New comedic/dramatic monologue: "The Best General Tso's" by Tara Meddaugh

August 18, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in comedic, Community, Drama in real life, dramatic, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor

My short monologue, The Best General Tso’s is about finding old General Tso’s chicken in the refrigerator during stay-at-home measures. While losses are certainly felt in big moments, I’ve often found that it’s in mundane moments that our pains become acute. Because these moments are day-to-day, they’re also frequent and hard to escape. The Best General Tso's is, on one hand, a comedic moment between Larissa and her almond-bag-buying partner, but it also draws on the complex feelings and experiences underlying a simple mundane moment. Sometimes a leftover is not just a leftover.

Enjoy this new monologue for a female (or male) actor, older teens through adult, which runs about 1.5 minutes long. Check out an excerpt below and click at the end for the full piece.

Climbing the Walls Exhibition: Including new monologue by Tara Meddaugh, The Best General Tso's, featuring Sara Jean Ford

August 16, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in comedic, Community, Drama in real life, dramatic, Festivals, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, Monologue Performances

I’m happy to be a part of a joint exhibition between Studio Theater in Exile and Hudson Valley MOCA called Climbing the Walls. Artistic Director of Studio Theater, Mara Mills, envisioned the virtual exhibition as a vehicle to "explore the ways we are experiencing life right now and how we imagine the future” during this global pandemic.

My short (1.5 minute) monologue, “The Best General Tso’s features the fabulously talented actor, Sara Jean Ford (you may know her as Christine Daae in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway—and from lots more!). It’s about finding old General Tso’s chicken in the refrigerator during stay-at-home measures. While losses are certainly felt in big moments, I’ve often found that it’s in mundane moments that our pains become acute. Because these moments are day-to-day, they’re also frequent and hard to escape. The Best General Tso's is, on one hand, a comedic moment between partners, but it also draws on the complex feelings and experiences underlying a simple mundane moment. Sometimes a leftover is not just a leftover.

A Reading of New Plays by Tara Meddaugh: Free Virtual Theater August 7

August 05, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in comedic, Community, dark comedy, dramatic, Plays, Streaming Videos, technology, ten-minute plays, theatre companies, Zoom plays

What are you doing this Friday? Wanna join me for some virtual theater and conversation?

It is not often I can invite you to a performance of my work which is open for all to see, from whatever part of the globe you call home. So I'm happy to share that Tagragg Productions is presenting an evening of four of my 10-minute plays, complete with a short discussion following each piece (we can chat!). The show is FREE and will be performed live via Zoom, 7pm Eastern Time, August 7.

To attend the performances, click the Zoom link here.

New 10-minute rom-com/dramatic play for Zoom: A Human Body to Hug by Tara Meddaugh

August 04, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in comedic, dramatic, Plays, romance, Streaming Videos, technology, Teen, ten-minute plays, Zoom plays

If you’re looking for a 2-person play to perform, or practice, which is specifically designed for Zoom or other video platforms, check out my new play, A Human Body to Hug:

Dana and Cody are on a blind date. On Zoom. During a pandemic. Despite the awkwardness, they strive to find a connection during a very isolating time. And...well, someone has to clean up cat pee...

This 10-minute rom-com-dram play is written especially for video streaming, so there are no production questions you need to ask, like "should we read that stage direction?" or "how do we act out that fall?" Your audience can step into Cody's and Dana's private world for a moment--backgrounds, chats, cats on laps and all…

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….

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. …

Fourteen (14) Romantic Monologues About Hopeful Love

February 11, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in comedic, dark comedy, dramatic, love, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, romance, Teen, valentine's day, monologue collections, comedy monolog collection, dramatic monolog collecti, 1-minute monologue, 2-minute monologue, 5-minute play, 10-minute monologue, fairy tale, mermaids, mystical creatures

Love is complex, and the beginning phases, when there is doubt mixed with infatuation, it’s that hope of a romance that keeps you going. Check out these 14 romantic monologues where characters experience their own ranges of that spectrum. Whether the character is after brand new love or reconciling a love that has withered, join them on their quest for romance!
(Click the title for excerpts and the complete monologue)

30+ Unique Monologues About Love...

