About Monologues

August 2011

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A monologue is an uninterrupted speech by a character - speaking his or her thoughts, talking to another character or even addressing the audience. Since a monologue focuses on a single character, it allows an actor the opportunity to show off their acting skills and abilities.

Along with an acting audition role, every actor should have a pre-rehearsed monologue and should be ready to perform it when meeting with an acting agency for an interview or a casting director for an acting role. A perfectly-delivered monologue is sure to knock out any audience.

Types of Monologues

Dramatic Monologue

Dramatic Monologues are emotional. They require intense facial expressions and a serious voice. Soliloquies are a form of dramatic monologue - an extensive speech that is an insight into the mind of the speaker.

Comedic Monologue

Comedic monologues have been popularized by stand-up comics. The script is usually full of wit, sarcasm and irony. They are much more animated and use hand gestures and body language as a form of expression.

Monologues for Kids

Monologues for kids should come from scripts designed for children. They do not have to have an extensive number of rehearsed monologues. One comedic monologue and one dramatic monologue should be enough. A one-minute monologue should be long enough for most acting auditions for kids.

Musical Monologues

Musical theatre is an extension of the dramatic monologue. When a singer performs a musical piece, he or she is performing a monologue. The monologue comes in the form of a song expressing the character's thoughts.

Monologue Tips & Guidelines

1. Choose a monologue that is appropriate for your age group and a character that you can relate to.
2. If auditioning for a particular role, find a monologue that fits in the same genre (dramatic role = dramatic monologue).
3. Time yourself and make sure the monologue fits the length acceptable for the audition (usually one to three minutes).
4. Pick a monologue that is interesting and will grab the attention of your audience. An ‘engaging’ monologue will make the audience feel like they are personally involved with your character as opposed to just listening to you tell them a story.
5. Rehearse the monologue until you can perform it entirely without prompting. Breaking it down into parts (beginning, middle, end) or beats will help.
6. Read the entire script that the monologue is from. Knowing the whole story, the circumstance, and the background will help you develop your characters.
7. Study and understand your character. What does he/she want? How will he/she get it?
8. Remember a monologue is still a dialogue in which the other person doesn’t speak. Imagine the person you’re speaking to in the monologue and his/her reactions.
9. Record your monologue and play it back to yourself repeatedly to help you memorize it.
10. Try performing the monologue in several different ways. Be prepared to perform it more than one way at the audition.
11. Continue to rehearse the monologue... First to an inanimate object, then for a personal audience (a friend, family), and if possible to a professional (another actor or acting agent).
12. Seek feedback from someone who you trust will be able to help you to improve your performance.

Scource: much of the text above is extracted from a now defunct blog (author unknown).

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