Tara Meddaugh

Tara is an award-winning published playwright whose plays and monologues have been performed around the world from Norway to Australia, Ireland to the UAE. She holds her MFA in Dramatic Writing from Carnegie Mellon University and is a member of the Dramatists Guild. Select theatrical honors include The Sloan Screenwriting Fellowship, The AriZoni Theater Award for Excellence, The Shubert Fellowship in Dramatic Writing, The Arts Alive Recovery NY Regrant Award, The East Valley Children’s Theater Playwright Award, The Bradford Gromelski Jury Award, The New Works for Young Women [Actors] Award, and The Write Stuff Award. Her work has been published by Smith & Kraus, YouthPLAYS, Oxford Press South Africa, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA), Limelight, PerformerStuff, and...

Tara is an award-winning published playwright whose plays and monologues have been performed around the world from Norway to Australia, Ireland to the UAE. She holds her MFA in Dramatic Writing from Carnegie Mellon University and is a member of the Dramatists Guild. Select theatrical honors include The Sloan Screenwriting Fellowship, The AriZoni Theater Award for Excellence, The Shubert Fellowship in Dramatic Writing, The Arts Alive Recovery NY Regrant Award, The East Valley Children’s Theater Playwright Award, The Bradford Gromelski Jury Award, The New Works for Young Women [Actors] Award, and The Write Stuff Award. Her work has been published by Smith & Kraus, YouthPLAYS, Oxford Press South Africa, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA), Limelight, PerformerStuff, and Meriweather, including appearances in textbooks as well as “Best 10-Minute Plays” and “Best Stage Monologues” anthologies. Tara’s plays have been presented by theater companies, universities, studios and schools throughout the world, as well as showcasing in festivals from Alaska to Bangkok, New York to South Africa. Tens of thousands of teachers, actors and students worldwide have utilized her monologues for competitions, course material, auditions, performances, and showcases. Additionally, she has script consulted on several animation and VR projects, created an interactive multi-media adventure at a library and once wrote monologues for a receptionist robot when Siri was just a twinkle in Apple’s eye. Tara has taught Playwriting at Carnegie Mellon University, the Pittsburgh Public Theatre, The Westport Country Playhouse, and numerous Theater workshops for children. She lives with her creative husband and kids, and their fluffy cat, Kiwi.

Scripts

The Underground Adventures of a Carrot and Potato

by Tara Meddaugh

Synopsis

Vegetables are only supposed to do two things: grow where they’re planted and keep to their own kind. But when a dancing carrot meets a groove-loving potato, their new forbidden friendship inspires them to embark on a quest to change the rules of their stodgy garden society. Their journey won’t be easy, of course, but luckily, our duo is joined by a ragtag team of vegetables with their own reasons to shake up...

Vegetables are only supposed to do two things: grow where they’re planted and keep to their own kind. But when a dancing carrot meets a groove-loving potato, their new forbidden friendship inspires them to embark on a quest to change the rules of their stodgy garden society. Their journey won’t be easy, of course, but luckily, our duo is joined by a ragtag team of vegetables with their own reasons to shake up the norm. Can they work together to overcome hungry bugs out to eat them, a dangerously playful dog and that pesky band of mean carrots on the hunt to stop them?

20 MAGICAL MINUTES OF DARKNESS & SILENCE & PEACE

by Tara Meddaugh

Synopsis

In this 2-person 10-minute dark comedy, Grace, a raccoon, is begrudgingly charged to find, and bring back, her fellow raccoon who has gone missing after a shocking personal tragedy. When she finally finds the depressed Joffrey in a train station parking lot, he refuses to come back with her. Yet. Because he has something important he has to do first. In this parking lot. And he needs her help.

This is a play...

In this 2-person 10-minute dark comedy, Grace, a raccoon, is begrudgingly charged to find, and bring back, her fellow raccoon who has gone missing after a shocking personal tragedy. When she finally finds the depressed Joffrey in a train station parking lot, he refuses to come back with her. Yet. Because he has something important he has to do first. In this parking lot. And he needs her help.

This is a play where our feature characters (in fact, our only characters) are raccoons. They talk about cat food and their gaze and pizza from a dumpster and being tired when staying awake during the daylight. But at its core, this is a story about love, loss, pain, grief and ultimately friendship—which is 100% relatable to humans.

