Monologue

Choosing a monologue

(please note: there will be no monologue requirement for Finding Nemo Jr!

Monologue tips:

DO:

DO choose a monologue from a published play.
DO read the audition notice and pay attention to whether the director wants comedy or drama, contemporary or classic. Your monologue shows how you might fit into a role in that play!
DO choose an age appropriate monologue that shows your acting range. The character should be a role that you could actually play.
DO READ THE WHOLE PLAY! Whenever possible, it's important to know the context and the world the character lives in. For this reason, we do not recommend choosing a random monologue online or from a monologue book. Read some plays and see what you like!
DO practice your monologue with a friend or family memory- it will help you memorize!
DO warm up before you practice and before your audition!
DO hydrate!
DO relax! It's important to find your characters voice and movement, so it's very important that we're relaxed before our audition.

DO NOT:

DO NOT choose a monologue from a TV show or movie. This is theatre! Choose plays!
DO NOT choose a monologue from a character that is a different race than your own.
DO NOT feel restricted by gender - we're an all girls school so it's not that out of the realm of possibility for a girl to play Hamlet!
DO NOT perform a dialect or accent that is not your natural dialect or accent.

What we're looking for:

Confidence! Enter the room like you own it! Take risks and make choices during your monologue. Don't be afraid to add movement and gesture and show us the full range of your instrument.
Understanding: That you understand the character within the context of the play, the world they exist in, and the words that they are saying. Look up words you don't know and make sure you fully understand the motives and objectives of your character.
Flexibility: We may ask you to try your monologue in a different way (slower, faster, more nervous, in outer space, performing a specific task). We want to work with actors who can listen and try things out! Even if they feel a little funny about them!

Memorization tips

Memorization may seem like a daunting task, but with a little hard work and some helpful tricks, you'll find it easy to memorize your monologue quickly!

Write it out! Writing your text out by hand takes more time and you are focused on the words you're writing down. Try reading a line and then writing it down without looking at the book.
Imagine it! Applying an image to each line will help your brain connect the text and make memorization easier. For example, here's a bit of Hamlet's monologue: "To be or not to be: that is the question. Whether tis' nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing, end them." To help me memorize, I might list images in the text like this: A question mark -- a brain with a crown on it -- a bow and arrow -- a pile of money -- a person standing by the ocean in a storm.
Record it! Record yourself reciting your lines. Use a lot of vocal variety so you have specific cues to listen for in the text. Listen to it while you're getting ready in the morning, in the car, and before your go to bed! You are most creative and able to memorize when your brain produces theta brain waves, that is when you're relaxed, calm, and closest to delta (deep sleep). So morning and night are the best times for studying and memorization!
Block it! Applying simple gestures and blocking (movement) for specific lines can help you memorize text. Connecting the analytical interpretation of the text with your "muscle memory" will make memorization easier and will make your text more interesting!
First Letter! Once you have a good handle on your lines, write out the first letter of each sentence you need to memorize. Then without peeking at the full text, fill in the rest of the lines by writing them out or reciting them.
Practice with a partner! You can memorize on your own until the cows come home, but the best way to practice your lines is to have a partner "on book" (meaning they hold the script and keep you on track) and reciting them out loud. If you forget a line, just say "line!" and your partner will feed you the first part of your line until you get it. Help each other out!
Reax! Don't panic! Memorization can be overwhelming, but you will fin that if you put in the work, relax, and take your time with the text, you'll get it down in no time. Your brain and body is capable of so much more than you think it is! YOU GOT THIS!

MORE TIPS ON FINDING A MONOLOGUE:

Page updated

Report abuse