Monologue performances play a critical role in measuring an actor's strength and devotion. They're fundamental literary devices that have been utilized in theatrical performances for quite a long time as they can easily highlight how much emotion and weight an actor can insert into their role.
But how can you find the best monologues for auditions, and how can you write an original one on your own? That's what we'll be learning today as we introduce you to the art of acting monologues and give you some key tips on making the most of them for your audition. Don't let stage fright cut your act short, as with our pro secret, you'll never have to perform alone.
What is a Monologue?
A monologue is a relatively lengthy speech delivered by an individual character in a story. This is usually done to provide plot details or give further insight into a character's depth, motivations, or point of view. Characters monologuing can be found addressing the audience or other characters in the story.
Even though professional auditions these days test your capabilities through other techniques, monologues remain useful for many beginners. If you plan to sign up for a high school play, you'll most likely be asked to give a convincing audition monologue, so you must be prepared with your best A-list material.
If you still feel like monologues are too complicated and you need some extra help, Superprof can set the stage for you. Their crew of over 2000 acting coaches can help you find the best monologues for auditions and deliver them flawlessly. Superprof’s expert tutors can help you perfect different monologues by practicing and perfecting your audition. Sign up for Superprof's acting classes nyc today so you can walk the red carpet tomorrow.
How are Monologues Incorporated into Stories?
As with most literary devices, the writers can implement monologues in many creative ways, depending on the characters and the plot. They can be used to add drama, set up a comedic punchline, reflect the moral of a story, evaluate world-building rules, reveal a plot twist, or present pretty much any sort of context needed to explore the characters further and drive the story forward.
The most effective and memorable monologues focus on certain characters' unique natures or complex traits. Let's say a morally ambiguous character monologue is about a twisted philosophy of the world and the writer's unnatural perception of life. Then, the audience will be able to develop some interest in seeing how the story unfolds for that character.
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What Are the Different Types of Monologues?
With a literary device so diverse and popular, it naturally has different types you must know if you’re entering the filmmaking industry. You might be asked to prepare specific types of acting monologues for auditions, so knowing the differences between each one could save your skin on the stage.
Let's look at the core monologues by genre and how they work.
Dramatic Monologues
Frequently found in Shakespeare's work, dramatic monologues refer to the monologue that adds emotional conflict and intensity within the story or the scene. They’re most commonly used to make the audience understand a character from a personal point of view, as these monologues tend to express a character’s vulnerable traits. Common examples include:
- A character motivating his army for a long-awaited battle.
- Someone's heartbreaking reaction to their loved one's death.
- A victory speech that commemorates how far the story has come to reach this conclusion.
Comedic Monologues
As the name suggests, comedic monologues tend to shift the tone by providing some humor and comic relief to the narrative. This form of speech can be used to portray exaggeration, set up a punchline, parody a concept, or more. Though these monologues are meant to represent the lighthearted aspects of the story, they can be used creatively to define certain character traits, such as optimism or sensitivity. Some common examples include:
- A character overreacting about his feelings after falling in love
- Someone hilariously ranting about their repeated misfortunes in the story
- A confident declaration of a suspenseful event that ultimately leads to a comedic subversion of expectations
How to Write a Good Monologue?
For some auditions, you'll be asked to come up with an original monologue for the performance. In such cases, your ability to write a compelling monologue will be regarded as much as your acting ability. Regardless of what kind of speech you choose to write, you must understand the ins and outs of a powerful monologue that enhances your delivery onstage. Look at this comprehensive guide to writing a memorable monologue, where you’ll learn creative strategies and professional techniques to get started.
Steps Description Establish the Scene This might be a given, but it's still worth mentioning. Your character isn't just going to enter a room out of nowhere and start talking about their life for no reason. A monologue comes as a result of a series of events or circumstances. Outline the Monologue's Purpose Next, outline the role of your monologue and the intentions of whoever delivers it. Chances are, your monologue's purpose is to present some detail that the audience or the other characters didn't know. That detail can be personal to the character or related to the larger plot, but it should be a point worth making. Develop an Outline With everything narrowed down, it's time to paint a rough outline for your monologue. Start by marking the beginning, middle, and conclusion.
In your outline, write a brief overview for each of these phases so you're better prepared for the final act. Write Your Final Draft Use your organized outline to craft your final draft. Keep the purpose of the monologue in mind, as well as the character's motivations. The audience will quickly lose interest if the speech feels too forced or out of character. Review Your Monologue Once you're done, proofread the whole thing and have some friends look at it. Make edits and improvements anywhere necessary, and ask yourself if this scene will work onstage.
If this process sounds too overwhelming, remember help is just a click away. Superprof offers hundreds of professional tutors on acting, scriptwriting, and more, so you can learn how to do a monologue and make the most of it onstage. So, start making some movie magic with Superprof's professional tips for monologues.
How to Find Monologues for Your Audition?
Here are a few pointers to help you learn how to find a good monologue. Let's break them down.
Explore As Many Plays As You Can
This might be the most obvious step, but one you shouldn't overlook. You have to hustle and dig up as many plays as you can. The more material you have, the more you'll have to choose from. Find monologues from each of these plays and decide which one best suits your acting range. If you're looking for specific types of plays, you can easily find them on monologue websites. Observing different actors and their capabilities can also help you identify where you stand so you can target more suitable genres and performances.
Stick to What You Can Work With
Don't try a dialect you're not familiar with. Don't play anyone out of your age range. Don't pick someone you're not. Having so many monologue options means you should be able to find one that's best suited for you. Remember, the casting directors aren't here to judge your character. They're here to judge you.
Believe it or not, every actor brings something unique, including you, but you can't manifest that unique attribute if you play someone who doesn't fit your type. So, you can say a lot about yourself by choosing a character you can personally connect with. If you don't, your performance can easily come off as awkward and hard to digest.
Don't Go for Anything Inappropriate or Offensive
If a monologue contains heavy use of swear words or offensive language, put it aside. Including off-color elements in your performance can easily make you look like someone who's trying too hard and take away the genuine power from your skills.
If it's just a couple of swear words, you can let it slide, but if you can tell that there's an unnecessary amount of inappropriate context here, it's best to discard it.
It’s important to understand how to prepare for the audition, from headshots to resumes and reels. Superprof’s audition lessons will teach you everything you need to know for your auditions so you are well prepared when the time comes.
Avoid the Iconic Ones
While there's nothing wrong with taking up a popular monologue, you shouldn't target them for your auditions. You want to look unique and not like everyone else, right? Then, you have to pick something unique and underrated. You'll get nowhere if you just compare yourself to A-list actors because you're not them. Stand out from the overused speeches by picking something nobody's ever heard before.
In the end, remember that some monologues may be great for you but not what the director is looking for. The key is to learn from the rejection and continue perfecting your audition for the next time.
Ace Your Audition Monologues with Superprof
Acting is an inspiring yet intimidating career where the competition is intense, victory is progressive, and growth is spontaneous. In fact, the profession is expected to grow by 3% in this decade alone. So, even though it's tough to succeed, it's well worth the try.
Now that you know what makes a good monologue and how to find one, it's time to step into the field and unleash your inner character. No matter who you're monologuing as just remember to connect with your character and embrace what makes you unique, and if you ever feel like you're falling out of line, Superprof can help you steal the scene.
Their collection of thousands of tutors on acting, scriptwriting, improv, and more can get you started with your monologue prep so you can always keep the show going with your unbreakable talent. Make your way to your first Oscar with the help of Superprof's acting classes los angeles.
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