Funeral for a Crayfish - a 5-minute children's play

by Tara Meddaugh

Synopsis

When a classroom crayfish meets an untimely demise, Ari and Queen must figure out whose crayfish suffered this unexpected fate! It’s going to take some clever detective skills though, because unfortunately, Juliet used the same color permanent marker to dot her crayfish’s back as Ari did! Will the clues they uncover be enough to solve the mystery? This is a 5-minute comedy which explores friendship, problem...

When a classroom crayfish meets an untimely demise, Ari and Queen must figure out whose crayfish suffered this unexpected fate! It’s going to take some clever detective skills though, because unfortunately, Juliet used the same color permanent marker to dot her crayfish’s back as Ari did! Will the clues they uncover be enough to solve the mystery? This is a 5-minute comedy which explores friendship, problem solving and working together! It also includes a fun Question and Answer page all about crayfish!

The Shipwreck Solution - 5-minute children's play

by Tara Meddaugh

Synopsis

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 abandoned shipwreck on the ocean floor! No one wants to share, no one wants to live somewhere else and…uh oh…what if someone might want to eat someone else for lunch? Check out The Shipwreck Solution to discover if these four, very different creatures, can find a way to work it out!
*The...

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 abandoned shipwreck on the ocean floor! No one wants to share, no one wants to live somewhere else and…uh oh…what if someone might want to eat someone else for lunch? Check out The Shipwreck Solution to discover if these four, very different creatures, can find a way to work it out!
*The Shipwreck Solution includes a “Yes, It’s True” page featuring fun facts referencing the animals you read about, as well as a glossary with a few key terms.

Poorly Wrapped

by Tara Meddaugh

Synopsis

When Grace, a beautiful and mysterious woman, walks into a local gift shop on a small island, the sales clerk is instantly smitten with her. Under Grace’s “guidance,” Clark goes to extreme lengths to make sure she is satisfied with her purchase. Yet as her demands increase, Clark is torn between his duty to the shop and his growing lust of this stranger.

When Grace, a beautiful and mysterious woman, walks into a local gift shop on a small island, the sales clerk is instantly smitten with her. Under Grace’s “guidance,” Clark goes to extreme lengths to make sure she is satisfied with her purchase. Yet as her demands increase, Clark is torn between his duty to the shop and his growing lust of this stranger.

Christmas Superpowers and Believing in Blitzen

by Tara Meddaugh

Synopsis

Take a snowy walk through the child-like magic of Christmas, where reindeer talk, Santa is real, and who wants super powers?

To four children, Christmas is no simple sleigh ride. Annie’s new best friend is a talking reindeer, and she’s not sure if that’s really okay. Sam is experiencing the pressure of being the Lead Shepherd in the church pageant. Dylan has a very secretive wish he hopes Santa can deliver...

Take a snowy walk through the child-like magic of Christmas, where reindeer talk, Santa is real, and who wants super powers?

To four children, Christmas is no simple sleigh ride. Annie’s new best friend is a talking reindeer, and she’s not sure if that’s really okay. Sam is experiencing the pressure of being the Lead Shepherd in the church pageant. Dylan has a very secretive wish he hopes Santa can deliver. And Lauren needs to make sure someone is giving her little brother a very special Christmas. Experience the joys and challenges of Christmas through the eyes of these children in this monologue-driven one-act comedy.

The Victory Garden Plays

by Tara Meddaugh

Synopsis

While soldiers fight abroad in WW2, those remaining on the home front strive to make a difference by creating Victory Gardens, supplementing limited food supply. But the pressures on the home front extend much further than simply growing produce. A child worries her failing rooftop garden is an omen of misfortune for her father’s return from a POW camp. An infertile woman throws her purpose into feeding...

While soldiers fight abroad in WW2, those remaining on the home front strive to make a difference by creating Victory Gardens, supplementing limited food supply. But the pressures on the home front extend much further than simply growing produce. A child worries her failing rooftop garden is an omen of misfortune for her father’s return from a POW camp. An infertile woman throws her purpose into feeding neighborhood families. A wealthy man whose chemical plant is commissioned by the government for war purposes struggles with how to leave a meaningful legacy not tainted with warfare. These stories, and more, are given light in The Victory Garden Plays, a series of 7 vignettes chronicling people’s journeys with their new realities of love, growth, life and death.

When Marshmallows Burn

by Tara Meddaugh

Synopsis

Sammy and his mom are enjoying roasting marshmallows by the fire, under the full moon, when something very strange starts to happen. Sammy’s arms look a little furry. His teeth look a lot like fangs. And he has a sudden urge to kill squirrels—and eat them raw. What (or who) else will he have an urge to kill? Is there anything his mother can do to stop him, or can she ultimately accept and love him?

