How to Perform a Monologue (Approaching a Monologue for Actors)

Are you working on a monologue for your upcoming drama school audition or class project? We are here to help.
In this video I break down everything you need to know to perform a monologue confidently. Monologues are really tricky and can be a cause for a lot of nerves for actors, but if you prepare thoroughly and think through these steps you should be well on your way.
The key to success in your next monologue really is preparation but there are a lot of things that you can take on board when it comes to performance. Enjoy!

[@fyy5998]

I was stuck because I couldn’t do an acting assignment, it was a monologue, this video helped me so much thank you🙏

[@StageMilk]

CoolyGamerz great to hear!

[@Kai-lj2mt]

I have to send my teacher a monologue tomorrow this helped me a lot thank you 😊

[@StageMilk]

Great to hear. All the best with the assignment!

[@Kai-lj2mt]

StageMilk thank you 😊

[@fatmahussain1462]

Sonia T same here!!😂😂 i think I’m going to choose hamlet as my character for the monologue

[@Kai-lj2mt]

Fatma Hussain 😂

[@Kai-lj2mt]

Ash Beaubois yeah 😂

[@tzuyus1stan211]

*i take pride in having looked this up personally for my own advantage uwu*

[@wistfuloptimist1238]

As you should!!!

[@xngwmestm4289]

*awa*

[@sherrymuthiga6182]

I literally just signed up for something like four days ago, I did my audition today and now I have a callback and need to do a monologue!! I hope I can do it because if this goes well tho it will be expensive 🥺

[@StageMilk]

Hey! I hope the audition went well and thanks for the feedback.

[@rainie2308]

Congratulations

[@ricksanchezisking]

hello! could you please tell me how you got the audition? did u need an agent? I don't know how to start. sometimes i just want to give up. could i audition online? id be so thankful if you replied :(

[@aleenanadesan4563]

@@ricksanchezisking Look at 'The Actors Academy' he's a really good KZbinr and he explains all this stuff but it might be on this channel aswell! Goodluck! You've got this!!!💖💖💖

[@ricksanchezisking]

@@aleenanadesan4563 thanks so much queen! good luck to u aswell ❤️

[@Ivy_Calhoun]

Your amazing! What a great perspective on things. I’ve been a actress singer for 4 years and this is something I’ve never come across. Thank you

[@daisy-maydixon5917]

thank you so much, my teacher has put this on a presentation and we have been told to watch it and it actually really helps

[@jurijsgalajevs8152]

Thank you for the great video. Keep going and don’t let anyone stop you doing what you do best.

[@StageMilk]

Juries Galajevs thanks man! More coming

[@aila2733]

thanks! i was having some trouble on a drama class assignment, this helped me a lot :)

[@hannahmaugeri6871]

i really needed this for an assignment so thank you so much for creating this video

[@siyonanaidu4693]

Thanks, this is really helpful for my audition tomorrow!

[@fibromyalgiajourney-denisebowe]

This video has been extremely helpful!! Thank you for sharing

[@SaraRogersacting]

Love that you break thru the BS.

[@StageMilk]

Thanks Sara!

[@chrissy_athumum]

I have to proform "Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats in the style of a monologue for my theater final, and this helped me a lot, Thank you so much.

[@daniellemaroney2931]

That was very helpful, I needed to hear that.

[@ManonskirtMOS]

Lovely video, really applicable points. Thank you

[@nigelsalvador]

Some wickedly amazing advice! I recently signed up for StageMilk's Drama Club and this advice will definitely come in handy for February's project submission.

[@StageMilk]

Thank you! Glad to enjoyed

[@carmelssss]

I have to perform my monologue for my acting class tonight!!

[@MiaVeronica]

Absolutely love watching monologues!!! I just filmed one on my channel!!! They are so powerful ❤️❤️

[@StageMilk]

Amazing! They are a very powerful tool and great for refining your acting chops!

[@DuchessOfDoofus]

This is actually such fantastic advice thank you so much for posting this j might've needed to pay 500 bucks for a workshop that I forget about the next morning just to get these tips so bro thank you

[@StageMilk]

Thanks so much!

[@ernestloh3683]

thank you for producing these videos StageMilk! please keep do more!

[@StageMilk]

Will do! Thanks Ernest

[@ep9415]

no

[@aam.am_editzz]

@@ep9415 wdym no? :/

[@cameronbrewer4936]

Doing a monologue for school, thanks this video helps.

[@StageMilk]

All the best with it, and glad our video was helpful!

[@renukapujari3179]

This really helped me a lot for the preparation of my Trinity Examinations! Thankyou!

[@StageMilk]

Glad to hear! I remember doing those when I was younger. Hope they go well!

