Rachel Luann Strayer

Rachel Luann Strayer

Rachel Luann Strayer (she/her/hers) is a Pennsylvania playwright with an MFA from Wilkes University. She loves writing plays that center on women, from drama and dark comedy to horror and historical fiction.

Her full-length plays include DROWNING OPHELIA (Repurposed Theatre, Gaslight Theatre Company, Philadelphia Fringe Festival, University of Idaho); THE POE ASYLUM (Scranton Fringe Festival,...
Rachel Luann Strayer (she/her/hers) is a Pennsylvania playwright with an MFA from Wilkes University. She loves writing plays that center on women, from drama and dark comedy to horror and historical fiction.

Her full-length plays include DROWNING OPHELIA (Repurposed Theatre, Gaslight Theatre Company, Philadelphia Fringe Festival, University of Idaho); THE POE ASYLUM (Scranton Fringe Festival, Keystone College); THE LAST DAUGHTER (Finalist, 2020 Jane Chambers Award for Excellence in Feminist Playwriting); SONGBIRD (The Bechdel Group reading, Premiere Stages at Kean University reading); and her first two plays for teens, A DECAMERON FOR THE APOCALYPSE and AFTER JANE. Rachel's short plays have been produced internationally, as well as receiving online productions during the COVID-19 quarantine. Short plays include: EMPATHY, A CLEAN BATHROOM, THE NEXT STEP, IN THE DARK, IT’S ENOUGH, SAFE AS HOUSES, and SISTERS (Gaslight Theatre Company); GHOST STORY (Gaslight Theatre Company, CenterStage Theatre); GHOST IN THE WALL, STILL LIFE, and QUARANTINE EATING (Theatre is the Cure); I'LL BE ZOOMING YOU (Millersville University); LIGHT THE WAY BACK (Millersville University, Auburn University, Nechako Lake School District) and LIGHT (One-Minute Play Festival, Auburn University). Rachel has been a member of the Dramatists Guild since 2015.

Plays

  • A Decameron for the Apocalypse by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 2
    ·
    Cast: 
    10–30
    ·
    Genre: dark comedy, drama + 2 more
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    Keyword: teenagers, Mental Health + 8 more
    Genre: dark comedy, drama, fantasy, movement/physical
    Keyword: teenagers, Mental Health, anxiety, sexual assault, learning disability, transgender issues, faith, apocalypse, pandemic, high school appropriate
    FULL-LENGTH PLAY FOR TEENS. McAllen High School presents the World Premiere High School Production on March 23, 2021.

    Seven teenagers find themselves trapped with their creative writing teacher in a library basement during the apocalypse. One by one, they tell stories to pass the time, each one unraveling truths about the wars they're fighting within and, in some cases, the battles they...
    FULL-LENGTH PLAY FOR TEENS. McAllen High School presents the World Premiere High School Production on March 23, 2021.

    Seven teenagers find themselves trapped with their creative writing teacher in a library basement during the apocalypse. One by one, they tell stories to pass the time, each one unraveling truths about the wars they're fighting within and, in some cases, the battles they're fighting with each other. But the apocalypse above is about to intrude on their solitary world and the way they respond will change each of them forever.
  • After Jane by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 3
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    Cast: 
    10–30
    ·
    Genre: biography, comedy + 10 more
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    Keyword: Lady Jane Grey, Tudor + 7 more
    Genre: biography, comedy, dark comedy, docudrama/historic, drama, faith-based, farce, parody/spoof, period, romantic comedy, satire, tragedy
    Keyword: Lady Jane Grey, Tudor, British history, spoof, historical fiction, teens, loss, teen death, high school appropriate
    FULL-LENGTH PLAY FOR TEENS. Jane, Kat, and Mary Grey could be normal teenage girls navigating the world of parties, parents, and cute teenage boys, except for the fact that this is 1553 and one of them is about to become Queen of England at age sixteen. This irreverent take on true historical events highlights the absurdity of the position these sisters found themselves in, while also diving into the aftermath of true loss and tragedy.
  • Drowning Ophelia by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 7
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    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 1 more
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    Keyword: metoo, memory + 3 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, drama
    Keyword: metoo, memory, sexual abuse, Shakespeare, Hamlet
    FULL-LENGTH PLAY. 15-page excerpt posted on New Play Exchange. Full script available through Blue Moon Plays: https://havescripts.com/product/drowning-ophelia/

    Jane doesn’t know what to do with the literary character who has taken up residence in her bathtub. Ophelia delights in singing songs about death and valentines, interrupting Jane’s carefully planned fantasy dates with an actor named...
    FULL-LENGTH PLAY. 15-page excerpt posted on New Play Exchange. Full script available through Blue Moon Plays: https://havescripts.com/product/drowning-ophelia/

    Jane doesn’t know what to do with the literary character who has taken up residence in her bathtub. Ophelia delights in singing songs about death and valentines, interrupting Jane’s carefully planned fantasy dates with an actor named Edmund, and bringing up memories of a brother Jane would rather forget. As Jane’s past intrudes dangerously on her present, it becomes clear that Ophelia is not simply a character from "Hamlet," but a long-forgotten messenger with a question from Jane’s own troubled mind: How do you move on when reconciliation is not an option?

