Frog Band-Aid: New dark comedy monologue

April 14, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in absurdist theater, comedic, dark comedy, dramatic, monologue for female acto, Monologues, outdoor theater, Suspense, Teen, theater of the absurd, thriller

What do you do when you’re confronted with a jealous force in your life who demands that you abandon your new and precious human connection? And what do you do when this jealous force happens to be…um…a bingo chip?

Yeeeess…

This is part of the story of my full-length dark comedy/absurdist thriller, Free Space. Amelia views hosting her own Bingo Night as a way to escape her lonely life. Not only does she have the excitement of planning this magical night, but planning this night has led to a growing bond between her and Ricky, a kind-hearted boy who works at the local cannery. But as Amelia starts to envision a brighter future, a talking Bingo Chip begins calling the shots. Amelia is losing control of her own Game—and relationship with Ricky.

Frog Band-Aid is a monologue from Free Space. Ricky has just given Amelia a private tour of the cannery he works at. During the tour, the two joyfully plan the event, and discuss visiting a pet store together. After Amelia leaves the cannery, she walks home, speaking to the mysterious Bingo Chip in her pocket which has become increasingly demanding.

This dark comedy/dramatic monologue runs around 3 minutes and is appropriate for an older teen through adult actor. Enjoy the excerpt below and check out Free Space to learn more about Amelia and her story.

Alfred and Lily and Their Marvelous Tank in the Forest: Publication in Best New Ten-Minute Plays/2020

February 12, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in absurdist theater, allegory, comedic, dark comedy, dramatic, love, Plays, outdoor theater, Publications, Suspense, Teen, ten-minute plays, theater of the absurd

I’m honored my play, Alfred and Lily and Their Marvelous Tank in the Forest, was selected as one of 30 plays in “The Best New Ten-Minute Plays/2020” published by The Applause Acting Series, edited by Lawrence Harbison. This absurdist dark comedy is about reality manipulation, propaganda, what to accept as truth, or question and fight. It's also about love and sacrifice, and yes, it's about frogs. In a tank. In a forest. All this in 10 minutes!

A high-energy, high-stakes short play with meaty roles for 2 actors and lots of room for creativity for the production team, Alfred and Lily and Their Marvelous Tank in the Forest is a fun play to sink your teeth into (much like Alfred wants to do to Lily’s leg…). Thanks to my original amazing cast at Westchester Collaborative Theater, featuring Missy Flower, Buchanan Highhouse, directed by Nathan Flower.

You can check out an excerpt of Alfred and Lily, get the full play here, or check out the The Best New Ten-Minute Plays 2020.

10 Monologues about Love for Men: Monologue Compilation Packet

February 09, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in 1-minute monologue, 2-minute monologue, 5-minute play, comedic, comedy monolog collection, dark comedy, dramatic monolog collecti, dramatic, holiday, love, monologue collections, Monologues, monologues for male actor, outdoor theater, romance, Teen, teen monologue collection, valentine's day

In this compilation, I’ve chosen ten (10) unique monologues of male characters who really dig into the idea of love from one angle or another. From a drugstore clerk smitten with a customer to a man begging his ex to forgive him of his criminal charges to a Klingon hoping his love can be a plotline, enjoy these ten (10) unique and memorable monologues about love!

You can browse each monologue individually below, or you can check out the monologue compilation packet: 10 Monologues About Love for Men, containing all ten (10) unique, compelling and memorable monologues for male characters (a great value at only $9.99 for all 10 monologues!). Monologues range in length from 1 minute to 5 minutes, or more, depending on performance, and are suitable for adult, or older teen, actors. Please note: while roles in these monologues are written for gender-specific characters, actors of any gender may feel free to play any role they connect with.

