New 1-Minute Monologue: Much Less Room

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If you’re looking for a short dramatic monologue, running about 30 seconds to 1 minute, check out MUCH LESS ROOM. This monologue is from my dark comedy/dramatic play about grief, THE VISITOR IN THE DOORWAY. In the play, Clare has experienced more deep loss than anyone should have to go through, and she knows Grief all too well. After an unimaginable death in her family, Clare runs off to her family cabin in the woods, isolating herself from everyone who might reach out to her. The only visitor she has is the lingering, hovering, persistent, annoying Being outside her cabin who just. won’t. leave: Grief himself, personified. Clare allows him one foot in her doorway, and he works hard to convince her to let him all the way in. The play is a dark comedy, as Grief struggles to do his job; and it’s a drama, as Clare begins to process her pain and loss. The humor and gravity are a necessary team—to relieve and relax us, and then to hit us with the poignancy of tragic reality, as well. For the complete play, THE VISITOR IN THE DOORWAY, click here.

To set the scene for the monologue, MUCH LESS ROOM. Personified Grief has been allowed one foot in Clare’s family cabin doorway, but she is not happy he’s there. After Grief and Clare confront each about other the recent loss, Grief lays out the hard truths that Clare needs to start eating and accepting help and letting people (and him) into her life again or she will die also. Clare retorts, “So?”, and shaken by this, Grief, implores Clare not to die. Feeling great empathy for her, in this monologue, Grief tries to give Clare a bit of Hope that the intensity he brings will not last forever, that Hope will come again, and that he will eventually, take up much less space in her life.

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New Dramatic Monologue about Grieving: Those Black Streaks

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If you’re looking for a reflective monologue about grief and its effects, check out my dramatic monologue, THOSE BLACK STREAKS (or These Black Streaks). In the monologue, Veronica speaks to her friend about her mother’s recent passing. Her mother didn’t give her much advice, even when she probably needed it. But she did always instruct Veronica to not leave the house before putting “her face on.” Veronica waxes to her friend about the irony that the makeup which would typically cover imperfections on her face, now betrays her emotions, mixing with tears to form black streaks on her face, exposing her to the world.

THOSE BLACK STREAKS runs around 1-2 minutes, and is good for a woman looking for a sad monologue, exploring grief, perception, mother-daughter relationships, and how one makes sense of the past in the context of the present.

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New Monologue About Bullying for Adult Actor: The 119th Element

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While many monologues about bullying are for teens or children, THE 119th ELEMENT is for a young to mature male adult actor (20s-80s). Paul is an embittered and awkward scientist, having been bullied all his life by boys, girls, and even his parents. In the monologue, Paul is more than pleased to accept an honor in recognition of his discovering the 119th element (which he has named after himself). He insists this discovery and award prove that despite all the bullying he has experienced, all the doubts and obstacles he’s faced, his most basic theory holds true: He is always right. But…

Did he really make this scientific discovery? And is he really accepting an award at all?

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"Mean-Man Monologues" or Monologues for Actors Who Want to Play Jerks

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Tired of playing the nice guy? Wanna play a jerk? You don’t need to feel left out of the “mean-girl monologue” vibe! If you’re a male actor looking for a monologue where you can let yourself dig into your meaner side, check out this list below. Here are eight (8) “Mean-Man Monologues,” where the main character has either done something stupid (like, um, stealing from his girlfriend’s family or breaking a restraining order to deliver a Christmas tree his ex doesn’t want) or is just acting like a self-centered fill-in-the-blank. Of course, while these are certainly not “Mr. Nice Guy” characters, they still leave lots of room for complex characters, sincere motivations and good arcs. Enjoy finding those moments to make them enthralling and compelling, maybe a little endearing, or at least a character you love to hate!

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"There Once Were Two Clouds in the Sky" to be Published in Smith & Kraus Anthology

Thrilled to share that my 10-minute play, THERE ONCE WERE TWO CLOUDS IN THE SKY, will be published in an upcoming Smith & Kraus anthology, THE BEST TEN-MINUTE PLAYS 2024, edited by Debbie Lamedman. The anthology will be out at the end of the year, showcasing a great variety of awesome short plays, but you can also get a digital version of my play now here.