[@tamacreativo4581]

I will do an important casting for me. Thanks for helping

[@jebrinajeniffer1010]

This video motivated me to do my assignment not just for the sake of doing it but to try and give my best also I know nothing on how to and this gave me a clear precise idea on how to approach thanks a lot ❤

[@StageMilk]

That is so great to hear and glad we could help!

[@melaniechiriacescu7876]

I have to send the monologue for the end of week one of your course ahah thanks for that!

[@StageMilk]

Haha, you can't get away from us! Excited to see your work and hopefully this video was helpful.

[@melaniechiriacescu7876]

StageMilk it really was thank you so much! It’s always hard when it’s the first monologue. It’s due tomorrow and I’m freaking out ahah

[@kensplayhouse]

This is very informative I have a audition I’m working on and this really helped thanks

[@StageMilk]

Great to hear! Let us know how the audition goes

[@midcityheights5665]

This helps me a lot now I can be a professional actress

[@iAmMadeOfSoup]

Need this for my audition and I’ve never done one

[@SaloniNahar]

This is so helpful, thank you so much 💓🙌🏽

[@StageMilk]

Thanks so much! Great to hear!

[@tatiana-mindfool]

Great tips! Thank you for this. Very helpful.

[@StageMilk]

Thank you!

[@yoongisbicep]

I’m watching this because I have an audition tomorrow and I’m very scared 😂 not the first time doing this, but it feels like it. Wish me luck!

[@jhonrea2667]

IM VERY THANKFUL TO WATCH THIS THANK YOU

[@StageMilk]

Jhon Rea glad to hear! All the best with your monologue

[@cisneros409]

This was an amazing video even on a personal level, well done💪🏽

[@SimonMas]

good stuff, thought provoking and well presented. thank you.

[@ryanang8393]

can we hug

[@SimonMas]

@@ryanang8393 if you want... :D why not? :)

[@seyicrown8052]

0:17 Think of it as An Opportunity to Act 0:42 Warm Up 0:59 Bold Choices 1:21 Authenticity 1:53 Expect Things to Change 2:12 A Monologue is Never Meant to Be a Monologue 2:40 Drive 3:07 Thought Changes 3:26 Remember who you’re talking to 3:47 Don’t Perform to Camera

[@StageMilk]

Thank you

[@vinylonthewall]

THANK U FOR THIS!!!

[@klausalaribe6219]

very insightful.. 👍

[@t7021]

Pov: Your school shares the link to this video :(

[@carson1234]

yeah

[@ThabisoLedwaba9]

This was informative, I have to send a monologue to a Casting director in vernacular within 30mins so this helped me a lot

[@StageMilk]

Great to hear! All the best with it

[@jackiejoy810]

Loved. Thanks

[@StageMilk]

Thanks so much!

[@issogashii]

"think of it as an opportunity to act. it's a chance to do what you love." im sorry but im doing this agaisnt my will for my drama teacher because we have to take art rotations in school. still very helpful! thank you.

[@StageMilk]

That is a unique situation, but I do encourage you to try and enjoy it. Acting should be a fun experience, and you never know, this might one day become a passion of yours!

[@joydanku8530]

Thank you so much 😊 I learned a lot.🙌

[@StageMilk]

That’s great to hear!

[@MissUnderstoodasAlways]

You rock thank you 😊

[@orjichioma876]

This helps alot. Thank you!

[@StageMilk]

Good to hear!

[@toritanishizuru4729]

thank you very much, i succes on my school test abut monologue because you

[@StageMilk]

great to hear!

[@AZPerformingArts]

Thank you for this concise and valuable reminder of performing a monologue. I am a professional actor and we have a challenge to not only perform but write the monologue. I knew I had a stumbling block and now I know what it is - what do I want? I know I should have known that as basic acting but just didn't put it in context with the monologue.

[@StageMilk]

Love this! Glad this has helped you unlock your process. All the best with the monologue!

[@otsogiants]

This was absolutely excellent

[@StageMilk]

Thanks so much! Really glad to hear!

[@nidhibhavsar8127]

Wow thanks !!

[@grishmaseason8779]

thank you very much for that

[@nishchitpathak9230]

grishma season kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4K6mGagp7KVeKs

[@bhargavnanda6742]

@stagemilk I am looking forward to performing a monologue from Oscar Wilde's The Importance of being Ernest. Being an Asian, is it ok to perform in native accent, or should I try the British accent as of the original play?

[@vanessangunjiri9119]

This is so helpful , thankyou!

[@StageMilk]

Awesome! Great to hear x

[@vanessangunjiri9119]

@@StageMilk Am a bit clueless about where you have to sing and/ rap? Like how do you go about it..do you do your own piece or can you sing/rap like a known song? If you would offer any guidance/knowledge on this I'd appreciate it-thankyou.