11 Short Plays About Love

February 09, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in 5-minute play, absurdist theater, dark comedy, dramatic, love, mermaids, Monologues, mystical creatures, one-act plays, outdoor theater, Plays, romance, Teen, Suspense, ten-minute plays, theater of the absurd, thriller, valentine's day

As Valentine’s Day is rounding the corner, I’ve compiled a collection of eleven (11) short plays, all centering around the idea of love, from various angles. Whether marrying out of spite, longing for romance in another world, or sacrificing for your life partner, these plays showcase high stakes drama about love. The roles and worlds created in these plays are unique and memorable, making for fun theatrical challenges for actors, directors, designers and production teams. Enjoy!

11 Monologues about Love for Women

February 08, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in 1-minute monologue, 2-minute monologue, 5-minute play, comedic, comedy monolog collection, dark comedy, dramatic, dramatic monolog collecti, love, monologue collections, monologue for female acto, Monologues, romance, Teen, teen monologue collection, valentine's day

How many plays, movies or books center around the main character looking for love? If you reflect back on hit movies, favorite books, or well-known plays (even taking all the Hallmark Christmas rom-coms out of the mix!), you will probably come up with a list that shows at least half (dare I say 3/4?) of popular stories center around the idea of finding or chasing love. There’s a reason for this. 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. Intense emotions make their way to the surface—extreme jealousy, pitiful desperation, raging anger, divine passion. 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.

A week before Valentine’s Day, I’ve compiled nine (9) unique monologues of female 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, sometimes desperate, hurt, or empowered. But that’s another reason they make for interesting and challenging drama. From a heart made out of fingernails to a jealous iphone to a pregnant newlywed whose husband is fighting in a war, enjoy these unique and memorable monologues about love!

9 Memorable Monologues about Scorned Love: Monologue Compilation Packet

January 31, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in 1-minute monologue, 2-minute monologue, absurdist theater, comedic, comedy monolog collection, dark comedy, dramatic, dramatic monolog collecti, holiday, love, monologue collections, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, Teen, teen monologue collection, theater of the absurd, valentine's day

Some people are lucky enough to hold onto beautiful romantic love all their adult lives, but if you’re looking for a dramatic piece more on the “sadder but wiser” side of love, check out these nine (9) monologues about “scorned love.” That’s right—all of these characters have had their loved one betray them, leave them or never love them back to begin with. ☹ Of course, their responses to a love lost are varied: we have hopeful or pleading, to angry or downright criminal. But in each case, these monologues make for a fun acting challenge. Whether you’re playing a man bleeding out at a hospital, a betrayed woman by a chopped down tree, or a teen whose truck-jumping-stunt did not quite win him the love of his dreams, enjoy these nine unique monologues about “scorned love!”

You can check out each monologue individually below, or you can purchase a monologue compilation packet containing all nine (9) unique, compelling and memorable monologues about “scorned love” (a great value at only $9 for all 9 monologues). Monologues range in length from 1 minute to 5 minutes, or more, depending on performance, and are suitable for adult, or older teen, actors.

Click “READ MORE” below for the 9 monologues about scorned love.

Fingernail Heart by Tara Meddaugh: a dark comedy monologue about love

January 29, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in comedic, dark comedy, dramatic, love, monologue for female acto, Monologues, outdoor theater, romance, Teen, valentine's day, 2-minute monologue, absurdist theater, theater of the absurd

Well, folks. It’s that time of year again! With just over 2 weeks away from Valentine’s Day, I’ll be spending the next few blog posts giving you some loved-based theater! (Can you hear the “love” sound effects in your mind? Birds? “Aws?” A glorious harpsichord? ) No guarantee it will be requited love, however. In fact, many of my “love-based” monologues tend to lean more on the side of yearning love, desperate love, unhappy love, a little…weird love… Which brings me to…

My brand new monologue, Fingernail Heart. Um, yes. You read that right. Fingernail heart. What the…??? Okay, I can explain. Well… Maybe it’s better if I let our protagonist, Emily (below), explain. After all, she’s put in the hard work to craft this fingernail heart. But I will say, if you’re a fan of Ferret Envy, then I think you’ll enjoy the quirky desperation of Fingernail Heart. Emily is confronting her ex-boyfriend (who clearly does NOT want to see her), and offering, yes, that’s right, her gift of a fingernail heart. This monologue is a blast for actors who are okay with slightly off-beat roles, because you can really lean into the absurdity, the humor, but at the same time, the gravity, emotional instability and darkness—all with that underlying feeling of “she is reaching a breaking point…she is reaching a breaking point…”. You’ll enjoy finding all those delightful moments to shift the tone, the tactic, while keeping the same basic intention (“will girl get boy?”).

