Comments on How to Prepare a Monologue

You should always clear your mind from everything from the second you get to the audition area until you finish your audition. If you get distracted it could cause you to forget a line, or get even more nervous than you already are. Besides, it makes you look much more professional, and casters love that.

You should always clear your mind from everything from the second you get to the audition area until you finish your audition. If you get distracted it could cause you to forget a line, or get even more nervous than you already are. Besides, it makes you look much more professional, and casters love that.

When you are reading your monologue, always move your hands with the words you are saying. It helps you memorize it much more easier!

When you are reading your monologue, always move your hands with the words you are saying. It helps you memorize it much more easier!

Divide your monologue into "beats." Within each beat, analyze your character's objective, actions, and emotions. A beat changes every time the character's objective changes. Beats usually work best when analyzing an entire script.

Write your monologue out several times to help with memorization. I once was required to write mine out 10 times. It was very tedious and I despised my teacher at the time, but it worked. If you have to write your monologue out more than 10 times then DO IT. You don't want to forget anything for an audition.

Do not play with your hair. It appears that you are more concerned with your appearance than the role you are trying to portray.

It's important that you relate to your character and get inside the character's head. Try to think of a time when you felt the same as your character and use it. The better you are at this the better your monologue.

Never, never, never wait until the last minute to start working on your monologue! Two months, at least, is good. Really take time to dig into the character and to become very familiar with the story. It's nearly impossible to prepare well in a few weeks.

Make sure the monologue you choose adequately portrays your acting abilities. If you excel at playing a sad, emotional character, choose a fitting monologue. However, make sure that the monologue isn't all teary-eyed sobbing or all angry "top-of-your-lungs" yelling. Show the auditioners how well you can portray all emotions.

No matter how many times you rehearse your piece, there is always a chance that you will forget something. Don't try to go back and fix it! Just go with it and pray that the director had never read your monologue! It wasn't as bad as you thought!

If the director asks you to stop or change something, just do it! Don't hesitate or ask questions; just go for it! Taking these kinds of risks and just going with the flow are aspects that casting directors value in actors.

Break down your monologue into different parts. In each of these parts, pick a different emotional motive (for example, to convince, to overpower, to love). This will show your range as an actor.

Try writing a history for your character and the specifics of your environment. Where is the action? How does it feel? How do you relate to the other character? Also try writing out an inner monologue of what the character is thinking behind the words.

Make sure your intentions are clear when performing a monologue. By doing so it reveals the character's goals.

Break down your monologue into different parts. In each of these parts, pick a different emotional motive (for example, to convince, to overpower, to love). This will show your range as an actor.

Do not play with your hair. It appears that you are more concerned with your appearance than the role you are trying to portray.

No matter how many times you rehearse your piece, there is always a chance that you will forget something. Don't try to go back and fix it! Just go with it and pray that the director had never read your monologue! It wasn't as bad as you thought!

If you get choked up and need to stop or start over, don't apologize! It makes you look insecure and amateurish. Take a deep breath - you meant to do that.

If the director asks you to stop or change something, just do it! Don't hesitate or ask questions; just go for it! Taking these kinds of risks and just going with the flow are aspects that casting directors value in actors.

Never, never, never wait until the last minute to start working on your monologue! Two months, at least, is good. Really take time to dig into the character and to become very familiar with the story. It's nearly impossible to prepare well in a few weeks.

For a monologue that needs action, try to add creative facial and body gestures. Raise an eyebrow, run a hand through your hair or just acting giddy. I find that works pretty well.

Divide your monologue into "beats." Within each beat, analyze your character's objective, actions, and emotions. A beat changes every time the character's objective changes. Beats usually work best when analyzing an entire script.