Contemporary Male Overdone Audition Monologues to Avoid
Hunting for an epic audition monologue, but don’t want to be doing the same piece as everyone else? We get it. When the panel has asked you to select your own piece, there is a lot of freedom in what you perform. However, with that freedom comes the possibility of selecting a monologue the panel may have seen before. Snooze fest!
To help you out, we’ve compiled a list list of overdone audition monologues for your to read before deciding on a piece for your next theatre audition. We also give you guidance on where to find monologues you can explore instead! Let’s get into it.
Overused Theatre Male Contemporary Audition Monologues
Before we dive into the list of most common audition monologues to avoid, let us give a short disclaimer. These pieces are used often for good reason. They’re well written, exciting, and dynamic. If you choose to use any of these monologues, be aware that the casting director has probably seen that monologue performed a hundred times. This is not meant to completely discourage you from engaging with these monologues.
If you think you have an amazing take on a piece, then by all means do it! If you can nail an overdone monologue, you’ll be truly impressive. But, if you don’t blow their socks off, you could be at a disadvantage. So, actor, be wary with the following pieces!
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
Biff’s monologue that begins: “Now hear this, Willy, this is me. You know why I had no address for three months? I stole a suit in Kansas City…”
And ends with “I’m nothing. I’m just what I am, that’s all.”
The Seagull by Anton Chekhov
Konstantin’s monologue that begins “She loves me – she loves me not… She loves me – she loves me not… Loves me, loves me not.”
And finishes on: “What we need are new artistic forms. And if we don’t get new forms it would be better if we had nothing at all.”
Rosencratz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stopard
Rosenctraz’s monologue that begins: “Do you ever think of yourself as actually dead, lying in a box with a lid on it? Nor do I, really … It’s silly to be depressed by it.”
And ends with: “You could lie there thinking – well, at least I’m not dead! In a minute someone’s going to bang on the lid and tell me to come out. (Banging on the floor with his fists.) ‘Hey you, whatsyername! Come out of there!”
Our Town by Thornton Wilder
George Gibbs’ monologue that begins with “I’m celebrating because I’ve got a friend who tells me all the things that ought to be told me…”
And finishes with “Emily, I’m going to make up my mind right now—I won’t go. I’ll tell Pa about it tonight.”
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams
Tom’s monologue that begins: “Listen! You think I’m crazy about the warehouse? You think I’m in love with Continental Shoemakers? You think I want to spend fifty-five years down there in that – celotex interior! With fluorescent tubes?”
And finishes with: “I’ll be glad, very happy, and so will you! You’ll go up, up on a broomstick, over Blue Mountain with seventeen gentlemen callers, you ugly, babbling, old witch!”
Cosi by Louis Nowra
Doug’s monologue that begins. “It’s what I did. Burned a cat. Quite recently. It was the fault of the psychiatrist. I’d been seeing him because of my pyromania – that’s a person who likes lighting fires”
And ends on “If it wasn’t for that damn cat, I wouldn’t be in here.”
Angels in America – Part One: Millennium Approaches, by Tony Kushner
Louis’ monologue that begins: “Why has democracy succeeded in America? Of course by succeeded I mean comparatively, not literally, not in the present…”
Ending with “…find out how much tolerance is worth. Nothing. And underneath all the tolerance is intense, passionate hatred.”
Angels in America – Part Two: Perestroika by Tony Kushner
Belize’s monologue that begins: “What did you drag me out here for, Louis, I don’t have time for you. You walk out on your lover. Days don’t pass before you are out on the town with somebody new.”
Finishing on: “I live in America, Louis, that’s hard enough, I don’t have to love it. You do that. Everybody’s got to love something.”
Other Contemporary Plays with Popular Audition Monologues
Beyond the above monologues, there are some other honourable mentions of monologues that actors tend to return to again and again. While not necessarily as iconic as the already listed monologues, it’s worth being aware of how popular the following plays can be for audition pieces. Again, proceed with caution. Especially for any drama school auditions!
Punk Rock by Simon Stephens
Reasons to be Pretty by Neil Labute
Laughing Wild by Christopher Durang
Brighton Beach Memoirs by Neil Simon
Danny and the Deep Blue Sea by John Patrick Shanley
This is our Youth by Kenneth Lonergan
Fortinbras by Lee Blessing
How To Find Unique Contemporary Male Audition Monologues
After reading through the above, you might be thinking ‘Oh crap, that’s my monologue!’ But don’t stress! We’ve got an amazing library of Monologues for Men and Comedic Monologues for Men for you to check out.
We also have an extended, personally curated list of incredible and unique monologues to explore inside the StageMilk Drama Club!
Final Thoughts
Choosing a unique contemporary male monologue will help you stand out from the crowd at an audition. It can make the audition panel sit up and take notice. When you choose an overdone piece, you run the risk of turning the panel off your audition before you even really have a chance to show them what you’re made of. By thinking carefully about your audition piece, and finding something fresh that excites you, you can be fully confident to go out and nail that audition!
