Ah, the monologue—what a glorious beast it is! Many actors find sourcing and preparing monologues challenging, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are my bulletproof tips for nailing your monologue prep.
Step 1: Selection Stage
For auditions, you may receive sides to read, which is helpful. However, in many cases, especially for drama school auditions, you’ll need to source your own material. When selecting a monologue, consider the following:
Age
Gender
Ethnicity
Casting Type
For self-tapes, it’s less common to be asked for a monologue of your own selection, but it can happen. Make sure to choose material that showcases your skills and hints at the character you’re auditioning for, allowing the casting director to envision you in the role. My top piece of advice? Start this process now to be prepared when the opportunity arises.
Quick Checklist:
Check the era the monologue should be from.
Research plays and playwrights from that era.
Find plays with characters that match your gender, age, and ethnic background.
Read the entire play.
Select a piece that resonates with you.
Step 2: Understanding the Structure
Once you've chosen your monologue, dive into understanding its structure, what’s happening, and how your character feels.
Identify the Five “W”s also referred to as the 'Given Circumstances':
Who: Who are they? Who are they talking to?
What: What are they doing?
Where: Where are they?
When: When does the scene take place?
Why: Why are they there?
Identify the Story Structure:
Hook: (Beginning) Capture your audience’s attention.
Change of Direction/Turning Point: (Middle) A significant emotional shift or change in tone.
Climax: (Towards the end) The peak of intensity—dramatic or comedic.
Resolution: (End) The problem is resolved, and the drama calms down.
Step 3: Breaking It Down
Divide the monologue into sections and label each chunk with thoughts, feelings, and actions (what the character is doing). Use adverbs and transitive verbs to clarify these elements, which will inform your performance.
Next, label each chunk with a ‘size’ and a ‘speed’ to define the energy and pace. Sizes are either Big or Small, while Speeds are Fast or Slow. Combine these labels (e.g., small and fast, big and slow) to explore variations in pace and energy, using them as a guide for your performance.
Step 4: Learning Your Lines
Learning lines can come easily to some and be quite difficult for others. Here are my top tips to help:
Draw pictures to create a visual journey of your lines, turning the words into a story rather than just text on a page.
Record yourself reading your lines in chunks, then play them back repetitively.
Read your lines aloud multiple times in chunks, then try reciting them while doing another small activity, like tossing a ball.
There are also many apps out there to help with learning lines, so do your research to find what works best for you.
To Recap:
Select your monologue.
Identify the Five “W”s.
Identify the story structure.
Divide the piece into sections and label each chunk.
Label each section with a ‘size’ and a ‘speed.’
Learn your lines.
Feel free to reach out and let me know if you try any of these methods or if you already use them! You can find me @maddentheatrearts or alternatively book a free 30minute call with me to discuss whether our coaching could be right for you calendly.com/maddentheatrearts
Join me next month as we explore the performance aspect, tackling blocking, staging ideas, and effective rehearsal techniques.
Have a fabulous February!
Savanna x
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