JAN
21

How to Choose and Perform Audition Monologues

By Kerri Glynn 

Monologues are a great way to showcase your talent as part of the audition process, whether for shows or for college acceptances.  But finding the right monologue can be tough.  Many contemporary and classic monologues are written for older characters, often way older.  No matter how talented you are, playing a 50-year-old likely does not play to your strengths.  So unless that’s the age of the character you’re trying out for, you should work to find a monologue you can better relate to and bring to life genuinely.  You don’t need to have had the same experiences or conflicts, but you should be able to understand and empathize with the character’s emotions.

In the context of a play, there are generally two types of monologues.  Those that are directed at another character — perhaps someone who can help or hinder the speaker in getting something they want or need — can be especially compelling.  because it’s the emotional force of this need that propels the speech.  Other times, monologues are soliloquies that allow the character to share what they’re thinking and feeling about a situation as they deal with an inner conflict.

Other monologues are original and written to stand alone without the larger context of being part of a play.  If selecting one of these, look for more than just narrating a story or experience.  Instead, find a monologue in which the character goes through a character arc, meaning they’ve experienced some sort of transformation during the course of the monologue so that they are changed from who they were at the beginning.  This could be a change of mindset or behavior, perhaps based on confronting an internal flaw or discovering a realization that changes their perspective.

No matter what type of monologue you choose, here are some tips for your actual presentation:

• Remember that you’re being observed from the moment you stand up or enter the room.  Stand tall, keep your hands away from your hair and jewelry.  Distribute your weight on both feet.  Take a breath, make eye contact and state your name if you need to introduce yourself.
• Keep in mind the obvious — don’t chew gum, don’t give the monologue sitting down (unless your character requires it), and be sure you’re speaking loudly enough to be heard by everyone in the room.
• Don’t feel you have to jump right into the first line that your character speaks.  Turn slightly, perhaps drop your head — do something that distances yourself from your introduction.
• You should have already imagined where your character has just come from and why he or she is speaking in the moment.  See the free download for questions to ask yourself as you prepare for your monologue.
• When you’re ready — and not until — begin to speak.
• If you’re not sure where to look, aim your eyes just past any audience members in the last row.  It will appear as though you’re talking to someone just beyond.
• Use a prop only if that makes it easier to focus or if you don’t know what to do with your hands.
• When you’re done, be clear you’re done.  Look away, walk away, or even just close your eyes and take a breath.  And be sure to say thank you to the people who are listening, making eye contact as you do.