This monologue runs around 1.5-2 minutes, and while written for a female character, as with most of my monologues, it can be suitable for inclusive casting, as long as the actor connects with it.

Enjoy an excerpt below!…

"Cutting Down the Tree" by Tara Meddaugh: A dark comedy monologue

January 24, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in comedic, dark comedy, dramatic, monologue for female acto, Monologues, thriller, outdoor theater, Halloween

If you’re looking for a humorous monologue with a dark undertone, check out my new monologue, Cutting Down the Maple Tree. Kari is pushed too far by her (presumably cheating) husband and lashes out in vengeance, cutting down a taunting tree and trapping his drunken legs under it. Now, at least, the tree will no longer have hold over her and she looks forward to a “fresh start” with her husband.

This dark comedy/thriller/dramatic monologue is approximately 2 1/2 minutes long, and is appropriate for adults, 20s to 60s. It is a fun and challenging role for an actor, as Kari’s intentions, emotions and state of mind are complex and varied. Enjoy an except below:

Clippers by Tara Meddaugh: A dramatic monologue from the one-act play, Seventeen Stitches

January 21, 2021 by Tara Meddaugh in blind casting, dark comedy, dramatic, gender neutral casting, inclusive casting, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, one-act plays, Teen, Suspense, thriller, Halloween

If you’re looking for a 2-minute dramatic monologue from a play, check out my newly released monologue, Clippers, from my one-act play, Seventeen Stitches. Clippers is appropriate for tweens, teens and young adults; it is suitable for actors of any gender. In this monologue, Peter struggles to make sense of his father’s actions and intentions. When Peter was attacked by a bully who wanted his bike, Peter’s father rescues his son, but lets the bully take the precious bike. Peter doesn’t understand why his loving father would not punish the bully, and from that moment on, feels abandoned by his father.

20 + Christmas Monologues

November 13, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in 1-minute monologue, 5-minute play, blind casting, child monolog collection, children, Children's theatre, Christmas, comedic, comedy monolog collection, dark comedy, dramatic, dramatic monolog collecti, gender neutral casting, holiday, inclusive casting, monologue collections, monologue for child actor, monologue by child, monologue for female acto, monologue written by chil, Monologues, monologues for male actor, pre-teen, Teen, teen monologue collection, tween

Holiday lights and decorations are going up EARLY this year! While live productions in theater are rare right now (what a surreal/hard thing to say…), many performers are turning to monologues as they gear up for streamed shows, classroom performances, or socially distanced live theater. Monologue-based performances allow actors to rehearse on their own, and lend themselves easily to a Zoom-style platform. Whether you’re able to manage covid-precautioned in-person theater or are using a video service, holiday monologues can be a nice way to keep festive theater on the mind.

Check out these ten (10) 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.

Dramatic Halloween Read-Aloud from Chat-n-Read: Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown

October 05, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in children, comedic, Community, dark comedy, Drama in real life, dramatic, Education, family, holiday, Literary, social, Suspense

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!”

Jumping the Wind by Tara Meddaugh: 10-minute play for outdoor theater

October 02, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in children, Children's theatre, comedic, dark comedy, dramatic, gender neutral casting, one-act plays, outdoor theater, Plays, socially distant theater, Teen, ten-minute plays

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:

14 Suspenseful Monologues

September 30, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in comedy monolog collection, dark comedy, dramatic, dramatic monolog collecti, Halloween, monologue collections, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, Monologues, monologues for male actor, mystical creatures, Suspense, teen monologue collection, thriller

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 12 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.

