Dave Kilgore

100 Short and Effective Monologues Dave Kilgore

In this book are 100 one-minute, original, contemporary monologues for adult men and women, with a mixture of dramatic, comedic, romantic, and reflective pieces, in no certain order.
There are no setups for any of these monologues--no genders, no age ranges, no locations, and no backstories. This leaves them wide open for the actor to develop and move each character and scene in most any direction the actor chooses.
Most of these monologues are subtle, not requiring grandiose physical performances, because delivering natural, believable, conversational dialogue in front of a stationary camera is usually all that's required to showcase an actor's true ability. Often, less is more.
Q: Why perform original, unfamiliar monologues?
Excerpt: Though something from A Few Good Men sounds like a great challenge, you don't want those people behind the camera at your audition comparing you to Jack Nicholson, or for that matter, to anyone else they've heard the same monologue from a hundred times. You don't want them harkening back to another actor's performance, you want them focused on you. Also, choosing monologues you've already seen and heard performed by other actors can easily lead you to mimic them rather than develop your own character and delivery for the piece. Remember, this is all about you and what you can bring to the scene.
Q: Will I need to explain the scene to my audience?
Excerpt: The monologues in this book are all original pieces, written as standalones, not requiring the observer to have any backstory explained to them in order to understand what the character is trying to convey in the scene.
Q: Why are these monologues only one minute?
Excerpt: One-minute monologues allow the actor to get in, show what they can do, and get out, making them perfect for auditions and classroom study. Always leave them wanting more.
Q: Why do I need so many monologues?
Excerpt: You're not always going to be auditioning, but it never hurts to keep your chops up. The best recipe for success is to continue honing your craft. Practice, practice, practice.

Dave Kilgore is a longtime actor, pianist, composer, playwright, and author. He has written multiple books of monologues, scenes, flash fiction stories, and a novel.
Published by Scribernaut Press, LLC. Black and white. Paperback is 148 pages.