Monologue Preparation

Inspiration & Exploration

A monologue is a solo piece of performance — one person, one voice, one point of view holding the whole stage. The best ones make you forget someone memorized them. Start by watching great monologue performances on YouTube: search "Viola Davis monologue compilation" and "best dramatic monologues Broadway." Check out the Audition Oracle YouTube channel for actor insight. The Utah Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City posts free educational content online — find their YouTube channel and watch how classical monologues get broken down. Browse the free monologue library at Monologue Archive (monologuearchive.com). Attend a free show at Plan-B Theatre or Salt Lake Acting Company to see how live performers command a room. You're ready for the next step when you've watched at least five different monologue performances and written down what made each one memorable.

Tools & Techniques

Two skills power every strong monologue: text analysis and physical presence. Text analysis means asking: what does this character want right now, what's stopping them, and what are they willing to do about it? Those three questions unlock every line. Physical presence means using your body — posture, gesture, stillness — as deliberately as your voice. Watch the free "Acting Technique" series on the MasterClass YouTube channel (free clips) for basics. Download the free app iSpeech or just use Voice Memos to record yourself and play it back — most people are shocked by what they hear. Find a monologue at monologuearchive.com that genuinely excites you, not just one that seems safe. You're ready for the next step when you've chosen your monologue, identified your character's want and obstacle, and recorded one rough read-through.

First Creations

Memorize your monologue — not word-perfect robot recitation, but genuinely off-book so your brain is free to act rather than recall. Use the "backwards method": memorize the last line first, then the last two lines, working backward through the piece. This builds confidence because you always know what comes next. Once off-book, run it five times in a row standing up, moving around the room. Record your best run on your phone and watch it back without cringing — just note two things to improve. Post a 30-second clip to r/acting for community feedback. Salt Lake City's Off-Broadway Theatre hosts open mics where you can perform short pieces in front of a live audience. You're ready for the next step when you can perform the full monologue from memory with no pausing to recall lines.

Style Development

Now you make the monologue yours — not a copy of how you've seen it done before. Experiment with three different interpretations: play the character angry, then desperate, then completely in control. Notice how differently the words land. The approach that surprises you is usually the right one. Watch the "Acting for Camera" videos on the Film Courage YouTube channel (free) to learn how subtle choices read on screen versus on stage. Try performing your monologue in a different physical space — your kitchen, outside on a trail, in an empty parking garage — and notice how the environment changes your energy. The Plan-B Theatre in SLC sometimes offers free actor workshops; check planbtheatre.org for their schedule. You're ready for the next step when you have a clear, specific point of view for your character that you can describe in one sentence.

Refine Your Craft

Refinement is about the details that separate good from excellent: breath control, the use of silence, eye focus, and transitions between emotional beats. Record a full performance and watch it with the sound off — your body should tell the story even without words. Watch it again with only the audio — every word should carry intention. Use the free app Rehearsal Pro (has a free tier) to cue yourself and track your run times. Perform for at least two people who will give you honest feedback — not just "that was great." Ask them: where did they stop believing you, and where were they most hooked? If you can get to an acting class at Salt Lake Community College or the University of Utah, even one session of coached feedback is worth weeks of solo practice. You're ready for the next step when two outside observers both agree on one specific moment that is fully landing.

Portfolio Piece

Your portfolio piece is a clean, well-lit video recording of your full monologue — performance-ready quality that you could actually submit to a program or audition. Set your phone on a tripod at eye level. Use a window for natural light or a simple ring light. Wear a solid-color top with no distracting patterns. Record three full takes and pick the strongest one — don't composite or over-edit. Upload it to a private or unlisted YouTube link. Write a 50-word performance note: who is the character, what are they fighting for in this scene, and what did you discover in the process of preparing it. Share the link with a teacher, director, or the r/acting community for a final critique. You're ready for the next step when your video is recorded, uploaded, and you've received at least one piece of specific, substantive feedback on your performance.