I know, right? Jedis are COOL. Lightsabers? Jedi mind tricks? Getting to say “may the force be with you?” Doesn’t every kid and dreamer adult want to be a Jedi? Well, apparently not everyone!
In my children’s monologue, I DON’T WANNA BE A JEDI, like the title says, Joel has had enough of pretending to love Star Wars and needs to break this heart-breaking news to his dad (Captain Underpants is more Joel’s style!).
Read MoreDeath and “forever” are concepts that are incredibly difficult to grasp in our limited, this-world lives. In my own experience with grief, I have often waffled between times when my brain understands death, but my heart doesn’t; or times when my heart understands, but my brain doesn’t. Sometimes when both of these parts understand at once, the weight is simply too great to bear.
In this dramatic monologue, Alan’s wife has recently died. His brother, Joe, has stopped by to see him. Alan wonders if it is normal to keep asking where his wife is in moments that remind him of her. His brain hurts trying to comprehend the reality that she is gone.
This is a contemporary dramatic monologue for a male (or female) actor, running approximately 2 minutes. Read an except below:
ALAN
Is it strange that I keep asking where she is? I know, I mean, I know she’s not here. Logically. I know that. But—it’s not just the bigger things—like, how I’ll be sitting at the kitchen table where we’ve had coffee together every morning since we moved in together. I’ll look at my mug from, you know, Barcelona or something. She collected a mug from every vacation we went on, so I’m staring at memories with her every single morning. And I’ll look at her chair and just say, I’ll just say it out loud, “Where are you, Elizabeth?”
(pause)
“Where are you? I shouldn’t be drinking coffee. From this mug. By myself.”
(pause)
But Joe, it’s the small, random things too. Not just our routines and her chair, but these things that you, that maybe you don’t think you would even remember. This morning, I’m putting eye drops in and I—END OF EXCERPT.
CLICK for the entire free monologue, Comprehending Forever.
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These dramatic monologues are deep, intense sad, painful and allow actors to explore strong inner conflict, turmoil, struggle, guilt. Through these powerful monologues, actors have the opportunity to explore outstanding characters and drama, but also to impact their audience in a memorable way—whether leaving them in tears, giving them chills or making them reflect. From a woman feeling immense guilt, to feeling empowered with grief and rage, to contemplating life after a loved one is gone, these dramatic monologues give beautiful depth to actors’ emotional territory.
Read MoreDid you know there was such a thing as Crayfish Day? Well, friends, there is, and it’s today, April 17! While some folks might celebrate by serving up a bowl o’ spicy crawfish (or crayfish as this Northerner calls them!), you have a theatrical alternative: a play featuring this little crustacean! [Click here to jump to the play, FUNERAL FOR A CRAYFISH] How often can you say you’ve done Crayfish Theater?
Read MoreIf you’re looking for a one-act play great for college students, check out the list below. These are all 2 character plays, allowing every actor to sink their teeth into a role which will be featured the entire play (all parts are good!). They offer great range, character arcs and journeys, conflicts and connection, and conversation-starting themes. These plays also provide so much room to explore creative scenic, lighting, costume and sound design. Think about how you’d design these: fairies trapped in a jar behind a water fall, Grief himself visiting a woman in an isolated cabin or clouds dissipating in the sky. Student directors also can challenge themselves by digging deeply into these pieces; they’re great canvasses for trying out unique staging, and theyre filled with wonderful active and thoughtful moments. In short, these plays—whether dramatic, comedic or absurd—are fun, unique and give tons of opportunity to put your remarkable stamp on it as a student.
