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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

“Visiting Charlie” by S.P. Bhatia

Submitted to Contest #123

On the intercom, the Bus Driver announced “Lewisham Way.” Zane got off the bus in New Cross and went in the opposite direction. Rain sprinkled. He passed a mural depicting birds soaring with buildings tumbling down. A crowd played street chess. Dressed like a douchebag, he kept his eyes down. Four blocks later, he turned a corner up a street of small houses. He glanced over his shoulder at a black BMW passing, and the man driving didn’t look his way. Zane kept walking, his eyes on the cream house with the uncut lawn. He dashed...

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“Meltdown” by Harlow Jones

Submitted to Contest #123

He plopped onto the couch with a bowl of mac and cheese, resumed Stars War: Episode IV - A New Hope, and kicked his feet up onto the ottoman. While chewing his first spoonful of noodles, he squinted at her headlights filtering through the blinds. When she swung open the door and slammed it shut, he jumped in his seat and almost choked. Her steps thundered through their one-bedroom apartment. She zoomed by so quickly that he couldn’t even complain about her blocking the TV. Once he finished coughing, he said, “Hey, babe. You’re home late.” ...

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“Shade of Red” by Bonnie Lindgren

Submitted to Contest #123

There were many things that ran through her mind as she and her mother moved back into Kyoto. ‘Would her friends be alright without her? What would happen if another gang war happened? What what if-’ She was then knocked from her quickly panicky thoughts to her mother. “Tsu-chan~ What do you think about the house?” Her mother asked. ‘Tsu-chan’ was the nickname Yamada Kyoko called her daughter. Kyoko wore her hair in a loose ponytail that was tied a few inches before the tips. Making her Waist long hair have an elegance to her. She ...

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“Sugar Plums and Ruptured Eardrums” by Caroline Slaughter

Submitted to Contest #123

Riley's heart was pounding, and she could feel the blood rushing to her ears. This was her moment. She knew the second she stepped onto that stage, the trajectory of her life would change forever. It was her who was the Snow Queen, not Michelle, not Veronica, no one else but her. Tonight, the twenty-eight-year-old would show the whole world her worth at the Ballet Center for Wayward Teens. In the audience, a man sat, waiting for the show to begin. His name isn’t important, but for the sake of storytelling, it was Manuel. Manuel, despi...

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“Okay, okay, okay. ” by Agnes Goldfinch

Submitted to Contest #123

“Okay, okay, okay. How do I put this, how do I – this world, am I right? I am right, I am. Though you must think me far from sane, pacing like this right in front of you, of that I’m certain as well, but I can’t very well help it, because there’s so much I need to – okay, okay, okay, so. I should probably start again, shouldn’t I? I should. I will. You know how sometimes the light hits a tiniest bit different than usual, maybe it’s just rained, and the grass has sud...

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“Earnest” by Ron French

Submitted to Contest #123

Earnest There was a loud knock on the door. It was not the postman, as it was night, and he always used the bell. The footman was out, so I opened the door myself and saw no one. I looked right and left to check whether some urchins were playing 'knock down Ginger' and almost tripped down the five stairs to the pavement, over a black leather handbag. I recognised it immediately and didn't need to go to Victoria Station to find it. It had been delivered. I daren't open it for fear what might be inside. But I already had an awful inkling and...

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“The Speech” by Joyce Schook

Submitted to Contest #123

Deanna felt her stomach drop at the mention of her speech. It was less than a week away now, though she had practiced in front of her mom, step dad and younger brother, she was in no shape to deliver such a powerful message to the class of 2020. This morning Deanna ate, showered and returned to her bedroom. She lifted the yellow folder off her dresser. Walked to the full length mirror which hung on the back of her closet door. Deanna opened the folder, took out the speech and started to read a loud. " I want to begin by letting everyone here...

