Great Small Cast Plays

in

Large cast plays give good range and offer a way to get lots of actors involved. But there are many reasons why you might be looking for a small cast play, as well. Your budget may not be able to afford to pay a large cast or costuming; you may not have the sheer number of people needed for a large cast; you may want to pair small-cast one-acts together (easier for scheduling rehearsals) or your actors are all looking to have meaty roles, without the small side roles you may find in large cast. Check out these plays with small casts, all which have 2-5 actors. Scroll through and click on the play covers for more details, or check out the summaries below.

Read More

New Kids' Dramatic and Comedic Halloween Monologue: “Boringest. Ghost. Ever.”

in

Written and delivered today, on Halloween, is my brand new (as in, an hour old!) monologue, Boringest. Ghost. Ever. This monologue is great for kids, even the young ones (ages 4+)! Children can play with the dramatic and comedic elements of this monologue and deliver a funny, and even a little spooky (but still family-friendly), performance! It’s a good length for kids, running about 1 minute and is suitable for any gender.

In the monologue, Ayla is frustrated that her middle-of-the-night visitor won’t play with her, won’t talk until the wee hours of the night with her, and won’t even tell her what her name is! Instead, this girl in the odd dress just keeps…well…standing there. Staring at Ayla. Being the boringest ghost she’s ever seen.

Read More

Halloween Monologues Great for Kids

in , , , , , ,

Give your kids some fun, family-friendly monologues great for Halloween! All of these are appropriate for any gender performer.

Read More

A Screenplay for Ada Lovelace Day: Thy Young Blue Eyes

Did you know today was Ada Lovelace Day? I didn’t either! But I should, because, did you also know I wrote a screenplay, called THY YOUNG BLUE EYES, about Ada Lovelace (which won a Sloan Fellowship)? I was alerted to this special day when I noticed an image in my laptop’s search bar this morning that looked kind of like my Facebook avatar mixed with Princess Leia, shaking her hands together in the air as in victory. I clicked on it and, behold: that’s not Princess Leia/Avatar Tara celebrating after running a marathon. It’s Ada Lovelace! Okay…and WHO is Ada Lovelace? And what is this movie I wrote about her?

Read More

Production Photos of Into the Violet

Don’t y’all love when you get production photos back? It’s like a mini-childhood-birthday-morning clicking on that gallery link. My new one-act play, INTO THE VIOLET, recently had a local production I was thrilled to be involved in, and I just got to see the photos (credit to JCP Images). This absurdist dark comedy is about two fairies who are trapped in a jar behind a waterfall. Nathan Flower created such a gorgeous, haunting, absurdly funny, tragically beautiful world directing this piece, and Emily Aronoff and Missy Flower were just brilliant as the two trapped fairies. Click to read a free excerpt, get the whole play, or learn more about the play (it’s about 15-20 minutes for 2 actors, teen-adult). Enjoy the gallery below! And hey—gotta include one photo featuring…the gnome. Yup. THE GNOME. (And always feel free to send me your production photos of my plays or monologues. I love to see!)

CLICK below for more-

Read More

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

in

As Halloween rolls around, we’re all looking to add some more dark, creepy monologues to the roster. Here’s a newly released monologue 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.

This monologue 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.

Read More

What Happened at the Mud Puddle Included in “9 Streamable Plays (plus a Musical) for Middle School Audiences”

While hopefully most performances are able to be in-person these days, sometimes it’s nice to have a few streamable options for performers. Thanks to On the Stage (OTS) for including my tween/teen play, WHAT HAPPENED AT THE MUD PUDDLE, in their list of 9 Streamable Plays (plus a Musical!) for Middle School Audiences.

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE MUD PUDDLE includes a good number of monologues, which translate well to streaming, but also are great for actors looking to practice in classes, with coaches or for self-study, as well as to use for auditions, showcases or even to perform, as some of these monologues can work standing alone. Check out a free excerpt and the play here, published by YouthPLAYS.

Read More

"There Once Were Two Clouds in the Sky" wins Bradford Gromelski Jury Award

in , ,

I’m so honored and happy to share that my new one-act play, THERE ONCE WERE TWO CLOUDS IN THE SKY, recently received the Bradford Gromelski Jury Award from Fusion Theatre, landing the highest score out of 700+ plays submitted from 40 states and 9 countries!

THERE ONCE WERE TWO CLOUDS IN THE SKY is a 2-person comedy/drama about two clouds trying to find meaning in their brief lives before they dissipate forever. When one proposes a risky way to solve their dilemma, they have to decide, together, if it’s worth it. It is suitable for any gender and any age. You can find the play and an excerpt here.

Fusion Theatre, in Albuquerque, NM has grown to establish one of the premier ten-minute play festivals in the country, called THE SEVEN…(click below to read more)

Read More

Plays for Shark Week!

in

Yes, it’s Shark Week, everyone! That means we’re going to celebrate those often-feared (tiger sharks are not very choosy with their prey!), sometimes cute (those adorable baby hammerheads??) creatures of the sea! And of course, why not pair your documentary-watching, shark-drink sipping experience with some theater, right?

Here are two shark-friendly theater pieces for you to enjoy this Shark Week (or really, any week of the year!), I am a Shark (a monologue) and The Shipwreck Solution (a one-act play).

Read More

Into the Violet: New one-act absurdist dark comedy for 2 actors - now available!

