1-Minute Monologues
One-minute monologues are an important way to make a quick impression to agents, casting directors, schools/colleges/universities. While longer monologues definitely have their place, sometimes actors are required to stick with showing their chops in less than 60 seconds. One-minute monologues also fairly easy to memorize because, well, obviously, they’re short, and they work well for younger actors who may not be ready for a 2-minute monologue or longer. One-minute monologues are also great to perform in festivals, competitions or classes, and an accessible way for actors to hone their craft privately or with a coach.
Having only 1 minute to showcase yourself as an actor can be a bit daunting though, so I’ve started a new page of my 1-minute monologues to make things a little bit easier for actors. These monologues have story and character arc, even if short, and they help actors showcase versatility and evoke emotion from their audience. There are dramatic 1-minute monologues, comedic 1-minute monologues, 1-minute monologues for women, men, any gender, teens and children. From candy-inspired monologues for kids to mean girl monologues for teens to hopeful love or scorned love—these 35 monologues allow actors to dig into complexities and give a memorable performance, in one minute.
35 1-Minute Monologues
A LIFE SPURRED INTO MEANINGFUL ADVENTURE
Goldilocks is having second thoughts about taking her best friend, Little Bear, away from his cushy home in the forest… (comedy/drama)
A WASTE OF A TOTALLY GOOD JELLY BEAN
Steven has just shared his Easter jelly beans with his dad who has gobbled up a handful of them all at once. Steven implores his dad to eat the jelly beans the “right” way. (comedy/youth, male/female/any gender)
APPLE PIE PAIN
Holly confronts her husband about the lonely thankless hard work of making apple pies from scratch.
(comedic/dramatic, female)
BEGGING BLITZEN
Annie asks her new friend, Blitzen (yes, the reindeer) for a favor! (female/male/inclusive, comedy, children, from the one-act comedy, Christmas Superpowers and Believing in Blitzen)
BORINGEST. GHOST. EVER
Ayla is pretty frustrated the ghost who visits her at night is sooooooo incredibly boring.
(Any gender, around 1 minute, comedy/drama/children)
BUTTERFLY IN THE TOMATO PLANT
Nicole relates to a butterfly with a torn wing, after a group of children mishandled it. She offers the butterfly a safe home in her windowsill. (dramatic/children/tween, any gender, 30-60 seconds)
CANDY WRAPPERS AT MIDNIGHT
Adrian wakes up in the middle of the night and confronts his father who stands by the kitchen pantry, guiltily holding Adrian’s Halloween candy wrappers. (comedy/youth/children, male/female/any gender)
CHRISTMAS KALE
It’s Christmas morning and Sam is outraged that Santa has, yet again, given him oranges in his stocking, despite his previous complaints that he doesn’t like them. Since Santa has not heeded his requests, Sam devises a simple plan that will teach Santa a lesson. (male/female/inclusive, comedy, children, from the one-act comedy, Christmas Superpowers and Believing in Blitzen)
CHRISTMAS SUPERPOWERS
Dylan asks Santa for a very big gift. (male/female/inclusive, comedy, children, from the one-act comedy, Christmas Superpowers and Believing in Blitzen)
CLOUDLILY THE UNICORN & ZOEY
The rainbow unicorn, Cloudlily, is super honored that 4-year-old Zoey keeps bringing her clumps of dirt and weeds every day…but maybe it’s time for Zoey to bring something a little more…yummy?
(comedy/female/male/any gender/teen/children/any age)
COTTON CANDY ICE CREAM CONE
Yuri has to break some bad news to her dog. He can’t have her chocolate ice cream. But maybe if he stops chewing her shoes…she’ll let him have the cone. (comedic, children, male/female/gender inclusive)
DINNER AT CANALE’S
Vicky implores her husband to not confess to his cheating. If he does, she might be tempted to use the weapon lying on the table… (dark comedy/dramatic, older teen-adult)
F FOR FRIENDSHIP
Michelle, holding a gun in her hand, rates the friendship of fellow mean-girl, Alicia. And Alicia is not scoring well… (dark comedy, dramatic, teen)
FORGIVENESS AND DEFEAT AT A POKÉMON GYM:
Benjamin has to convince Evie he didn’t know it was her pokemon gym he defeated. (drama/comedy/teen)
GRINCHING MOM - written by guest writer, 6-year-old Luke B.
