Best Monologues from the Best American Short Plays: Volume Two

Edited by William W. Demastes

This second volume of the best monologues from the Best American Short Plays series features a diverse selection drawn from the outstanding works from many of today's best American playwrights. In these monologues, the playwrights capture much of the flavors, feelings, and thoughts of American culture over the past several decades. The result is a collection of taught, engaging monologues offering fascinating perspectives. They are written with an eye toward the stage that makes them excellent source material for actors young and old alike. And they offer a freshness and directness that make them excellent companions for readers attracted to good, often quirky, and always engaging contemporary literature.

Included in this volume are monologues by Billy Aronson, Bruce Bonafede, Victor Bumbalo, Clay McLeod Chapman, Yussef El Guindi, Steve Feffer, Catherine Filloux, Daniel Gallant, Madeleine George, Willy Holtzman, Paul Kuritz, Neil LaBute, Dano Madden, Theodore Mann, Donald Margulies, Susan Miller, Lavonne Mueller, Joyce Carol Oates, Carey Pepper, Joe Pintauro, Michael Roderick, Murray Schisgal, Paul Selig, and Nicky Silver.

Featuring the story “undertow,” originally published in Best American Short Plays 2009-2010.