An enormous part of the actor’s life is finding and performing monologues for auditions. It can be difficult to know what kind of monologues you should choose, though. Ultimately, you should be choosing monologues that are perfect for you. But what does that really mean? How do you find monologues? And how do you know which is the right one to perform?
Let’s break down exactly how to find the perfect monologue for you so you can ace your next audition.
What is an Audition Monologue?
An audition monologue is a short, typically one to two-minute piece that actors perform to showcase their talents during an audition. This performance is your chance to impress casting directors, showcasing your range, emotional depth, and ability to inhabit a character. While it might be a brief segment, the impact it can have on your acting career is significant.
Many people go about choosing an audition monologue the wrong way. They look for a monologue that helps them to show off their emotions, is shocking, or will grab attention.
What you should actually be thinking about is how to find the best monologue for you. The one that suits you down to the ground and really brings out the best in you as an actor.
Let’s explore why it’s so important to choose a monologue that suits you and how to actually go about it.
Why Choosing the Right Audition Monologue Matters
Selecting the right audition monologue is crucial because it can be the deciding factor in whether you get a callback or even land the role.
A monologue that suits your style and strengths can boost your confidence, enabling you to deliver a more authentic and compelling performance. On the other hand, a poorly chosen piece might not showcase your abilities effectively, potentially costing you the opportunity.
So, your monologue choice is really crucial to helping you land the role that you really want. But why the emphasis on choosing the right monologue for YOU, rather than just choosing the best one?
You might be tired of hearing it, but there is no ‘best’ when it comes to acting. Come on now, this is art!
Why do we make art? To express truths, to connect to others, and to explore things that are meaningful to us. And when we achieve those things fully, that’s when we make good art. When we achieve that, others will enjoy our art, no matter what we do.
So, when I talk about finding the perfect monologue for you, I’m talking about finding the monologue that suits you. The characters that you understand, that you want to defend, that make you feel seen. When you can connect to a character and their story, your monologue will have a fire behind it that you cannot fake.
That is why it’s so crucial to find the perfect monologue for you.
What Makes a Good Audition Monologue?
A good audition monologue is one that resonates with you as an actor and aligns with the role you are auditioning for. It should have a clear arc, allowing you to demonstrate a range of emotions and character development.
Key Elements of a Good Audition Monologue:
- Character Depth: Choose a monologue that allows you to explore complex emotions and nuances.
- Relatability: Select a piece that you can relate to personally, as this will enhance the authenticity of your performance.
- Relevance: Ensure the monologue is relevant to the production or character you are auditioning for.
Just practically, a successful monologue also has a well-defined beginning, middle, and end, giving you the opportunity to take the audience on a journey. This structure not only showcases your storytelling skills but also keeps the panel engaged.
However, what should really set you apart in your choice is how right it is for you. Let’s explore how to tell if your choice is right, and how to pick the perfect audition monologue.
How to Pick an Audition Monologue
Choosing the right audition monologue can be a daunting task, but breaking it down into manageable steps can simplify the process. Start by understanding the role you’re auditioning for and the overall tone of the production. This insight can guide your selection, ensuring your monologue aligns with the director’s vision.
Steps to Pick an Audition Monologue:
- Connection: Do you connect to the character and their words? This is the strongest indicator that the monologue is right for you.
- Research: Look for monologues from plays, films, or even TV shows that fit the genre of your audition.
- Self-Assessment: Identify your strengths and weaknesses as an actor. Choose a monologue that plays to your strengths.
- Character Match: Ensure the character in the monologue has similarities to the role you want, allowing you to demonstrate relevant skills.
Your greatest strength as an actor is that you’re YOU. You have a background, a personality and life experiences that are unique to you. This means that you will be able to bring them to a role that really resonates with you to do that role justice.
So, first of all, look for characters that you relate to. These similarities might be obvious. You may identify traits in them, such as them being a misfit, or feeling like they must speak their mind, or being serious and studious, or impulsive, or feeling trapped. There are any infinite number of ways you might connect to a character, and they are all relevant. If a character reflects part of you and your story, that should be treasured.
