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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#123: Showtime

It’s no secret that the colder months are the best time to grab tickets to see a show; it’s a festive tradition, and many of our favorite plays actually made their debuts during this time. (Fun fact! It was on this day 74 years ago that Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire was performed on Broadway for the first time.)

From the roar of the audience to the dazzling lights, there’s nothing quite like it. It’s that theater spirit, and a simple love of drama, that inspired us to create this week’s prompts. So let’s celebrate all things theatrical both on-stage and off, with stories that’ll get your audience crying, laughing, and (hopefully) giving a standing ovation.

This week's prompts

Start your story looking down from a stage.

Thriller and Suspense – 56 stories

Write about a character who always wears a mask (physical or metaphorical).

Angst – 48 stories

Begin or end your story with “Well, that was dramatic.”

Christmas – 40 stories

Write a story about a character practising a speech in front of the mirror. What are they preparing for?

Middle School – 38 stories

Set your story backstage at the theater.

Halloween – 30 stories

Stories

“Modnar si lla” by Nathan Landrum

Submitted to Contest #123

There she was. From center stage--defying all logic and harsh lighting--Shawn could see her, poised on the back of a theater seat mid-audience. She was small, stood stock still, and brilliantly blue. No one else seemed to notice her: not his fellow performers, not the lighting or stage crew, and not even the bald man who sat in the seat on which she stood. Then even Shawn couldn't see her anymore. She was there, then she was gone. "Modnar si lla." The director’s voice echoed from the speakers in the back, booming through the room. The smal...

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“Burnt” by Sarah Rich

Submitted to Contest #123

He walked up to the mirror with a gloomy sigh. His pale hair fell into his eyes as he looked down at the floor. Even though it had been six years since that night, mirrors were always a fear to him – a reminder of what took place. The dimmed light of his bedroom only granted faint shadows of objects, and he kept it that way on purpose.When he sucked in a breath, he looked up. The right side of his face was as it always had been; a beautifully blemish free cheekbone and jawline that sparkled with its unique and ghostly complexion. The le...

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“Until He proves me wrong” by Georgina Rowley

Submitted to Contest #123

Please be advised that the following story contains sensitive content including:Mental healthSexual violencePhysical violence and/or abusePlease refrain from continuing if it is a trigger or may harm your well-being.It was hot and the rain was sticky. I loved it. I twirled around and the grass flew like natures own ribbons. My dress in the colours of summer, floated as I did. The sound of my laughter filled the air and Jasper looked at me with widened eyes. I had his hands in mine and we spun and spun until I could not spin anymore. I t...

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“New Face, three micro-stories” by Barak Ben Dov

Submitted to Contest #123

Jane Austen While my toes started their usual tingling dance, a delightful last year drifted through my mind. Every year, for many years now, and like every other human on Earth, I shift into a stranger's body. Around the end of summer, everyone finds themselves being hosted in a different body in a matter of a few seconds. A year ago, I opened my eyes while lying in a newly sheeted bed. It felt so comfortable that I shut them and continued sleeping. A gentle tug of the blanket woke me up. Curiously I turned to find a woman stari...

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“Noises in the Dark” by Monica Parker

Submitted to Contest #123

“Are you sure? I can stay. I bet I’d enjoy whatever you have planned.” I knew that wasn’t true. My plans included frozen pizza, popcorn, and Netflix. “No, no. You should go. You’ve been looking forward to this for weeks. It’s bad enough you had to shorten your trip to only overnight.” “Actually, I’d be okay with making it a day trip. It's not like it's a milestone birthday.” “What do you mean? You only turn forty-two once in a lifetime. Besides, I’ve been left alone for longer periods of time in the past. And don’t forget, taking separate...

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“Clandestine” by Kassidy O'Brien

Submitted to Contest #123

"Kyra! Come downstairs, breakfast is ready, you don't want to be late to school again!" My mother shouts from downstairs. I wipe my sweaty hands on my jeans and take a deep breath while looking into the mirror one more time. I look good, I smirk as I head down stairs. "Hi, darling, I made your favorite, banana toast." My mother smiles with her pearly white teeth. "Thank you mom," I say back while taking a bite. The warm crunch of the toast with the disperse flavor of the banana helped with my morning just that more. Before I knew it ...

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“When will I be mine again?” by Veda Vivek💎

Submitted to Contest #123

It’s so suffocating. I crawled into the shadows, trying to remain unseen by the creature. It doesn’t work. It stopped in front of me, grinning before turning its back on me and walking away. I stand, walking towards the barrier, putting my palm against the thin glass, my skin glowing. The dark duplicate of me walks ahead, stopping as they stared out, looking through my eyes into whatever I appear to be seeing outside my mental consciousness. “Smile,” they hissed. I felt a tug of my lips, the corners slipping up. I...