Read MoreIf you’re looking for a 1-2 minute comedic/dramatic monologue about love (and Valentine’s Day candy!), check out my new monologue, THOSE CANDIES ARE IN OUR FAVOR. In the monologue, Marnie can’t believe her boyfriend, Gavin, is going to decide the outcome of their troubled relationship by randomly picking a Valentine’s Day heart candy and reading its stamped-on message. She implores him to be mature and willing to talk about their issues—but it doesn’t seem that Gavin is feeling mature at the moment…
Read MoreValentine’s Day is less than a month away and here I’ve collected a sample of actor performances of my monologues about love, from all different angles and genres. And if you’re looking for your own love-inspired monologue this season, you can enjoy my collections of monologues about love, monologues about scorned love, monologues about love for women, monologues about love for men, romantic monologues about love, dark monologues about love.
Read MoreThis post is about Jane Austen (Happy 250th Birthday, Jane Austen!). And it is about a play I wrote partially adapted from a Jane Austen short epistolary story. [Click here to learn about/read my Jane Austen one-act play, THE OTHER THREE SISTERS] But I can’t talk about my play, or the journey to the play, without talking about my journey to Jane Austen.
Read MoreDid you know December 5 is Grinch Day? Happy Grinch Day! Enjoy some Theatrical grinchy Fun this year! Before you eat those green Grinch cookies and after you color in that Grinch paper plate mask, why not embody the spirit of being a grinchy grump by taking the course, GRINCHING 101? Okay, you don’t really have to take the class, but you can read the play, Grinching 101, in your class! Yes, Grinching 101 works not only as a play for production, but it’s actually fun Reader’s Theater too—lots of parts of various lengths (which you can swap around), 30-40 minutes, fun silliness, but also has a sweet message in the end. And come on, your students get to play characters with ridiculous names Merry Berry Cheery Cherry and Killjoy Cactus Snarl! The play is about a roomful of cheery elves who are trying to learn how to become grumpy grinchy Christmas elves. And they’re failing. Miserably. But by the end, they’ll learn a thing or two, and their sour teachers just might learn a thing or two also (it is Christmas, after all!). Get the play here.
Read MoreIf you’re looking for a 1-minute dramatic/comedic blend monologue for a young child actor, check out Baby Beet’s monologue, BABY BEET AND THE DOGGIE TOY, from my full-length children’s play, THE UNDERGROUND ADVENTURES OF A CARROT AND POTATO. Yes, Baby Beet is exactly what her name implies: she’s a young purple root vegetable. She’s not quite a baby, but she’s used to playing that role in her beet family and she relishes in it (she’s called out a few times in the play for forgetting her “baby” lisp she puts on only because it’s cute!). Baby Beet is adorable and she knows it!
Read MoreJust in time for Halloween theater, check out my new monologue, White as Death, Red as Blood: Snow White’s Cursed Sleep. It premiered this past weekend in a super cool outdoor Halloween Festival in Ossining, NY and you can get the spooky-fun 2-3-minute thriller/dramatic (with a touch of comedy) monologue here.
In the monologue, Snow White has recently awoken from the Evil Queen’s spell of cursed sleep, but Snow White is…well…let’s just say she doesn’t quite have the normal “Disney Princess” disposition anymore. She still sings to the birds, but her songs are a little, um…less cheery? And her relationship to the birds is a little, um… less friendly? And the 7 dwarves and that prince who kissed her are a little, um… less…around? But, don’t worry—I’m sure Snow White will be really really happy to see YOU, dear audience! My advice? Keep your running shoes on! (Click here for more info about the monologue.)
Read MoreYup, today is the official MEAN GIRLS DAY! [click here to skip to Mean Girls Monologues] Why is October 3 Mean Girls Day, you ask? I’ll be not-mean and answer that! The date is taken from the movie, Mean Girls, in a moment when Cady Heron is narrating her journey with her crush, Aaron Samuels. In the scene, Aaron turns around in class to talk to her. Cady’s voiceover says, “On October 3rd, he asked me what day it was.” Real time Cady says to Aaron from her seat, “It’s October 3.”