This is a...

Sammy and his mom are enjoying roasting marshmallows by the fire, under the full moon, when something very strange starts to happen. Sammy’s arms look a little furry. His teeth look a lot like fangs. And he has a sudden urge to kill squirrels—and eat them raw. What (or who) else will he have an urge to kill? Is there anything his mother can do to stop him, or can she ultimately accept and love him?

This is a dark comedy about a boy becoming a werewolf, but it’s also a story about needing acceptance and love, in the face of evolving identity.

Black and White and Red All Over

by Tara Meddaugh

Synopsis

A frivolous couple passes irrelevant time by hiring and firing servants, and trying to make sense of articles in stacks of old newspapers. But when the Wife wants more out of her life, she charges her Husband with a perilous task... Meanwhile, four eclectic strangers wind up secretly waiting together in this couple's bathroom. When they discover the reasons they have all been put together, the absurdities and...

A frivolous couple passes irrelevant time by hiring and firing servants, and trying to make sense of articles in stacks of old newspapers. But when the Wife wants more out of her life, she charges her Husband with a perilous task... Meanwhile, four eclectic strangers wind up secretly waiting together in this couple's bathroom. When they discover the reasons they have all been put together, the absurdities and danger of their situation become alarmingly clear. This is an absurdist dark comedy about finding truth amongst different realities, self-interest versus altruism and how far someone will go for the people they love. It harkens back to writers like Ionesco, Beckett and Durang, bringing a heightened world, playful language, absurd, sometimes cruel, humor.

A Human Body to Hug (a Zoom Play)

by Tara Meddaugh

Synopsis

Cody and Dana are on their first date. And they’re a bit awkward. And it’s a blind date. And it’s on Zoom. During a global pandemic. Yet, despite their Spring 2020 circumstances, they work toward finding a way to connect. This is a rom-com play designed to be performed on Zoom.

Cody and Dana are on their first date. And they’re a bit awkward. And it’s a blind date. And it’s on Zoom. During a global pandemic. Yet, despite their Spring 2020 circumstances, they work toward finding a way to connect. This is a rom-com play designed to be performed on Zoom.

What's Inside The Eiffel Tower Coffee Mug

by Tara Meddaugh

Synopsis

On their 10th wedding anniversary, Rebecca finally reveals to Henry a secret collection she has been hoarding. But what Henry sees inside his souvenir coffee mugs may change their marriage forever.

On their 10th wedding anniversary, Rebecca finally reveals to Henry a secret collection she has been hoarding. But what Henry sees inside his souvenir coffee mugs may change their marriage forever.

Jumping The Wind

by Tara Meddaugh

Synopsis

Two pieces of pollen must make the daring jump from a dying flower to a fresh one. The pollen leader has stayed behind to coax the last frightened pollen to make the necessary jump, but the young pollen does not entirely trust the leader and his teachings.

Two pieces of pollen must make the daring jump from a dying flower to a fresh one. The pollen leader has stayed behind to coax the last frightened pollen to make the necessary jump, but the young pollen does not entirely trust the leader and his teachings.

Knocking Louder

by Tara Meddaugh

Synopsis

Carol adores, but neglects, the newborn baby placed in her custody. When her sister, Lilah, insists the baby be returned to his biological mother, Carol takes extreme measures to ensure she keep the infant - or no one does.

Carol adores, but neglects, the newborn baby placed in her custody. When her sister, Lilah, insists the baby be returned to his biological mother, Carol takes extreme measures to ensure she keep the infant - or no one does.

Under The Ashes

by Tara Meddaugh

Synopsis

Emmett frantically searches for keys to his private office which he thinks his wife has hidden. But before Lorna will answer his questions about the keys, she insists on telling him about her day, including the mysterious trinket she says her lost son has sent her.

Emmett frantically searches for keys to his private office which he thinks his wife has hidden. But before Lorna will answer his questions about the keys, she insists on telling him about her day, including the mysterious trinket she says her lost son has sent her.

Holding Ginger

by Tara Meddaugh

Synopsis

When Jenna breaks a special gift a boy gave her older sister, they are not only faced with broken glass to clean up, but they are also faced with the changing dynamics of their family.

When Jenna breaks a special gift a boy gave her older sister, they are not only faced with broken glass to clean up, but they are also faced with the changing dynamics of their family.

A Life Spurred into Meaningful Adventure

by Tara Meddaugh

Synopsis

When Goldilocks and Little Bear find themselves alone in the forest, they must decide if they will embark on a new future together.