Sometimes you may connect to a character and not entirely know why. You may just feel you have a very deep understanding of them, or they may feel very familiar to you. That’s okay, you don’t have to be able to explain it. You should just have a sense of ‘I know this person.’
Beyond the character, you should be able to relate to the monologue itself. I’m not necessarily talking about the specifics. Especially if you’re young, you may find it hard to relate to a great number of characters just because of the life experience thing. Plus, if many youngsters are dealing with similar things, you may end up all picking the same kinds of monologues, which is no fun at all.
No, what you want to think about are the themes in the monologue. So, you may have never been through a messy divorce, but perhaps you understand what fear of abandonment feels like. Perhaps you’ve never been on the run, but you understand what it’s like to have to keep secrets or to hide who you truly are.
Look for these themes that resonate with you, not just on an intellectual level but on an emotional level. You should feel strongly about them.
If you can find a monologue that connects with you in this way, then you are on the right path to finding the perfect monologue for you.
The Practical Side of Choosing And Audition Monologue
We’ve talked a lot about your personal connection to the monologue, but there is a practical side of all this to consider.
Casting directors and panels want to be able to imagine you in specific roles or get an understanding of roles you can actually play. This means you have to choose a monologue that suits your casting.
So, you should choose something that fits with your background and type. Choose a character who is roughly your age. It’s best to choose an actor who has your native accent, if possible. Basically, choose someone you could believably play.
There’s no point playing a 50-year-old New Yorker if you’re an 18-year-old from Scotland. It just doesn’t show what you bring to the table that’s different from others.
That said, remember that casting isn’t as strict as it used to be. Shakespeare productions often gender-switch their characters. Some characters are written to be open for any gender, age, nationality, or race to play. This means that there is room for you to expand the boundaries of what you choose, especially if a character’s story resonates strongly with you.
Basically, if you could likely be cast as that character in a professional production, then go for it!
How Long Should an Audition Monologue Be?
The ideal length for an audition monologue generally ranges between one to two minutes. This duration is sufficient to demonstrate your skills without losing the attention of the casting panel.
A concise monologue ensures that you can deliver a focused and impactful performance, leaving a strong impression in a limited time frame.
However, the specific length can sometimes depend on the guidelines provided by the casting director. Always adhere to any specified time limits, as exceeding them can be perceived as unprofessional and disrespectful of the panel’s time.
If no specific time is given, aim for a monologue that comfortably fits within the one to two-minute range.
Remember, brevity is key. A short, well-executed monologue is far more effective than a longer one that drags. Focus on clarity, emotional depth, and character portrayal to make those few minutes count.
Ultimately, the right length is one where you can fully express the character’s journey while keeping the audience engaged.
Choosing an Audition Monologue Based on Genre
The genre of the production you’re auditioning for should heavily influence your monologue choice. Different genres require varying styles, tones, and emotional ranges, so your monologue should reflect the specific demands of the genre.
For example, a comedic monologue would require timing and a sense of humor, whereas a dramatic piece might demand more emotional intensity and depth.
Consider These Genre-Specific Tips:
- Comedy: Look for monologues that highlight your comedic timing and ability to deliver punchlines effectively.
- Drama: Choose pieces that allow you to explore deep emotions and showcase your dramatic range.
- Classical: If auditioning for a classical production, ensure your monologue reflects the language and style of the period.
By aligning your monologue choice with the genre, you demonstrate to the casting directors that you understand the nuances and requirements of the role.
This alignment not only helps you stand out but also shows your versatility as an actor, capable of adapting to different storytelling styles.
Again, try to consider your own relationship to these genres. When thinking about comedy, consider what makes you laugh. What kind of jokes do you tell with your friends? With drama, think about what dramatic themes pull on your heartstrings. With classical, see which elements of the story still hold up as true today, as those are the elements that will contain universal truths.
