New Dramatic Monologue about Grief: Comprehending Forever by Tara Meddaugh

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Death 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. [Skip to the dramatic monologue, COMPREHENDING FOREVER]

In this dramatic monologue, COMPREHENDING FOREVER, 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.

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Sad Dramatic Monologues about Grieving, Dying, Loss and Grief

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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.

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New Comedic/Dramatic Monologue about Love: Those Candies are in Our Favor

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If 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…

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New dramatic/comedic children's monologue: Baby Beet and the Doggie Toy

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If 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!

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New Thriller Fairy Tale Monologue - White as Death, Red as Blood: Snow White's Cursed Sleep

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Just 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.)

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New Men's Dramatic/Comedic Monologue: Last First Broken Heart

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A 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…

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New Comedic/Dramatic Monologue for men: You're Not Into Princesses

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When 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)

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New Comedic/Dramatic Monologue for Young Child Actor: Time to Cross The Street

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If 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!”

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New Children's Comedic Monologue: Human Dad Body

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In 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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30 Monologues About Love for Men and Women: New Monologue Compilation Packet

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Check out my new digital download compilation of 30 MEMORABLE MONOLOGUES ABOUT LOVE!

There’s a reason so many plays center around the main character chasing love. Besides the fact that we all need and want some form of love in our lives, pursuing love is dramatic. Characters put a lot on the line hoping for love, so stakes are high! Intense emotions make their way to the surface—extreme jealousy, divine passion, pitiful desperation, euphoric hope. So if you’re looking to make an impact performing a short piece of drama (while showcasing some memorable acting or directing chops), using a monologue about love can be a great option.

In this compilation for digital download, I’ve chosen 30 unique monologues of characters who really dig into the idea of love from one angle or another. The love in these monologues is not clean or perfect; these experiences with love are complicated, layered, sometimes funny, sometimes dark. There is betrayal, longing, hope, hurt, empowerment. But these are just additional reasons they make for interesting and challenging drama. From a jealous cat on a blind zoom date to a drugstore clerk smitten with a customer, from a heart made out of fingernails to a raccoon grieving the love of his life, enjoy these unique and memorable monologues about love! Check out descriptions of each monologue here.

These comedic and dramatic monologues about love range from 1 minute to 5+ minutes. There are 16 monologues for women and 14 monologues for men. While roles are written for gender-specific characters, actors of any gender may feel free to play any role they connect with; actors have the playwright’s permission to change the character pronouns, if desired.

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New Dramatic Monologue about Grieving: Those Black Streaks

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If you’re looking for a reflective monologue about grief and its effects, check out my dramatic monologue, THOSE BLACK STREAKS (or These Black Streaks). In the monologue, Veronica speaks to her friend about her mother’s recent passing. Her mother didn’t give her much advice, even when she probably needed it. But she did always instruct Veronica to not leave the house before putting “her face on.” Veronica waxes to her friend about the irony that the makeup which would typically cover imperfections on her face, now betrays her emotions, mixing with tears to form black streaks on her face, exposing her to the world.

THOSE BLACK STREAKS runs around 1-2 minutes, and is good for a woman looking for a sad monologue, exploring grief, perception, mother-daughter relationships, and how one makes sense of the past in the context of the present.

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New Monologue About Bullying for Adult Actor: The 119th Element

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While many monologues about bullying are for teens or children, THE 119th ELEMENT is for a young to mature male adult actor (20s-80s). Paul is an embittered and awkward scientist, having been bullied all his life by boys, girls, and even his parents. In the monologue, Paul is more than pleased to accept an honor in recognition of his discovering the 119th element (which he has named after himself). He insists this discovery and award prove that despite all the bullying he has experienced, all the doubts and obstacles he’s faced, his most basic theory holds true: He is always right. But…

Did he really make this scientific discovery? And is he really accepting an award at all?

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New Dramatic Monologue for Women: Holding On Tightly

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In this new dramatic monologue, HOLDING ON TIGHTLY, from the play THE VISITOR IN THE DOORWAY, Clare speaks to personified Grief himself, who has come to her cabin in the woods and keeps hounding her to let him inside after a recent tragedy. Clare is fed up with who Grief keeps haunting her with multiple deep losses in her life. In the monologue, HOLDING ON TIGHTLY, Clare begins to allow for Grief coming in, as she confesses how the most recent devastating loss has broken her. She asks Grief if the more losses she experiences, the easier it is for more losses to follow.

While the monologue is written for a woman in the play, HOLDING ON TIGHTLY, could be played by any gender with whom it resonates. It runs around 1.5-2 minutes or so, depending on performance. This is a powerful dramatic monologue for an actor really looking to sink into the after-effects of loss. Clare is angry, exhausted, filled with regret and guilt, irritated with Grief, and holds extreme intense sadness. It’s a beautiful and touching monologue as Clare starts to confront what has happened to her, through the support of Grief, standing by and listening. For more context, check out the play from which this comes, THE VISITOR IN THE DOORWAY, as you’ll get a complete feeling for both Clare and Grief.

