Unknown Playwrights Feature of my dark comedy monologue, "March in Line"

October 04, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in comedic, dark comedy, dramatic, monologue for female acto, Monologue Performances, Monologues, monologues for male actor, Teen, thriller play

It’s so much fun to see wildly different interpretations of the same monologue, right? Yet within all the differences, it’s telling to find the commonalities that run throughout. Unknown Playwrights Monologue Monday series does a great job of showcasing new monologues, and then compiling an A-Z video list of actors performing the piece. You can see three videos below of actors performing my monologue, March in Line, just to show how very different they can be!

New dramatic 5-minute monologue for female actor: His First English Words

October 02, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in 5-minute play, dramatic, Drama in real life, monologue for female acto, Monologues, Plays, women, historical

Are you ready for a little history leading up to a new 5-minute dramatic monologue? So in the early 1940s, “Victory Gardens” sprang up around the US in an effort for Americans at home to lend their support to armed forces and allies fighting overseas in WWII…
(click READ MORE below for the new 5-minute dramatic monologue, His First English Words)

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!

Ferret Envy on Unknown Playwrights Monologue Monday

August 26, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in comedic, dark comedy, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, Playwriting, Reviews, social, thriller play

Okay, so I was beyond elated when I first read Ionesco’s La Cantatrice Chauve (the Bald Soprano) in 9th grade French Class, as it confirmed a name for the style of theater my teenage self had already been unknowingly writing in: Theater of the Absurd. It was weird, it was dark, it was funny. I loved the feeling of laughing then cringing, cringing then laughing, laughing while cringing. After I read through Ionesco at my school library, my teacher suggested I try Albee, and these two writers (perhaps along with the tv show, Northern Exposure) were important influences in my writing.

So huge thanks to Bryan for this nice write-up on his blog, Unknown Playwrights, about my monologue, Ferret Envy, including A through Z video performances of the monologue.

”Sometimes you see Ionesco‘s name thrown around with Theatre of the Absurd. Same deal with Albee. Nah, Meddaugh is where it’s at. Picture this: You are SO jealous of your friend’s ferret that you (probably) killed said ferret because…you want to be your friend’s ferret!!!! This is a fun, funny goofed-up piece of theatrical brilliance.”

Bryan, I am blushing that you can put me in a category with these writerly gentlemen. Thanks for the shout-out, and you can check out prolific playwright Bryan Stubbles’ work here.

New 10-minute dark comedy play for 2 actors: Alfred and Lily and Their Marvelous Tank in the Forest

August 13, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in dark comedy, dramatic, comedic, Plays, one-act plays, ten-minute plays, thriller play

If you like dark comedies (cringe and laugh, laugh and cringe—then pause to think seriously for a minute…), check out my new 10-minute play, Alfred and Lily and Their Marvelous Tank in the Forest. Yes, it has two frogs in it who jump around, chew on sticks, and get jealous of pond creatures with purple scarves—but this allegory doesn’t only provide fun entertainment; it’s thought provoking and generates great discussion. Does a horror have to affect you personally for you to notice something is wrong? How long will you accept happy lies until you’re willing to see what is in front of you? How can two individuals have such contrasting views of reality?…

New comedic monologue for women: Freshly Squeezed

April 24, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in monologue for female acto, Monologues, Plays, ten-minute plays

If you’re looking for a free, new (let’s say, um, “fresh”) comedic monologue for a female actor, check out Freshly Squeezed below. It’s a 1940s version of a someone who might sound a little stuck on herself, hence the comedy as she compares her “noble” qualities to the “poor” girls around her. But if you read the entire 10-minute piece from which it comes, Ruth and Harry & The Dinner Party, you see Ruth reveals a huge insecurity about her inability to become a mother, and strength despite society’s pressure, and her character takes on a much deeper note. This monologue runs about 1.5 minutes.

New 10-minute play for 1 male, 1 female: Ruth and Harry & The Dinner Party

March 19, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in dramatic, comedic, historical, Plays

Check out my new dramatic/comedic 10-minute play for 1 female and 1 male actor, Ruth and Harry & The Dinner Party. While preparing for a dinner party, Ruth reveals a well-kept secret to her husband which jeopardizes their future as a family…

New Comedic Monologue: On Washing Cereal Bowls and Other Millennial Matters

February 28, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in dramatic, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, comedic

In 2016, the media went wild over research about why millennials were not eating as much cereal as their Gen Y and Gen X aunts and uncles. Just google it and you’ll see scores of articles with people really up in arms about the topic—and people up in arms about how people are up in arms about it! Apparently I was late to ingest this crucial news (was something else crucial going on in 2016?), as I didn’t hear about it until this year, when my elementary school child brought home a “close reading” article on the topic. He and I both had opinions on it, and while he got to share his thoughts in his homework, I took to dramatizing a moment inspired by it (thanks, Mrs. M.!). So check out my new 2-minute comedic (dramatic) monologue for young adults, On Washing Cereal Bowls and Other Millennial Matters…

New Dark Comedy Monologue: What I Did Before Bingo

February 06, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in dark comedy, dramatic, monologue for female acto, monologues for male actor, Monologues, Teen

If you’re looking for a dark comedy/dramatic monologue with a unique story, check out What I Did Before Bingo, from the full-length play, Free Space. Free Space is a dark comedy where canneries become bingo halls, mothers become sisters, and bingo chips give orders! Yes, it sounds weird (and it kind of is!), but Amelia is relatable in her desire to find her place and meaning in a cold world. Free Space, is a fast, funny “page turner,” and keeps the audience on the edge of their seat. It’s fun to act in, direct and design!

