About Monologues…

A monologue is a speech in which one character speaks. Monologues can come from many sources. A monologue can come from a larger work, like a play or a movie, or it can come from a monologue book. Additionally, monologues can be taken from novels or short stories that are written from the first person point of view. You can even write your own monologues, but if you do this, be sure to do it from a specific character’s point of view.

Whatever you choose, it is helpful to pick something you feel strongly about, because that will help you develop a strong character. The length should be about a minute long, although a little longer or shorter is fine. The monologue can be comic or dramatic. There are many monologue sites online–just search and you’ll find some. Here are a few to get you started:
http://www.actorama.com/monologues/
http://www.bestbroadwaymonologues.com/
http://youthplays.com/monologues
http://www.ace-your-audition.com/free-monologues.html

Several monologue books for young actors are available through the library, including Cool Characters for Kids! 71 One-Minute Monologues by Janet B. Milstein and Minute Monologues for Kids by Ruth Mae Roddy for younger kids, and Encore! More Wining Monologs for Young Actors by Peg Kehret for teenagers, and many others.  But if you have a favorite story or movie, you may want to look there for your monologue.

For an audition, you should have your monologue memorized and be prepared to perform it in front of the directing team. If you make a mistake, don’t panic; stay in character and improvise. Chances are the directing team does not have your monologue memorized, and if you stay in character, they may not even know you made a mistake!