    "Drowning Ophelia" is a dark comedy performed in one act about the long-term consequences of childhood abuse, and a love letter to those who have suffered. There is always hope.
  • Last of the Vampire Hunters by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Cast: 
    5
    ·
    Genre: adventure, comedy + 6 more
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    Keyword: mother daughter relationships, family conflict + 2 more
    Genre: adventure, comedy, dark comedy, drama, experimental, fantasy, horror, science fiction
    Keyword: mother daughter relationships, family conflict, sword fighting, adult child with aging parent
    FULL-LENGTH PLAY. Halle is an author trying to recover from writer’s block while also caring for her mother, an over-medicated hypochondriac with a very real heart problem. As Halle navigates the fight scenes in her new novel, her main character Cyrene – the last of the vampire hunters – starts to invade Halle’s everyday life in real and physical ways. Soon Halle is having sword fights with a faceless enemy,...
    FULL-LENGTH PLAY. Halle is an author trying to recover from writer’s block while also caring for her mother, an over-medicated hypochondriac with a very real heart problem. As Halle navigates the fight scenes in her new novel, her main character Cyrene – the last of the vampire hunters – starts to invade Halle’s everyday life in real and physical ways. Soon Halle is having sword fights with a faceless enemy, while also engaging in a verbal war with her emotionally manipulative mother. As the fights on the page spill into Halle’s life, she will need to decide which is more important: destroying her enemy or discovering peace.
  • Songbird by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 4
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    Cast: 
    5
    ·
    Genre: dark comedy, drama
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    Keyword: Selective mutism, silence + 8 more
    Genre: dark comedy, drama
    Keyword: Selective mutism, silence, trauma, metoo, sexual assault, rape, child abuse, sibling dynamics, friendship, Hope
    FULL-LENGTH PLAY WITH SONGS. Premiere Stages at Kean University Finalist - Virtual Reading on March 19, 2021. http://www.premierestagesatkean.com/current-shows

    Jess is an up-and-coming singer/songwriter who doesn't want to talk about why she abandoned her career. In fact, she doesn't want to talk about it so badly that she hasn't spoken or sung about anything in months. Jess'...
    FULL-LENGTH PLAY WITH SONGS. Premiere Stages at Kean University Finalist - Virtual Reading on March 19, 2021. http://www.premierestagesatkean.com/current-shows

    Jess is an up-and-coming singer/songwriter who doesn't want to talk about why she abandoned her career. In fact, she doesn't want to talk about it so badly that she hasn't spoken or sung about anything in months. Jess's sister, Brit, thinks a beach trip to their old family vacation spot is just the trick to get Jess to open up. What Brit doesn't expect is for her sister to stay silent, while also making friends with a young teenager who breaks into their beach house. Jess is haunted by the events that led up to her vow of silence, even as she is battered by her sister's insecurities and troubled by signs of abuse marking her new friend's face. As tensions rise, Jess knows there are words that have to be spoken; she's just hoping she has the right ones.
  • The Last Daughter by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 3
    ·
    Cast: 
    5
    ·
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 2 more
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    Keyword: choice, Reproductive Rights + 4 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, drama, science fiction
    Keyword: choice, Reproductive Rights, reproductive freedom, childbirth, fertility, feminism
    FULL-LENGTH PLAY. Finalist for the 2020 Jane Chambers Award for Excellence in Feminist Playwriting.

    What if the last fertile woman on earth didn't want to have children? When Eve discovers she is the only known woman still able to conceive a child, she has no idea how radically her life is about to change. Immediately, Eve is put into a box - a literal, bulletproof, could-withstand-a-...
    FULL-LENGTH PLAY. Finalist for the 2020 Jane Chambers Award for Excellence in Feminist Playwriting.

    What if the last fertile woman on earth didn't want to have children? When Eve discovers she is the only known woman still able to conceive a child, she has no idea how radically her life is about to change. Immediately, Eve is put into a box - a literal, bulletproof, could-withstand-a-nuclear-blast-box - where she is looked after by a vaguely charming (and terribly un-funny) doctor and spied on by an ever-present Very Important Person. Eve's ecstatic mother is on hand, with a parade of horrid would-be suitors, intent on impregnating the very last of the Last Daughters. In this environment, it's impossible for Eve to figure out if she actually wants to have children, not that anyone cares what she wants. But can Eve really look into the face of her barren sister, Elizabeth, and reject what her sister so desperately desires?
  • The Poe Asylum by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 3
    ·
    Cast: 
    4–30
    ·
    Genre: adaptation, drama + 5 more
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    Keyword: Edgar Allan Poe, Mental Health + 3 more
    Genre: adaptation, drama, experimental, horror, immersive, movement/physical, mystery/thriller
    Keyword: Edgar Allan Poe, Mental Health, mental illness, horror, halloween
    FULL-LENGTH PLAY. THE POE ASYLUM is an immersive theatrical adaptation based on four terrifying short stories and one tragic poem by master of the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe. Audience members move from room to room in the asylum, watching and listening as stories of horror unfold. A captive recounts their imprisonment and torture. A woman calls out for her lost daughter, only to be answered by an enigmatic raven...
    FULL-LENGTH PLAY. THE POE ASYLUM is an immersive theatrical adaptation based on four terrifying short stories and one tragic poem by master of the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe. Audience members move from room to room in the asylum, watching and listening as stories of horror unfold. A captive recounts their imprisonment and torture. A woman calls out for her lost daughter, only to be answered by an enigmatic raven. Another patient fights with the uncontrollable and irrational desire to commit murder. But these are merely stories told by troubled minds. What is the true pain lurking behind the tales these men and women tell? The audience will have to ponder if these individuals are really patients in a mental asylum, or if they are simply trapped in their own minds by the demons they created. And then comes the greatest question of all: where is hope?

    THE POE ASYLUM may be performed as an immersive piece, or traditionally staged on a proscenium at the director's discretion. While there are five scenes in total, rights may be acquired to perform fewer scenes.

