If you don’t have a great audition piece of your own, feel free to use one or more of the monologues below!
Contemporary Monologue for a Woman
LINDA: What are you telling me? You’re telling me nothin’. I tell you what’s goin’ on, and you tell me it ain’t going on. It’s goin’ on. Anthony wants to see ugly girls ’cause I don’t know why, but that’s the frickin’ news and don’t tell me otherwise. Every Monday night I go to his place and we spend time together, and this night I go and he’s got this look in his eye. Like he knows somethin’, and like he never seen me before. I got a scared feeling right away. I touch him but he puts my hand away. He says he wants to talk. What’s he wanna talk about before we go to bed? What’s there to talk about? When a woman wants to talk to a man, it’s ’cause she wants the man to see her better. When it’s the other way, when the man stops you from touchin’ to talk . . . It’s gotta be bad. I tried to keep him from talkin’, but there was somethin’ in his mind. And now he don’t wanna see me ’cause he wants to see ugly women. I said I’d be ugly for him, but he said no. I’m so ashamed. Anthony don’t want me no more.
(Action: Linda is telling an old friend about a new problem with her boyfriend. Maybe she’s seeking consolation or advice?)
from Savage in Limbo by John Patrick Shanley
Contemporary Monologue for a Man
NERVOUS BOY: I’ve . . . I mean . . . I just think you’re so funny, and smart, and . . . interesting . . . and beautiful. I just feel like I’m throwing myself at you, and . . . I’m sorry. I just . . . think you’re wonderful. I’ve had feelings for you since we first met, and . . . I ‘ve been trying to snap out of it for the longest time, but . . . no. I love you. That is . . . I’m falling in love with you. I care about you. And I worry about you. I worry about your career. I worry about your father, I care about what you want in life and I care about you getting it. It’s just so many times we talk and I’m listening but part of me is terrified that you see the hearts in my eyes and . . . I just . . . think you’re wonderful. And I love you. And . . . I’m sorry. (Pause) I haven’t been able to find a full time job since I got laid off two years ago. I really don’t know what I’m doing with my life and I’m kind of freaking out about it but I think I’m too lazy to really fix that problem and I get so sick of being lost in my thoughts and afraid to look anyone in the eye anymore and I love seeing you, Emily, and talking to you, because when I do I forget about all my anxieties and I feel like a real person. You know?
(Action: Nervous Boy awkwardly expresses his affection for Emily and is maybe revealing too much information? In his curious way, maybe he is trying to win her heart or speak a critical truth to a girl he loves.)
from The Adventures of Nervous Boy by James Comtois
Gender Neutral Contemporary Monologue
PERSON AT A PARTY: Well you see, I’ve worked my ass off, I mean I’ve really worked my ass off for the guy, I mean for three whole years, with no credit for myself, with no respect being paid to myself, and I’ve just sat there quietly and listened to people talk about him, and praise him, and say how great he is – “Oh yes, isn’t he great, what a marvelous man, he’s so extraordinary, he’s so remarkable.” And I’ve just been sitting there day after day just taking it all in – and that’s fine, that’s wonderful, but the problem happens to be that the guy is really driving me bananas – I mean the guy is insane, I mean he keeps coming into my office and poking at my desk and saying, “Well, how are things?” I mean the guy is insane, it’s just really impossible and I’ve done what I can for the guy, but he just can’t leave me alone, and it’s just really driving me bananas to the point where I really don’t know what to do. Do you see what I’m saying?
(Action: This person is overheard talking to some friends at a party. Maybe they are trying to convince the listeners that they are right to hate this guy, or warning them to stay away from him or seeking help in how to deal with him. Or all the above!)
from Marie & Bruce by Wallace Shawn