Nothing says Christmas like tons of sweets, right (Okay, yes, lots of things say Christmas other than sweets! But one must exert some sugar will power around the holidays!)? Next weekend, I’m looking forward to nestling into an historic Dutch church in legendary Sleepy Hollow to watch a one-man show of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. The following weekend, I’ll enjoy a one-hour version of The Nutcracker. I love to suppor theater year-round, but there is something special about seeing a warm holiday show in December!

As much as I love seeing Christmas Drama, I also love writing it! So check out some of my Christmas theater below (a one-act play, a 5-minute one-man show, and several monologues for kids to adults)! Click on the links to read excerpts from all of the holiday monologues or holiday plays or to get the full versions. Enjoy the holiday season!…