    If performed in full as an immersive piece, cast size may be as few as 9 with doubling, or as many as 30+.
    If performed on a stage with scene breaks, cast size may be as few as 4 with doubling.
  • A Clean Bathroom by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 2
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    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy
    ·
    Keyword: affair, marriage + 1 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: affair, marriage, forgiveness
    TEN-MINUTE PLAY. Charlize won't let her husband Roy use the bathroom while she's cleaning. Which sucks for Roy, since he REALLY has to pee. But the real conflict has less to do with a clean bathroom, and more to do with accepting what can't be scrubbed away. First commissioned and performed by Gaslight Theatre Company for their PlayRoom Series.
  • Balconies by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 3
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    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: love, Temptation + 1 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: love, Temptation, desire
    THREE-MINUTE PLAY. A man and a woman stand right next to each other, but a million miles apart. What does it take to get what you want? A 3-minute play about the things we don't reach for, no matter how close.
  • Character Points by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 1
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    Cast: 
    5
    ·
    Genre: adventure, comedy + 4 more
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    Keyword: teen, rpg + 8 more
    Genre: adventure, comedy, drama, fantasy, horror, young audiences
    Keyword: teen, rpg, role-playing, geek culture, nerds, cheerleaders, stereotypes, acceptance, belonging, high school appropriate
    TEN-MINUTE PLAY FOR TEENS. A diverse group of girl geeks gather to play their favorite vampire RPG when they are invaded by the most fearsome creature of all - a popular girl.

    CHARACTER POINTS was created for The Bechdel Group Overnight Writing Challenge on January 10th & 11th, 2021.
  • Empathy by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    4–5
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: PTSD, grief + 1 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: PTSD, grief, loss of a child
    TEN-MINUTE PLAY. In the wake of terrible news, Imogen can't understand why her husband continues to open and close their refrigerator door while refusing to eat anything, why he won't shower or pick up a knife, or why he shudders when the water turns on. If she learns the truth, will she empathize with what he's suffering? And is that what she really wants? First commissioned and performed by...
    TEN-MINUTE PLAY. In the wake of terrible news, Imogen can't understand why her husband continues to open and close their refrigerator door while refusing to eat anything, why he won't shower or pick up a knife, or why he shudders when the water turns on. If she learns the truth, will she empathize with what he's suffering? And is that what she really wants? First commissioned and performed by Gaslight Theatre Company as part of their PlayRoom Series.
  • Ghost Story by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 2
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    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama + 2 more
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    Keyword: death, ghost story + 6 more
    Genre: comedy, drama, holiday, horror
    Keyword: death, ghost story, christmas, family, loss, death of a parent, Relationships, fear
    TEN-MINUTE PLAY. Natalie is committed to her favorite holiday tradition - reading ghost stories on Christmas Eve - but her husband, Doug, very much wants to decorate the Christmas tree, drink hot chocolate, and watch something safe, like "Snoopy Saves Christmas." As Natalie persists in her reading endeavor (despite Doug's numerous distractions), an unexpected guest invades their home, bringing...
    TEN-MINUTE PLAY. Natalie is committed to her favorite holiday tradition - reading ghost stories on Christmas Eve - but her husband, Doug, very much wants to decorate the Christmas tree, drink hot chocolate, and watch something safe, like "Snoopy Saves Christmas." As Natalie persists in her reading endeavor (despite Doug's numerous distractions), an unexpected guest invades their home, bringing emotions to the surface that Natalie needs so desperately to deal with.
  • I'll Be Zooming You by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 3
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama + 3 more
    ·
    Keyword: zoom, Quarantine + 5 more
    Genre: comedy, drama, experimental, romantic comedy, zoom
    Keyword: zoom, Quarantine, Self-quarantine, self-isolation, dating, Relationships, Long-distance love
    TEN-MINUTE PLAY. Distance is a challenge for any relationship, even with technology to bridge the gap. Clea and Riff are struggling through their "second date" on Zoom, but more than that, they're struggling to figure whether or not their relationship works when distance is no longer an option. Written specifically to be performed through the Zoom platform, I'LL BE ZOOMING YOU could also be...
    TEN-MINUTE PLAY. Distance is a challenge for any relationship, even with technology to bridge the gap. Clea and Riff are struggling through their "second date" on Zoom, but more than that, they're struggling to figure whether or not their relationship works when distance is no longer an option. Written specifically to be performed through the Zoom platform, I'LL BE ZOOMING YOU could also be creatively staged in a theatre with or without the inclusion of multimedia elements.