[@yolandemasinayolandemasina4937]

Wooow thank you so much❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@StageMilk]

Thank you! We really appreciate you checking out the video

[@ryanx3584]

I like to write and read my own poetry and prose. How close is this in relation to performing a monologue and then acting?

[@MissUnderstoodasAlways]

💕thank you

[@StageMilk]

Thanks so much!

[@dianeslamp6951]

Very helpful! Thank you!

[@StageMilk]

Thanks Diane, all the best with your monologue!

[@nishchitpathak9230]

Diane Slamp kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4K6mGagp7KVeKs

[@luminitered]

Thanks for helping I was removed by my group and had to do solo so yeah....I was so shocked

[@StageMilk]

Sorry to hear that, but glad the video was helpful

[@marilynespanacircus]

Thank you

[@sahilzirvi1506]

Very good

[@renzog1024]

You're the best.

[@StageMilk]

Thanks so much!

[@weiqikoh5271]

i have a monologue assignment due tomorrow but i’m still very confused how i should present that 😖😖 thankyou for this video, it helped me !

[@AaronRaglandTV]

Hey,I was checking out this video and came across your comment. I've been acting for over 10 years onstage with some TV/Film projects.What's the monologue and play?

[@weiqikoh5271]

AaronRagland TV it’s about a old mother’s dying wish !! ( i wrote the monologue) my teacher didn’t really elaborate on how we should and can deliver it. i tried delivering the monologue but it just doesn’t seem to piece together well 😖

[@AaronRaglandTV]

weiqi koh Oh ok.Is this your first acting class and what do you think is wrong with the monologue?

[@milicavojnovic1769]

Thank you for sharing all the tips that can contribute to the benefit of all of us who act...to become even better...and better... It is a process that lasts until the end of life. And that's why, once again, thank you for everything you do... for all of us. A big and warm greeting from Serbia.🎭✨

[@StageMilk]

Thank you so so much for this lovely comment. Much love and all the best with your acting journey!

[@emersenarmida9860]

this is perfect for me because i have 5 monologues because i am playing oz!!

[@StageMilk]

Amazing! Glad it has been helpful and all the best with the monologues!

[@esamnondira9197]

Very helpful , thank you

[@trufflexii]

tysm!

[@echofunks]

very helpfull

[@StageMilk]

Thank you!

[@ricksanchezisking]

i just want to know different ways on how to get an auditon. is an agent necessary? i need help. thank you

[@VIGHNESH_EDITS_12]

Very informative 👌🏻👌🏻

[@StageMilk]

Thanks mate!

[@VIGHNESH_EDITS_12]

@@StageMilk Welcome

[@nosananolife8027]

I have to record myself performing monlogue😳

[@nosananolife8027]

I mean Monologue

[@StageMilk]

If you ever need any help working on monologues check out StageMilk Drama Club!

[@giddeongaming851]

Same

[@b16juliusdanel.selorio44]

No SAIDA NO LIFE

[@josephinegillet7677]

Same I'm so nervouw

[@mahirap1691]

i have to do a monolouge at my school and i dont wanna fail my section thankyou so much for this!!!!! edit: any tips for stage fright?

[@StageMilk]

Glad it was helpful - this might be worth checking out - www.stagemilk.com/how-to-deal-with-nerves/

[@bemei9291]

i'm auditioning for mamma mia on the 18th! im a singer, but i really want to act, i'm trying out for rosie :)

[@yourstrulyymadi]

omg me too!!!! also mamma mia

[@josephinegillet7677]

*I have to record me performing a monlogue for an audition tonight for a play, wish me to break a leg!*

[@StageMilk]

Alll the best!!! Hope the video helped

[@billybarker6011]

im in need of help!! im auditioning for a dance school online and they require a one minute acing monologue, can i use anything? can i create my own monologue ? do i just tell a story? HELP PLEASE!!

[@StageMilk]

They should tell you all of this, or you should be able to talk to them directly. These are very specific questions. Generally speaking though I would avoid writing your own, and I would probably imagine they want a monologue from a published work most likely from a play.

[@niknakpaddywak93]

4 years and thousands of £££s down at drama school when I could’ve just watched this 5min video. Dang!

[@katerinapada2161]

Hello StageMilk... I really want to be an actress one day, I think that it is my dream... I am trying very hard, I read monologues, dramatic and comendic, but the thing I am afraid most is that maybe I have not the talent... How can I find out if I have Talent or not??? 😟

[@StageMilk]

Katerina Pada great to hear that you are working hard! You really have to just trust your own work. Hopefully as you get more experience you will be able to start trusting your own work a little more.