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Halloween Thriller Dramatic Monologue: Her Mouth is Moving

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If you’re looking for a creepy thriller monologue about guilt, regret, murder and going a little out of one’s mind, check out HER MOUTH IS MOVING. In the monologue, Meghan has murdered a "frenemie" out of rage and now is face to face with the dead corpse. At least, she is pretty sure the victim is dead… except that it seems her mouth is still moving and this is really freaking Meghan out. Meghan is filled with horror and guilt at her own actions, and can barely understand what she has done, but she is starting to grasp the realty and the terrible consequences that she will now face.

HER MOUTH IS MOVING runs around 1 -2 minutes, for a female actor (or any gender if it resonates with you), and is suitable for late teens through mature adult. This monologue gives the actor the opportunity to show a breakdown as Meghan spins out in horror and guilt, due to her impulsive murder.

Right now, HER MOUTH IS MOVING is only available on PerformerStuff. You can read an excerpt and get the full monologue there.

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Dramatic Monologue about Grief and Loss: Strawberry Yogurt Cups Going Bad in the Fridge

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When you experience a deep loss, Grief can haunt you, follow you everywhere or appear suddenly prompted by a sight or smell. Even in joyful moments, Grief knows how to sneak in. In my new monologue, STRAWBERRY YOGURT CUPS GOING BAD IN THE FRIDGE, from the play THE VISITOR IN THE DOORWAY, Grief, as a personified character, speaks to his latest charge, Clare. She has experienced a devastating loss on the heals of another terrible loss, and she begs him to leave her alone for a long time. She feels broken, lost, sad beyond belief, and she’s exhausted by Grief’s continual reappearance in her life. Grief knows that he is often an unwelcome guest and he hates that about himself. He has no control over death, yet he follows Death and has the difficult task of being the physical representation of love and loss.

In STRAWBERRY YOGURT CUPS GOING BAD IN THE FRIDGE, Grief answers Clare’s plea to leave her alone. And unfortunately, he has to give her the hard truth—he just can’t do that. Her love for the one she lost is so deep that he has to stay with her for a long time, and truthfully, he’s never going to leave her entirely.

This dramatic monologue runs around 30 seconds to 1 minute. It’s a short monologue but it has a good arc for Grief, as he showcases Clare’s love, the reminders of her loved-one, and how that deep love is what forces him to stay around her. STRAWBERRY YOGURT CUPS GOING BAD IN THE FRIDGE, is suitable for any gender actor, and any age from teen through mature adult. It’s Grief, after all, a timeless character.

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New Children's Comedic Monologue for Halloween: Annoying Alien

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Check out my new children’s comedic monologue in time for Halloween fun! ANNOYING ALIEN is about, well, just that! Maleeha is one lucky kid that an alien spaceship lands in her backyard, right? Well… Maybe… But once the alien follows her inside of her bedroom, she realizes that having an alien is not quite as cool as she imagined it would be... In fact, this nosy, noisy, hyperactive, slime-dripping alien is kind of annoying.

ANNOYING ALIEN is about 1 minute to 1.5 minutes long, depending on performance, and it gives your child, tween or teen a fun moment to showcase their humorous acting skills, with a nice little arc to this bite-sized story. The monologue is family-friendly, age-appropriate, but fun for a wide age-range and while written for a female character, it is suitable for any gender actor.

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Find Me: A New 5-10 Minute Thriller Monologue

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If you’re looking for a dramatic one-woman show this Halloween, check out my new thriller monologue, FIND ME. It runs 5-10 minutes, depending on performance and staging, and is great for a female actor in her late teens, 20s, 30s.

FIND ME takes place in 1851, at the private burial site of a family estate. A young woman, Elizabeth, is found outside, in the graveyard, shovel in hand, in the dead of night. The setting alone is enough to start amping up those creepy vibes! She is heart-broken, grieving, and now embarking on a chilling quest to bring her deceased husband closer to her… The monologue is spooky and will fit your horror-theater needs, but ultimately, it’s a piece about love, loss, longing and what you might do to have even a chance to be with your true love in any form.

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30 Funny Monologues for Kids

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Check out over 30 Funny Monologues for Kids!

From a child bored with her bedroom ghost to a wanna-be-grinch, from a kid taking extreme measures to get their ipad back to a child chastising their dad for eating jelly beans the wrong way, enjoy this collection of over 30 comedic and age-appropriate monologues for children performers! These unique, funny, family-friendly, “clean,” but clever monologues range from 30 seconds to 2.5 minutes (depending on performance). The characters and arcs in each monologue are fun to play and give child actors (or adults in children’s theater or TYA) a great way to stand out!

