Honing your Acting skill: Monologues for actors under quarantine
For many of us during this global pandemic, our theaters are closed down, acting classes are held virtually and auditions are video or streaming-only. Theater is a communal art form by nature, so without the physical community, this distancing can be counter-intuitive and disheartening. However, artists are also resilient and creative by nature, and it did not take long for theater folks to form groups where readings and performances were held online, and actors, in their own isolation, have dedicated unanticipated space to honing their craft during this time of furlough.
This has been a tense and unnerving time for most of us. To me, living near NYC, the largest known outbreak of covid-19 in the world, I was crazy anxious during the worst times in March. However, small rays of sunlight would come to me as I continued to receive emails from actors and teachers wishing to use my monologues. I felt isolated, sad, stressed, and to receive these emails gave me a tiny shred of normalcy. People were creating online workshops and classes for acting students, auditioning virtually, dedicating time to practicing their acting skills with monologues in tiny apartments in France or bedrooms in Washington State. So much had changed so quickly, but theater did not rest for long. So THANK YOU, my fellow amazing theater artists, for showing me a part of the world outside of where I live (or sometimes in NYC right near where I live), with your love for theater unwavering and your work ethic unfaltering, with encouraging words for me and my writing. You truly lifted me up when I was down!
So if you are an actor who has found some time to prepare new monologues for your own practice (several of you have written to me calling yourself a “stir crazy actor!”) or you’re looking for one for an upcoming showcase, reel, Instagram or Facebook live, competition, monologue-slam, virtual audition, workshop or class (see?? So much is STILL going on!), you can browse my monologues to see if one works for you. Monologues are always a treat and challenge for actors, but during this time of distance from the physical theatrical world, they can be an especially rewarding experience. I love to write unique monologues with great acting range, concise story, a heightened emotional moment, and often tiny twists or “buttons” at the end. Enjoy exploring some of these monologues by category, and feel free to share your experiences with me! Be well, healthy and safe!