Want plays with strong monologues?
Every drama class needs a collection of strong monologues. But the thought of reading through so many plays just to find those monologues is daunting, to say the least. We’ve got you covered. Check out our list below of Theatrefolk plays with great monologues for student performers. They can be used for class work, auditions, or monologue competitions.
If the monologue comes from a larger work, always read the full play. Reading the play can tell an actor a lot about the character, what they’ve gone through, and their emotional state in the moment before the monologue begins. All of this is going to lead to an impactful performance.
Having said that, there are plays (vignette plays in particular) where the character in the monologue only appears in that one moment. In these cases, a great place to start is for students to ask and answer questions about the character and the situation. What do they think about the character’s background? What do they think is going to happen next? Because there isn’t a text to refer to, this means students will have to make some educated guesses. In educational theatre, that’s a good thing!
We’re going to get you started with a Character Analysis Questions Document with questions students can answer for a monologue from each of our listed plays in this post. Click the link below!
Longer is not always better! It’s better to be short and vivid than long and forgettable. It’s all about creating a three-dimensional character with a strong connection and a defined physicality. All that can happen in under a minute. For auditions, tell your students that an auditioner can usually tell if they want more in the first 10 seconds. For competitions where you have a time limit, encourage students to run shorter rather than risk being disqualified. Most of the plays suggested below have monologues in the 60 to 90 second range.
Click the plaly titles for info, sample pages, and some even come with free classroom study guides!
Box
This play has a few of my all-time favourite monologues for middle school students in it. They are short, specific, put the character in the middle of a problem that they are trying to talk through, and have a clear emotional state.
Click the link below for Character Analysis Questions for JUSTICE’s monologue.
Home of the Brave
Another great piece for middle school performers! Each of the main characters has a monologue that shares the experience of being in a military family.
Click the link below for Character Analysis questions for TY’s monologue.
The Truth or Dare Sisterhood
Monarch shows up at the sleepover with a stuffed clown and more baggage than a carousel at JFK. Their monologue reveals why.
Click the link below for Character Analysis questions for MONARCH’s monologue.
Have You Heard?
This play is ALL monologues. Take your pick! The play follows what happens in a school when rumours and secrets spin out of control. What makes a secret more powerful: when it’s the truth, or when it’s a lie?
Click the link below for Character Analysis questions for one of CLEO’s monologues.
Myth-o-logues
A collection of monologues inspired by Greek mythology: Pandora, Arachne, Psyche, Orpheus and more. Use this in your classes, give everyone a monologue character to research and prepare.
Click the link below for Character Analysis questions for PSYCHE’s monologue.
Want more monologue plays? Check out Stressed and Puzzle Pieces.
With Liberty and Justice For All
This is another play that is mostly monologues. It follows eight people as they attend a BLM protest in June of 2020. MARA shares what happened with the National Guard the second the clock ticked past the 9:00 curfew.
Click the link below for Character Analysis questions for MARA’s monologue.
A Box of Puppies
This play has two wonderful monologues about feeling small in a big world. In One Beer Two Many, a teen struggles with writing and what’s going on at home. He is honest and then is belittled for being honest.
Click the link below for Character Analysis questions for SKIP’s monologue.
Letters
For many wars, letters home were the only form of communication between soldiers and their loved ones. There are many serious and dramatic moments in this play, which is why Caleb’s monologue is a standout. It’s a comedic piece about a WWI soldier who isn’t scared of the Germans but is terrified of the rats.
Click the link below for Character Analysis questions for CALEB’s monologue.
Nice Girl
Being the “nice girl” requires a great deal of sacrifice, and often frustration. As Mia eventually nears her breaking point, she has an awesome monologue in which she verbally shames all those who have taken advantage of her. It’s definitely one where an actor has to read the whole play to give the monologue its full impact.
Click the link below for Character Analysis questions for MIA’s monologue.
Dead Highway
There are even monologues in the zombie apocalypse! Six teenagers fight for survival against the undead, and they come across Brynn. In Brynn’s monologue she talks about a rabbit being torn apart by monsters. Only it wasn’t a rabbit.
Click the link below for Character Analysis questions for BRYNN’s monologue.
BONUS: The Blue and the Grey
This is an intense piece and the characters in it are surrounded by a variety of ghosts. That makes every line weighted with the past. There aren’t any traditional monologues here but there are some wonderful intense character moments (Darren talking about Ana, Rachel trying to get Darren to cross back on the ice) that I’ve included in it. Remember, monologues don’t have to be long, but they do have to be vivid.
Click the link below for Character Analysis questions for DARREN’s monologue.
You can check out even more great monologues on Theatrefolk’s free resource page.
by Krista Boehnert Canadian Author
An exploration of teen issues through a series of monologues. The characters speak frankly about their fears, their futures, and their day to day life.
by Alan Haehnel
Stress is driving a teen quartet crazy - so much so they can't stop talking about it. This play is a symphony of sound and character.
by Krista Boehnert Canadian Author
This monologue-based play explores what happens when rumours and secrets spin out of control. What makes a secret more powerful: when it's true or a lie?
by Billy Houck
We can all relate to feeling small in a big world. The characters in A Box of Puppies share their insecurities, their frailties and how they cope.
by Mrs. Evelyn Merritt Canadian Author
For many wars, letters home were the only form of communication between soldiers and their loved ones. This play brings those letters to life.
by Amanda Murray Cutalo
Mia knows how to be a confident and assertive young woman who is not afraid to stand up for herself; the only problem is she can only act this way in her fantasies.
by Janice Harris
A fantastic one act and classroom resource filled with monologues from Greek mythology.
by Lindsay Price Canadian Author
A middle school vignette play about the boxes we find ourselves in.
by RS Paulette
This award-winning piece is haunting, exhilarating and theatrical.
by Lee Cataluna
An excellent character-driven piece for middle school students. Inspired by hundreds of interviews with those associated by all branches of the service.
by Christopher Evans
In a world ravaged by a viral apocalypse, six teenagers must fight the undead and their own fracturing friendships to survive.
by Jeffrey Harr
A group of misfit teens at a chaotic sleepover must navigate identity, friendship, and loyalty when a newcomer with big secrets joins their sisterhood.
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by Lindsay Price
Give students the confidence, skills and tools they need to master the monologue with The 30-Second Monologue Project. This four-lesson unit guides students from the first moment to a successful performance.
by Lindsay Price
Many monologue books have monologues with only male- or female-identified characters. This resource allows students to infer the identity of the character.
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