November Newsletter: Christmas Monologues and Giving Back Initiative
Enjoy my November Newsletter, featuring Christmas monologues, my Giving Back Initiative, and several new monologues.
Giving Back: Spotlight on WaterAid for November - January
As part of my Giving Back Initiative, for the months of November 2020 through January 2021, I will be donating 25% of my playwriting profits to WaterAid. I believe in the social contract of not only helping our neighbors, but also helping any in need, despite manmade borders, whenever we are given the power to do so. I believe in taking personal action by volunteering myself, but I also believe in supporting those who serve on the front-lines across the world when I cannot. This is an investment in humanity, of which we are all a part.
Because of this, I have chosen WaterAid as an organization to support with my playwriting profits for November 2020-January 2021. When you purchase a play, a monologue, or royalties during these months, you are nourishing your own theatrical endeavors and you are also helping provide clean water, hygiene and sanitation to the world’s poorest communities. Read more, from WaterAid, to learn about the water crisis in this world, and what WaterAid is doing to make a difference.
Read More20 + Christmas Monologues
Check out these twenty (20)+ Christmas monologues below, plus a packet of additional Christmas monologues for children, extracted from my one-act play, Christmas Superpowers and Believing in Blitzen. These monologues range in length from 30 seconds to 5 minutes, great for video/zoom or in person, comedic or dramatic, kids, male, female. Enjoy, be well, and enjoy the extended holiday season! (*This list is always being updated, so check back for new additions!)
Read MoreChristmas Kale by Tara Meddaugh: a 1-minute children's comedic monologue
It’s Christmas morning and Sam has a problem. He is outraged that Santa has, yet again, given him oranges in his stocking, despite his previous complaints that he doesn’t like them. Since Santa has not heeded his requests, Sam devises a simple plan that will teach Santa a lesson.
Christmas Kale is a one-minute comedic children’s monologue, for an inclusive cast (not gender specific). It’s suitable for children or pre-teens.
Christmas Kale is from the one-act play, Christmas Superpowers and Believing in Blitzen.
Read MoreNew Dramatic 5-minute monologue: Strawberry Shortcake Lamp by Tara Meddaugh
In this 5-minute dramatic monologue, Strawberry Shortcake Lamp, Janine returns to her childhood Home to spend time with her mother who is dying. Janine’s mother has ALS, a progressive disease, and in the last few weeks, her health has rapidly declined to the point of barely being able to speak or move. When Janine first arrives to the house, she asks her mother what she would like to do. Her mother gives her the simple request to “talk.” And so, Janine cuddles up in bed beside her, and talks.
This is a monologue about grief, about simplicity, about love, care, living on, passing down, and sacred links between women. I also share it today, on the anniversary of my own mother’s death. Click here for more on ALS.
Click for a free excerpt to the monologue, Strawberry Shortcake Lamp.
Read MoreChat-n-Read Dramatic Read-Aloud of "Fly Guy and the Frankenfly" by Tedd Arnold
If Creepy Carrots are not creepy enough for you, what about a FRANKENFLY?? Or, just, how about a fly who can talk at all?
Enjoy my latest Chat-n-Read where I pose the most thought-provoking question yet…
Would you share your chemistry set…with a FLY???
In Fly Guy and the Frankenfly by Tedd Arnold, Buzz makes all sorts of fun creations for him and his best bud, Fly Guy. Fly Guy wants to make something special for Buzz too. But what happens when Fly Guy’s creation gets a little out of hand?
Find out in this fun Halloween-appropriate read-aloud!
Read MoreChildren/Teen Monologue: Second-Hand Dirt by Tara Meddaugh
In Sharing Soil (a 10-minute play within my longer vignette-style piece, Movements of the Wind), Carrot and Potato risk safety and rejection from their own garden cultures when they embark on a new friendship in the face of soil prejudices.
