20 Nov How to select monologues for child actors
How to select monologues for the child actor
Shared Process
Selecting monologues for your child actor does not have to be difficult, if you know the process. First of all, the process should include your child’s ideas. After all, she is the actress. So, listen and share ideas. Even if she is only 5 years old, be sure she LOVES the monologues she will perform for the industry. I suggest you give her a few choices. She should have both a comedic and a dramatic, both less than 1 minute monologue.
What “type” in your child?
OK. You know your child, so what is her “type?” What is her natural personality? In her everyday life, is she the feisty? Emotional? A book worm? The class clown? The loving caring type? With this understanding you select a monologue that matches her natural personality or type. If she is a combo of types, like most children, ask her what character she would she prefer to play. They know what they like!
Where to find monologues for children
My favorite writer for children’s audition scripts is Chambers Stevens . He writes with flair and has his finger on the pulse of what children say and do! The other author I like is Kristen Dabtowski Of course, you can Google authors who write monologues especially geared toward children.
At my acting school in Los Angeles for children, I find it rewarding when I get to select monologues for my students. I really take the time to get to know the child’s personality to determine which monologue fits. It is very important I choose the perfect monologues because my students perform them for talent agents on our Showcase Day.