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“The Web of Dreams” by Danielle Willsher

Submitted to Contest #123

Carly began gathering her long silky hair in an oversized bun and checking her reflection, forcing a smile in the mirror. Her eyes never lied… a pasted-on smile couldn’t hide all the hurt and pain in her soul. The light within them had dimmed and the tremendous strain was clear on her face. She looked pale and gaunt, with dark circles under her eyes from the lack of sleep. It was hard to keep herself motivated when she had such little incentive? She sighed, looking at the tiny pimples that were working their way across her nose and forehead....

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“Stand-in Ovation” by Ali Anthony Bell

Submitted to Contest #123

Ali Albaz is standing in front of the mirror in the early morning sun. He’s practicing, experimenting, inventing, talking to himself, gesturing, and not sure at all how he’ll handle tonight’s concert. Scheherazade is still stretched out on the canopy bed in her nightgown. She’s explained the whole incredible situation. But before that, she had checked the bump on his head and changed the bandage, and then she had made love to him, partly to get even with Fatima Zahra for doing it with his brother, but then again, her twin sister was right, e...

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“No Drama Mama” by Nanci Sherman

Submitted to Contest #123

No Drama Mama “I can’t go on,” Nicole told her mother. “I am shaking from head to toe.” “That’s life force coursing through you, Nicole. You are like a racehorse at the gate before the whistle blows to begin the race. It means you are ready, dear daughter.” “Yeah. Ready for my knees to give way as soon as I hit the stage if I even make it that far.” “Nicole, how can you not go on? Everyone is relying on you to do your part just like you did in rehearsal yesterday.” “But I don’t know the people in the audience and they don’t know m...

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“The Sea Witch Babysitter” by Diana Dawn

Submitted to Contest #123

The Sea Witch Babysitter By Diana Dawn Oh, the drama! And it wasn’t even when we were out on the stage! Let me back up. I’m Susan Aldrich. I’m a few years older than some of these youngsters. Back in “the day”, while my “stage friends” got their theater degrees, I was getting a computer science degree. So now that I have established somewhat of a career and a fairly comfortable… albeit single… lifestyle, I’m having to get my “theater bug” fix by volunteering at a local community theater. As a refreshing change, it’s a “family friendly”...

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“"God Bless Us, Every One"” by Ben Rounds

Submitted to Contest #123

Marty dashed through the dusty room, his machine jogging on his back. He had gotten in through a window. The space was quite cramped, even for a storage area, with paint cans and tools piled everywhere, but to get where he wanted without being accosted it had seemed the best way. Even actors, begrimed with sweat and half-way through a performance, would instantly recognize a man not of the troop. From directly overhead Marty could make out Old Marley’s chains dragging over the stage, bewailing his lot as he admonished his...

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“Anger is Best Cleansed Before Traveling” by Pako Dunwhile

Submitted to Contest #123

[Passing references regarding child abuse, elder neglect] Priscilla opened her almond-colored eyes. They fluttered, looking at the highest red, curtain she had ever seen. A curtain that reached into the darkness, touching an unseen ceiling. She looked around to acclimate herself. Nothing about where she stood looked familiar. I don’t remember this. I… I don’t know what’s I’m going on. "And now, here's our guest of honor. Welcoming, Priscilla Broooownnnnn… c'mon on in." An announcement boomed over the room. She couldn't place the voice...

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“A New 'Phantom'?” by Bob Faszczewski

Submitted to Contest #123

A New ‘Phantom’? I could sense the overpowering stink of the creature enveloping the entire audience and, as I looked out from the stage, I could see him glowering at me just itching to consume me as his next afternoon snack. My performance as the lead in our community theater company’s production of Our Town would cause my raw first-time performer’s nerves to race out...

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“The Weird Kid” by Andrea Moya

Submitted to Contest #123

I could feel the familiar butterflies in my stomach as I crossed the stage. In front of me, the murmur of conversation was punctuated by laughs and shouts as the students settled into the auditorium. I settled at center stage, taking in the chaotic energy of my audience of middle schoolers. Despite the nerves, this felt like home. Projecting my voice, speaking from my diaphragm, I called out for them to be silent. The din gradually died down and twenty faces looked up at me expectantly. One remained glued to his phone. I cleared my throat. ...

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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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