Theatrical monologues are a specific type of theater, demanding intensive rehearsal, as there are no external prompts to aid in their delivery. To truly understand a monologue, it helps to read the entire play from which it is excerpted so that you understand the character's motivations. A monologue typically captures a character at a key moment, be it an epiphany, a humorous misstep, a bout of self-doubt or a wave of emotional intensity. For actors using a monologue in an audition, it is generally advised that the monologue should be delivered to a spot near the auditors' heads, but not directly to the auditors.
Types
There are as many types of monologues as there are types of theater. There are classical, comedic and dramatic monologues. There are famous monologues, such as those from plays by Tony Kushner, Suzan Lori-Parks, August Wilson, Henrik Ibsen, Tennessee Williams, Charles Bush and Ntozake Shange. There are movie monologues, Shakespearean monologues, monologues for children, one-minute monologues and monologues from musicals.
Features
While monologues are an incredibly diverse medium, they share common features. There is one speaker, although other characters may be present or implied in the scene. They typically entail a combination of words and actions and often capture a culminating moment of a scene, such as Hamlet's famous "To be or not to be" monologue. They often involve the character speaking directly to the audience, which makes them an effective format for auditions. The Monologue Database (see Resources below) is a list of monologues organized by features such as character, setting, play title, type of play, summary and a key excerpt.
Effects
The modern monologue has pushed the envelope in terms of format. Nowadays, there are monologues that are full-length plays, such as Anna Deavere Smith's documentary-style theater piece "Twilight: Los Angeles 1992" in which she populates the monologue with verbatim interview clips of people involved in the Los Angeles riots. One notable modern piece that has garnered attention is Eve Ensler's disturbing and funny "The Vagina Monologues," for which the playwright interviewed many women on the somewhat taboo topic.
Warning
While many websites and books include movie monologues in their collections of monologues, they are typically not considered valid for theater auditions. Plays are the preferred resource. Also, websites many not offer a comprehensive listing of the best monologues available, because of copyright infringement issues, so it is best to consult a book.
Expert Insight
For those seeking a monologue with which to audition or perform, seasoned actors recommend choosing one that features a character near your age who is in a situation with which you can relate. Study the play to understand the context of the monologue, the character's challenges and the character's relationships with others. Select a monologue that is active and engaging, that involves another character rather than being purely a speech or an anecdote.
