Set your story backstage at the theater.

Posted in Halloween on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 30 stories

“Before the Play” by Ramona Scarborough

Submitted to Contest #123

Before the Play We’ve been rehearsing My Fair Lady for three months, four days a week, memorizing our lines and songs, practicing blocking and dance moves. The troupe gathered on a weekend to help paint the set the stage manager had constructed. Our costumes have been fitted and hung on a rack in our respective dressing rooms. Today, we will see if all this preparation turns into a successful production. Arriving at the theater, the excitement zings through the cavernous building, actors speaking loudly and laughing, a combination of ex...

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“Off Book” by Amanda Van Regenmorter

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #123

Pacing the empty street, she muttered to herself under the dim glow of a streetlamp. She looked sleek in her red dress and matching elbow-length gloves, her hair piled high in elegant curls, given any more than a cursory glance she was clearly little more than a girl. The dress had been cinched in the back, but the neckline was bunched and ill-fitting. Crimson-stained lips and slashes of dark blush only marred her pale, youthful skin and highlighted the panic in her eyes. &nb...

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“One Final Act” by James Grasham

Submitted to Contest #123

Harry didn’t get nervous. Back home he was known as Harry the Hammer, solid and reliable no matter what needed to be done. So why was he shaking now? He couldn’t even hold the dagger the old man had given him for protection. Why did he even need to protect himself on this job? Who was the old man? So many questions flooded his mind making it hard to concentrate on his plan. It was pitch black in the tiny cupboard he’d hidden himself in at the back of the dressing room. Waiting for the cast to head onto the stage, he tried to slow his raci...

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“Home Again” by Gary Crawford

Submitted to Contest #123

Home Again It’s been years since I stood on this stage. So many memories. We had our kindergarten graduation on this very stage. The city used to allow the schools and other civic groups to use the stage, as long as it didn’t interfere with the regular programs. Then we had a Christmas pageant here when I was in the third grade. I got to play an elf. My big break into the world of showbiz! We came here to see Mary Poppins when I was about eight. The place was full of noisy kids. Same with the matinees we went to, at least a thousand ki...

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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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“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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“DRESSING ROOM RIDER” by Dee Dee Seaburg

Submitted to Contest #123

I know I am going to screw this up. I have only been working for Premiere Catering for two weeks, and now this. I thought wedding catering was nerve-wracking, but backstage catering for a concert is beyond stressful. Marie is acting like this is no big deal, but it’s Ross Haskin! He is only the biggest name in pop music right now! I know she has done a lot of backstage catering, but she could show some excitement. I guess she’s not really the type to get excited about things or show any emotion. I have not seen her smile since I star...

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“The Wrong Kind Of Love” by Mark Nero

Submitted to Contest #123

Drama, drama, drama… It’s ironic that even though I was an aspiring actor, I normally shied away from drama. I liked to use the word ‘aspiring’ rather than ‘tried to be’ or ‘hoped to be’ because, it sounded grander, but I’ve tried to become an actor for some time now – hoping for a big break. I thought that part of my problem was that I’m Japanese, as it limited the roles that I could be considered for. There weren’t many directors or producers who thought that I’d be suitable to play Hamlet… or Macbeth but I can’t stop trying. Not yet… ...

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“Under the Floorboards” by Danielski Belski

Submitted to Contest #123

Oohs and Aahs that dissipated from the air carry me to the back of the stage with an arm around my waist. But right when I get behind the curtain the arm of the man who loved me on stage now walks away to a group of people. There’s a tugging feeling in my chest though I should be happy everything went so well. His slim figure and bright eyes gleam with the light that seeps through the panels of the stage as he glances at me. On stage, you would think that we are each other's lives when in reality, I don’t even know him. Sometimes it’s hard t...

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“A Little Angel in the Land of Oz” by Rachel Culp

Submitted to Contest #123

“Now, Remember Cassie, it can become a little strange inside beyond this door.” “Kay.” Swaying from heel to toe and back, the little girl waited for her older brother to open the door. He had been telling stories about ‘backstage’ for weeks. Today, she would see it for herself. As the plain metal door opens, she sees colors and lights and people swarming in all directions. She grabs on to Billy’s hand as he moves forward. All his warnings of the extraordinary hadn’t equipped her. As she steps through the doorway, a dancing balloon catches he...

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“The Rest is Silence” by William Sattelmeyer

Submitted to Contest #123

“That’s it. It’s over,” Astoria said from the backstage shadows, as she stepped into Queen Gertrude’s gown for Act 5. “Good night, sweet ladies.” “Maybe not,” Kingsley said, fondling the props for Scene 2. “There’s Kickstarter and Lidia’s new influencer gig for Ben Nye makeup. We can still save the theater.” Bernard made a rude noise. “No one is going to pay for greasepaint tripe.” “You’re delusional, Kingsley, my dear,” Astoria said. “After this travesty, we’ll be lucky to extricate our own acting careers let alone the theater. There are...

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Set your story backstage at the theater.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 30 stories

“Before the Play” by Ramona Scarborough

“Off Book” by Amanda Van Regenmorter

“One Final Act” by James Grasham

“Home Again” by Gary Crawford

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

“Solidarity” by Haz Cady

“No Drama Mama” by Nanci Sherman

“The Sea Witch Babysitter” by Diana Dawn

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

“Anger is Best Cleansed Before Traveling” by Pako Dunwhile

“DRESSING ROOM RIDER” by Dee Dee Seaburg

“The Wrong Kind Of Love” by Mark Nero

“Under the Floorboards” by Danielski Belski

“A Little Angel in the Land of Oz” by Rachel Culp

“The Rest is Silence” by William Sattelmeyer

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story looking down from a stage.

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

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

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

Contest #123

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

213

Contest entries

134

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: