Choose one of the following options –
Option 1: Memorize and perform one 60-second monologue from a published play or the sample monologues (below). Choose relatable characters within your natural age range and decide to whom your characters are talking and why. You may choose to play roles of any gender. You may select your own monologue to perform but are welcome to review and choose a monologue from the samples below.
- After performing the monologue once, the student should be prepared to receive direction. The assessor will give a piece of direction to the actor to alter their performance. (Example: Let’s try it again; pretend the monologue is being delivered while you’re fighting off a nasty cold!) The student will then perform a section of the monologue and will be assessed on how they interpret the direction and use it in performance.
Option 2: Put on your director/producer hat and create a 60-second sales pitch for your dream production of a story by the Brothers Grimm or Aesop. When developing your pitch, consider the following questions:
- What is the message of the play? Why is this message important to share with the world right now?
- What are the important relationships in the play? How would this affect casting decisions?
- What design challenges do you anticipate in your production?
MONOLOGUE SAMPLES (these are just suggestions – a quick Google search will generate thousands of ideas!)
Time To Go, Rufus (by Indiana Kwong)
Genre: Drama
Synopsis: Jesse is telling his best friend Rufus, an old golden retriever, that it’s time to go to the vet.
JESSE:
Come here, boy! Sit down on the blanket. Good boy. Are you comfy there? Did you know that you’re twelve years old now? That’s … eighty-four in dog years. That’s older than Grandma!
Anyway, I have to tell you something. Dad told me not to say, but I’m pretty sure you won’t rat me out. We’re going to get in the car soon and drive to the vet. I know, I don’t like that place either! But they give you a treat at the end, and I get to pick a lollipop from the jar, so I guess it’s not that bad.
Well, thing is, you won’t be coming home with us this time. You have to stay at the vet, and they’re going to take care of you. You don’t need to be scared, I’m pretty sure I’ve met all the vets and nurses, and they’re all really nice!
I promise it’s going to be okay. You just lie down and close your eyes, and it’ll be like when we’ve had a big playdate and go to bed early because we’re so tired and can’t keep our eyes open any longer. You trust me, don’t you? I promise: it’s going to be okay.
Oh, one more thing, Rufus: you’re the bestest friend I’ve ever had.
First Dates (by Indiana Kwong)
Genre: Drama/Comedy
Synopsis: Charlie works up the courage to ask Sarah to go to the skate park after school and watch him do a kick flip.
CHARLIE:
Hey, Sarah? (pause) HEY, SARAH! Oh, sorry. Yes. Ummm, so … how are you enjoying 5th Grade so far? Never mind, stupid question. School sucks, am I right?! (Charlie laughs nervously.)
Anyways: I have a reason for, um, talking to you. So Nick was thinking that I should ask if you wanted to come to the skate park after school today? It was his idea, but I also think it’s a good idea. Because, well, I learned how to do a kick flip last weekend and we’re gonna film it on Nick’s phone and maybe you can watch? Sometimes girls come and sit on the bench near the half-pipe and they get snacks and whisper to each other. You don’t have to eat snacks if you don’t want. You don’t have to whisper either, I’m just saying … I don’t know what I’m saying really…
Sooo yeah. Does that sound like something you’d maybe wanna do, later, maybe?
SAM
Genre: Comedy
Synopsis: Sam tries to convince their mom that their messy room is not their fault.
SAM:
Mom, it’s not my fault my room’s a mess! Me and Anthony were playing with his new race-cars. Only four of them. And we heard a weird noise outside, so we opened the window. This huge spaceship landed and a slimy, green alien with three heads came out and jumped in the window. Anthony tried to shoot him with my zapper gun, but it didn’t even hurt him—he just got real mad. So he knocked all the books off my shelf and picked up my toy box with his long, purple antennas and dumped it all over my room. So I threw a Frisbee at him and it bonked him on his third head and he slimed out the window and the spaceship disappeared into the sky. Geez, Mom, you should be happy I’m still alive!