What is a good monologue to use for an audition?

Question

I need a monologue that is 60secs long to use for an audition, a monologue where the girl character is 18to25years old.

Answer 1

oh dear me...i can't stress how important it is to NOT choose a monologue which EVERYONE has memorized...try something less attempted...go classical perhaps? or maybe greek?...andromache has some brilliant mnologues in Trojan Women, and also in Andromache. there's also a few in 'Tis Pity, She's a Whore...there's so many to choose from :)

h, and dn't worry about 'not picking the right one fr you" if you put your all into a piece, you can make ANYTHING work...just pick a path and go for it....

break a leg :)

Answer 2

I wouldn't go with just one monologue. I would recommend that you have two monologues at least. One contemporary, one classic, one dramatic, and one comedic monologue (like one contemporary comedic and one classic dramatic or vice versa). Then you will be more prepared and if they want you to perform another one you will be able to easily. Now if they only want to see one, then just do the one you feel you can do best and shows off your skills. The best way to select a monologue is to sit down and skim a few plays, reading a few of their monologues, then picking one that is gender/age appropriate. Then read the play to get a feel for the character, and if you still like it, then there you have a monologue. Also avoid using monologue books because most of the monologues in them have been done to death, and more than likely the directors you are auditioning for will have seen it before, and they won't be able to help comparing you to the previous performance of it. To further avoid this also try to avoid the cliché and over done monologues (To be or not to be...)

Answer 3

Jane Eyre Monologue

Answer 4

Try the monologue from 'Denity Crisis
by Christopher Durang. You'll find it in Durang/Durang
Also Catherine's speech in The Foreigner (Larry Shue)
The Girl's monolgue from the Star-Spangled Girl (Neil Simon)
These are serious and comedic speeches, since you didn't specify.
WR Garrity.
Playwright/Lyricist

Answer 5

Ever thought of creating your own, that could show your range as an actress?

This will give you an emotional link you would need, that would be easier to connect if you created a short skit on something or somethingsa that happened in your life.

Off the top of my head, I would say, something that has you jovial at the beginning, and when you get some bad news, end with crying.

A girl on the telephone comes to mind.
Starts out laughing, then maybe gets an incoming call, and clicks over, and listens in horror as she recieves bad news.

End the scene with how well you cry.

Just a thought.
Good luck

Answer 6

The brief monologue on the magic of wine from the film Sideways

Answer 7

Every actor should have a repertoire of monologues that they are able to use at any audition, whether they found out about the audition an hour ago, or they have been preparing for it for 2 days. In the fast paced world of showbiz, audition notices can come at anytime and an actor always has to be prepared.

Ideally, an actor should have 2 monologues at all times, which she knows well and can perform on the spot. A comedic monologue and a theatrical monologue can show the actor's range and ability to morph into different characters. If you have knowledge in classical theatre and want to audition for Shakespeare plays and the like, then a Shakespeare monologue also needs to be added to your repertoire.

It is hard to choose good monologues, simply because there are so many. Do you choose monologues from well-known plays or do you want to venture out into new territory and pick monologues from small one-act plays by unknown writers, or do you even dare to write your own monologue and perform it? This is all up to you and how daring you feel about presenting an unknown monologue at an audition. There are pros and cons to both.

If you choose a popular monologue from a play that everybody knows, let's say one of Chekov's plays, then you risk appearing similar to many other actors who have done the same monologue and made the same choices. This can put the auditors into sleep mode and you become just another actor that goes unnoticed. On the other hand, however, if it is a monologue the auditors know well and you really do an amazing job with it, they are impressed, because of the choices you made, the commitment you showed and that might give you the upper hand.

There are auditors that like to be surprised and they love it if you walk into the audition with a monologue you wrote or a monologue from a brand new play they never even heard of. It's like watching something they have never watched it before and if you are good, they can be swept off their feet by your acting chops. If they are more conservative however, they can get annoyed that you chose to do a monologue that they do not know and do not care for. They might not take a liking into the way it is written and might disregard your performance as amateurish.

It is hard to tell, but go with your gut. There is no wrong way about choosing a monologue as long as you choose monologues you love. If you like to write, write your own monologues. But also have some good monologues from good plays in your repertoire, just in case. I happened to go to an audition and I had 2 monologues prepared one that I wrote and another one from a play. I asked them which one they wanted to see and they chose the one from the play. The opposite thing happened to me as well, where they were thrilled to have an actor come in to an audition and perform a monologue she wrote.

If you want to be prepared at all times, it is best to have 2 comedic monologues and 2 theatrical monologues that you know very well. Maybe some of them are from older, more established plays and some are more contemporary and avant-garde. You can pick and choose at every audition depending on how you feel, the weather, your wardrobe or just flip the coin. But it is definitely nice to have a menu from which to choose. You will never feel the same at every audition and so if you have more monologues to choose from, you can choose the one that you want to do at that particular audition. The one that seems right for you at that time is the best monologue to choose. As an artist, pay attention to your intuition and follow it. It usually helps you move on forward with your career and your life.

I can't stress this enough that you should change your monologues every now and then. You probably get bored doing the same monologue for 6 months in a row and when you're bored, the audience is bored. It's fun to try on new monologues, play with different characters and see which one suits you best. Whenever I have some free time, I usually rehearse my monologues. I rehearse my old monologues to make sure they are fresh in my mind, I choose new monologues from plays and monologue books or I write my own monologues. It is a great way to keep practicing the craft.

The best way to choose monologues is to read plays and monologue books and see which monologues speak to you, which monologues interest you, which ones make you feel like you can inhabit that character and you would have a blast doing it. Don't choose a monologue just because the character is your age, your type. Choose a monologue because you are fascinated by the character and what the character has to say. Then you will be motivated to work on it and discover the interesting aspects of the monologue.

Experiment with your monologues on your own time and during auditions. Use every audition as an opportunity to try something new and make strong choices. Don't be afraid to fail. Be bold and take risks. You will be rewarded in the long run.
http://www.helium.com/tm/136719

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http://www.geocities.com/akatsavou/monologue_en.html

Monologues for women
~ Comedic monologues ~
Tartuffe - Moliere: (Dorina) -Act I, Scene II- text available

~ Drama monologues ~
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte: (Jane) text available
A Doll House - Henrik Ibsen: (Nora) text available

~ Comedy-Drama monologues ~
Duddy Long Legs - Jean Webster: (Judy) text available

Answer 8

From Macbeth -
Is this a Dagger which I see before me
The handle toward my hand

Answer 9

Romeo and Juliet has a lot of good monlogues.. Juliet is only 14..

Answer 10

How about Juliet's monologue where she takes the "poison"?