Great Virtual or Social Distancing Christmas Play: Christmas Superpowers and Believing in Blitzen

November 22, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in 1-minute monologue, children, Children's theatre, Christmas, comedic, gender neutral casting, inclusive casting, holiday, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, one-act plays, Plays, pre-teen, socially distant theater, Teen, Zoom plays, virtual theater

While some theaters and schools are open for in-person performances, there are many throughout the world which are not able to be open in this capacity yet. (We are all in different situations throughout the globe and my heart is with you all!) If your school or theater is looking for a family-friendly Christmas show which lends itself to social distancing or virtual theater, check out the one-act play, Christmas Superpowers and Believing in Blitzen. Since this is a monologue-heavy play, it allows for increased social distancing in rehearsals and performances and also slides more easily into virtual theater.

Christmas Superpowers and Believing in Blitzen is a comedy great for children, teens or young adults playing the roles of children. It runs approximately 30 minutes with a minimal set, and with doubling, has 5 roles (2 female, 3 male). Without doubling, it has a cast of (3 male, 2 female, 3 gender inclusive/flexible casting—but in reality, most of the roles can be gender flexible).

To four children, Christmas is no simple sleigh ride. Annie’s new best friend is a talking reindeer, and she’s not sure if that’s really okay. Sam is experiencing the pressure of being the Lead Shepherd in the church pageant. Dylan has a very secretive wish he hopes Santa can deliver. And Lauren needs to make sure someone is giving her little brother a very special Christmas. Experience the joys and challenges of Christmas through the eyes of these children in this monologue-driven one-act comedy.

New Comedic 5-minute Christmas play for 1-3 actors: Why That Walking Snowman Didn't Like Me

November 15, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in 5-minute play, animal theater, Christmas, comedic, monologue for female acto, Monologues, mystical creatures, pre-teen, Teen, tween, 5-minute monologue

Who doesn’t love some good ole fashioned Christmas magic in their theater and film, right? Check out what happens in my new 5-minute monologue for a female actor (with the option of adding 2 additional gender-inclusive silent roles), Why That Walking Snowman Didn’t Like Me.

When Madison goes for a walk with her dog on Christmas Eve, she could never have imagined a snowman she passes by would come to life in front of her very eyes! I mean, talk about Christmas Magic, right? This is super cool. Her IG fans are going to die when they see this… But… Why does it seem the snowman doesn’t want to pose with her? Coming to life is strange. Sure. But not wanting to hang out with Madison is even stranger. Find out how this IG model and her adorbs rescue, Bailey, make sense of all of this, in Why That Walking Snowman Didn’t Like Me.

This is a really fun piece to perform! Lots of humor and action; it’s light and funny but also can generate thoughtful conversation about social media. Why That Walking Snowman Didn’t Like Me is a comedic monologue for a female teen through young adult actor. So if you’re looking for a solo performance piece for this holiday season, this makes a great fit. It runs around 4-5 minutes (always depending on performance).

This short play stands alone as a monologue, but if you’re looking to cast more roles, it also easily affords the option of 1-2 additional roles:

Bailey: A non-speaking, but puppy murmuring, wise reindeer-sweater-wearing dog. Any gender/inclusive casting
Snowman: The chill, nonspeaking, disinterested-in-social-media snowman itself. Any gender/inclusive casting.

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:

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.

Giving Back Initiative: Love 146

October 14, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh

“Love146 journeys alongside children impacted by trafficking today and prevents the trafficking of children tomorrow.”

This organization has touched my heart in a way like no other. Back in the early 2000s, when I first heard the co-founder and CEO of Love 146 (then called Justice for Children International), Rob Morris, speak about human trafficking, I was stunned, numb, horrified. At the time, this was not an atrocity that was well-known and a crime this horrific is shocking to anyone. To imagine our most vulnerable people being taken advantage of in such a cruel manner, on such a large scale, so devoid of feeling and conscience—it shook me to the core. But as Rob spoke about his time undercover in Southeast Asia, and the moment he saw a piercing look he hoped was defiance in a trafficked girl’s eyes—and the bold mission his organization had of not only helping those in need, but completing abolishing this “industry,” standing for nothing less than a complete end to this far-reaching crime…his hope, conviction and strength began to replace that initial shock. There was something that people could do. There was something his organization was doing. And now that I also knew of this crime, I had to do something, as well.

