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 1-minute children's comedic monologue: Cotton Candy Ice Cream Cone

February 29, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in children, Children's theatre, comedic, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, Monologues

Are you enjoying this extra leap-day of Winter this year? We had a few snowflakes in Southern New York today, but over in this hemisphere, I’m already dreaming of Summer and sand and, of course, ice cream! If you are too (or you’re ready to start!), check out my new children’s comedic monologue, Cotton Candy Ice Cream Cone. It’s about 1 minute long and great for a young female or male actor. In the monologue, Yuri breaks some bad new to her dog. She can’t share her ice cream with him, because, you know, chocolate can kill a dog. But maybe if he stops chewing her shoes…she will let him have the cone. Enjoy this excerpt of COTTON CANDY ICE CREAM CONE, and you can download the complete monologue at the end, for free!

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….

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.

Parent/Child Theater: Monologue Duo for adult and child actor about halloween candy!

November 01, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in children, Children's theatre, Community, dramatic, family, Halloween, monologue for child actor, Monologues, monologues for male actor, monologue collections, child monolog collection, comedy monolog collection

Well, it’s the day after Halloween. Crisp, light candy wrappers in the trash. Piles of crushed red-dye candy coating on the floor. Parents—did you check your kids’ candy last night and “skim” any off the top? Kids—did you do an inventory last night and confirm your tally this morning? Okay, so a lot of families are happily generous with their candy on Halloween (thank you!), but transparency is nice, right?

So today, on the morning after October 31st, enjoy this duo of monologues about disappearing Halloween candy! In the first one, My Missing Skittles, Sal catches his dad, red-handed at midnight, eating his Halloween candy! In the second, A Dad’s Defense, Doug justifies to Sal that he’s never pretended to be perfect in the first place. But he comes up with the resolution that hopefully satisfies both parties (Just don’t tell Mom!).

Enjoy these funny monologues, from child to parent, and parent to child! My Missing Skittles is about 1 minute long and suitable for any child! A Dad’s Defense is about 1.5 - 2 minutes long and great for adults. If you've been looking for a monologue duo perfect for a child and adult to act out together (Parent/Child Theater, here we come!), this is a great match! Have fun!

New Comedic Children's Monologue: The Real Value of Candy

September 27, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in children, comedic, Halloween, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor

As Halloween approaches, children’s minds and salivary glands start turning toward candy…but when so much candy is too much, it’s great some dentists offer a candy-for-money exchange, right? Well, check out Fred’s reaction to the deal his dentist set up. Does he think it’s so great? In this 1-minute comedic monologue for children, Fred confronts his dentist when he realizes the deal is not exactly what he was promised at his last visit! Enjoy this short funny monologue, entitled, THE REAL VALUE OF CANDY, suited for male or female actors (around ages 4-12)!

New 5-minute Children's Comedic Reader's Theater Play: The Shipwreck Solution

January 29, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in 5-minute play, children, Children's theatre, Education, Plays, Reader's Theater

What do a box jellyfish, a mako shark, an anglerfish and a tiger shark have in common? They all want to live in the same abandonned shipwreck on the ocean floor—and no one wants to share! Check out The Shipwreck Solution to discover if these four, very different creatures, can find a way to work it out!

This is a 5-7 minute children’s comedic play, also appropriate for Reader’s Theater, for 4 actors (gender neutral)….

Grinching Mom: New Children's comedic monologue by guest playwright, 6-year-old, Luke B.

January 22, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in children, Christmas, Drama in real life, family, monologue by child, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor

If you don’t know what grinching is yet, perhaps this monologue by guest playwright, 6-year-old, Luke B., will shed some insight. In it, Max is caught red-handed taking his mom’s lamp into his room. He has a perfectly good reason for doing this, but it may not be what you think… Check out this 1-minute comedic children’s monologue, Grinching Mom. And keep reading if you want to find out a bit more about the 6-year-old boy who wrote it…

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

Check out my Christmas theater below (one-act plays, a 5-minute monologues, and 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!