  • In the Dark by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 1
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    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama + 1 more
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    Keyword: fear, loneliness + 1 more
    Genre: comedy, drama, horror
    Keyword: fear, loneliness, insecurity
    TEN-MINUTE PLAY. An unwelcome visitor invades Sola’s bedroom in the middle of the night, awakening her deep-rooted fears and forcing her toward surprising introspection. First commissioned and performed by Gaslight Theatre Company for their PlayRoom Series.
  • It's Enough by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 1
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    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: loss, family + 3 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: loss, family, absent father, homelessness, dance
    TEN-MINUTE PLAY. When a homeless woman wanders into her garage, Barb is surprised not just by the woman's presence, but also her intimate understanding of Barb's childhood. Of particular interest to the homeless woman is a music box given to Barb by her absent father...a gift that may be the key to a brighter future for both of them. First commissioned and performed by Gaslight Theatre Company for their PlayRoom Series.
  • Light by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 4
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: drama, zoom
    ·
    Keyword: ghostlight, college theatre + 6 more
    Genre: drama, zoom
    Keyword: ghostlight, college theatre, Quarantine, pandemic, Covid-19, coronavirus, isolation, Hope
    ONE-MINUTE PLAY. When a pandemic shuts down the theatre on a school campus, the director fights to keep a light on.
  • Light the Way Back by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 3
    ·
    Cast: 
    2–10
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama + 3 more
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    Keyword: ghostlight, theatre + 8 more
    Genre: comedy, drama, fantasy, movement/physical, zoom
    Keyword: ghostlight, theatre, Quarantine, pandemic, Covid-19, coronavirus, Hand Sanitizer, apocalypse, Hope, magical realism
    TEN-MINUTE PLAY. In the year 2082, teenagers Jamie and Cam break into an abandoned theatre, looking for relics of the past. What they find is the haunting presence of a world humankind has lost. Still, something magical lingers among the dusty remains, along with the hope that we can find our way back.
  • Matthew Weaver Writes One Million Plays by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 1
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    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 1 more
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    Keyword: Matthew Weaver, playwright + 5 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, farce
    Keyword: Matthew Weaver, playwright, cloning, human clones, writer's block, writer's life, writers
    SIX-MINUTE PLAY. Matthew Weaver is a prolific playwright, but no one seems to know how he's managed to write so many plays in such a short period of time. The answer, it seems, are a pair of Matthew Weaver clones who have been hard at work churning out excellent content. But as another deadline approaches, the Matthew Weavers are getting restless and one of them might pay dearly for their skills.
    ...
    SIX-MINUTE PLAY. Matthew Weaver is a prolific playwright, but no one seems to know how he's managed to write so many plays in such a short period of time. The answer, it seems, are a pair of Matthew Weaver clones who have been hard at work churning out excellent content. But as another deadline approaches, the Matthew Weavers are getting restless and one of them might pay dearly for their skills.

    Written for Matthew Weaver for his birthday.
  • Perchance to Dream by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 2
    ·
    Cast: 
    6–20
    ·
    Genre: drama, experimental + 5 more
    ·
    Keyword: Sisters, sleep paralysis + 5 more
    Genre: drama, experimental, fantasy, horror, immersive, movement/physical, mystery/thriller
    Keyword: Sisters, sleep paralysis, nightmares, sexual abuse, me too, guilt, suicide
    TWENTY-MINUTE PLAY. Alcy is struggling with sleep paralysis and nightmares. The strange thing is that her sister, Seph, seems to be experiencing the nightmares along with her. As the sisters navigate a landscape of night terrors and shadow people, Alcy unravels the secret that brought them together and the truth that might tear them apart.
  • Rona and the End of the World by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    2–3
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: end of the world, Hope + 5 more
    Genre: comedy, drama, fantasy
    Keyword: end of the world, Hope, Corona, myth, youth play, finding one's purpose, overcoming fear
    SEVEN-MINUTE PLAY. Rona descends from the goddess of music, destined to help save the world with her song. The only problem is that Rona finds herself trapped underwater, where she fears she cannot sing, nor fulfill her grand purpose. A sea creature tries to help Rona sort through her fears and disappointments, guiding her to a path of new understanding. Perhaps where we are, no matter how dark or challenging,...
    SEVEN-MINUTE PLAY. Rona descends from the goddess of music, destined to help save the world with her song. The only problem is that Rona finds herself trapped underwater, where she fears she cannot sing, nor fulfill her grand purpose. A sea creature tries to help Rona sort through her fears and disappointments, guiding her to a path of new understanding. Perhaps where we are, no matter how dark or challenging, is exactly where we need to be.