Carrot’s monologue, Second-Hand Dirt, from Sharing Soil, shows a moment of how hurt can be masked with scapegoating. Carrot has just been bullied by other carrots, even having her carrot tip bitten off by them. When Potato finds her crying, Carrot lashes out in misplaced anger toward the quizzical young vegetable. Potato does not stand for this, and Carrot shares how her attempts to be kind to other carrots have not been reciprocated, leading her to become “mean.”
Read MoreOctober 2020 Newsletter: Theater ideal for Halloween
Enjoy my October newsletter, featuring lots of theater ideal for Halloween!
Happy Halloween and Happy Fall!
Many of us are celebrating holidays differently during this pandemic, and I resurrected an old tradition by carving a pumpkin with my family for the first time in years. I even roasted the seeds (one batch olive oil and bagel seasoning; the other batch butter and cinnamon sugar). Fun and YUM! I think we're all trying to appreciate the large and small things, right? And...that always includes our mutual love--theater!
Halloween just might be the most dramatic holiday of the year! We love to delve into the silly, the spooky and the weird for this season. So let's enjoy some Halloween theater below - monologues, plays, and even a creepy dramatic read-aloud by yours truly (my alter-ego, Chat-n-Read!).
Happy Creating!
~Tara
Newly Released 10-Minute Play for 2 Actors: Waiting For Wind by Tara Meddaugh
Two tulips’ lives change for the better when they meet each other at high sun. They have a connection and it is clear they were meant for each other. Yet can they overcome their fears about the future, and lift each other up, despite the stagnant air? (CLICK HERE FOR THE PLAY)
Waiting for Wind is a 2-person dramatic/comedic play with a running time of approximately 10 minutes. It’s set in a flower garden and has flexible inclusive/blind casting (the characters are flowers!). It’s great for festivals, performances, outdoor theater, duo interpretation forensics competitions, classroom or theater study, workshops, and themed productions.
Read MoreDramatic Halloween Read-Aloud from Chat-n-Read: Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown
Of all the holidays, Halloween just might be the most dramatic! Anything can become spooky melodrama when you put on an eerie voice, add a bit of black-and-white illustration, and make inanimate objects start FOLLOWING YOU! Kids - enjoy this spooky and fun read-aloud from Chat-n-Read (one of my other adventures!) of Creepy Carrots written by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by Peter Brown.
We’ll chat about what makes things creepy and then share the story of Jasper Rabbit and what happens to him when his favorite garden snack starts creeping him out! Make sure you stick around to the end, because it’s quite clever!
Now, say this in a spooky voice and wave your hands around all creepy-like: “Enjoooooooy!”
Read MoreJumping the Wind by Tara Meddaugh: 10-minute play for outdoor theater
Have you ever seen a play about pollen before? I’m not talking documentary-style. I’m talking about pieces of individual pollen, with their own hopes, dreams and fears. In my allegory, Jumping the Wind, you meet two pieces of pollen, Pollen V-6 and Pollen K-10. The flower on which Pollen V-6 and Pollen K-10 have lived their entire lives has wilted and is dying. If they do not make a dangerous jump to a fresh flower, Cat will destroy the flower and any remaining pollen that night. All other pollen have already made the jump to presumed safety, but Pollen V-6 has been too frightened to leave. She doubts the tales that anything better lies beyond. The leader, Pollen K-10, has remained behind with her, and has to decide how long he will stay to rally her before his own safety is in jeopardy. Jumping the Wind is a story of leaving the familiar, taking risks for the promise of something better. It’s the story of facts versus hope. And a story of friendship and trust.
Here are seven (7) reasons why Jumping the Wind is a memorable (and practical!) play to produce:
Read More10-minute dramatic monologue play: Marsopa's Tale by Tara Meddaugh
Mermaids are the subject of many tales and legends around the world. In my 10-minute one-person play, Marsopa’s Tale, Marsopa, a mermaid herself, confronts the myths surrounding mermaids, as she makes a choice to be more than simply folklore.
Marsopa is the lone mermaid of her sea, but enjoys the company of her best friend and water-sister, a dolphin named Stone. But when Stone considers starting her own family, Marsopa faces the idea of being truly alone. That is - until she makes eyes with an intriguing fisherman... Now Marsopa must call into question the truth of mermaid and human legends, and decide what she is willing to risk for the possibility of creating her own fate.
