Start your story looking down from a stage.

Posted in Thriller and Suspense on Oct 25, 2022

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✍️ 56 stories

“The Devil's Violinist” by Marie Cera

Submitted to Contest #123

“Hey Andrea, stop standing there and come help me with these curtains! Giacomo’s annoyed voice snaps me from my daze. Blinking quickly, I look around. I’m standing on a stage. On the stage, lit with bright lights from every direction. I’ve gotten distracted by the elaborate theatre once again. How long have I been standing here? I look down at all the empty seats, and remember. The concert! I’d run to the theatre as soon as I’d gotten out of the conservatory this evening, passing horse-drawn carriages and small shops, making my way through ...

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“One Man Show” by Edward Hamilton

Submitted to Contest #123

The One Man Show A tale of fiction By Edward Hamilton "Ladieees and Gentleman. I am proud to bring to you..." "Wait! Cut!" The voice came from the darkness in the auditorium. It was rich and confident. A deep baritone. He sounded like the announcer from masterpiece theatre. Phil stood center stage. The house lights were down so he couldn't see the audience. He wore a basic brown suit, white button up shirt and suspenders that his grandpa gave him. His hair was cut ...

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“Revenge, He Wrote” by Deborah Mackie

Submitted to Contest #123

Revenge, He Wrote From my backstage vantage point at the edge of the curtain I scan the audience searching for familiar faces; ones I haven’t seen for years, but ones I’ll never forget. I spot one straight away. Craig, the football jock. Shit, that must be Cheryl. Head of the mean girls. They’d made a good pair back then – both cocky, shallow, entitled. She sure doesn’t look much like the blonde bombshell from school. And Craig doesn’t look like he’s played any sport for a while. The years haven’t been kind to either of them. I keep ...

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“A RIP in the Seam” by Jennifer Porcelli

Submitted to Contest #123

September 21st 1882- The Day After It wasn’t visible from where I sat in the balcony the previous day, but when you are standing in the middle of the stage, looking down into the pit, they are unmistakable. Hundreds of tiny droplets of dried blood. They are sprayed across the floor like a galaxy of crimson stars, practically glittering from the candle trembling in my hand. To my left, I can see fresh discoloration of the wood. Two dark splotches stretched across the surface. The larger one looked vaguely familiar. It’s shaped like a si...

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“A bridge too far” by Mike Ross

Submitted to Contest #123

A bridge too far “Oh hell, no, no, please no,” her inner voice screams; however, she hears herself saying: “Of course, no problem, give me a few seconds to sort myself out.” But it is a problem. She had spotted him making his way up to the stage and was uncertain of what to make of him. He was unsteady on his feet, needing to rest his hand on a chair once or twice to steady himself; she assumed he’d been drinking but was not yet drunk – the worst kind. There were actually more than one problem to deal with; the bitter tang of cheap whisky ...

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“THE BOX” by Sally Moore

Submitted to Contest #123

THE BOX I knew I shouldn’t have done it the moment I did it. I’m ahead of myself, however, so I shall begin at the beginning. Months ago I stood backstage crying. Apparently crying is obligatory for me at the end of each performance and this, the last performance of the season, required copious tears. Of course, a tale of death lends itself quite well to grief, especially the death of such a young martyr accused of witchcraft. They had nothing to accuse her of except for possession of the box. Now our entire troupe was return...

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“Friendships Like Flowers” by Eric Raymond

Submitted to Contest #123

Friendships Like Flowers by E. Ray Morse John Herlihy stood at the edge of the stage, the only sign of human life at the off-off-Broadway venue, the Vineyard Theater. Onstage, a single Ghost Light illuminated Herlihy’s lean body, casting a shadow with hands in pockets and a steady straight mid-Western posture. Glancing ...

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“Breathed into Fruition” by Elizabeth Burchman

Submitted to Contest #123

The lights were blinding and cast an uncomfortable warmth over her, she could feel the sweat beginning to seep through her far to nice blouse, bought specifically for this occasion. She held her arms close to her, praying that the audience couldn’t see the obvious nerves take shape in the incredibly unattractive form of underarm sweat. She swallowed hard, feeling the dryness of her throat as she made an almost gulping sound that echoed into the auditorium. She looked down into the crowd, somehow, she could still feel the thousands of stares ...

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“A Night Out with Max” by Grant M

Submitted to Contest #123

Most of the crowd had left by now, but there were still a few people talking near the doors and I watched them without really looking as I sat on the edge of the stage. The stage was old, to the point where some of the wood had begun to warp. But it was well polished, and even though the wood was dark and the lights were low, there was still a gleam to it. We had run the play twice back to back, so by the end of it I was exhausted, but not quite tired in a way that meant I could sleep. I was wired. I always was after a performance, as w...

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“Unravel ” by Colin Tan

Submitted to Contest #123

Silence. Glancing into the audience, he shivers. The crowd murmurs, voices carrying across the cavernous auditorium. Forcing himself to look away from the audience, he instead admires the piano. A brilliant Steinway piano gleams under the spotlight, its black lacquered finish contrasting its dazzling white keys. Breathing, he feels the air carry from the deepest chambers of his lungs spreading across as he exhales, letting it fully exit his body. His hands, shaking slightly in anticipation, gently caress the ivory keys of the piano. C...

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“The Diva of Destiny” by Jessie Ghost

Submitted to Contest #123

The chords of a piano, sharp and harsh in their intensity, echo through a warehouse as if to ensnare all who hear it with the sound of pure rage. A black stage towers above dozens of folding chairs, most of which remain empty. The only things on the stage are an overweight woman holding a wine glass and a frameless mirror attached to a fabric-covered scaffold.Beneath a lone light, the woman glimmers in her elaborate, gold dress, and the mass of red hair held into a bun sag from the weight of beads and crystals hanging off it. Red fingernails...

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Start your story looking down from a stage.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 56 stories

“The Devil's Violinist” by Marie Cera

“One Man Show” by Edward Hamilton

“Revenge, He Wrote” by Deborah Mackie

“A RIP in the Seam” by Jennifer Porcelli

“A bridge too far” by Mike Ross

“THE BOX” by Sally Moore

“Friendships Like Flowers” by Eric Raymond

“Breathed into Fruition” by Elizabeth Burchman

“A Night Out with Max” by Grant M

“Unravel ” by Colin Tan

“The Diva of Destiny” by Jessie Ghost

🌟 Similar prompts

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?

Set your story backstage at the theater.

Contest #123

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

212

Contest entries

133

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: