What Makes a Good Dramatic Monologue?
The term “dramatic monologue” can be misleading. What casting directors mean when they ask for a dramatic monologue is something that’s not comic so they can see your acting abilities in a straight play. Unless you are auditioning for a project where your character is supposed to be highly emotional or have a breakdown, you usually don’t need a tragic monologue that involves hysterical crying or yelling. If you think of it, most roles don’t require that level of drama. Make sure you pick a dramatic monologue that showcases what is required in the role you are auditioning for and not something that will make your acting look too intense or “too big”. There are roles, of course, that require large outpouring of emotions, but for other auditions, most casting directors will welcome a break from watching intense dramatic monologues all day.