Tips for Finding a Monologue for an Audition
Finding the perfect monologue can be challenging, but with the right strategies, you can simplify the process. Start by exploring a wide range of sources, including plays, films, and television scripts. Libraries, online databases, and acting books are excellent resources for discovering hidden gems that might suit your needs.
Experiment with different monologues to find the one that resonates most with you. Practice is key; spend time rehearsing each piece to gauge your comfort level and ability to convey the character. Remember, the right monologue is not just about the text but also about how you breathe life into it through your performance.
Resources for Finding the Perfect Audition Monologue
Having a diverse toolkit of resources can greatly aid in finding the ideal audition monologue. From online platforms to traditional books, there are numerous avenues to explore. Each type of resource offers distinct advantages, so consider using a combination to expand your options.
Here are some places where you can find great monologues:
- Watching plays
- Theatre bookshops like The National Theatre Bookshop and The Royal Court Bookshop
- Perlego – this has an enormous collection of plays you can read online for a monthly subscription.
- Shakespeare Monologues has a collection of pretty much every monologue from every Shakespeare play, separated by gender and genre.
You probably want to avoid monologue websites or monologue collection books – unless you’re using them just for practice and want to grab something quickly. This is because this is where every Tom, Dick and Harry will be getting their monologues from. You don’t want to look like you’ve only bothered to find the first monologue that pops up in the search results.
Unfortunately, there’s no shortcut to this if you really want to find the perfect monologues for you.
Try to read and see plays regularly. Perhaps create a reading list and set a goal to read a play a week, or every two weeks, or whenever works for you. If you need to find monologues quickly, you could even set aside an hour and a half a day to read plays, as that’s roughly all the time it takes to read a play!
When you’re looking for plays to read, try to target plays that have characters of your casting type in them. This way, you can avoid reading plays that have no possibility of monologues you could do in them.
Make a copy of all the monologues you find in your type – even if you don’t love them, connect with them, or they’re too old for you. Save them in a folder. This way, you will always have a collection to return to. And, you never know, you might fall in love with them, begin to connect with them, or simply age into them.
Check Out Lauren Tothero’s Monologue Video Guide
If you’re still stuck, Lauren Tothero has a great video giving even more advice on how you can find the perfect monologue for you.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing an Audition Monologue
Selecting the wrong monologue can hinder your chances of making a strong impression. Avoid these common pitfalls to ensure you choose a piece that showcases your talents effectively. One frequent mistake is choosing overly popular monologues.
While familiarity might seem appealing, it can backfire if the casting directors have heard it countless times.
Another mistake is selecting a monologue that doesn’t suit your age, gender, or type. Misalignment can distract from your performance, as it might appear forced or inauthentic.
Ensure the monologue reflects who you are and the role you’re auditioning for, allowing you to deliver a genuine and believable performance.
Lastly, avoid underestimating the importance of preparation. Even the perfect monologue won’t shine if you haven’t rehearsed it thoroughly.
Take the time to understand the character, the context, and the emotions behind the words. Preparation is key to delivering a powerful and memorable audition.
How To Work On Your Audition Monologue
Once you’ve found the perfect monologue for you, now it’s time to work on it.
If you’re not sure where to start, check out my actor’s rehearsal schedule and checklist. This will help you keep track of your progress and provide you with a whole bunch of amazing exercises to work with.
A lot of the practice not only focuses on communicating the story clearly and effectively, but also further developing that connection you have to the piece and character. If you’ve chosen a character that you truly resonate with, then this will be even more powerful.
Conclusion
Finding the perfect audition monologue for you is both an art and a science, requiring careful consideration and preparation. By understanding the importance of the right monologue, adhering to time guidelines, and knowing what makes a good piece, you set yourself up for success.
Use this guide as a roadmap to navigate the complexities of choosing a monologue that truly represents your abilities and potential.
Remember, the right monologue is not just about impressing the casting directors; it’s about showcasing your passion and dedication to the craft. Approach each audition with confidence, armed with a monologue that highlights your unique voice and talent.
