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Edited by Johnny B, Arete, Dvortygirl, Maluniu and 13 others

This is how to effectively deliver a monologue to help increase your chances at being cast. Performing monologues is a great method of improving your dramatic range as well as showcasing your talents in a solo type of method.

Edit Steps

  1. 1
    Choose a monologue that is suited to your acting range, age, gender, and appearance. Many actors try to take on a role and character that they clearly could never play, which is not wise.
  2. 2
    Know what you are auditioning for and choose a monologue based on the genre and possible demands of the role.
  3. 3
    Pick a piece that will showcase your range and talents.
  4. 4
    Memorize your lines. This is half of the battle. There is a good chance of forgetting your lines because of nerves so know your lines as if they are second nature and be able to say them as though they are words in everyday conversation.
  5. 5
    Develop your character. The hardest part is making the character you perform 3-dimensionally in those few minutes you have. Things like nervous ticks specific to the character, vocal inflections, the way they would hold themselves and how they would react to a situation (not you) are all necessary to consider when preparing a character.
  6. 6
    Rehearse your monologue in front of people that will give you an actual critique instead of just telling you "it was good". Fake critique will not help in the long run.
  7. 7
    Make sure to breathe and do vocal warm-ups. Try singing the song “Wild Horses” by the Rolling Stones before a performance of any kind. It helps open up the vocal chords but is a slow enough song to help calm the nerves.
  8. 8
    Remember that you are being judged from the second you appear on stage to the second you leave it. Always maintain your presence, character, and confidence.
  9. 9
    Deliver your monologue as rehearsed, but feel free to deviate if you are feeling something in the moment. It is theatre, it is alive. #*Never call it "practice"; it is called "rehearsal" because you are always discovering something new.
  10. 10
    If you forget a line do not let it show in your face and do not break character. Try a dramatic pause. Breathe. Skip ahead or improvise something if you need to. But whatever you do, do not panic. Stay focused on your dialogue and mannerisms.

Sample Monologues

Sample Famous Monologue

Sample Comedic Monologue

Sample Dramatic Monologue


Edit Tips

  • Do not over-rehearse. If you recite your monologue too often it will become bland and you will lose emotion. It will be as though you are regurgitating lines instead of feeling them.
  • Find your own method of warming up and calming down.
  • Think of your monologue as a story, and make sure you know the story. Some actors like to approach each line one at a time for thought process purposes. For beginners it should be enough simply to know the whole story so that if you forget lines you can improvise cover lines that fit in with the story.
  • Read the play first! Many actors find a monologue online or from a book but never read the play to learn who that character is.
  • Maintain eye contact and focus.
  • Never neglect your mannerisms.
  • Do not watch a video of someone else performing it as it limits your original approach to it.
  • Don’t watch other performers unless you know can do it without worrying about your own performance.

Edit Warnings

  • Be honest with yourself and your abilities.
  • Know when you are doing too much with a character so as not to make them cartoon-y rather than genuine.

Edit Related wikiHows

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Categories: Featured Articles | Acting

Recent edits by: Ecto5, June, JoeWebDeveloper

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