Read More17 Suspenseful Monologues
Suspense is a powerful tool in theater. Who doesn’t want to keep the audience on the edge of their seat? Writers and directors can create entire plays or films that center on building suspense, ultimately paying off in the final scene. When you have only 1-2 minutes in a monologue to convey a scene or character, creating this world of suspense can be a challenge, but if you manage it, you’ll have your own payoff.
Here, I’ve compiled over 15 short monologues which cultivate a scenario of suspense, while conveying a memorable story and character. From murdered ferrets, floods and fangs, to guns, sirens and fires—these monologues are sure to keep your audience leaning in.
Read MoreNew dark comedy/Dramatic monologue: "What My Fangs Are For" by Tara Meddaugh
My new monologue, What My Fangs Are For, is the story of a werewolf child telling his mom about his first squirrel kill; it’s darkly humorous, a bit creepy, a bit dramatic. But…it’s also the story of a boy discovering a new identity, trying to make his mother proud, then worrying, with horror, that his new identity may drive her to not love him anymore.
Maybe the whole “eating a raw squirrel” part is not so relatable, but Sammy is not the only child (or adult) to have to reveal a part of their identity which they worry a loved one may not accept.
Read MoreChat-n-Read Dramatic Reading of Children's Book, "A Pet for Fly Guy" by Tedd Arnold
In my latest Chat-n-Read episode, chat about having a pet and enjoy a fun read-aloud of "A Pet for Fly Guy" by Tedd Arnold.
How many of you would love to have a pet? Lots of hands in the air, right? I know I'd love to have a horse and a parrot and a cat and a dog and a guinea pig and a rabbit and...well...I don't know that I could all have all of those pets. But I bet we could all have a FLY for a pet! Hm...how does that sound? :) (CLICK FOR THE READ-ALOUD VIDEO AND MORE)
Read MoreSeptember 2020 Newsletter: New 10-minute dark comedy play, new monologues and video performance
Enjoy my September Newsletter featuring a new 10-minute dark comedy for Halloween, new monologues and a powerful performance of my monologue, Buddy's Mommy, by the super talented actor, model and singer, Jenny Middleton.
New 10-minute dark comedy, absurdist thriller (perfect for Halloween & outdoor theater): When Marshmallows Burn by Tara Meddaugh
If you are looking for some Halloween theater, perfectly designed for outdoor staging, check out my new play, When Marshmallows Burn:
Sammy and his mom are enjoying roasting marshmallows by the fire when something very strange starts to happen. Sammy’s arms look a little bit different. His teeth look a little bit different. He has a sudden urge to kill squirrels. What else will he have an urge to kill? Is there anything his mother can do to stop him? And will his mother be able to accept his new identity?
This is a dark comedy, absurdist thriller for 2 actors (1 female, 1 male or 2 female - one role is gender neutral). It’s funny; how often does someone ask, “Can I eat that squirrel over there? You don’t have to cook it. I promise I’ll like it raw.” It’s dark; um...see squirrel line above! There is growing dread at the gravity of the situation, a full moon, suspense, blood. Yet ultimately, it is a story about discovering a new identity, and searching for, or giving, acceptance and love.
It’s an exciting piece to produce any time of year, but especially during this spooky, eerie, Halloween season—this play will fit right into a creepy lineup of shows. What’s also really cool is that this play takes place outside. Around a campfire. So if you’re looking for a socially distanced, outdoor theater experience, this is about as perfectly set up as they come! If you’re interested in performing, make sure to fill out the royalty request form and send it to me.
CLICK for a free excerpt for When Marshmallows Burn by Tara Meddaugh.
CLICK BELOW for the complete digital download to the dark comedy, When Marshmallows Burn.
Hallmark Christmas Movies Announced: Are You Ready? Plus Theater Actors join MFTV Christmas Magic
Okay. It’s still September. SEPTEMBER. But I have been seeing social media posts and hearing friends talk about putting up Christmas trees and lights extra early this year. Not like, November 25 early. I’m talking September 25 early! And really, in this very tense, anxiety-filled, unprecedented, relentless season of our lives, who can blame anyone for wanting to elongate a traditional feel-good season?
