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.

"The Thing About Mermaids" by Tara Meddaugh: New children's comedic 1-minute monologue

September 21, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in Children's theatre, comedic, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, gender neutral casting, children, mystical creatures, fairy tale, mermaids

Okay, so if you had to choose one mystical creature to be real, which would you choose? In my new monologue, The Thing About Mermaids, Riley encounters a real live mermaid…but is Riley excited by this discovery or does Riley think it’s a waste of a mystical creature?

Enjoy this free 45 second - 1 minute long comedic monologue for children, gender neutral casting. (For a dramatic 10-minute monologue play about mermaids, click here for Marsopa’s Tale).

Special thanks to Julian (and his mom), for inspiring this monologue!

Check out the excerpt below from, THE THING ABOUT MERMAIDS:

11 Great Dramatic Monologues for Children

July 27, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in child monolog collection, children, Children's theatre, dramatic, monologue collections, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, Reader's Theater, dramatic monolog collecti

Finding a dramatic children’s monologue that is thoughtful, relatable, and age-appropriate can be a challenge. Here, I’ve collected ten (10) dramatic children’s monologues for you that are unique, memorable and fun for kids to act. These monologues range from 30 seconds to around 2 minutes. From Goldilocks having second thoughts to Lindsey confronting a bully who took a precious souvenir to Jenna facing an angry sister and a floor of broken glass—enjoy these 10 monologues show which can showcase your child’s dramatic talent and range!

Thirteen (13) Great Comedic Children's Monologues Involving Child to Parent Confrontations

July 22, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in children, Children's theatre, comedic, monologue by child, monologue collections, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, monologue written by chil, Monologues, monologues for male actor, star wars, Reader's Theater, child monolog collection, comedy monolog collection

Is there anything more comically dramatic than a child breaking the bad news to his dad that he doesn’t want to be a Jedi? Or a daughter justifying to her mom why she should have a pet skunk? Okay…maybe a few things are a bit more dramatic, but emotions are emotions, and these clever children’s monologues are full of fun, clean drama, comedic timing and relatability. Muster up your passion for Animal Crossing, iPads and candy, and showcase your acting talent with these twelve (12) great comedic children’s monologues where a child confronts a parent. And definitely, have fun doing it!

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]

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….

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. …

A Grinching Good Time!

December 14, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in Children's theatre, comedic, Community, family, monologue by child, monologue for child actor, monologue written by chil, Monologues, monologues for male actor, Movies, music, Shows, Streaming Videos, Television, What I'm Watching, christmas but not theater

My youngest son has a Grinch-inspired holiday party coming up this week, and in discussing this, I’ve realized how many Grinch dramatizations we’ve actually seen. If you’re looking to add another Grinch-drama to your holiday mix, check out these 5 incarnations of the classic green-haired creature (and beware—there are tons more grinchy-dramas out there!).

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!

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 fourteen (14) 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!

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)!

5 Fall Monologues

September 26, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in comedic, dramatic, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, monologue collections, comedy monolog collection

If you’re looking for an autumn-themed monologue, check out these 5 monologues below, for some crisp weather theater! From halloween candy to ants in apple pies to frankenstein—enjoy!

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!

19 Children's Monologues from Christmas Superpowers and Believing in Blitzen: Monologue Packet

November 09, 2018 by Tara Meddaugh in Children's theatre, family, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, one-act plays, monologue collections, child monolog collection, comedy monolog collection, dramatic monolog collecti, Christmas

Enjoy a new monologue packet, featuring 19 comedic monologues for children extracted from the one-act play, Christmas Superpowers and Believing in Blitzen. Monologues range from 30 seconds to 3 minutes, and average approximately 1-2 minutes long. Check out two free sample monologues from this packet, Santa’s Lousy Job and Shepherd Superheroes. About the play: Take a snowy walk through the child-like magic of Christmas, where reindeer talk, Santa is real, and who wants super powers?…

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? …