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“Burn the Truth ” by Kelsey Cole

Submitted to Contest #123

Trigger Warning: Fire, under-aged alcohol use, car accident “Well, that was dramatic,” Charlotte said to herself, staring at the burning cabin in front of her. The cabin was engorged by flames, the heat radiating off of it. You could only see the structure of what used to be the biggest cabin in Devinsville. 2 day earlier Charlotte, Chloe, and Avery are all waiting for Paisley to get out of volleyball. There in the school parking lot in Avery’s brand new cherry red 2010 BMW. Charlotte brought up that she had a party tonight tha...

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“Reflections” by Leela Rae

Submitted to Contest #123

It had been a long winter. Countless days and nights alone by myself. No one to keep me company. I found myself seeking another presence, spiritual, make-believe, it didn't matter. I just missed the company of another. Someone to talk to. Someone to touch, if even only on my shoulder. Someone to see, if even I were dreaming. I didn't plan on staying here. I didn't plan on being stuck without a phone or internet or the ability to leave. I didn't plan on spending the entire winter by myself. I didn't even like myself, much less wa...

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“Whispers of Her” by Austin Seaver

Submitted to Contest #123

His hair felt fine as he slid his face through his palms, before resting his forehead on the cold stone counter of the bathroom sink."This is stupid," he murmured inaudibly under the heavy fan, left on to conceal his shame from the visitors who invaded the halls of his home.As he lifted his gaze to the shell of a man in the mirror, dried toothpaste pulled at his skin of his forehead leaving a pinch of disgust in his stomach."They will never know you."Rising to his feet, he paused with one knee on the ground. Struck by his body reminding him ...

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“Actor's Nightmare ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #123

It has been over twenty years since I last set foot on the stage, but in all that time, I am still cursed with the Actor’s Nightmare. It goes with the territory along with the curse of Lady Macbeth and a few others I learned along the way. You can choose to believe some or even all of this story, it is totally up to you, but for me this story is the reason why I gave up my love of theater and I would encourage you to do the same. “Ah, the roar of the grease paint, the smell of the crowd.” Jason thought he was being funny, but the sa...

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“Solidarity” by Haz Cady

Submitted to Contest #123

“Five minutes!” Mel called, both to those who could hear her backstage and over headset. A chorus of “thank you, five” returned to her. “Thanks, Anteater,” Steven said over headset. They’d all given each other nicknames on headset. Mel was fond of hers. It had even come with an opening night gift from Steven of a stuffed ant (Mel suspected an actual anteater stuffed animal would be hard to find). She and Steven had become fast friends. Mel was a few years ahead of Steven, so they didn’t have any classes together, but they both loved theat...

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“Me, Nervous?” by Mary Kurpiewski

Submitted to Contest #123

➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢➢ 1994-ME-NERVOUS Mary Cahill Kurpiewski Why was I so nervous? Me, Miss Mary Confident? I have always been ‘nervy’ and I couldn’t understand why I felt this way tonight. I have conned, manipulated, lied--well--rearranged the truth when I applied for the 50 jobs I’ve had and, mostly, had successful results. It all came to a head when I applied for my last job. It wasn’t a big deal or anything, but I had to fill out a resume. I have always, most of the time, been confident in my abilities t...

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“Nocturne” by JL Henrikson

Submitted to Contest #123

The tree kept falling over and they needed a stronger base to keep it upright. “Do you need the tree?” Pierce asked. Pierce was the producer. He was worried about spending more to bolster the tree. It was probably the most expensive piece of stagecraft of the whole set, possibly the most expensive piece that the theater company had ever had made. “The play is called Tree of Life so we kind of need a tree, dude,” Monica replied, standing at the edge of the stage looking at the empty rows of seats in the theater. “I've been thinking, do...

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“Stage Fright ” by Sanae Dillard

Submitted to Contest #123

" Oh, Wow this stage sure is huge"! Dan, I don't know if I can do it, I'm looking down at the stage and I'm visualizing how many people will be in the audience as I walk out on the stage to share my newly found tone in my voice. I'm really scared, I don't think I have ever performed on such a beautiful stage as this and as I am standing here with you, Dan looking down, I actually feel butterflies in my stomach, I mean this stage is so wide and long and it has so many seats and windows, and " Dan look at the walls, they are so beautiful and h...

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$250

Prize money

212

Contest entries

133

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Dec 10, 2021 EST

Won by Patrick Samuel 🏆

Title: Southern Comfort and the Kindness of Strangers

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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