So you’ve decided to audition for a theater conservatory? Well, first off, congratulations on taking a very wise and professional step for your future. However, just deciding to go to a conservatory is one thing, but actually auditioning for one, well, that’s something completely different. Every conservatory has a unique admissions policy, however, they all have one major thing in common – you will have to perform a monologue. No matter what theater conservatory you are planning on attending, you will have to audition in order to officially be accepted into the school. But what are good theater conservatory monologues? Well, below I have outlined several amazing monologues for you to consider when auditioning for a theater conservatory. They are broken down by classical monologues (for men and women), contemporary monologues (for men and women) and some various tips that will help you succeed at your audition.
Classical Monologues for Men:
· Jaques Monologue: As You Like It, William Shakespeare. (Act 2, Scene 7)
o “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players…”
· Doctor Faustus Monologue: The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, Christopher Marlowe. (Scene 13)
o “Ah Faustus, now thou has but one bare hour to live, then thou must be damned, perpetually…”
· Cleante Monologue: Tartuffe, Moliere.
o “No, I am not a revered doctor, brother; no, all the knowledge of this world has found its abode in me…”
Contemporary Monologues for Men:
· Theo Monologue: Three Days of Rain, Richard Greenberg.
o “It came to me whole. Do you know those moments? No labor, pure vision: Emerson on the I.R.T…”
· Phil Monologue: Boy’s Life, Howard Korder.
o “I would have never destroyed myself for this woman. Gladly. I would have eaten garbage. I would have sliced my wrists open. Under the right circumstances…”
· Prior Monologue: Angels In America, Tony Kushner.
o “But still. Still. Bless me anyway. I want more life. I can’t help myself. I do. I lived through such terrible times, and there are people who live through much, much worse…”
Classical Monologues for Women:
· Phebe Monologue: As You Like It, William Shakespeare (Act 3, Scene 5)
o “I would not by thy executioner. I fly thee, for I would not injur thee. Thou tallest me there is murder in mine eyes…”
· Dido Monologue: Dido, Queen of Carthage, Christopher Marlowe
o “Are these the sails that, in despite of me, Pack’d with the winds to bear Aeneas hence?”
· Lady Percy: Henry IV, Part I, William Shakespeare (Act 2, Scene 3)
o “O my good lord, why are you thus alone? For what offense have I this fortnight been…”
Contemporary Monologues for Women:
· Monica Monologue: Skinny, Monica Hesse
o “Some people try to use nice words to describe skinny people. They call us “petite,” “slender,” and (my personal favorite) “small boned.”
· Nan Monologue, Three Days of Rain, Richard Greenberg
o “My parents married because it was 1960 and one had to and they were there. And I don’t think that’s a contemptible thing – for people who have reached a certain age…”
· Robin Monologue: Sophistry, Jonathan Marc Sherman
o “Where were you? You weren’t at dinner. You said we’d talk at dinner. You weren’t there…”
These are some of my favorite monologues. Remember, always read the entire play before even thinking about performing a monologue for a conservatory. This is because, for one, you need to get a complete understanding of this character, and secondly, they will ask you questions about the play, and if you haven’t read it, than you won’t know what to say. When you are searching to read these entire monologues, go to a search engine (such as Google), and type in what I have in italics/quotations. This will bring you to the entire monologue so you can read it in its entirety.
