15 Best Shakespeare Monologues for Auditions provides artists with 15 from the Bard for your next classical monologue audition.

15 Best Shakespeare Monologues for Auditions

1. A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Character: PUCK

Location: Act II, sc. 1

Genre: Comedy

First line: Thou speak’st aright; I am that merry wanderer of the night.

• Read full Puck Monologue

….more monologues from A Midsummer Night’s Dream

2. Two Gentleman of Verona

Character: JULIA

Location: Act IV, sc. 4

Genre: Comedy

First line: How many women would do such a message?

• Read full Julia Monologue

…more monologues from Two Gentleman of Verona

3. The Winter’s Tale

Character: HERMIONE

Location: Act III, sc. 2

Genre: Comedy

First Line: Sir, spare your threats: The bug which you would fright me with I seek.

• Read full Hermione Monologue

…more monologues from The Winter’s Tale

4. The Tempest

Character: ARIEL

Location: Act III, sc. 3

Genre: Comedy

First Line: You are three men of sin, whom Destiny, That hath to instrument this lower world And what is in’t, the never-surfeited sea Hath caused to belch up you;

• Read full Ariel Monologue

…more monologues from The Tempest

5. Much Ado About Nothing

Character: BEATRICE

Location: Act III, sc. 1

Genre: Comedy

First Line: What fire is in mine ears? Can this be true?

• Read full Beatrice Monologue

…more monologues from Much Ado About Nothing

6. Romeo and Juliet

Character: JULIET

Location: Act II, sc. 2

Genre: Tragedy

First Line: O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?

• Read full Juliet Monologue

…more monologues from Romeo and Juliet

7. Hamlet

Character: OPHELIA

Location: Act III, sc. 1

Genre: Tragedy

First Line: O, what a noble mind is here o’erthrown!

• Read full Ophelia Monologue

…more monologues from Hamlet

8. King Lear

Character: EDMUND

Location: Act I, sc. 2

Genre: Tragedy

First Line: This is the excellent foppery of the world, that, when we are sick in fortune,–o

• Read full Edmond Monologue

…more monologues from King Lear

9. Macbeth

Character: LADY MACBETH

Location: Act I, sc. 5

Genre: Tragedy

First Line: They met me in the day of success:

• Read full Lady Macbeth Monologue

…more monologues from Macbeth

10. Julius Caesar

Character: ANTONY

Location: Act II, sc. 2

Genre: Tragedy

First Line: O mighty Caesar! dost thou lie so low?

• Read full Antony Monologue

…more monologues from Julius Caesar

11. Henry V

Character: MONTJOY

Location: Act III, sc. 6

Genre: Historical

First Line: Thus says my king: Say thou to Harry of England:

• Read full Montjoy Monologue

…more monologues from Henry V

12. Richard II

Character: DUCHESS

Location: Act II, sc. 2

Genre: Historical

First Line: Yet one word more: grief boundeth where it falls,

• Read full Duchess Monologue

…more monologues from Richard II

13. Richard III

Character: LADY ANNE

Location: Act I, sc. 2

Genre: Historical

First Line: Set down, set down your honourable load,

• Read full Lady Anne Monologue

…more monologues from Richard III

14. King John

Character: CONSTANCE

Location: Act III, sc. 1

Genre: Historical

First Line: If thou, that bid’st me be content, wert grim,

• Read full Constance Monologue

…more monologues from King John

15. Henry IV

Character: KING HENRY

Location: Act III, sc. 2

Genre: Historical

First Line: God pardon thee! yet let me wonder, Harry,

• Read full King Henry Monologue

…more monologues from Henry IV