My Dad

There’s something about a simple cardboard box that can hold a lifetime.

My Dad invites the audience into a deeply personal moment—a son standing alone on stage, holding memories that refuse to fade. What begins as a reflection on Father’s Day slowly unfolds into something richer… heavier… and unexpectedly beautiful.

Inside a worn box labeled “Treasures,” we discover what truly mattered to a father: not wealth, not accomplishments—but the imperfect, handmade gifts of a child. A crooked school project. A candy wrapper. A moment of grace after failure.

And somewhere between laughter and tears, the audience realizes—they’re not just watching a story… they’re remembering their own.

This monologue doesn’t shout. It doesn’t rush. It quietly settles into the heart and stays there.

Cast:  1 (male) monologue

Bible Reference:  Exodus 20:12

Set: bare

Lighting:   standard

Sound:  wireless mics if available

Song:  none

SFX: none

Costumes:  standard

Props:

• large box marker “TREASURES” and inside some ornaments, wooden objects, empty candy box and papers

Special Instructions: none

Time:  7

Sample of script:  

actor comes on stage

Father’s Day. . . .
Dad’s Day . . .
A day to honor our fathers, our dads. . . .

pauses, shakes head, smiles

My Dad, my Father . . .
He’s gone now . . .
Died back when I was a teenager . . . . 18 or 19 . . . guess I was.

Looking back, . . always felt . . . I dunno . . . cheated is the word, I guess . . kinda.

So for me, . . Father’s Day is . . .
I dunno . . . different I guess.

moves a few steps, in thought

I kinda remember Dad’s funeral . . . all the flowers . . all the wonderful things the pastor and others said about my Dad.

How Dad was a great friend, family man, man of God.

Only thing went through my mind was . .

“Keep the flowers and words . . . just give me back my Father.”

But Dad wasn’t coming back. . . .

After Dad died I found this big ol’ box, high up on a shelf in Dad’s closet, “Treasures” written in big letters, handwriting distinctly my Dad’s . . .

opens the box, sorts through, takes out an ornament and a piece of wood

Wow . . .

I remember, . .  when I was a kid . . . preparing for Father’s Day . .

Usually there would be some kinda school project . . . (looks at ornament) . . . making a something outta plaster of paris . . (looks at piece of wood) . .  maybe a something outta wood. . .

thinks, chuckles

Came time to bring my creation home from school, hand it to my dad . . .
“Happy Father’s Day Dad!”

“Made this for you Dad, . . . special for you Dad!”

Look on my Dad’s face . .  it was . . .

gets emotional, wipes eyes, signals audience to stop, as though someone is comforting him

Hey, listen . . . no idea where that came from it’s just that . .
Anyhow, like I was saying . . . look on my Dad’s face was like he had . . I dunno . .  like he had just been given the Nobel Peace Prize . . Pulitzer Prize . .

Want to see how the story unfolds? Get the complete script and bring this powerful moment to your stage.