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Jingle Bell Hater: A New Christmas Comedic Monologue

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Okay, if you had fun playing Tootsie Frosted Cookie Stockings and you want to play another Christmas Elf with a ridiculous Christmas-Elf name, you’re in luck! Check out Fluffy McWaffles Tart’s monologue here, JINGLE BELL HATER, from my new one-act Christmas comedy, Grinching 101. In this monologue, Fluffy McWaffles Tart explains his reasoning for signing up for the Grinching 101 seminar: It has to do with those “saccharine-stevia-monk-fruit-sugar-free” jingle bells! And brownies. And eggnog. It all comes back to eggnog…

This monologue runs about 1.5 minutes, is suitable for any gender actor, child, teen (or adult playing a young elf). You can find the play, Grinching 101, from which it comes, here. Enjoy and excerpt below:

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New Comedic Christmas Monologue: Purring Ironically

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So the issue of “do you dress up your cat” is a hot button topic for pet-people! Personally, my cat “dresses up” once a year in a burrito cape for about 30 seconds so I can snap a Halloween photo of her, and then, I take it off and we’re done. Not that she seems to care if the cape is on or off, to be honest! Well, in this new Christmas monologue, Violet definitely has strong opinions about her kitty wearing something.

When Violet arrives home from work, she’s horrified to see her dignified cat, Luna, dressed up in a holiday “ugly sweater” and matching Christmas-light tiara. As she tries to figure out who might have done this cheesy costuming to her precious kitty, and why (hint: Her boyfriend, Fred, is none too pleased Violet refuses to wear matching snowman sweaters, even though he knows she’s not sarcastic enough to pull it off!), she tries to take off the cat’s sweater. But Luna doesn’t seem to want to take it off… In fact, Luna seems to be liking it. Licking it. Even purring at it. Can Violet accept it if her couture kitty is now preferring Ugly Sweaters?

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New Christmas Comedic Monologue: Forbidden in the Elf Manual

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Okay, who wants to play a character named Tootsie Frosted Cooking Stockings? Here’s your chance with this new Christmas monologue, Forbidden in the Elf Manual, from my play, GRINCHING 101. In the play, Tootsie Frosted Cooking Stockings (let’s keep saying the whole name over and over!) is enrolled in a Grinching class for beginners and is pretty much failing every lesson.

In the monologue, Tootsie Frosted Cooking Stockings reveals to fellow classmates and grinching professors the reason he signed up for this class. (Hint: It’s all about the videogames.)

This monologue runs about 1 minute, is suitable for any gender actor, child, teen (or adult playing a young elf). You can find the play, Grinching 101, from which it comes, here. Enjoy and excerpt below:

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New dark monologue: "My Motherhood," from the play, Knocking Louder

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As Halloween rolls around, we’re all looking to add some more dark, creepy monologues to the roster. Here’s a newly released monologue, My Motherhood, from my absurdist dark comedy, Knocking Louder, that fits the chilling bill. In this 1-2 minute long monologue, Carol recalls the early stages of betrayal her younger sister displayed toward her… And how it’s all led to this moment: when Carol perceives Lilah is trying to take away the baby placed in Carol’s care. But there is no way Carol would ever let that happen. Nope. Nothing will stand in her way of motherhood.

My Motherhood is creepily fun and dramatic. A little weird, a little funny, a little sinister, a lot mean—while also tinged with hurt, bitterness and defensiveness - but also strength and resolve. Carol’s not the “good guy” of this play, but her intentions are not necessarily bad. Knocking Louder is a 3-person play which is absurdly funny, but also dark and tragic (also a good choice for some thrilling Halloween theater!). While absurd, it still touches on important political and social themes, which allow for discussion and reflection.

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New Rom-Com Monologue: Head to Toe

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Sydney is on a first date. A blind date. And a zoom date during the covid-19 lockdown. Needless to say, she’s nervous—but she’s also excited to possibly form a new human connection. And during this date…her cat pees on the floor. Is her cat seeking attention, since he’s been the only one to get her affection for 8 weeks? And will her date wait for her while she cleans up the mess?

I wrote this monologue, Head to Toe, a couple of years ago, but for some reason, held onto it in the “laptop cave files” until today. Do any single folk remember what it was like to be isolated in a living quarters with literally no one else, except maybe a pet? Thank God for pets, right? Humans need affection, they need interaction, they need comfort and cuddles and touch. And while I ask “does anyone remember”—honestly, three years (or less) really isn’t that long ago…

This idea is forefront in my monologue, Head to Toe, although it’s sandwiched by a jealous cat who might be peeing to ruin Sydney’s blind date! Sydney is a fun role for an actor to play, or director to direct, as she has a lot of action (especially for someone on Zoom), coupled with humor, first-date nerves and excitement, as well as the poignancy of striving for connection amidst isolation.

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