10 Best Audition Monologues for Actors offers 10 popular monologues based on audience choice that may be used for auditions and drama school.

When looking for a monologue that speaks to you, we’ve put together some brief monologue tips below, as a reminder to inspire you  for what you may wish to find.

What makes a great monologue?

• Emotional Depth: First and foremost, you will want to find a monologue that stimulates your own mind, body, and soul to say something about humanity.

• Universality: You will want to seek out a monologue that taps into universal human emotions.

• Strong Voice: You should try to find a monologue piece with a character that has a strong voice. Meaning, a character that really stands for something.

• Purpose Driven: A great monologue heightens character depth, moves the story forward, and adds layers to the overall theme of the narrative.

• Conflict: Great monologues can reveal a character who is grappling with internal and external circumstances.

• Structure and Rhythm: A well-structured monologue has fluidity in the text that can easily flow when speaking the words.

We’ve put together a solid compilation of monologues from plays that may work really well for your auditions or drama class.

We originally started this post with 10 monologue, but over time it has grown to 40. Enjoy!

10 Best Audition Monologues for Actors

10 Best Audition Monologues for Actors – Female/Comedy

OVER THE MOON
Lucia is on a first date and its going better than she could have imagined, but the only trouble is that the guy she is seeing is from a different century.

DARLING FACE
After getting chased by a bear, Beverly begins to question the happiness in her life.

FUNGUS AMONG US
There may be a time when a creature is secretly living in your refrigerator.

DOG ANXIETY
Whoever said doing a favor for a friend was going to be easy?

A LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Leslie is quirky and it shows but that doesn’t mean she’s not highly intelligent and compassionate.

PHONE CALLS
Meagan questions the reason why guys tend to play mind games when they like a woman.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Kelly begins to claim that a friend has been stealing her writing story ideas.

UNDERWHELM
Wilma just doesn’t see a better way of going about her own life.

THE GOLDFISH
Kimmie visits an old memory she has in order to shed light on Cameron’s predicament.

NOBODY CARES
What do you do when a sales representative refuses to let you leave the store without making a purchase?

10 Best Audition Monologues for Actors – Female/Drama

HUSH
A high powered studio executive brings a plastic surgeon in for a private meeting in order to smooth talk a horrific deal into existence.

CONTENTS FLAMMABLE
A mother shares the pain of feeling responsible for an accident that took place with her daughter.

I’M SORRY YOU’RE SO BEAUTIFUL
Amanda isn’t sure whether or not the guy she’s seeing is going to be a threat to her career.

DON’T LEAVE ME WITHOUT MUFFIN
A daughter decides that she is going to flee home but during the middle of the night her mother catches her.

GRAIN OF SAND
After getting wind that her brother has been getting bullied, Sasha takes it upon herself to fix the situation.

CRACKS IN STONE
Bethany feels as though her life is in danger when her husband begins accusing her of things that aren’t true.

THEM CANDLES
All Kendra wishes for is to live a normal life and do the things other teenagers seem to do but because of her illness she is apparently held back.

WHEN THE COOKING IS DONE
After seeing a play at the theatre, Marza realizes that she needs to change her life before it’s too late.

BEAUTIFUL DAY
A woman meets a stranger who lifts her spirits up and helps her realize that she is in fact truly beautiful.

GONE BEFORE YOU LEFT
Tash is worried that her life will never get better and she aims to figure out how to escape with Peggy.

10 Best Audition Monologues for Actors – Male/Comedy

THERE HE IS
What do you do when a new friend at work won’t ever leave you alone?

MEDIUM
This guy defends his height because he believes he is a large man.

YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE RALPHY
Ralph goes on an excuse about how an alligator took all his money.

FISHIN’ FOR MISERY
Max is a down on his luck indie filmmaker who can’t seem to get his act together no matter how much he complains.

CHARADE
Philip is sick and tired of Reginald never paying for the check when they go out for dinner.

VIN ROGUE
Cosmo is a poet who only speaks from his heart even if everything he says doesn’t make complete sense.

UNDER THE IMPRESSION
A literary agent paints a picture for a potential client who is looking for representation.

NUMBER 23
Things get increasingly strange when Cal goes to pick up the clothing for his boss at the dry cleaners.

HENRY’S DONE ENOUGH
Dono goes off over the fact that he can no longer use his own bathroom without statues staring at him while he does his business.

THE LAST M&M SAMURAI
Two friends discuss the philosophy of eating candy.

10 Best Audition Monologues for Actors – Male/Drama

DARK PLACE
Jeffrey receives a visit from a friend while he reside in an insane asylum.

EYE OF THE WHALE
Gene explains how he was lost at sea and encountered a whale that brought him back to safety.

THE ARRANGEMENT
Hardwicke tells Carpenter why he despises the likes of weeds in his garden.

DARK SIDE OF MY MOON
A young basketball player talks about the intensity he manages within himself over competition.

CHECKING IN
Rob locates his real father after not seeing him since he was a baby.

FOOD ON THE TABLE
Chuck pleads to not get fired because of a mistake he made while on the job.

KILLING YOU
A serial killer toys with their latest victim displaying their sinister way of viewing life.

DRINKS ON THE HOUSE
Leon visits his daughter after years of not seeing her in order to let her know that he is dying.

HIGH PLACES
Harrison believes he’s found the love of his life but learns of her reality.  Does this make him give up?

WASTED TALENT
Donnie talks about one of his best friends who committed suicide and the impact that has left on him in his life.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Keeping in mind your own specific needs and goals for finding a monologue.  You will know a great monologue when you see one.