Lola and Nadine had lived a blessed and carefree fairy life, until a child trapped them in a glass jar in the woods and never returned. While Lola gives in to this life of despondency, Nadine tries to give her hope that they might, someday, fly outside their glass prison once again. But as the gravity of their situation becomes unbearable, and the line between reality and fantasy becomes malleable, they must find some way to create the escape they desperately need. INTO THE VIOLET is a dark comedy about hope and despair, deception and reality, and how connection to others may be the only way to survive the unthinkable.

Read More

Ten (10) Great Plays with Animals as Characters

in

Have you ever wanted to play a rabbit? Or a raven? Or a bear? Here’s your chance because in these ten (10) plays, all animal characters not only talk, but they have strong, interesting, fun acting roles to boot! The plays may feature animals but don’t assume they’re written for children (although younger audiences may enjoy too); they are complex, often with dark humor, high stakes, and poignant connections to each other. The plays range from absurd to dark comedy to drama-comedy (and yes, there are a couple for young performers/audiences!). There is so much room for creativity in directing, designing and acting and they’re enjoyable for audiences to watch and discuss. From a grieving raccoon to ostracized seagulls to frogs stuck in a tank, check out these ten (10) humanly relatable plays all featuring animals as the leading characters!

Read More

Pit Trap Meredith: New monologue and upcoming publication

in , ,

Wouldn’t you be mad if you were an injured rabbit and you thought your sister abandoned you in a tree stump to fend for yourself against vicious dogs? That’s what has happened to Selena, but there’s actually a really good reason why her sister, Meredith, never came back for her. And it has to do with some really mean rabbits…

In this monologue, Pit Trap Meredith, Meredith defends Selena’s accusations of abandonment, and in the end, even turns the tables on her sister. This is a 30-second to 1-minute monologue from the play, The Moon River Raft. The play follows these two rabbits as they wait at a creepy riverbank, in the middle of the night, hoping a mystical raft will take them across the river to a practically-perfect land. Of course, what awaits them is not exactly as they had dreamed…

Read More

Into The Violet: New dark comedy

in

NADINE: And she left us with the gnomes and never came back.
LOLA: Now I hate her.
NADINE: Me too. (pause) Unless she’s dead because that’s not her fault.

That’s part of the dialogue two fairies have about the little girl who caught them in a jar and stuck them behind a waterfall! If you’re local to the tri-state area, you can check out my new dark comedy/absurdist play, INTO THE VIOLET, where Nadine and Lola struggle through hope and despair, reality and fantasy—to create the escape they desperately need. (Script will be available in June).

Read More

New Rom-Com Monologue: Head to Toe

in , , , , , , , , , ,

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 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.

Read More

Mabel and the Talking Cat: A new one-act quirky comedy/drama

in , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

“If I had opposable thumbs like you, I should rule the land!” ~Patches, the Talking Cat

How far are we willing to go to get the things that we want? How can doing a good thing enable a bad thing? How much would you sacrifice for a loved one? How long do you hold onto a far-fetched hope? How do you connect with those in the dark once you’ve been brought into a new light? Does guilt ever go away?

For a one-act play, Mabel and the Talking Cat sure brings up a lot of questions! On top of all that, we have a bit of magic, a witch in the neighborhood, an ogre, a missing husband and a talking cat! And you won’t find out until the end of the play which well-known fairy tale this play launches into…

Mabel and the Talking Cat is the story of a lonely baker, Mabel, who finally has the opportunity to adopt a child of her own. But her best friend, Patches, a talking cat, has grave hesitations about the questionable method she’s using to secure this precious child…

Read More

March 2023 Newsletter

in

Hello, Theater Friends!

It has been a while! Happy "all those holidays" I missed! The past few months, in addition to teaching theater, attending theater, and keeping up on my own theater, I visited a wolf sanctuary, immersed myself in a Harry Potter forest, and even squeezed in a family getaway to ski and snow tube! And now, our Blink-and-Miss-It Winter in the NYC area is basically over (that's fake snow in the photo!).

If you like updates more often, please follow my my FACEBOOK PAGE as I frequently share new plays, monologues and videos there. You can also connect with me on Instagram where you'll get some theater updates, but also updates of my cat, our fig tree and random videos of things like laser tag or a polar bear cocoa bomb!

Now, let me catch you up theatrically! Check out this issue filled with 6 new one-act plays, 5 new monologues, 4 new compilations, 3 publication announcements, 2 photos of Kiwi (our family cat), and 1 monologue video.

Here's to wishing you all good, creative, joyful things in 2023 and beyond! 

 Warmly,

Tara

Click here for the complete newsletter.

"The Prettiest Duckling" - To Be Published by YouthPLAYS

in , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Happy to share that YouthPLAYS will be publishing my one-act play, The Prettiest Duckling. In this dark comedy, two “mean-girl style” ducklings plot the ousting of their gray-feathered sibling… But they’re always—only—always, thinking of her. Because they, you know, “love her so so much.”

Right?

This play was first performed as part of the production, When Fairy Tales Falter. Buchanan Highhouse and Jessica Caputo fabulously brought to life Gorgeous and Cutesy (yes, those are the names of the ducklings! What do you think Mama will name the gray-feathered duckling?), Nate Flower directed, and Georgia Evans did the costume design.

This play was a TON of fun to write. It went through lots of revisions and tweaks to really land it all (thank you, Kevin Christopher Snipes, Gabe Davis, Mike, Dylan, Luke, Nate, and team!). Can’t wait to see it take life beyond my local world soon. Stay tuned for more information when it’s published. But for now, I’l leave you with these empathetic words from Gorgeous:

“Being gorgeous is also, like, kind of a burden…I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”

Photos by JCP Images