When Goldilocks and Little Bear find themselves alone in the forest, they must decide if they will embark on a new future together.

Alfred and Lily and Their Marvelous Tank in the Forest

by Tara Meddaugh

Synopsis

Frogs, Alfred and Lily, are transplanted to a mysterious tank in the forest. While Lily marvels at the beautiful new surroundings, Alfred begins to notice strange happenings--the water is drying up, creatures are being swept up from tanks by birds, and the perfume sprinklings Lily loves don't seem quite right. As Alfred struggles to convince Lily they should try to escape, they realize it may already be too late...

Frogs, Alfred and Lily, are transplanted to a mysterious tank in the forest. While Lily marvels at the beautiful new surroundings, Alfred begins to notice strange happenings--the water is drying up, creatures are being swept up from tanks by birds, and the perfume sprinklings Lily loves don't seem quite right. As Alfred struggles to convince Lily they should try to escape, they realize it may already be too late.

Seventeen Stitches

by Tara Meddaugh

Synopsis

Two teenagers meet in a vortex-like space between opposing lines of people. While Rachel is simply passing the time before she returns to her place in line, Peter has stepped out of his line in protest. As the lines begin to close in on them, he must make a life-altering decision by choosing to continue forging his path in his father’s line, or join the haunting allure of Rachel’s line, the “line of diamonds.”

Two teenagers meet in a vortex-like space between opposing lines of people. While Rachel is simply passing the time before she returns to her place in line, Peter has stepped out of his line in protest. As the lines begin to close in on them, he must make a life-altering decision by choosing to continue forging his path in his father’s line, or join the haunting allure of Rachel’s line, the “line of diamonds.”

For My Silent Sisters

by Tara Meddaugh

Synopsis

Set in the countries of Cambodia, Romania, India and the United States, four teenagers struggle to escape the dark underworld of human trafficking. Jorani has been sold to a brothel in payment for her sister’s gambling debt, and her Buddhist upbringing is put to the test. Marta seeks a new life as a translator in England, but after finding her “employer” has vastly different plans for her, she must risk her...

Set in the countries of Cambodia, Romania, India and the United States, four teenagers struggle to escape the dark underworld of human trafficking. Jorani has been sold to a brothel in payment for her sister’s gambling debt, and her Buddhist upbringing is put to the test. Marta seeks a new life as a translator in England, but after finding her “employer” has vastly different plans for her, she must risk her own life to save another. After a fight with her father, Claire meets an older man whom she starts to fall for—but whose manipulation over her brings on severe consequences. Abhay, living on the streets of Mumbai, finds employment at a brothel and must decide if the “good life” is worth the atrocities. While living in four different parts of the world, their lives are intertwined, and their support of each other binds this connection. This drama shines light on the real horrors that occur all over the world, and the hope and faith that allow children to survive.

Free Space

by Tara Meddaugh

Synopsis

Amelia spends her days under the watchful eye of her mother, doing the same nothing she has done for years. Yet when Bingo arrives at her local community center, a talking Bingo chip convinces Amelia that forming her own game is the way out of this life and away from her controlling mother. However, as her mother begins acting like her newly arrived sister, and the chip becomes increasingly dominating, Amelia...

Amelia spends her days under the watchful eye of her mother, doing the same nothing she has done for years. Yet when Bingo arrives at her local community center, a talking Bingo chip convinces Amelia that forming her own game is the way out of this life and away from her controlling mother. However, as her mother begins acting like her newly arrived sister, and the chip becomes increasingly dominating, Amelia discovers her new life is nothing as she imagined.

Movements of the Wind

by Tara Meddaugh

Synopsis

As wind sweeps through a garden, its inhabitants must confront the volatile effects of Mother Nature, as well as their own changing nature. The story follows several short, intertwined pieces, as Carrot and Potato, taught to be enemies from birth, struggle to remain friends, Tulip wants more out of life than only her partner, and two pieces of pollen attempt to make a dangerous jump from a dying flower to a...

As wind sweeps through a garden, its inhabitants must confront the volatile effects of Mother Nature, as well as their own changing nature. The story follows several short, intertwined pieces, as Carrot and Potato, taught to be enemies from birth, struggle to remain friends, Tulip wants more out of life than only her partner, and two pieces of pollen attempt to make a dangerous jump from a dying flower to a fresh one. Through sacrifice and friendship, they must not only survive their trials, but also come to populate another generation.
https://www.tarameddaugh.com/movements-of-the-wind