Searching for the perfect monologue can be like hunting Bigfoot or the Loch Ness monster. You keep hearing rumors that they exist but every time you think you’ve found it, you hear the actor ahead of you deliver it better than you ever could.
While the perfect monologue may not it exist, it is certain that many good ones do. Your chore as an actor is to try on as many as it takes to find several that fit. If you are new to acting you may want to try your local library or bookstore for a book of prepared monologues to get you started. Or a web site such as: http://www.mvhsdrama.com/contemporarymonos.htm
When working with prepared monologues I recommend finding those that are cut from one act or full length plays. If you are a seasoned veteran try cutting your own from the script of one of your favorite plays or musicals. Many novels and other prose can also be a good source.
Be sure to prepare at least one comedic and one dramatic monologue as part of your repertoire. In preparing your monologue for performance make sure to find out if there are time constraints. In an audition setting directors frequently ask for a certain length of monologue. Be prepared to make adjustments.
You may find it helpful to retype the text of your monologue into a screenwriting template or program which will lay it out in standard format which equals approximately one minute per page. Here is an excellent resource for a free opensource screenwriting and preproduction tool I use all the time
http://www.mvhsdrama.com/contemporarymonos.htm
Once you have selected a variety of pieces try them out on an audience. Even family and friends, while the may not tell you if you’re bad, will be able to honestly say which piece they like most. (or, hate least as the case may be) Narrow it down to two and commit them to memory. Don’t just familiarize yourself with it. Memorize it so you could do it waking from a dead sleep.
Okay now you are ready to block your monologue. Remember less is more in this endeavor. Keep your movement confined to a reasonably small area. You never know when you may be asked to audition in a makeup trailer! Once you have your monologues memorized and blocked you are ready to go.
Don’t forget, as you learn new tricks and techniques brush up your blocking and acting choices in your monologues. Keep them fresh. Don’t waste all that time and money on classes and neglect to update your best calling card to show what you can do.
While the perfect monologue may not it exist, it is certain that many good ones do. Your chore as an actor is to try on as many as it takes to find several that fit. If you are new to acting you may want to try your local library or bookstore for a book of prepared monologues to get you started. Or a web site such as: http://www.mvhsdrama.com/contemporarymonos.htm
When working with prepared monologues I recommend finding those that are cut from one act or full length plays. If you are a seasoned veteran try cutting your own from the script of one of your favorite plays or musicals. Many novels and other prose can also be a good source.
Be sure to prepare at least one comedic and one dramatic monologue as part of your repertoire. In preparing your monologue for performance make sure to find out if there are time constraints. In an audition setting directors frequently ask for a certain length of monologue. Be prepared to make adjustments.
You may find it helpful to retype the text of your monologue into a screenwriting template or program which will lay it out in standard format which equals approximately one minute per page. Here is an excellent resource for a free opensource screenwriting and preproduction tool I use all the time
http://www.mvhsdrama.com/contemporarymonos.htm
Once you have selected a variety of pieces try them out on an audience. Even family and friends, while the may not tell you if you’re bad, will be able to honestly say which piece they like most. (or, hate least as the case may be) Narrow it down to two and commit them to memory. Don’t just familiarize yourself with it. Memorize it so you could do it waking from a dead sleep.
Okay now you are ready to block your monologue. Remember less is more in this endeavor. Keep your movement confined to a reasonably small area. You never know when you may be asked to audition in a makeup trailer! Once you have your monologues memorized and blocked you are ready to go.
Don’t forget, as you learn new tricks and techniques brush up your blocking and acting choices in your monologues. Keep them fresh. Don’t waste all that time and money on classes and neglect to update your best calling card to show what you can do.
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