You are the One

YOU ARE THE ONE

IT ONLY TAKES ONE MINUTE  -The one-minute monologue

Acting tips for auditioning with Monologues

When we audition for parts we are always trying to show as much as we can in as little time as possible.    Young actors want to “show it all,” even when all the time they have in a room is 3 minutes.   Here are some tips to help you with your monologue auditions.

Pick a monologue that speaks to you.   If the monologue naturally moves you then that’s a good start.

Find a monologue close to your age and experiences.   There is no one like you on the planet and you want to have a piece that show cases you and that you can do easily with confidence. 

Work your monologue with a coach.   If you are in acting classes, see if they do performances and perform the monologue for a live audience.  Nothing builds confidence at auditions knowing that you have already played the role with success!

Tips when you get into the audition –

1. Greet the auditioners, but keep your actor’s prep going.
2. Look at the space and own the space.   Once you are in the room it is your playroom.   It is your stage.   Acting live in a theatre, audition room, or film set is exciting.  Seeing the spotlights for the first time, feeling the energy of the audience, and having the feeling that anything can happen.   It’s a major reason for acting in the first place.  So, allow it in and let your joy for the work come into play.   If any last-minute spontaneous ideas about the space come into play, go for it!   For example, if you’re a playing a King, and there is a folding chair, then make that folding chair your thrown.  If there are steps or a set on stage, use it to add to the world of your play.
3. Do not concern yourself with whether they like you or not, simply focus on what your character is doing.  Change “How am I doing?” to “What am I doing?”  What is my character fighting for?
4. Leave yourself alone.   Do not pay attention to the emotion of the peace.  Relax and allow the piece to move you as it wants to.   If you get nervous, relax into the nerves and allow them to become the “engine” of you monologue.   You must remember that the characters are always going through a lot whether it’s comedy or tragedy, it’s highly charged.   The act of auditioning is playing on your mind as well.   Invite it into the monologue.  Our subconscious minds are instinctive and are working in the piece.  You are unaware of it.

• Take a few beats after the monologue and keep in it, allowing your thoughts and actions to be.   Then say “Thank you.”   And stand by what you did.  Always.  

A monologue is a piece of time in the character’s life and you have dropped into their world and lived there for a very brief time.   That feels good and you did well.