Finding a monologue that resonates with you is an ongoing job for an actor. For young actors, it can be especially challenging because you don’t have a deep well of knowledge of plays from which to draw, and there are fewer appropriate plays and roles that resonate with you, in general. Here are the three steps you can take to find a great monologue, regardless of age.
Step 1:
What plays have you been in, have friends been in, or have you seen? Make a list of these plays that you already know. The up-side to this is that you probably have the script, or can get it easily.
Step 2:
Go to a bookstore and/or a library and go through their drama section. Pull out plays that have titles that are interesting, or are by playwrights you know or have heard about. Read the summary on the back of the script and check the cast list in the front. If the play interests you and there is a role that might be appropriate, flip through the script quickly and look for chunks of lines that indicate potential monologue material. Once you find a few of these scripts, read each one, the whole play.
Step 3:
Search play publishers’ catalogs for scripts that interest you. I like to start by looking at their newly published plays, and from there, I will follow the “You Might Be Interested in” links. For younger actors, I suggest filtering your results for TYA – Theatre for Young Audiences – because those plays are predisposed to having resonance with teen actors.
Bonus Step!
Look at theatres in your area, or theatres doing work that interests you, and see what plays are in their current, upcoming, and past seasons. It’s really all about expanding your knowledge of theatre canon.
Unfortunately, there is no magic pill or shortcut to finding a monologue; it’s about as personal as underwear. But while it does take a some effort, it is so rewarding to find something that feels good to perform. Think of it as an treasure hunt!
Play Publishers to Check Out: Dramatic Publishing, Sam French, Dramatists