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New Dramatic Monologue for Women: Holding On Tightly

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In this new dramatic monologue, HOLDING ON TIGHTLY, from the play THE VISITOR IN THE DOORWAY, Clare speaks to personified Grief himself, who has come to her cabin in the woods and keeps hounding her to let him inside after a recent tragedy. Clare is fed up with who Grief keeps haunting her with multiple deep losses in her life. In the monologue, HOLDING ON TIGHTLY, Clare begins to allow for Grief coming in, as she confesses how the most recent devastating loss has broken her. She asks Grief if the more losses she experiences, the easier it is for more losses to follow.

While the monologue is written for a woman in the play, HOLDING ON TIGHTLY, could be played by any gender with whom it resonates. It runs around 1.5-2 minutes or so, depending on performance. This is a powerful dramatic monologue for an actor really looking to sink into the after-effects of loss. Clare is angry, exhausted, filled with regret and guilt, irritated with Grief, and holds extreme intense sadness. It’s a beautiful and touching monologue as Clare starts to confront what has happened to her, through the support of Grief, standing by and listening. For more context, check out the play from which this comes, THE VISITOR IN THE DOORWAY, as you’ll get a complete feeling for both Clare and Grief.

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New Free Monologue of Grief from The Visitor in the Doorway: Giving You Space

In this new free 30-60 second monologue, GIVING YOU SPACE, Grief is a personified Being who has come to hang around Clare’s cabin door, waiting for her to let him in after a recent devastating tragedy. She has run away from everyone and every thing in her life, isolating herself, not eating or having contact with anyone. In this monologue, Grief lays out some hard truths: she needs to start eating again, accepting help, letting people (and him) into her life again—or she will die also.

This short dramatic monologue, GIVING YOU SPACE, is great for any age—teen, young adult through mature or senior adult actor. While Grief is personified with male pronouns, his role and this monologue are suitable for any gender. It can be a challenge to find a powerful monologue in only 30-60 seconds, but this monologue gives an actor a bite-sized platform to perform something dramatic, empathic, and passionate. It has elements of “tough love” and also sincere empathy and concern. Grief is a somewhat self-deprecating but affable character who knows his task is a hard one, his presence is often unwelcome, yet he has an important and meaningful role to play in the lives of those he visits. You can read more about his character and origin of the play, THE VISITOR IN THE DOORWAY here.

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One-Act Christmas Plays

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Yes, it’s 90 degrees where I am, but I also know theaters are planning holiday shows already! So check out my list of memorable and unique One-Act Christmas Plays, all of which are straight plays—no musicals. The plays range from children’s theater with a 16+ ensemble cast in a Grinching 101 class to an existential 2-person play about Christmas Trees for teens and adults. Enjoy!

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New 1-minute Dramatic Monologue about Love and Grief: 20 Magical Minutes

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My new monologue, 20 Magical Minutes, features a raccoon, but don’t let the animal fur make you think this is a light-hearted children’s monologue. This monologue, from the play, 20 MAGICAL MINUTES OF DARKNESS AND SILENCE AND PEACE, is about grieving, love, acceptance, and honoring someone. One producer shared with me his reaction over reading the play for the first time, sitting next to his co-producer. He emailed me this verbatim dialogue from the coffee shop where they were reading through 1000 or so scripts:

Producer 1: Are you okay?
Producer 2: (through tears) I'm crying over this play about raccoons.
Producer 1: Oh my lord.

Well, folks, sometimes a racoon is not just a raccoon!

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The Visitor in the Doorway: New one-act play about Grief (literally)

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This Spring, a theater company I often work with posted a call for submissions that were inspired by specific songs (skip to my new play, THE VISITOR IN THE DOORWAY). The plays selected would be showcased in a one-act festival, and after each play, the song which inspired it would be sung by a talented local musician (Anne Carpenter). I glanced at the list sent out by the Executive Director, recognizing a few songs, then went to the beginning of the list and began playing 30 seconds or so of each song to feel how it resonated. When I got to this rendition of Mavis Staples singing Hard Times Come Again No More by Stephen Foster, it kind of took my breath away. I’d heard this song before and had always loved it, but there was something majestic, inspiring, bitter-sweet, sad, but hopeful, and so powerful about this version. I knew this was the song that would inspire my new play.