New dark comedy/Dramatic monologue: "What My Fangs Are For" by Tara Meddaugh

September 29, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in children, dark comedy, dramatic, gender neutral casting, Halloween, monologue for child actor, monologue for female acto, monologues for male actor, Monologues, mystical creatures, outdoor theater, Teen, ten-minute plays, thriller, Suspense

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.

New 10-minute dark comedy, absurdist thriller (perfect for Halloween & outdoor theater): When Marshmallows Burn by Tara Meddaugh

September 24, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in dark comedy, dramatic, gender neutral casting, Halloween, holiday, mystical creatures, outdoor theater, Plays, Teen, ten-minute plays, thriller, thriller play, socially distant theater

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 HERE for an excerpt to the play, When Marshmallows Burn.
CLICK BELOW for the complete digital download to the dark comedy, When Marshmallows Burn.

When Marshmallows Burn, a 10-minute dark comedy by Tara Meddaugh

$5.99

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Spooky Play for Halloween: Free Space, a dark comedy/absurdist thriller by Tara Meddaugh

September 08, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in dark comedy, dramatic, full-length plays, Halloween, Plays, Reviews, thriller, thriller play, outdoor theater

Even during a pandemic, Summer flies by. And in New York State, something seems to have happened in the last week as temperatures left the high 80s, brown leaves are on the ground, homegrown apples are everywhere, and there is more talk about…Halloween. And that means theater for Halloween. Which means, you can pull out those dark comedies, thrillers, weird, spooky, creepy pieces that might be engaging any time of year, but hold a special kind of place as we gear up toward October 31.

I have several spooky plays and monologues that fit this bill, but a great full-length play for this darker time of year is my absurdist thriller, Free Space. This is a play where a mother pretends she’s her daughter for a terrifying reason. A young woman tries to escape her trapped existence where loneliness and aspirations ache in her bones. It’s a story of a dominating bingo chip (yes, I said “bingo chip”) who becomes increasingly demanding—and jealous. It’s always cold, usually tense, oftentimes eerie. Desperation and stakes are high. Cruelty abounds. And yet—

5 Great “Mean-Girl” monologues for teens: Comedy with a sharp edge!

August 19, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in comedic, comedy monolog collection, dark comedy, dramatic, monologue collections, monologue for female acto, Monologues, Teen, teen monologue collection

You don’t have to be auditioning for Mean Girls on Broadway to appreciate these monologues. For teens, or young adults, looking to show off their cutting, yet comedic side, these monologues are great for auditions, competitions, and performances. These monologues are funny and, well, kind of mean, operating under the layered humor I find interesting: show your self-absorption and cruelty under the guise of being nice. Check out these monologues about friendships, dance class, high-heeled shoes, Calculus and more!…

New dark comedy/absurdist 10-minute play: What's Inside The Eiffel Tower Coffee Mug by Tara Meddaugh

August 08, 2020 by Tara Meddaugh in dark comedy, dramatic, Plays, Playwriting, romance, ten-minute plays

It’s Rebecca’s and Henry’s 10th wedding anniversary. Henry usually has his morning coffee at precisely half past seven, but today, Rebecca can’t wait this long for him to take his coffee mug from the cupboard. She has a secret to reveal to him. And it’s not your typical surprise anniversary gift. It’s a very… unnerving secret… And what Henry finds inside his souvenir coffee mug this morning just might change their marriage forever.

What’s Inside the Eiffel Tower Coffee Mug is a 2-person (1 male, 1 female) 10-minute play that embodies “dark comedy.” We can laugh at absurdities of the couple’s playful interaction of heightened language, but feel a punch to the gut as we discover the darkness that underlies the humor. This play has been described as embracing beauty and the grotesque in one, or finding beauty within the grotesque. It’s a unique journey to act and direct. It will give your audience the chance to laugh, cringe, empathize and ultimately find a sense of peace….

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.

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….