Tips on Choosing a Great Monologue
by Janet S. Tiger
I've seen many actors do thousands of monologues - some of them mine. I've learned a few things - and I have a great deal of admiration for all actors. (A special thank you to DJ Sullivan, who gives a fantastic acting class - her home was the location of my first reading!)
1. Know your strengths - if you have a great memory, you can choose a longer piece that might have a greater punch for the judges/audiences. If you do a wonderful New York accent, try a piece that shows off this ability. Or, if you know the part you're auditioning for is athletic, find a monologue that has motion as well as dialogue.
2. Read a lot of different monologues for different ages - if you find you can do a great senior citizen, this can expand the range of monologues you can try.
3. Try less known writers - the judges and audiences have heard Hamlet/Goodbye Girl/ Neil Simon/David Mamet a million times. If you find a playwright that hasn't had work done in your community, you have a better chance of keeping the audience interest.
4. Test out monologues on people who aren't related to you - the mailperson, strangers at a rec/senior center - so that you get visual and verbal feedback on different monologues.
I've seen many actors do thousands of monologues - some of them mine. I've learned a few things - and I have a great deal of admiration for all actors. (A special thank you to DJ Sullivan, who gives a fantastic acting class - her home was the location of my first reading!)
1. Know your strengths - if you have a great memory, you can choose a longer piece that might have a greater punch for the judges/audiences. If you do a wonderful New York accent, try a piece that shows off this ability. Or, if you know the part you're auditioning for is athletic, find a monologue that has motion as well as dialogue.
2. Read a lot of different monologues for different ages - if you find you can do a great senior citizen, this can expand the range of monologues you can try.
3. Try less known writers - the judges and audiences have heard Hamlet/Goodbye Girl/ Neil Simon/David Mamet a million times. If you find a playwright that hasn't had work done in your community, you have a better chance of keeping the audience interest.
4. Test out monologues on people who aren't related to you - the mailperson, strangers at a rec/senior center - so that you get visual and verbal feedback on different monologues.