Funny Monologues for Halloween

October 11, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in 1-minute monologue, 2-minute monologue, blind casting, child monolog collection, children, comedic, comedy monolog collection, gender neutral casting, Halloween, holiday, inclusive casting, monologue collections, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, monologues for male actor, Monologues, teen monologue collection, tween

Okay--Halloween Theater doesn't ALL have to be sca ry! Check out these comedic monologues, perfect for this time of year, including:
My Missing Skittles, A Dad’s Defense, I Don’t Wanna Be A Jedi, Apple Pie Pain, The Real Value of Candy, Baby Ants in a Pie.
Click below for more details on the monologues.

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.

September 2021 Newsletter: 15 Plays for Outdoor Theater, New dark-comedy about seagulls, "Mom-monologues," & Giving back update

September 01, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in Newsletters

Enjoy my September newsletter here, featuring 15 Plays for Outdoor Theater, a new dark-comedy play about seagulls, "Mom-monologues," & Giving back update and Kumari Singh’s performance of my monologue, "Those Jimmy Choo Shoes."

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!

Pitfalls and Treasures: A new 10-minute comedy/drama for 2 actors

August 10, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in absurdist theater, allegory, animal theater, comedic, Community, dark comedy, dramatic, one-act plays, outdoor theater, Plays, socially distant theater, Teen, ten-minute plays, theater of the absurd, theatre companies

Does the screech of a seagull symbolize Summer for anyone else here? What is a beach day without a seagull trying to snatch your french fry, right? Well, if you’re looking for a seagull perspective - and if you’re looking for a 2-person dark comedy/drama/comedy that can work for outdoor theater - check out my new 10-minute play, Pitfalls and Treasures. In it, Mary and Andrew are lonely and troubled seagulls, each ostracized by their former flocks. When Mary embarks on the desperate challenge of removing twine wrapped around Andrew’s leg, they both must decide how much to trust each other in the hope of finding a better life. Check out an excerpt or the complete play here.

This play is about, well, yes, seagulls. And being seagulls, in a parking lot, with a numb leg and no flock, the stakes are high. But it’s also about love and loss, hope and failure, trust and apprehension, desperation and resignation. And yes--also a seagull and a fry. It’s a bit dark, a bit funny and a bit sweet.

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.

21 Mom Monologues

May 07, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in 1-minute monologue, 2-minute monologue, 3-minute monologue, 5-minute play, absurdist theater, children, Children's theatre, comedic, comedy monolog collection, dark comedy, dramatic monolog collecti, dramatic, gender neutral casting, inclusive casting, monologue collections, monologue by child, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, monologue written by chil, Monologues, monologues for male actor, pre-teen, Teen, teen monologue collection, theater of the absurd, tween

As we honor our mothers for this season (and every day!), enjoy over fifteen (15) “mom monologues.” These monologues are either specifically about moms, spoken to moms, or spoken by moms. From a werewolf’s conflicting feelings about his mother to children asking their mom for a pet skunk, from a mother struggling with her own mortality to a woman adopting a child in her 50s, these monologues range from comedic to absurd to dramatic. Enjoy these children, teen and adult monologues all centering around mother relationships!

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.

"Pebbles and Tails," a new Short children's play

April 02, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in 5-minute play, allegory, blind casting, children, Children's theatre, comedic, dramatic, Education, gender neutral casting, inclusive casting, outdoor theater, Plays, pre-teen, Reader's Theater, Teen, ten-minute plays, tween

How many of us have ever felt our friends were moving on without us? Or worried that we’d be left out because we were somehow different from those around us? Pebbles and Tails is my new children’s play about frogs growing up, but it’s also a story of acceptance, kindness, bravery and friendship.

Scoot, Wiggles and Crunch have been friends since they hatched from eggs in the pond, hiding from predators together, protecting each other, and playing “Kick Pebble” together. But when Scoot realizes that Wiggles and Crunch have developed into froglets, while Scoot remains a tadpole, Scoot feels left behind. Is their friendship strong enough to endure their changing paths?

Pebbles and Tails is a comedic/dramatic children’s play for 3 actors of any gender. It runs around 5-8 minutes in length. It’s perfect for child actors for performances, workshops or Reader’s Theater in the classroom. It’s great for teen competitions and fun for any age actors to perform for young audiences. It’s also great material for animation projects. And I’m releasing it during National Frog Month in the US!