The Christmas season is cozy, cold but warm; it brings us hot chocolate, eggnog and peppermint, calming lights, early dark evenings, soothing music, colors everywhere amidst a landscape of mainly brown. It is comforting and familiar, and those are two things that we all crave—especially now when both feel a bit out of reach. And so…you know what also brings comfort and familiarity around that time of year, right? Hallmark Made-For-TV (MFTV) Christmas Movies! Keeping pace with the Christmas trees going up in NYC apartments, they’ve announced their Holiday Season already! You can check out Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas line-up here. And don’t worry, Netflix and Amazon will have their own Cheesy Christmas Movies coming too (“A Royal Toddler Goes to Virtual Preschool” perhaps?), but I have to give props to the originator, Hallmark.
Read MoreEngulf The Evil Ashes: A dramatic monologue from the play, For My Silent Sisters by Tara Meddaugh
My full-length dramatic play, For My Silent Sisters, gives voice to four young people who struggle to escape the dark world of human trafficking. *Before I discuss the monologue and play, please note that while I write with great respect and care, this monologue contains references to human trafficking and violence and may not be suitable for all readers.* Please also note that while the play is fiction, there are many experiences, very similar to the ones I give voice to, which have happened to real people. No country is immune to this egregious crime. At the time I’m writing this, criminals are trafficking an estimated 25 million people worldwide. For more information on human trafficking in the USA, how to help or report, visit the Human Trafficking Hotline or Polaris.
For My Silent Sisters journeys how criminals use manipulation, lies, or force to commit this crime. But it mainly journeys how four teenagers survive within this world, hold onto hope, strength, friendship, and how they all eventually leave that world—one way or another.
Engulf the Evil Ashes is a monologue from Marta. Marta, an excellent student from a large family in Romania, sees her way to a brighter future by accepting a position as a translator in England. However, after leaving home with the job recruiter, she discovers the role she thought she would receive does not exist. Instead, she is taken to a “training facility” in the woods in Albania, a place where girls are “trained” for forced prostitution (enslavement), then sent to other countries to make money for their enslavers. While their situation is terrifying, Marta immediately bonds with a confident Romani girl, Tasaria. They share stories, looks, secrets; they become closer than sisters. Tasaria develops a plan for them to escape the facility, but when the moment comes, Marta does not follow her. Tasaria’s escape attempt fails and she is killed. Marta is devastated.
In this monologue, Engulf the Evil Ashes, Marta has been punished, by friendship association, for Tasaria’s escape attempt. She is placed in the ground, simulating being buried alive. Though grieving, her rage and determination give her strength, and Marta comes up with a plan for freedom. She hides sticks from the outdoors and brings them with her when she is placed in an isolated room inside. During the course of a few hours, she is able to start a fire and begin burning down the old wooden building. While the building goes up in flames and smoke, Marta only smells freedom.
This monologue is about 2.5 minutes long, suitable for a mature teenager or young adult looking to sink into a dramatic monologue. It is a moment of empowerment, a moment when a frightened and beaten-down person finds strength in righteous anger, a moment when she finds a powerful voice, not only in words, but in actions. A moment when she changes the fate for herself—and hundreds of other girls.
Read More"The Thing About Mermaids" by Tara Meddaugh: New children's comedic 1-minute monologue
Okay, so if you had to choose one mystical creature to be real, which would you choose? In my new monologue, The Thing About Mermaids, Riley encounters a real live mermaid…but is Riley excited by this discovery or does Riley think it’s a waste of a mystical creature?
Enjoy this free 45 second - 1 minute long comedic monologue for children, gender neutral casting. (For a dramatic 10-minute monologue play about mermaids, click here for Marsopa’s Tale).
Special thanks to Julian (and his mom), for inspiring this monologue!
Check out the excerpt below from, THE THING ABOUT MERMAIDS:
Read More