January 29, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in comedic, dark comedy, dramatic, love, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, romance, Teen, thriller, valentine's day, monologue collections, comedy monolog collection, dramatic monolog collecti

With Valentine’s Day a couple weeks away, enjoy this collection of unique monologues all about love…Some characters are hopeful, wistful, romantic; some characters are jealous, scorned, lonely; and…one thinks he’s a klingon. So… Wherever you are at in the love-spectrum, I hope the season brings you joy, hope, theatrical creativity—and you can kick it all off with these memorable monologues!…

Poorly Wrapped, a One-Act Play for 2 actors about Desire, Obsession, Power

January 21, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in comedic, dark comedy, dramatic, love, monologues for male actor, Monologues, one-act plays, Plays, romance, Teen, thriller, thriller play, valentine's day, Halloween

We’re less than a month away from Valentine’s Day, so check out the one-act play, Poorly Wrapped, on the topic of Love…or at least, lust, obsession, greed, power, and desire! It has 2 great roles for 1 male and 1 female actor and runs around 25 minutes long. It’s a dark comedy/drama, a bit eerie, a bit funny, some elements of the absurd mixed in with some potential creepiness…

8 Dark Monologues About Love

January 14, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in comedic, dark comedy, dramatic, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, thriller play, love, romance, valentine's day, monologue collections, comedy monolog collection, dramatic monolog collecti

If rainbows and heart emojis are not your thing around Valentine’s Day, sink your acting teeth into some of the darker places love can take you in these 5 darkly “romantic” monologues. From that smoking gun on the table to obsession to restraining orders, jealousies and a car wreck, love can lead you to strange places! Enjoy these monologues showcasing a not-so-rosy side of love. (If these monologues are not quite what you’re looking for, you can also check out my comedic or hopeful romantic monologues about love!)…

Finding the Right 5-Minute and 10-Minute Monologues

January 07, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in 5-minute play, comedic, dramatic, historical, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, Teen, ten-minute plays, dramatic monolog collecti, mermaids, monologue collections, teen monologue collection, comedy monolog collection

Have you been looking for a great 5-minute monologue or 10-minute monologue?

30 second to 2 minute monologues are ideal for auditions, videos, reels and showcases and I have many unique and memorable comedic and dramatic monologues of that length. But you might be looking for something longer and having difficulty finding the perfect fit (check out benefits to learning a monologue of this length). While there is a lot of room for me to create more monologues of this length (And I will! New Year’s Goal!), since I am asked for this length frequently, I’ve compiled some of my 3-10 minute monologues below.

5 Benefits of Learning a 5 to 10 Minute Monologue

January 07, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in 5-minute play, comedic, dramatic, Education, family, Festivals, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, Plays, Reader's Theater, Teen, ten-minute plays

So you’re interested in learning a 5-minute to 10-minute monologue! Great! Shorter monologues are perfect for many things, such as auditions, showcases, reels, videos, and you can find monologues of that length here: comedic monologues and dramatic monologues. But if you’re considering learning a longer monologue, check out my 3-10 minute monologues here. And peruse some of the benefits to learning a monologue of this length below!

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.

New teen comedic monologue: Those Jimmy Choo Shoes

November 04, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in comedic, dramatic, monologue for female acto, Monologues, Teen

We all know high school is not easy. But it’s especially difficult when you have a classmate making your life miserable! Find out how Sarah handles her resident mean girl in this new free monologue, Those Jimmy Choo Shoes. This comedic/dramatic monologue runs about 1 minute long, and is great for teens and young adults.

Creepy Monologues

October 17, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in comedic, dark comedy, dramatic, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, thriller play, Teen, monologue collections, comedy monolog collection, dramatic monolog collecti

If you’re looking for some creepy monologues this Halloween, check out these 10 monologues. From a disappointing journey in Hell to a blood-stained Banana Republic dress, take an eerie ride with these unique characters and their drama.