"Funeral for a Crayfish" - new 5-minute children's play

March 23, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in 5-minute play, blind casting, children, Children's theatre, comedic, gender neutral casting, inclusive casting, Plays, pre-teen, Reader's Theater, tween

Meet Ari and Quinn. They’re elementary school students, thrilled their current Science Unit allows each child to study their own classroom crayfish! How cool, right? Well, not so cool when Billy accepts a dare which leads to the untimely demise of someone’s crayfish! The unlucky crayfish had a maroon marker dot on its back. These uniquely colored permanent marker dots were supposed to be a way the kids could tell their crayfish apart. But somehow, Juliet used the same maroon color as Ari! Ugh! Now good friends, Ari and Quinn, need to uncover clues which hopefully will determine the crayfish identity. But will their detective work be enough to solve the mystery?

Funeral for a Crayfish is a 5-minute comedic children’s play for 2 actors with flexible casting (any gender). It’s funny, it’s fun to read and perform, and it explores friends thoughtfully working together to solve a problem. It’s ideal to read in the classroom for Reader’s Theater, and also great for workshops, performances, competitions and acting practice.

Funeral for a Crayfish includes a page of fun facts about crayfish. Like—did you know crayfish live 20-30 years? Or that there are recipes for, gulp, Crawfish Cheesecake?

Enjoy an excerpt from Funeral for a Crayfish or get the complete digital play below.

March Newsletter: New play about sloths, free monologue about snowmen, latest publications and support for a great equitable literacy org!

March 17, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in Newsletters

Check out my March newsletter here, featuring a new children’s play about sloths, a free monologue about snowmen, latest publications and support for a great equitable literacy org!

"Staring at The Sloth" by Tara Meddaugh: New comedic children's play

March 09, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in 5-minute play, blind casting, children, Children's theatre, comedic, dramatic, Education, gender neutral casting, inclusive casting, outdoor theater, Plays, pre-teen, Reader's Theater, Teen, tween

Have you ever felt someone was judging you, teasing you, or making fun of you when in fact, maybe they were just, I don’t know, hungry? Sometimes we can see our own insecurities mirrored back in other people’s (or sloths’!) eyes, when they’re not actually there. Self-acceptance and being confident in our own value—independent of what we assume others think about us—are such important qualities to nurture in children, teens, and yup, even adults. It’s one of those bright shimmering keys to happiness. :)

Staring at The Sloth is a comedic children’s play that runs about 5 minutes long. It’s cute, it’s funny, it’s sweet, and come on—SLOTHS! But at its core, it’s a story about a child, Riley, who is insecure, has been teased, and needs to shift perception to assume the best, instead of the worst, out of someone else. Luckily, Riley has an awesome friend who can help ground their perspective:

The sloth at the zoo keeps staring at Riley. Is it Riley’s spiky hair? Long nose? Or chocolate milk stain? Can Jaime convince Riley that the sloth is not making fun, but maybe, just maybe, thinks Riley is cool?

Meet Riley and Jaime in this excerpt from Staring at The Sloth. This short comedy is great for adults or teens who want to play children and perform for young audiences, or for children to try their hand at acting in a manageable play themselves. It’s also ideal classroom Reader’s Theater material for those practicing reading out loud, and for discussion about self-acceptance and being kind.

The play requires 2 actors, and gender casting is flexible/inclusive. It can work for Zoom, Outdoor Theater, competitions, classrooms or the traditional stage. Even in five minutes, there’s lots of room for creativity for actors, directors and designers. Enjoy an excerpt from new 5-minute play, Staring at The Sloth, or get the complete play below:

"The Best Marriage Advice" on Unknown Playwrights Monologue Monday

March 04, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh

Thanks to Unknown Playwrights for the shout-out about my monologue, The Best Marriage Advice, from my full-length absurdist dark comedy, Black and White and Red All Over (do y’all know what is black and white and read all over?). Playwright, translator and blogger, Bryan Stubbles writes:

You might be thinking that Meddaugh has become Unknown Playwrights’ resident monologuer. Not quite, but her monologues are pretty dang good. This monologue is classic Meddaugh, written in 1998 and brimming with her unique brand of humor.

The Best Marriage Advice is a fun stylized absurdist monologue where Georgia gives a newly-in-lust couple advice on keeping loved ones on leashes. You can find the free monologue here or watch a few video performances which Unknown Playwrights has compiled of The Best Marriage Advice.

If you like theater of the absurd, with timeless and relevant themes, check out the play from which The Best Marriage Advice comes, Black and White and Red All Over:

When Wife charges Husband with the perilous mission of finding her a new heart, his actions set into motion a series of unusual events, resulting in four strangers being left in his bathroom. One individual has a will, one has a makeup bag, one doesn’t know his name, and one has a gun. And no one has any idea why anyone else is there…