    RONA AND THE END OF THE WORLD is adapted from my full-length play for teens, A DECAMERON FOR THE APOCALYPSE.
  • Safe as Houses by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 3 more
    ·
    Keyword: zombies, mother daughter relationship + 1 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, fantasy, horror, science fiction
    Keyword: zombies, mother daughter relationship, facing reality
    TEN-MINUTE PLAY. Surviving the zombie apocalypse is hard, especially with a teenage daughter in tow. When Rashida and her daughter Kella stumble upon a surprisingly unfazed survivor still playing house, they take a moment to face the reality that some people just, well, won't. First commissioned and performed by Gaslight Theatre Company for their PlayRoom Series.
  • Sisters by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: comedy
    ·
    Keyword: family, Relationships + 1 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: family, Relationships, friendship
    TEN-MINUTE PLAY. What can you do when your sisters are driving you crazy? Stab one in the eye with a knitting needle? Threaten to chop their heads off with a paper cutter? Tell them for once and for all that NO YOU DO NOT WANT TO SCRAPBOOK? Shoshana might be considering all these things, but her friend Rose is about to turn Shoshana's problem on it's head. Which is worse; having sisters you can't...
    TEN-MINUTE PLAY. What can you do when your sisters are driving you crazy? Stab one in the eye with a knitting needle? Threaten to chop their heads off with a paper cutter? Tell them for once and for all that NO YOU DO NOT WANT TO SCRAPBOOK? Shoshana might be considering all these things, but her friend Rose is about to turn Shoshana's problem on it's head. Which is worse; having sisters you can't stand or not having any at all? First commissioned and performed by Gaslight Theatre Company as part of their PlayRoom Series.
  • The Donation by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: drama
    ·
    Keyword: abuse, sexual abuse + 3 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: abuse, sexual abuse, me too, filmmaking, 10 Minute Play
    TEN-MINUTE PLAY. A generous donation just came in for the movie Jael and Mickey are making. There's only one problem: the person who donated the money is actually the film's subject - and not in a good way.
  • The Next Step by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 2
    ·
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: dead body, murder + 4 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, drama
    Keyword: dead body, murder, attic, writers, family, insecurity
    TEN-MINUTE PLAY. Hiding a dead body is not an easy task, especially when you're in a tiny attic while your extended family is cheerfully eating dinner downstairs. Fortunately, the dead body has some ideas of their own on how they would like to be disposed of, along with some life advice for our hapless "killer." Commissioned and performed by Gaslight Theatre Company for their PlayRoom Series in...
    TEN-MINUTE PLAY. Hiding a dead body is not an easy task, especially when you're in a tiny attic while your extended family is cheerfully eating dinner downstairs. Fortunately, the dead body has some ideas of their own on how they would like to be disposed of, along with some life advice for our hapless "killer." Commissioned and performed by Gaslight Theatre Company for their PlayRoom Series in 2014. Revised for a reading with Millersville University students in 2020.
  • The Single Ladies Cozy Murder Book Club by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Cast: 
    5
    ·
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy + 4 more
    ·
    Keyword: zoom, Google Meet + 6 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy, farce, horror, mystery/thriller, zoom
    Keyword: zoom, Google Meet, female centric, murder, book club, dark comedy, female friendship, Absurd Thriller
    TEN-MINUTE ZOOM (or GOOGLE MEET) PLAY. Everyone loves a nice cozy murder, especially the Single Ladies Cozy Murder Book Club. When the daughter of one of the club's members experiences a bad breakup, the ladies rise up to offer compassion, empathy...and maybe a little bit of revenge.
  • Writing a Play for the Quarantine Bake Off by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama
    ·
    Keyword: Quarantine, Covid-19 + 4 more
    Genre: comedy, drama
    Keyword: Quarantine, Covid-19, self-isolation, Relationships, writing, creating art
    TEN-MINUTE PLAY. Self-isolating with another person can be a challenge, even if it's a person you love.
  • A Trial by Her Peers: A Monologue by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Cast: 
    1
    ·
    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic + 2 more
    ·
    Keyword: women, women in theatre + 6 more
    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic, drama, period
    Keyword: women, women in theatre, monologue, based on a true story, 19th century women, 20th century history of women, Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw
    MONOLOGUE. You've heard of Oscar Wilde. George Bernard Shaw. But what about Elizabeth Robins? The "Priestess of Ibsen" reflects on a life lived in the shadow of men even as she works to write the very first play about women's suffrage.

    Elizabeth Robins was an actress, playwright, and women’s rights activist known for writing the very first suffrage drama. Along with her...
    MONOLOGUE. You've heard of Oscar Wilde. George Bernard Shaw. But what about Elizabeth Robins? The "Priestess of Ibsen" reflects on a life lived in the shadow of men even as she works to write the very first play about women's suffrage.

    Elizabeth Robins was an actress, playwright, and women’s rights activist known for writing the very first suffrage drama. Along with her business partner Marion Lea, she brough Hedda Gabler to the British stage for the first time and her dedication to the works of Henrik Ibsen led to her being dubbed “Ibsen’s High Priestess.” She was also a friend and contemporary of Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw.

    A TRIAL BY HER PEERS is a WIT (Women in Theatre) Monologue written for 365 Women a Year. In 2020 I was asked to research and write twelve biographical monologues about twelve amazing women in theatre. Elizabeth Robins was one of twelve women assigned to me at random. While I do not claim to fully understand her background, her heritage, or her experiences, I hope this monologue honors her and does justice to her work as a theatre artist.
  • A Woman Like Her: A Monologue by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Cast: 
    1
    ·
    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: Indigenous American, Native American + 5 more
    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic, drama
    Keyword: Indigenous American, Native American, native voices, Native American women, biography, historical, women in theatre
    MONOLOGUE. A storyteller considers the on-going legacy of Annette Arkeketa and other Indigenous American writers while wondering if she can do their stories justice.

    Annette Arkeketa is an Indigenous American playwright who teaches classes in writing, poetry, and filmmaking. Arkeketa, a member of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma and Muscogee Creek, is known for her plays HOTKI and GHOST DANCE...
    MONOLOGUE. A storyteller considers the on-going legacy of Annette Arkeketa and other Indigenous American writers while wondering if she can do their stories justice.

    Annette Arkeketa is an Indigenous American playwright who teaches classes in writing, poetry, and filmmaking. Arkeketa, a member of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma and Muscogee Creek, is known for her plays HOTKI and GHOST DANCE, as well as her documentary films that emphasize the importance of Native American voices.

    A WOMAN LIKE HER is a WIT (Women in Theatre) Monologue written for 365 Women a Year. In 2020 I was asked to research and write twelve biographical monologues about twelve amazing women in theatre. Annette Arkeketa was one of twelve women assigned to me at random. While I do not claim to fully understand her background, her heritage, or her experiences, I hope this monologue honors her and does justice to her work as a theatre artist.
  • Final Performance: A Monologue by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: biography, comedy + 2 more
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    Keyword: women in theatre, historical + 4 more
    Genre: biography, comedy, docudrama/historic, drama
    Keyword: women in theatre, historical, biography, argentina, Columbia, South America
    MONOLOGUE. A former actress lies sick in the hospital, but she isn't quite ready to close the curtain on her final act.

    Ana María Campoy was an Argentine actress born in Bogotá, Columbia. She formed her own acting company at the age of seventeen and went on to become a popular television, film, and stage actress in Argentina.

    FINAL PERFORMANCE is a WIT (Women in Theatre)...
    MONOLOGUE. A former actress lies sick in the hospital, but she isn't quite ready to close the curtain on her final act.