This free monologue is written for a female character, but the monologue is suitable for any gender, teen through young adult. It is somewhat dramatic, with pensive moments, but also has an eerie darkly comedic side, as, well, she is hearing a bingo chip talk to her! In the monologue,

New Dark Comedy Monologue: Growing Up on the Wrong Side of Bingo

February 05, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in dark comedy, dramatic, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, Teen

If you’re looking for a dark comedy monologue with dramatic intensity, from a full-length play, check out Amelia’s newly released monologue, Growing up on the Wrong Side of Bingo. It’s from the dark comedy play, Free Space, where canneries become bingo halls, mothers become sisters, and bingo chips give orders! Yes, it sounds weird (and it kind of is!), but Amelia is relatable in her desire to find her place and meaning in a cold world. Free Space, is a fast, funny “page turner,” and keeps the audience on the edge of their seat. It’s fun to act in, direct and design!

This free monologue is around 2 minutes long, written for a female character, but the monologue is suitable for any gender, teen through young adult. It’s funny, but dramatic also and a little strange. In the monologue…

January 2019 Newsletter: Reader's Theater, New Children's Play and a Monologue by a 6-year-old

January 30, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in Newsletters

Check out my January 2019 Newsletter, featuring Reader’s Theater, a new children’s play, and a new monologue by a 6-year-old.

New 5-minute Children's Comedic Reader's Theater Play: The Shipwreck Solution

January 29, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in 5-minute play, children, Children's theatre, Education, Plays, Reader's Theater

What do a box jellyfish, a mako shark, an anglerfish and a tiger shark have in common? They all want to live in the same abandonned shipwreck on the ocean floor—and no one wants to share! Check out The Shipwreck Solution to discover if these four, very different creatures, can find a way to work it out!

This is a 5-7 minute children’s comedic play, also appropriate for Reader’s Theater, for 4 actors (gender neutral)….

What I'm Watching and Why: Forever - Season 1 - from Amazon Studios

January 28, 2019 by Tara Meddaugh in Shows, Television, Streaming Videos, What I'm Watching

The story of breaking away from the dissatisfaction of mundane life in the suburbs is nothing novel. It’s a fairly common theme because once your life settles into its trajectory, and the basic “what happens next” questions have been answered, there can be a lull of excitement. This is why we have the age-old midlife crisis, after all. New cars, affairs, jumping out of planes—people look for thrills when life might be less thrilling. We still have the afterlife, with all its glory and excitement, to look forward to though, right? But what happens when the afterlife is no more exciting than your current living life? What happens when you join the afterlife only to find there is no one to even address the “meaning of life” questions? What happens when you escape all of this earth-living to only find that in the afterlife, you still have to cook chicken, mow your lawn, and drawers get stuck. But there is no death in sight this time. This is forever. (And this is… “Forever.”)

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…

December 2018 Newsletter: Christmas monologues and plays, How to Write a Cheesy Christmas Rom-Com and performance of Shepherd Superheroes

December 18, 2018 by Tara Meddaugh in Newsletters

Check out my December 2018 Newsletter, featuring a new monologue pack of children’s Christmas monologues, Christmas monologues, How to Write a Cheesy Christmas Rom-Com in 10 easy Steps, and Ryan Henzi’s performance of Shepherd Superheroes from the one-act play, Christmas Superpowers and Believing in Blitzen.

December 2018 Newsletter

December 18, 2018 by Tara Meddaugh in Community, Newsletters

Check out my December newsletter.

Amazon boxes on the porch, peppermint star cookies in my stomach, Elf playing on tv while I clean up from the Holiday Murder Mystery party I threw over the weekend--this is a slice of the middle of December for me. You?

However you celebrate the holidays, it's always fun to pack in a bit of theater (I loved the one-man show of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, told in an historic Dutch church from the 1600s!). So check out some of my festive pieces below--a new monologue, a "how to" on writing your own cheesy Christmas rom-com, and more.

Enjoy the season and Happy Creating!

Warmly,
Tara

Click for more!

Nostalia and the Season: My Top Three Christmas Movies You Might Not Have Heard Of

December 17, 2018 by Tara Meddaugh in Community, family, Film, Movies, christmas but not theater

Nostalgia rings loud and clear this time of year—scents, songs, books, movies. My mother passed away two years ago, and my childhood (and adulthood) memories with her practically explode this time of year. Our main December holiday in my family is Christmas, and my mother made this holiday so special for us. From parties to games to crafts, cookies, books, music, cards, service, prayers and more! All those singing stuffed animals in our hallway? Gifts to my kids from my mom. The burlap Advent Calendar hanging on our wall? My mom made it. The ornaments on our tree with permanent marker dates on the bottom? My mom dated of all of those. While nostalia comes in many forms, one thing that harkens me back to the magic of childhood Christmas is simply: Christmas movies. Those classic tales of…

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!

Black Friday Deal on Tara Meddaugh plays: 20% off all purchases!

November 23, 2018 by Tara Meddaugh in Plays, promotions, sales

Whoohoo! Yes, even my plays are on sale for Black Friday - as my thank you to YOU—my loyal patrons, fellow artists, actors, directors, writers, friends, teachers, designers, students…I’m grateful for all of you! So enjoy 20% off your purchase now through November 25! Just use coupon code BLACKFRIDAYPLAYS at the checkout. Happy shopping and Happy Creating!