[@nishchitpathak9230]

Katerina Pada kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4K6mGagp7KVeKs

[@katerinapada2161]

Thank you very much StageMilk, I will keep trying for that and I want to believe that I'll achieve 😃😍

[@ibelieveinrgalaxybts1425]

Auditioning today a comedic monologue a new challenge

[@shuiiio]

What happens if I forgot some of the lines in the monologue am I able to improvise?

[@stormsmillie5393]

I have to Write AND preform a monologue about abuse .....help??

[@mateohess7135]

So in a week i have a manager showcase so I’m excited and half scared

[@gracegedamke9338]

I am creating a Monologue for a agency, This video helped but I am still very nervous and don't know how I should present to them! Is it wrong to be doubting yourself during each practice made? I need help! @StageMilk

[@StageMilk]

Hey! I have performed 100s of monologues in my career and I would still be very nervous performing a monologue for an agent. What you're going through is completely normal. Just prepare as thoroughly as you can and give it your best shot!

[@Q.Cfilms]

You got this

[@hyunjinllama3036]

its been a year! how did it go?

[@gracegedamke9338]

@@hyunjinllama3036 it went great! i was entered into a modeling and acting agency but do to covid, had to quit! still working towards my dreams tho! thanks for asking!

[@hyunjinllama3036]

@@gracegedamke9338 i’m glad! i’m sorry about covid messing with your big plans. :< i hope all goes well!!!

[@CleoShahateet]

guys i still dont know why u need a monulouge or how to get it can some one explain?

[@earnesterhivwode7579]

This was helpful

[@StageMilk]

Thank you! What are you working on right now?

[@earnesterhivwode7579]

@@StageMilk I’m working on how to perform a monologue I’m inexperienced, I got an audition for a role in a few days but I believe with your tips I’ll do better. Thank you

[@StageMilk]

@@earnesterhivwode7579 that’s so exciting wishing you all the best for the audition

[@tessybrown2794]

Thanks I was confused about my monologue

[@StageMilk]

Glad it has helped!

[@audreygrace4493]

Thank you! Also, anyone have any ideas for a song you can use for a monologue? I have to perform a monologue from a song but, I can't find any songs that I could use. (The song has to be appropriate)

[@nancybrooks4621]

Oops. Just realized I’m a bit late.

[@audreygrace4493]

@@nancybrooks4621 Haha, I guess so. But I did end up getting a good grade on that last year! Now I'm in a second-year theater class!

[@alexnesbitt2004]

I have to learn Harry potters monologue and I’m crying so hard I don’t want to do it but my teachers making me 😄

[@June-qo4qj]

LUCKY! HARRY POTTER?! WHY WONT U WANT TO DO THAT?!

[@mustarddeliveryman2334]

a monologue seems like an "I want" song minus the song part

[@AnonYmous-qs2xw]

Me to man whendidthisgetsoserious

[@Lratiobozo]

I gotta do one tmr and im nervous so im watching this 😶

[@StageMilk]

We wish you all the best! Just have fun and try to see it as an opportunity to do what you LOVE!

[@Lratiobozo]

@@StageMilk thanks

[@morringreenbank7172]

I need to do one today 😂

[@brooke1157]

Here for school 😖

[@miles6601]

get me out of this class oh god please no help

[@bassafratz]

I FEEL THE SAME WAAAAY AAAAH

[@bewildedjr3737]

My teacher told me 1 day prior and I’m stressing it’s 10:30 help pls

[@mor9820]

My issue is what to do with my body/hands

[@moque2435]

Does anyone know where I can find good monologues from PLAYS ?

[@StageMilk]

Check StageMilk

[@ellabarr5902]

nice

[@StageMilk]

Thank you!

[@ellabarr5902]

​@@StageMilk np

[@beomgyusmintchoco578]

not my teacher making me do a monologue so im here 💀

[@manstuckinabox3679]

4:16 … but what if I wanted to make them feel uncomfortable and awkward …

[@deaxhtox4001]

My monologue: I burp and say: death to fascism. 'nuff said.

[@abolfazlebrohimnezhad3705]

Is bad to performe a monologue that have been performed by an actor before?

[@StageMilk]

For practice not at all, we mostly work on monologues from published works that have been performed by many actors.

[@czamcalixtro8655]

hi friends

[@nadi6178]

2:30 lol

[@kevinstanton7338]

If you have no acting practice, how do you practice a monolog?

[@StageMilk]

All these tips should be a good start. But if you are working on a monologue for the first time I would really just trust your instinct and do your best to really understand the text. Once you really understand what you are saying and who you are saying it to, then just keep your performance really simple.

[@kevinstanton7338]

@@StageMilk I don't do simple, and it's a modified version of The Newsroom "America is not the Greatest Country in the World"

[@StageMilk]

@@kevinstanton7338 that is a great monologue. Well I hope it all goes well and definitely see if you can integrate some of these ideas

[@dyw9102]

0:21