Read MoreWe have 100 days until Christmas, folks! That means it won’t be long before your social media feed fills with gifting ads, Christmas music floods the stores, your mailbox becomes stuffed with toy and treat magazines and of course, one of my favorite holiday things: Christmas plays and movies! Whether it’s funny or touching, modern or period, for kids or adults—I just love falling into some great Christmas drama! Have you decided on what you’re performing? If you’re considering producing or performing a Christmas piece in December and haven’t decided yet, start browsing now (while you still have 100 days!). Enjoy a selection below of Christmas plays and Christmas monologues ideal for the season!
Read MoreThere are lots of reasons why you might be searching for a 5-minute play. Full-length plays, one-acts or even 10-minute plays just might be too long for your needs. READ FOR MORE benefits of using a 5-minute play and how to find a good one.
Read MoreIf you’re looking for more ways to enjoy the summer and fall seasons, consider outdoor theater! It often is inexpensive to produce, builds community-bonding, introduces a new audience to theater, and is a great way to publicly show the talent and value you bring to your area! Check into using a parking lot, a public park, a lavendar or animal farm, a town garden, a library yard, a school or sports field, a spacious barn, beach or a back yard. I’ve seen quite a bit of theater outside (including several of my own plays locally), and I always find a wonderful, endearing, exciting, lively quality at the event. I feel audiences are more apt to talk with each other and performances are appreciated in a new way…
Check out ideas for SHORT PLAYS EASILY PERFORMED OUTDOORS and SUMMER/OUTDOOR MONOLOGUES. Click for full post below:
Read MoreA broken heart hurts. There are no two way around it. Broken things hurt; they’re broken. But knowing someone has your back is a comfort—however small, however unwanted, however annoying it might seem at the time. [Click here to jump to the dramatic/comedic monologue for men, LAST FIRST BROKEN HEART]
In this 2.5-3 minute dramatic/comedic monologue, LAST FIRST BROKEN HEART, Brian, tries to be that comfort to his 13-year-old son who has just experienced his first broken heart. Brian imparts his life-wisdom to his son, doing his best to use a sports analogy, and encourage him with the idea that, while it’s pretty awful right now, at least it’s the last “first broken heart” he’ll ever have. The part is over. Done. And hey… no reason to give up on love because even if love doesn’t get easier, it does get better…
Read MoreWhen is the last time you wore a fedora with a feather in the cap and someone called you a dashing prince? Okay, so it’s been about 2 years for Jason, the character in my new monologue, YOU’RE NOT INTO PRINCESSES. But it feels like yesterday… This is a monologue about a dad and his former-princess-loving daughter! (Click here for the monologue)
Read MoreFather’s Day is right around the corner, so enjoy these Dad Monologues! They are all either spoken to dads, by dads, or about dads.
Read MoreIf you’re looking for a monologue for even the very youngest of actors, check out TIME TO CROSS THE STREET. Beware, if you’re a child who performs this in front of a parent, ya’ just might get a few teary eyes! This is a cute one, funny but a little serious, topped with some genuine childlike sweetness and a poignancy that hits us. I read it to my husband (father of two growing-up children!), he teared up and said, “This is what every parent wants to hear!”
Read MoreIn the 1-minute monologue, HUMAN DAD BODY, young Marco is hanging at an entertainment center (think go-karts, arcade, bowling, pizza and nachos) with other kids, including his kinda-friend, Brody. Brody has finished go-karting with his dad and excitedly told Marco about it. Having no father in the picture himself, Marco always feels a hint of jealousy and sadness when Brody talks about doing things with his dad. But Marco isn’t one to be left behind! He’s a problem solver. Marco has been using…did you guess it?…yup, he’s been using ChatGPT to stand in for a dad by asking it questions and having conversations, father/son style. Brody has made fun of him for that, but in this monologue, HUMAN DAD BODY, Marco tries to get a little power back in the friend dynamic by showing off about the good things of his “AI-dad-stand-in.” He tries to put down Brody’s experience go-karting with his human-dad and brags about how great it is that ChatGPT doesn’t have a dumb body to take up space go-karting.
He does make a case, with his childlike logic… Do you believe he believes it?
As I said, this is a comedy. But…
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