Now Available - 5 Minute Children's Play: My Best Myself

November 16, 2018 by Tara Meddaugh in 5-minute play, children, Children's theatre, Plays, Reader's Theater

If you’re looking for a short play for children, check out this fun and poignant 5-minute comedic play for 2 female actors. While Megan and Kel are waiting for their school bus to arrive, Megan challenges Kel to prove how she received her latest Girl Scouts badge. But revelations soon afford the girls an opportunity to put down their rivalry and consider maybe, just maybe, becoming friends…

17 Compelling Monologues About Bullying

October 01, 2018 by Tara Meddaugh in children, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, Teen, monologue collections, child monolog collection, comedy monolog collection, dramatic monolog collecti, gender neutral casting, teen monologue collection, 1-minute monologue, 30-second monologue, blind casting, comedic, dark comedy, Drama in real life, dramatic, tween

Part of the beauty and magic of theatre is that we can use drama to give voice to an emotion, challenge or experience we might not otherwise express. Below are eight monologues that center around the idea of bullying in some capacity. Whether it is covering your ears in the shower, imagining you’re a shark, or instructing teddy bears to jump out a window, these dramatic, comedic or darkly comedic monologues show different ways people cope with the effects of bullying. ..

Children/teen comedic Halloween monologue: My Missing Skittles

September 25, 2018 by Tara Meddaugh in children, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, Teen, Halloween

Okay, kids, we’re a month away from Halloween and a 9-year-old just told me he read 90% of parents steal some of their kids’ Halloween candy! Do you think your parents are in that majority? Or is your mom or dad in that elite angelic 10%? And parents, do you think it causes no harm to skim a little Reeses Pieces from the tip? …

New Children's/Preteen Monologue: If I Were A Kind of Flower

April 04, 2018 by Tara Meddaugh in children, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, monologues for male actor

Check out my new comedic/dramatic children's monologue, If I Were A Kind of Flower. Anibel expresses concern over her daffodils covered in snow, and imagines how she would live, if she were a daffodil herself.

New Comedic Children's monologue: Written by 8-year-old guest playwright

March 13, 2018 by Tara Meddaugh in children, Community, Drama in real life, family, Monologues, monologues for male actor, Playwriting, Teen, monologue for female acto, monologue for child actor, monologue by child

Let me tell you about a talented little boy. He's a member of the Chess Club and Computer Club at his school, participates in Engineering and Swim classes, researches the mysteries of outer space, loves to ride his bike, do gross food dares during school Lunch, read like a fiend, go on hikes, and has a blast writing and illustrating his own comic book series called "Tommy Tom Tom, Mike and Joe."...

Teen/Children's/Comedic Monologue: Iowa Is Gonna Be So Jealous

August 30, 2017 by Tara Meddaugh in children, family, Monologues, Playwriting, Teen

Check out my newly released comedic monologue for teens or children, Iowa is Gonna Be So Jealous, written especially for the 2015 monologue winner, the very talented, Ryan Henzi. If you've ever wanted to perform a scene where you were almost mauled by a rhinoceros (and found it kind of exciting!), then here is your chance!...

"A Waste of a Totally Good Jelly Bean" - Performed by Six Actors

March 21, 2017 by Tara Meddaugh in children, Interviews, Monologue Performances, Monologues

Check out these performances of my monologue, "A Waste of a Totally Good Jelly Bean." Starting at only four years old, these actors display their own unique take (and talent!) in bringing this monologue to life! Enjoy!

3 Related Monologues for Children: Skunk Moms

October 18, 2016 by Tara Meddaugh in children, Children's theatre, Monologues, Playwriting, Teen, child monolog collection, comedy monolog collection

Check out my new free comedic children's monologues below. Three siblings try to convince their mother that a skunk would be the perfect pet. The monologues vary slightly in length, making it a good fit for younger children as well as older children...

Calvin and Hobbes: Perfect Summer Reading

August 10, 2016 by Tara Meddaugh in children, Community, Drama in real life, family, Literary, Teen, Reader's Theater

I was visiting my parents' house this summer which is always bound to stir up childhood memories, but I got a special burst of elated nostalgia when my 7-year-old son came to me with a comic book of mine he found at their house entitled, Revenge of the Babysat. Now, anyone who really knows the comic I'm going to talk about will immediately know who I'm talking about, and hopefully, it will bring about a huge smile for them too. I'm talking about the namesakes of that famous theologian who gave us Reformed Protestantism (touting Predestination), and the political philosopher who gave us social contract theory--yes, I'm talking about none other than Calvin and Hobbes.