MaryM Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Any suggestions for a contemporary monologue for a 16 y/o guy? Ds is taking his very first acting/theatre class and needs to find a monologue to study and perform from a contemporary play. Living in the boonies, we just don't have the opportunity for theatre so we really need some helpful suggestions. I tried Googling but not much luck. Please, no "gay" roles - that was what the search seemed to pull up unfortunately. No musicals allowed. Our library is no help either, sadly.... Thanks so much for any suggestions you can provide. He has to make a selection by Wednesday. Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 . . . is to head to your local bookstore. There are many, many books with scenes or monologues for young actors, and I'm sure you could find something appropriate. Unfortunately, if it has to be a contemporary play, most of those are going to be under copyright. So, you're not going to find the material available for free online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teachmom3 Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 I'm not a theater person (actually, I'm more of a science person), but I think Jenny is correct when she states that probably most contemporary plays are still under copyright. However, for some reason I found a version of Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead online at http://afronord.tripod.com/plays/R-G.html This is NOT the original version as penned by Stoppard. It is much shorter. However, it contains a couple of Guildenstern's monologues in it, although I don't know if they'll work as monologues in isolation. If you're not familiar with Stoppard, here is a link to a SparkNotes entry: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/rosencrantz/context.html HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryM Posted January 25, 2009 Author Share Posted January 25, 2009 Thanks, Jenny. Living in the middle of no where means no bookstores of any size, however. If anyone has ANY names, that would be very helpful!! M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryM Posted January 25, 2009 Author Share Posted January 25, 2009 I'm not a theater person (actually, I'm more of a science person), but I think Jenny is correct when she states that probably most contemporary plays are still under copyright. However, for some reason I found a version of Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead online at http://afronord.tripod.com/plays/R-G.html This is NOT the original version as penned by Stoppard. It is much shorter. However, it contains a couple of Guildenstern's monologues in it, although I don't know if they'll work as monologues in isolation. If you're not familiar with Stoppard, here is a link to a SparkNotes entry: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/rosencrantz/context.html HTH! THANKS so much!! I really appreciate your suggestion. While I know that I'm not going to find most contemporary plays online, what I needed was some direction, like this, to allow us to order a few plays and peruse them to see what fits him.(Guess I failed to successfully communicate this in my original post. Sorry.) I will certainly have ds spend time reading your link and checking out a potential monologue. Thanks again, teachmom3, for you quick and helpful reply! Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peek a Boo Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 (edited) check the booklist here: http://www.mvhsdrama.com/contemporarymonos.htm and then go to your local bookstore and peruse the selections in those books. It would likely be cheaper to buy a book of monologues [don't forget to ask if a teacher discount is available] than order several plays to look thru ;) eta --ok, i missed the middle of nowhere bit, but i'd order a couple monologue books off amazon then --if you order tonight, you might get them w/ 2-day shipping by Tuesday :D break a leg! Edited January 25, 2009 by Peek a Boo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peek a Boo Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Q: does it HAVE to be a play, or can it be a movie script? There's a few good kid monologues that route...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryM Posted January 25, 2009 Author Share Posted January 25, 2009 Q: does it HAVE to be a play, or can it be a movie script? There's a few good kid monologues that route...... Maybe... like which monologues? Thanks! M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denise in Florida Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 How contemporary is contemporary? If it can be a few decades old there were some fantastic one-man shows in the 60's or 70's. One was on Harry Truman. I think the name was "Give 'em Hell, Harry". Another was on Mark Twain, think Hal Holbrook was the performer. I wish I could remember titles but perhaps they can be googled. The Truman one had some wonderful monologues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryM Posted January 25, 2009 Author Share Posted January 25, 2009 How contemporary is contemporary? If it can be a few decades old there were some fantastic one-man shows in the 60's or 70's. One was on Harry Truman. I think the name was "Give 'em Hell, Harry". Another was on Mark Twain, think Hal Holbrook was the performer. I wish I could remember titles but perhaps they can be googled. The Truman one had some wonderful monologues. Thanks, Denise! I think anything that is 20th century is contemporary enough... Truman sounds intriguing! Our challenge is "age appropriate"...this is for a very mature 14 y/o in a college class. Yahoo Answers suggested Brighton Beach Memoirs or Master Harold and the Boys. These plays do have teenage male characters. Wonder if any others come to mind now? Thanks again to everyone for helping out. Any further ideas are always welcome! Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Yahoo Answers suggested Brighton Beach Memoirs or Master Harold and the Boys. These plays do have teenage male characters. Wonder if any others come to mind now? I love Master Harold. Another idea would be to check the Amazon website and look at the tables of contents for books of scenes for young actors. That might give you some titles to work with. For example: http://www.amazon.com/Scenes-Young-Actors-Lorraine-Cohen/dp/0380009978 Or: http://www.amazon.com/Young-Actors-Scene-Book/dp/0810839024/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232916341&sr=1-6 Or: http://www.amazon.com/Actors-Book-Scenes-New-Plays/dp/0140104879/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232916341&sr=1-12 A lot of these are for two or more actors, but they might at least give you a starting point. It might be fun to pull something from the Reduced Shakespeare Company's Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). My kids love that, and it seems to be popular with young performers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutor Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 (edited) Here are a couple: -from Death of a Salesman - from A Few Good Men -from (this is a video of the opening monologue) There is also a great speech by Cromwell at the trial of Sir Thomas More in A Man For All Seasons. (It starts at 3:37 of .) He could also choose a monologue form a Neil Simon play. I think there are a couple of good ones in Biloxi Blues. There is even a book just of monologues from Neil Simon's plays. If it doesn't have to be from a play but can be from a movie, I have always like the eulogy monologue at the end of the movie Serendipidy. It is a great, comical monologue. And depending on how long it has to be, there is always Lloyd Dobler's speech in Say Anything about not wanting to make anything bought or sold or sell anything made or bought. But that may not be long enough. These are all from sites that transcribed some or were just collections of monologues, so I would recommend purchasing a copy of the play to ensure accuracy before using them. Edited January 25, 2009 by Tutor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryM Posted January 25, 2009 Author Share Posted January 25, 2009 Thanks all! So many good plays! Yet, so few that come to mind with a 16 y/o role for a guy, no? It's that "tween" age from the middle school plays and adult hits. Still working on it though! Appreciate your patience and your ideas! M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutor Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Yet, so few that come to mind with a 16 y/o role for a guy, no? Here are a couple more links: Tommy Boy (for a male teen) And here is a list of monologues (all from movies) that indicates age and gender of the speaker so it's easy to skim through. The list includes monologues from Goonies, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and a really great monologue from The Breakfast Club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in the NH Woods Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 (edited) he may be able to find a script from Feiffer's People. My dad directed this when he was in grad school, and my sister and I loved quoting many of the lines. The play is a series of vignettes that I think were based on a comic strip. Some scenes would definitely be too mature for a young adult, but I seem to remember a monologue about a "Superman" that loses his power/ self esteem. It may have innuendo in it, but I don't remember there being any. I do remember being delighted. ;) Cindy Edited January 26, 2009 by Cindy in the NH Woods Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peek a Boo Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Thanks, Denise! I think anything that is 20th century is contemporary enough... Truman sounds intriguing! Our challenge is "age appropriate"...this is for a very mature 14 y/o in a college class. Yahoo Answers suggested Brighton Beach Memoirs or Master Harold and the Boys. These plays do have teenage male characters. Wonder if any others come to mind now? Thanks again to everyone for helping out. Any further ideas are always welcome! Mary The first thing that came to mind was the kid character of Wesley from Star Trek next generation. I'll bet you could find a few good monologues from scripts online? anyone? would this help? http://www.ispgroupinc.com/monologues/monologues_for_kids_and_teens.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peek a Boo Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 (edited) I'd suggest Princess Bride, but there's so much banter back and forth there's nothing that would really count as a monologue, lol. the X-files? here ya go: http://www.whysanity.net/monos/others.html eta: i'll post a few that look 'ok' as i read thru them: http://www.whysanity.net/monos/b5.html http://www.whysanity.net/monos/scrubs2.html http://www.whysanity.net/monos/titans.html scroll down to Mr. Smith goes to Washington :) http://www.whysanity.net/monos/monos5a.html are there any time constraints? Edited January 26, 2009 by Peek a Boo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peek a Boo Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 (edited) And here is a list of monologues (all from movies) that indicates age and gender of the speaker so it's easy to skim through. The list includes monologues from Goonies, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and a really great monologue from The Breakfast Club. this one from Jerry McGuire is pretty good: http://www.cvrperformingarts.com/Drama/Scripts/Scripts/Movie_Monologues/jerry_mcguire_breakdown.htm here kitty kitty..... http://www.cvrperformingarts.com/Drama/Scripts/Scripts/Movie_Monologues/star_trek_ode_to_spot_written.htm Edited January 26, 2009 by Peek a Boo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peek a Boo Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 This one looks doable..... http://www.jimmybrunelle.com/plays/theapple.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryM Posted January 26, 2009 Author Share Posted January 26, 2009 You guys are GREAT! Thanks so much for all of the suggestions. Much appreciated. I have learned that it must be from a play not a movie...Selections to be made today, somehow. Many thanks gain. Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Why does he have to do the monologue of a teen? When I was in a theatre program (the kind you audition for, to give you an idea) we played roles of all ages. I can't remember if there are male monologues, but plays I don't recall being mentioned that are good are: The Cherry Orchard by Chekov Our Town Waiting for Godot Waiting for Lefty (it's about a husband and wife and is a comedy) The Glass Managerie I picked up a used copy of The Actor's Scenebook Volume II and there is an entire sectoin devoted to monologues for men and women. There's a title on the inside list, 50 Great Scenes for Student Actors edited by Lewy Olfson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peek a Boo Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Why does he have to do the monologue of a teen? When I was in a theatre program (the kind you audition for, to give you an idea) we played roles of all ages. I can't remember if there are male monologues, but plays I don't recall being mentioned that are good are: The Cherry Orchard by Chekov Our Town Waiting for Godot Waiting for Lefty (it's about a husband and wife and is a comedy) The Glass Managerie I picked up a used copy of The Actor's Scenebook Volume II and there is an entire sectoin devoted to monologues for men and women. There's a title on the inside list, 50 Great Scenes for Student Actors edited by Lewy Olfson. i think the toughest part was that most of the contemporary plays are not available online for free [or the content is not suitable for a younger person], and we were going for free first ;) i do agree that it doesn't need to be a "teen" role [unless the teacher specified that??]. It looks ike the best bet would be to pay for a few downloads and see what fits. The apple one is a 'real play' and you can preview it for free. You might be able to get permission to use it for an audition w/o paying for the whole script..... good luck :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peek a Boo Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 how 'contemporary' must contemporary be?? any cutoff dates?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peek a Boo Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Why does he have to do the monologue of a teen? When I was in a theatre program (the kind you audition for, to give you an idea) we played roles of all ages. I can't remember if there are male monologues, but plays I don't recall being mentioned that are good are: The Cherry Orchard by Chekov Our Town Waiting for Godot Waiting for Lefty (it's about a husband and wife and is a comedy) The Glass Managerie I picked up a used copy of The Actor's Scenebook Volume II and there is an entire sectoin devoted to monologues for men and women. There's a title on the inside list, 50 Great Scenes for Student Actors edited by Lewy Olfson. not that i liked the play ;), but here's a decent monologue from Godot: http://samuel-beckett.net/Waiting_for_Godot_Part2.html VLADIMIR: Let us not waste our time in idle discourse! (Pause. Vehemently.) Let us do something, while we have the chance! It is not every day that we are needed. Not indeed that we personally are needed. Others would meet the case equally well, if not better. To all mankind they were addressed, those cries for help still ringing in our ears! But at this place, at this moment of time, all mankind is us, whether we like it or not. Let us make the most of it, before it is too late! Let us represent worthily for once the foul brood to which a cruel fate consigned us! What do you say? (Estragon says nothing.) It is true that when with folded arms we weigh the pros and cons we are no less a credit to our species. The tiger bounds to the help of his congeners without the least reflection, or else he slinks away into the depths of the thickets. But that is not the question. What are we doing here, that is the question. And we are blessed in this, that we happen to know the answer. Yes, in this immense confusion one thing alone is clear. We are waiting for Godot to come— Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 (edited) not that i liked the play ;), but here's a decent monologue from Godot:http://samuel-beckett.net/Waiting_for_Godot_Part2.html VLADIMIR: Let us not waste our time in idle discourse! (Pause. Vehemently.) Let us do something, while we have the chance! It is not every day that we are needed. Not indeed that we personally are needed. Others would meet the case equally well, if not better. To all mankind they were addressed, those cries for help still ringing in our ears! But at this place, at this moment of time, all mankind is us, whether we like it or not. Let us make the most of it, before it is too late! Let us represent worthily for once the foul brood to which a cruel fate consigned us! What do you say? (Estragon says nothing.) It is true that when with folded arms we weigh the pros and cons we are no less a credit to our species. The tiger bounds to the help of his congeners without the least reflection, or else he slinks away into the depths of the thickets. But that is not the question. What are we doing here, that is the question. And we are blessed in this, that we happen to know the answer. Yes, in this immense confusion one thing alone is clear. We are waiting for Godot to come— I'm guilty--that's the one play I suggested that I haven't either seen or read, but it's considered such an important one. Or was. There were so many waiting for plays that someone drew a cartoon of a waiting room with Godot, Lefty and others. Can't remember it well anymore as it's been a good 30 odd years since I saw it. Here's a link to a monologue FREE online from The Cherry Orchard http://www.theatrehistory.com/plays/chekhovmono001.html I found it doing a google of script "The Cherry Orchard" Didn't get the whole script at that place, but you could probably find others this way. Many older 20th century plays are no longer under copyright and are public domain. Edited January 28, 2009 by Karin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryM Posted January 28, 2009 Author Share Posted January 28, 2009 Thanks again, everyone!! The selection has been decided and will be a monologue from"Master Harold and the Boys"! M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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