Max is caught red-handed taking his mom’s lamp into his room. He has a good reason for this, but it’s not what his mom is expecting. (comedic, children, any gender)
I DON’T WANNA BE A JEDI
Joel has to break some tough news to his Star Wars loving dad… (Children, comedy, male/female/any gender)
IF I WERE A KIND OF FLOWER
Anibel imagines how she would survive a long winter, if she were a daffodil. (dramatic/children’s/comedic)
IOWA IS GONNA BE SO JEALOUS
Ryan’s safari vacation is not going as planned. Can’t take a shower every day. Camp kitchen isn’t working so it’s Lucky Charms for dinner. Now a rhino charged at their jeep….THIS IS SO COOL! (comedic, teen, any gender)
IPAD FURY
Justin threatens to run off with his mom’s minivan if she won’t meet his demands. (comedic, children, teen, male/female/any gender)
MEETING BLITZEN
Annie tells her friends of her first magical encounter with a reindeer. (comedy/drama, children, female/male/inclusive)
MR. SWIMMIE
Chloe has matured a lot since her pet fish died (2 or 3 weeks ago) and now it’s time to convince her mom she is ready for a puppy! (comedic, children, male/female/any gender)
MY MISSING SKITTLES
Sal confronts his dad after catching him red-handed with his Halloween candy (Children, comedic, male/female)
PIT TRAP MEREDITH
Rabbit Meredith defends herself at being blamed for abandoning her sister in a tree stump. From the play, The Moon River Raft.. (comedy/drama/female/any gender)
SANTA’S LOUSY JOB
Lauren tries to set Santa straight after his failed gender-specific gift giving from last year. (female, comedy, children)
SECOND-HAND DIRT dramatic/comedic/children/teen ~1 minute
In soil cultures, prejudices run deep for carrots and potatoes. But when bully vegetables draw Carrot and Potato together, they must decide if their new friendship is worth risking their safety and rejection from their own vegetables. This monologue comes from the full-length play, Movements of the Wind, in the section Sharing Soil. (dramatic/comedic/children/teen, male/female/gender inclusive)
SHELLEY KNOWS
Louise, riddled with guilt after murdering Shelley in a fit of passion, fears this friend may be coming for her, from beyond the grave… (dramatic)
SHEPHERD SUPERHEROES
Sam explains to the Christmas pageant director why having his shepherd’s costume muddy right before the performance is actually a good thing. (male/female, comedy, children, from the one-act comedy, Christmas Superpowers and Believing in Blitzen)
SHE'S SO UGLY
Find out how Skyler plans to help the “ugly” girl in dance class. (comedic, teen)
SKUNK MOMS
Three complementary monologues - Sisters, Jenny, Alexa and Deirdre, try to convince their mom they are ready to have a pet skunk! (comedic, children/teen)
SNOWMAN VERSUS SUN
After 40 minutes making a really awesome snowman, Titus confronts the sun in the age-old problem of Snowman versus Hot Sun. (comedic, children)
TEDDY SHOULDN'T GO TO SPACE Written by guest playwright, 8-year-old, Dylan B.
A NASA agent is at Jackson’s door—and he wants to take his dog to space. But Jackson has a host of reasons why this is a bad idea. (comedic, children)
THE BEAUTIFUL BRACELET
Riley confronts her grieving friend, Hayley, whom she saw shoplift a bracelet. (dramatic, teen)
THE MEANING OF PLANTS, 1-minute version
Stacy, an awkward young dog groomer, confesses to a customer her love of the lesser-appreciated plant life. (comedic/dramatic from the play, Brush Them Fleas)
THE MUD PUDDLE
Sophie has been pushed into a mud puddle two times already. Enough is enough! Sophie is ready to stand up to this bully! (comedic/children)
THE REAL VALUE OF CANDY
Fred is none too pleased with the low exchange rate of dollar to Halloween candy that his dentist is offering him. (Children, comedic male/female/any gender)
THE REASON I’M SINGLE
Rebecca finally is ready to admit to her friend Kelly why she doesn’t have a boyfriend. And it’s not for the reasons Kelly thinks… (comedic/older teen through young adult)
THE THING ABOUT MERMAIDS
Of all the mystical creatures that turn out to be real, Riley is kinda disappointed it’s just a mermaid. (comedic/children)
THOSE JIMMY CHOO SHOES
Sarah has been pushed too far by resident “mean girl,” Madison! So Sarah finds a different use for those expensive Jimmy Choo shoes of Madison’s… and winds up in the principal’s office. (comedic/teen/dark comedy)
WHAT MY FANGS ARE FOR
Sammy has squirrel blood on his face. And he’s excited to tell his mom why. But does she share his excitement? Or is she horrified by him? (dramatic, dark comedy, teen, adult, from the play, When Marshmallows Burn.)