FASMA 2025 - Speaking Up, Speaking Out: The Passionate Voice

At SMA Playwrights, we’re all about celebrating the power of the monologue — that pivotal moment in a story when a character just can’t hold back any longer and finally lets loose what’s been simmering inside. Maybe it’s a raw, emotional confession that spills out when they least expect it, or maybe it’s a fiery rant that’s been building up for ages. Either way, when a character speaks up or speaks out, it doesn’t just move the plot forward — it often flips their whole world upside down, exposing them to embarrassment, risk, or even danger.

Curious to hear what that sounds like? Come listen! Hear what Hamlet’s ghostly father has to say about his son’s endless hesitation. Find out what King Lear’s daughter really has in mind for her aging dad. Step into a private moment where Abby Rockefeller confronts Diego Rivera about the meaning behind his mural. Or feel the tension as a Jewish mother in pre-war Germany explains why she's staying longer than she should. You’ll also meet au pairs who silently seethe while keeping a polite front, a woman who turns to yoga to reflect on her search for a better partner, and an older woman reconnecting with the girl she used to be. There’s a man mourning the loss of cultural roots, a writer grappling with rejection, and someone just plain fed up with walking the crumbling sidewalks of San Miguel.

Monologues can shift the course of history — or they can simply spark a personal epiphany. Either way, when a character finally voices what’s been eating at them, we get a deeper, more human glimpse into their world.

“Cordelia Speaks to her Father, King Lear” by Marilyn Bullivant: Sometimes you just have to confront your father, it’s in his best interest.

“Woman at the Crossroads” by Anne Campbell: Abby Rockefeller and Diego Rivera collide at the intersection of art and politics, with the destruction of a mural or a family's reputation at stake.

"Hamlet's Ghost Returns" by Martin Cohen: Hamlet Sr.'s ghost admonishes Hamlet for delaying to murder his uncle Claudius.

"Making Steel" by William Considine: A man recalls a region of thriving industry.

“Lullabye” by Lia Gladstone: A nanny takes a trip with her small charge.

“The Mother, 1935: by Dennis Lanson: A German Jewish mother and her son have differing perspectives on their circumstances under the tightening noose of Nazi rule.

“Marina's Rant” by Tasha Paley: A demeaned, live-in housekeeper is exasperated with her job, and furious with the mistress for neglecting her daughter.

“Vanity Trap” by Cyn Posner: A woman confronts her younger self in the park, igniting a spiral of envy and self-reflection.

"When and What" by Sharon Steeber: A meditator struggles to hold onto joy every afternoon at dinner time.

“The Yard Sale” by David Temple: A writer holds a yard sale to unload his unfinished work.

"La Banqueta" by Ben Widdicombe: A tourist goes for a stroll on the sidewalks of San Miguel.