    Ana María Campoy was an Argentine actress born in Bogotá, Columbia. She formed her own acting company at the age of seventeen and went on to become a popular television, film, and stage actress in Argentina.

    FINAL PERFORMANCE is a WIT (Women in Theatre) Monologue written for 365 Women a Year. In 2020 I was asked to research and write twelve biographical monologues about twelve amazing women in theatre. Ana María Campoy was one of twelve women assigned to me at random. While I do not claim to fully understand her background, her heritage, or her experiences, I hope this monologue honors her and does justice to her work as a theatre artist.
  • Fragile Beautiful: A Monologue by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic + 3 more
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    Keyword: 19th century women, monologue + 5 more
    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic, drama, opera, young audiences
    Keyword: 19th century women, monologue, women in theatre, Brazil, South America, opera, based on historical events and characters
    MONOLOGUE. Brazilian teenager Izzy hopes one day to be an opera singer, taking inspiration from her favorite soprano, Isabel Rubio Ricciolini.

    Isabel Rubio Ricciolini was an operatic soprano and stage actress who is credited with being one of the pioneers of opera in South America. She co-founded the Academic Philharmonic in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, and played Donna Elvira in the Argentine...
    MONOLOGUE. Brazilian teenager Izzy hopes one day to be an opera singer, taking inspiration from her favorite soprano, Isabel Rubio Ricciolini.

    Isabel Rubio Ricciolini was an operatic soprano and stage actress who is credited with being one of the pioneers of opera in South America. She co-founded the Academic Philharmonic in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, and played Donna Elvira in the Argentine premiere of Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

    FRAGILE BEAUTIFUL is a WIT (Women in Theatre) Monologue written for 365 Women a Year. In 2020 I was asked to research and write twelve biographical monologues about twelve amazing women in theatre. Isabel Rubio Ricciolini was one of twelve women assigned to me at random. While I do not claim to fully understand her background, her heritage, or her experiences, I hope this monologue honors her and does justice to her work as a theatre artist.
  • Ghost in the Wall: A Monologue by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: comedy, dark comedy
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    Keyword: ghosts, ghost story + 6 more
    Genre: comedy, dark comedy
    Keyword: ghosts, ghost story, isolation, drinking, Alcohol, separation, breakup, grief
    MONOLOGUE. Clara's all alone, with only a ghost in her wall to keep her company. As she puzzles her way through the events leading up to her isolation, she begins to wonder if the ghostly presence she perceives is actually there at all.
  • Happy Birthday, Homa Rousta: A Monologue by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic + 1 more
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    Keyword: women, women in theatre + 5 more
    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic, drama
    Keyword: women, women in theatre, monologue, based on a true story, Iranian, Middle East, cancer
    MONOLOGUE. A mourner looks back at the contributions Homa Rousta made to the theatre community, even as she suffered her own private tragedy.

    Homa Rousta was an Iranian stage and film actress and director. She was best known for her roles in The Glass Menagerie, Uncle Vanya, The Seagull, and Antigone. After Homa died of cacner, Iran’s Theatre Forum held a memorial ceremony to honor her work, as...
    MONOLOGUE. A mourner looks back at the contributions Homa Rousta made to the theatre community, even as she suffered her own private tragedy.

    Homa Rousta was an Iranian stage and film actress and director. She was best known for her roles in The Glass Menagerie, Uncle Vanya, The Seagull, and Antigone. After Homa died of cacner, Iran’s Theatre Forum held a memorial ceremony to honor her work, as well as her fundraising efforts for theatre artists suffering from terminal illnesses.

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HOMA ROUSTA is a WIT (Women in Theatre) Monologue written for 365 Women a Year. In 2020 I was asked to research and write twelve biographical monologues about twelve amazing women in theatre. Homa Rousta was one of twelve women assigned to me at random. While I do not claim to fully understand her background, her heritage, or her experiences, I hope this monologue honors her and does justice to her work as a theatre artist.
  • Her Little Match Girl: A Monologue by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic + 1 more
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    Keyword: women, women in theatre + 7 more
    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic, fable/folktale
    Keyword: women, women in theatre, monologue, marionette, puppet, hansel and gretel, The Little Match Girl, Uzbek, based on historical events and characters
    MONOLOGUE. A Marionette recounts how she was brought to life by her creator.

    Dinara Yuldasheva is a director and playwright who has worked for the Youth Theatre of Uzbekistan and the Uzbek State Puppet Theater.

    HER LITTLE MATCH GIRL is a WIT (Women in Theatre) Monologue written for 365 Women a Year. In 2020 I was asked to research and write twelve biographical monologues about...
    MONOLOGUE. A Marionette recounts how she was brought to life by her creator.

    Dinara Yuldasheva is a director and playwright who has worked for the Youth Theatre of Uzbekistan and the Uzbek State Puppet Theater.

    HER LITTLE MATCH GIRL is a WIT (Women in Theatre) Monologue written for 365 Women a Year. In 2020 I was asked to research and write twelve biographical monologues about twelve amazing women in theatre. Dinara Yuldasheva was one of twelve women assigned to me at random. While I do not claim to fully understand her background, her heritage, or her experiences, I hope this monologue honors her and does justice to her work as a theatre artist.
  • Itch: A Monologue by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 1
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    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: dark comedy, drama
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    Keyword: choice, women's rights + 1 more
    Genre: dark comedy, drama
    Keyword: choice, women's rights, family
    MONOLOGUE. What did you want to be when you grew up? Eve recalls her childhood desire to be an archaeologist - among other things - and the cruel reality that you don't always get to pursue what you want. This reality comes into sharp relief even now, as Eve finds herself trapped in a literal box, waiting for the life that the world has chosen for her while itching for the life she cannot have. *ITCH is a...
    MONOLOGUE. What did you want to be when you grew up? Eve recalls her childhood desire to be an archaeologist - among other things - and the cruel reality that you don't always get to pursue what you want. This reality comes into sharp relief even now, as Eve finds herself trapped in a literal box, waiting for the life that the world has chosen for her while itching for the life she cannot have. *ITCH is a monologue adapted from my full-length play, THE LAST DAUGHTER.*
  • Look: A Monologue by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic + 1 more
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    Keyword: women, women in theatre + 5 more
    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic, drama
    Keyword: women, women in theatre, monologue, based on a true story, Asian American, LGBTQ, 21st century
    MONOLOGUE. A powerful performance by Canyon Sam teaches us that when horrible things happen, sometimes the first step to making a difference is being willing to look.

    Canyon Sam is a Chinese American playwright, performance artist, and Tibetan rights activist. She is best known for her one-woman shows The Dissident and Taxi Karma, as well as her novel Sky Train. A documentary was released in...
    MONOLOGUE. A powerful performance by Canyon Sam teaches us that when horrible things happen, sometimes the first step to making a difference is being willing to look.

    Canyon Sam is a Chinese American playwright, performance artist, and Tibetan rights activist. She is best known for her one-woman shows The Dissident and Taxi Karma, as well as her novel Sky Train. A documentary was released in 2011 called A Woman Named Canyon Sam which focuses on her theatre work, her Chinese heritage, her lesbian identity, and her activism in Tibet.

    LOOK is a WIT (Women in Theatre) Monologue written for 365 Women a Year. In 2020 I was asked to research and write twelve biographical monologues about twelve amazing women in theatre. Canyon Sam was one of twelve women assigned to me at random. While I do not claim to fully understand her background, her heritage, or her experiences, I hope this monologue honors her and does justice to her work as a theatre artist.
  • My Mother, Mr. Brown: A Monologue by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic + 2 more
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    Keyword: 18th century women's history, women + 4 more
    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic, drama, period
    Keyword: 18th century women's history, women, women in theatre, monologue, based on historical events and characters, British history
    MONOLOGUE. When Kitty Harman learns of her mother's death, she takes a moment to remember her unique upbringing as the daughter of writer and performer, Charlotte Charke. More importantly, she ponders the identity of her mother, who was also known as Mr. Brown.

    Charlotte Charke was an actress and playwright in the 1700s known for playing “breeches” roles onstage, as well as maintaining a...
    MONOLOGUE. When Kitty Harman learns of her mother's death, she takes a moment to remember her unique upbringing as the daughter of writer and performer, Charlotte Charke. More importantly, she ponders the identity of her mother, who was also known as Mr. Brown.

    Charlotte Charke was an actress and playwright in the 1700s known for playing “breeches” roles onstage, as well as maintaining a male alter-ego offstage known as Mr. Charles Brown. She was one of the first women to be given a license to run a theatre, as well as one of the first women to write and publish an autobiography.

    MY MOTHER, MR. BROWN is a WIT (Women in Theatre) Monologue written for 365 Women a Year. In 2020 I was asked to research and write twelve biographical monologues about twelve amazing women in theatre. Charlotte Charke was one of twelve women assigned to me at random. While I do not claim to fully understand her background, her heritage, or her experiences, I hope this monologue honors her and does justice to her work as a theatre artist.
  • Now, Rebirth: A Monologue by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic + 1 more
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    Keyword: women, women in theatre + 8 more
    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic, drama
    Keyword: women, women in theatre, monologue, based on a true story, Iranian, Middle East, sexism, religion, Freedom of Religion, Bahai faith
    MONOLOGUE. As a young woman reflects on sexism in religion, she finds hope and inspiration in the story of Shabnam Tolouei, and comes to recognize her own privilege in light of Shabnam's struggle.

    Shabnam Tolouei is an Iranian actress, director, and playwright currently living in Paris, France, after the Islamic Ministry of Culture and Guidance banned her from working in Tehran due to her...
    MONOLOGUE. As a young woman reflects on sexism in religion, she finds hope and inspiration in the story of Shabnam Tolouei, and comes to recognize her own privilege in light of Shabnam's struggle.

    Shabnam Tolouei is an Iranian actress, director, and playwright currently living in Paris, France, after the Islamic Ministry of Culture and Guidance banned her from working in Tehran due to her religious beliefs. In addition to her theatre and film work in France, Shabnam has won five awards at the prestigious Fajre International Theatre Festival and spent two years performing and directing in Germany. She is best known for her leading role in the film "Women Without Men."

    NOW, REBIRTH is a WIT (Women in Theatre) Monologue written for 365 Women a Year. In 2020 I was asked to research and write twelve biographical monologues about twelve amazing women in theatre. Shabnam Tolouei was one of twelve women assigned to me at random. While I do not claim to fully understand her background, her heritage, or her experiences, I hope this monologue honors her and does justice to her work as a theatre artist.
  • Photos with my Rapist: A Two-Minute Monologue by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 5
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    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: drama
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    Keyword: sexual assault, rape + 2 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: sexual assault, rape, family, metoo
    TWO-MINUTE MONOLOGUE. No one would get together with their rapist every year and take a photo, unless, of course, that person was a part of their family. A brief monologue about the way victims of familial abuse suffer, no matter how long it has been since the original assault.
  • Photos with my Rapist: A One-Minute Monologue by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 16
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    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: drama
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    Keyword: sexual assault, rape + 2 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: sexual assault, rape, family, metoo
    ONE-MINUTE MONOLOGUE. No one would get together with their rapist every year and take a photo, unless, of course, that person was a part of their family. A brief monologue about the way victims of familial abuse suffer, no matter how long it has been since the original assault.

