The Monologue(s)

Perhaps the most well-known part of an audition is performing the monologue (or monologues). Memorizing your monologue, however, is not the only challenge involved. Many other difficulties remain, such as choosing your monologue, and finding one that best reflects your acting skill and style. Obtaining an effective piece is invaluable, and as mentioned by Joanna Merlin in her book Auditioning: An Actor-Friendly Guide, casting directors expect a monologue that puts your acting ability in the best light possible.

You may have noticed that I used the plural “monologues” in the first sentence. While some auditions will only require one piece from you, many expect two: one comedic, and one dramatic. Finding two monologues of such contrasting themes, both of which fit your acting style, is a challenge. This requirement is not only important to auditioning, however; getting the right monologues is a journey of self-discovery. The search for those monologues helps you better understand just what types of plays your acting style compliments. You may also use the same monologues for different auditions. If you find a monologue that you feel truly reflects your acting ability, then keep it stored so you can access it in the future.

Memorization is still an important part in audition preparation, even if it isn't the only part. Remembering a minute or longer piece is never easy, although it does get more intuitive with time. Devote time to learning the monologue, and practice multiple times over multiple days. Speak the monologue loudly enough that you can hear yourself, and only use items or furniture that will be available during the audition (for instance, don’t practice while resting on a couch you won’t have on the stage). Read that monologue every moment you can, and once you've performed it without having to look up the next word, try to perform it twice in a row without looking. Continue practicing, and you'll have your monologue completely memorized when the audition begins, and a week afterwards.

Citation: Merlin, J. (2001). Auditioning: An actor-friendly guide. (1st ed.). New York, NY: Vintage Books. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=iOfyarxFWcwC&oi=fnd&pg=PR13&dq=Theatre audition preparation&ots=X6skxgKwUN&sig=E2eNayOnLtmePovTamk4SxXprg8