I literally closed my eyes and let the song wash over me as I began to visualize... This refrain…

'Tis the song, the sigh of the weary
Hard times, hard times, come again no more
Many days you have lingered around my cabin door
Oh, hard times, come again no more

I loved how the lyrics have the singer speaking to Hard Times directly, as though Hard Times is a kind of entity, a Being that is lingering around her cabin door and just won’t leave. I could feel this weary, exhausted person, who had been through so much, just begging Hard Times to finally leave. Leave her alone. Leave and don’t come back.

While this song can be about many things, to me, Hard Times, this Being hovering at the of this exhausted woman, started to morph into…well…who comes during Hard Times? Grief himself.

And the character of Grief started to form…

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Production Photos from There Once Were Two Clouds in the Sky

I love getting a nice batch of production photos back, and when you have some far-out costumes to showcase, that just adds an extra layer of fun! THERE ONCE WERE TWO CLOUDS IN THE SKY is a short comedy/drama where two clouds (yes, clouds are the characters!) strive to find purpose in their short lives before dissipating. It has been performed by middle-school actors to middle-aged actors and resonates at various points in one’s life. It first premiered at the fantastic Fusion Theatre (and won the Branford Gromelski Jury Award in THE SEVEN). I’ve seen photos from this play where people costume it up or down, and both styles work in their own way. But these current production photos fall in the “costumed up” category!

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Two Christmas Trees on Their Way to The Great Pyramid of Giza: New One-Act Christmas Drama/Comedy

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Happy Christmas in July!

I can always tell when it’s Christmas production audition time as I begin getting a slew of Christmas monologue sales here! Well! Enjoy browsing Christmas monologues during this intense heat, and if you’re considering producing a short but sophisticated Christmas play for 2 strong actors, with a bit of humor, and a bit of drama, check out my new play, TWO CHRISTMAS TREES ON THEIR WAY TO THE GREAT PYRAMID OF GIZA. While yes, the 2 characters are talking Christmas Trees, this isn’t exactly a children’s play. It’s touching and charming and has funny moments; but it’s also about our short time on Earth, what we leave behind, what we choose to do with time we have, and whom we choose to spend those precious years—or minutes—with (think the musicians playing as the Titanic goes down…). All told through the voices of two Douglas Firs. So what exactly is this play o’ trees about?

Dear Tree and Darling Tree have lived the past 8 years side-by-side on the Christmas Tree Farm. But as the family with matching Santa hats (and an axe) keeps checking them out, they realize a hard truth: one of them is going to be chopped down. Now. Will they live on together as stumps in the ground, or will they be separated to live as Christmas Trees in people’s homes before dying out completely? And is there any way they can escape this impending fate?

Check the play and excerpt here, and click below for more—

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New One-Woman One-Act Play: The Eyes of Old Bet

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Years ago, I visited a friend in Somers, NY, and passed by a building called “The Elephant Hotel,” complete with a small elephant statue erected on a pole high in the air. (Skip to my one-woman play, THE EYES OF OLD BET) I asked my friend about it and she explained that in the early 1800s, a man with the last name of Bailey had acquired one the first or second elephant in America at his farm in Somers. Later, Bailey would go on to create a touring menagerie (aka, rudimentary circus) with this elephant and other exotic animals at the time.

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Production Photos of 20 Magical Minutes of Darkness and Silence and Peace

Ooooh—wanna see some fun production photos of my one-act play, 20 MAGICAL MINUTES OF DARKNESS AND SILENCE AND PEACE? I was lucky enough to be involved in this local production of the play toward the end of of 2023 in the Aery Festival at Philipstown Depot Theatre (yes, the theater is right at the train station!), and got some great photos back from JCP Images. The play is a sort of heighted dramatic/comedic piece about grief and relying on others and finding value in yourself, and…raccoons. Yes, it’s definitely about raccoons! Nathan Flower brilliantly directed the play and created such a cool and grungy, dark but gorgeous, haunting but sweet aesthetic; Missy Flower and Miguel Angel Guzmán were absolutely amazing as raccoons, Joffrey and Grace. Click to read a free excerpt, get the whole play or learn more about the play (it’s about 10-15 minutes long for 2 actors). Enjoy the gallery below!

And always feel free to send me your production photos of my plays or monologues. I love to see!

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