    *Revised from two-minute version. Perfect for one-minute audition or competition piece.
  • Quarantine Eating: A Monologue by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: comedy, drama
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    Keyword: eating disorders, men with eating disorders + 3 more
    Genre: comedy, drama
    Keyword: eating disorders, men with eating disorders, Relationships, parenthood, spouses
    MONOLOGUE. When Mark tells his wife to "stop eating" he wasn't making a comment about her weight. He was only trying to be helpful the way his dad helped him when he was an overweight child. But the more Mark thinks about his father's approach to "healthy eating," the more he realizes that maybe it wasn't helpful after all.
  • Still Life: A Monologue by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: comedy
    Genre: comedy
    MONOLOGUE. Marian just needs someone to pose for ten pictures in the park for a school project. When she finds the perfect subject, a little bit of chaos ensues.
  • The Dance Politic: A Monologue by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic + 3 more
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    Keyword: Serbia, dance + 4 more
    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic, drama, experimental, movement/physical
    Keyword: Serbia, dance, art, Politics, Serbian Democratic Party, women in theatre
    MONOLOGUE. A dancer believes that art and politics can change the world.

    Vida Ognjenovic is a Serbian theatre director, playwright, drama professor, and diplomat. She has received numerous literary and directing awards and has taught theatre at several prestigious universities. She is also a founding member of the Serbian Democratic Party.

    THE DANCE POLITIC is a WIT (Women in...
    MONOLOGUE. A dancer believes that art and politics can change the world.

    Vida Ognjenovic is a Serbian theatre director, playwright, drama professor, and diplomat. She has received numerous literary and directing awards and has taught theatre at several prestigious universities. She is also a founding member of the Serbian Democratic Party.

    THE DANCE POLITIC is a WIT (Women in Theatre) Monologue written for 365 Women a Year. In 2020 I was asked to research and write twelve biographical monologues about twelve amazing women in theatre. Vida Ognjenovic was one of twelve women assigned to me at random. While I do not claim to fully understand her background, her heritage, or her experiences, I hope this monologue honors her and does justice to her work as a theatre artist.
  • Tooth Fairy from Hell: A Monologue by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: comedy
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    Keyword: family, Sisters + 4 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: family, Sisters, wedding, Bridesmaid Dresses, bridesmaids, love
    MONOLOGUE. Sometimes its hard to love family unconditionally, especially when their love seems oh-so-conditional on most occasions. Faced with wearing the ugliest dress in creation for her sister's wedding, a woman ponders what her priorities are and whether or not unconditional love for family is all its cracked up to be.
  • To Shape a World: A Monologue by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic + 1 more
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    Keyword: French, biography + 3 more
    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic, drama
    Keyword: French, biography, historical, women in theatre, Joan of Arc
    MONOLOGUE. A woman looks back on a life-shaping experience from her youth and how theatre - and the people who make it - can have a lasting impact on one's life.

    Marcelle Tassencourt was a French actress and theatre director. She was also a drama teacher and the Director of Théâtre Montansier. During her long career, she directed and performed in many classic plays, as well as original works...
    MONOLOGUE. A woman looks back on a life-shaping experience from her youth and how theatre - and the people who make it - can have a lasting impact on one's life.

    Marcelle Tassencourt was a French actress and theatre director. She was also a drama teacher and the Director of Théâtre Montansier. During her long career, she directed and performed in many classic plays, as well as original works by her husband, playwright Thierry Maulnier.

    TO SHAPE A WORLD is a WIT (Women in Theatre) Monologue written for 365 Women a Year. In 2020 I was asked to research and write twelve biographical monologues about twelve amazing women in theatre. Marcelle Tassencourt was one of twelve women assigned to me at random. While I do not claim to fully understand her background, her heritage, or her experiences, I hope this monologue honors her and does justice to her work as a theatre artist.
  • Vaudeville Queen: A Monologue by Rachel Luann Strayer
    Recommendations: 1
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    Cast: 
    1
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    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic + 1 more
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    Keyword: 19th century women, 20th century history of women + 6 more
    Genre: biography, docudrama/historic, drama
    Keyword: 19th century women, 20th century history of women, women, women in theatre, monologue, vaudeville, African American, based on historical events and characters
    MONOLOGUE. Dora Dean, an African American vaudeville dancer and entertainer, returns to modern-day Broadway to see how things may (or may not) have changed in the theatre world over the last century.

    Dora Dean and her husband, Charles E. Johnson, were the first African American couple to perform on Broadway. Dora was best known for popularizing the cakewalk with her husband, and for performing...
    MONOLOGUE. Dora Dean, an African American vaudeville dancer and entertainer, returns to modern-day Broadway to see how things may (or may not) have changed in the theatre world over the last century.

    Dora Dean and her husband, Charles E. Johnson, were the first African American couple to perform on Broadway. Dora was best known for popularizing the cakewalk with her husband, and for performing acrobatic soft shoe while wearing evening gowns. Two popular songs were written about her in 1896 and 1902.

    VAUDEVILLE QUEEN is a WIT (Women in Theatre) Monologue written for 365 Women a Year. In 2020 I was asked to research and write twelve biographical monologues about twelve amazing women in theatre. Dora Dean was one of twelve women assigned to me at random. While I do not claim to fully understand her background, her heritage, or her experiences, I hope this monologue honors her and does justice to her work as a theatre artist.