Whether it’s the silent joy (tinged with agony, of course) of watching a crush from afar, the frustration of feeling misunderstood by well-meaning parents, or the weight of strong feelings that seem impossible to explain, the most effective teen monologues tap into the heightened emotional states that resonate universally across young adult audiences and beyond. Here are eight contemporary monologues for teens that offer the chance to explore the full spectrum of youthful emotions and experiences.
1. “Shadows of My Mind”: Naomi
I torture myself and I don’t know how to stop it.… I try so hard to think positive and for the most part I do, I am; but, keeping myself that way is the hardest thing in the world. It creeps up on me out from the shadows of my mind. I hate to sound like some cheesy novel but it’s true. Whatever I have going on deep inside myself, I do my best to ignore and most days, everything is good but when it hits, when this sudden rush of negative energy comes by, it’s like a wave of depression.
I get so down about the direction of my life. Am I making the right decisions? Am I being who I am meant to be? (beat) I get low about the things I do and I second guess my choices after I’ve already made them and then sometimes days later I change my mind again and go back to an earlier choice I made about the same damn thing.…
Back and forth, back and forth…like a circle of confusion. I feel like I’m going crazy when this happens, when I can’t seem to figure out a solution to my path…it’s like a disease in my brain…I get trapped inside myself and I get lost in this really lonely place; until finally I find some inner strength and I rip forward in a new light but I know that it’s only a matter of time before I go back to that, that way of being and it scares me. I don’t want to be that way…I just want to be happy and want to know that I am living my life with purpose. I don’t want to have any regrets when I get old and look back on the life I’ve lived; ’cause I won’t be able to go back and that would kill me in the end.
I may need help. I don’t know if this is something that I should see a doctor about…like a therapist or—I don’t believe in medication. Never have. Maybe I’m too emotional and take myself too damn seriously. I don’t know, I don’t—What do you think, huh? How do I put an end to these phases that I go through?
This monologue allows you to explore the inner workings of your mind, in real time, as those in the audition room get to watch you discover. Your focus should be on the person you’re speaking to, but as you wrestle with these thoughts, show the inner struggle you’re experiencing as you speak to yourself.
2. “Those Days Are Over”: Marsha
The only difficult one is you. You have problems. I was in the living room, with the door closed, and I was deliberately talking quietly because I already knew you’d make a fuss.
Sure enough, you created a controversy over the fact that I was having a laugh with one of my friends. It bothers you. My happiness bothers you.
You’re the one who can go upstairs for your studies. Why should I? If you have work to do, you should go to your own bedroom, lock the door and do your work.
I shouldn’t be inconvenienced and neither should Mom and Dad.
That’s what you do, that’s how you function, you make trouble for everyone else over the slightest matter, when it’s you, you’re the one who is busy making a big stink about everything, when nobody cares.… I have news for you, Emily, NOBODY CARES about your drama.
We’re all going to go on living our lives, ignoring your stupid drama.
So shout, argue, do whatever you wish to do, but just know it won’t get you anywhere with me.
This is an interesting dramatic monologue between rivaling sisters. Can you relate? Here, Marsha defends herself against her sister’s outburst, which makes things even more volatile. She loves her sister and wants to maintain the relationship, but she needs to challenge her. So many great options here, but we recommend creating a backstory to help you understand what has brought you to this moment.
3. “Nowhere Near Happy”: Ava
I come from a family that never had any faith in me. They all had this poor man’s mentality and I knew as early as I could that there was a different way, a better way. Nobody needs to settle for what they are born into, there’s always a possibility to grow. I don’t want to put my family down but the truth is in the facts. I grew up very poor. Everything was hands on. If I needed a sweater, my mother would knit me one, there was no word as “shopping.” I looked like a boy up until a few years ago because I was always wearing my brother’s hand-me-downs. (beat) Both my parents never strived for anything more than what they could see in front of their faces. My father, he’s a factory worker, and my mother does seamstress work on the side, when it’s available. It was always go to school and get a job. It was never build your own business and follow what you want to do, especially if you are good at it. Even though I live on my own and have found success, I’m not one bit happy. Yeah, I could get my mother’s broken sink fixed or surprise my dad with a new set of tools, but I always get the feeling that I’m looked down upon, you know? Like they aren’t happy for me and it hurts. For once I’d like to get told I’m doing a good job, like I’m somewhat appreciated.…
Here Ava is talking to the audience. She discusses issues with her parents in the face of her success and how her success has made her relationship with them more difficult. But the underlying issue here is feeling underappreciated by her parents, not getting the positive feedback she craves from them. There is great emotional depth in this monologue; if you allow yourself not to yell or get angry, it will be more interesting.
30 Acting Monologues for Teens to Try Out 4. “Agree to Disagree”: Harpa
Look, you don’t have to be…you don’t have to agree with me all the time, in order for me to like you more. I see what you’re doing and I just want you to know that you don’t need to try so hard for me to like you or for anyone else to like you. Be you. I already like and care about you as a friend and that’s why I’m telling you this, OK? We’re friends and if we are going to be good friends then I’d rather know the real you and not the you that you seem to put on.
You get what I’m saying? I used to do the same thing and then I realized I care more about being true to me, than having someone like me more.
There’s more to like when we all stop trying to front and just be true to ourselves. You may not agree with me but that is my whole point. And if someone doesn’t like you for you, well, then they weren’t worth having in your life to begin with.
With this face-to-face friendly smackdown, Harpa is telling the eye-opening truth to a close friend about their fake relationship and how she needs to be more real. With great coaching and by not playing this in the obvious way, you can make it really interesting. How do you confront someone and keep the relationship? There should always be a big downside if you don’t get what you want.
5. “Easy A”: Brandon
Think about it. We can help each other out. You want to maintain this floozy facade, I don’t want to get my face pummeled in every day. It’s win-win-win-win. All it would take is one good imaginary bonk and you’d be saving the bone structure of my face. Think of how happy my parents would be. Come on, it wouldn’t have to be a bonk. It could be an imaginary nutter or a lemon squeeze or a cowbell...dealer’s choice. I’ll pay you. I can pay you whatever you want. I insist. I can make it work. I promise. Olive, you don’t understand how hard it is. I’m tormented. Every day at that high school is like I’m being suffocated. And we can fantasize all we want about how things are going to be different one day, but this is today. And it sucks. And there’s only one way out and you were smart enough to think of it. Please. Help me. I can’t take another day of this. I don’t know what the fuck I’ll do.
Brandon is a gay high school student who is bullied at school. Olive convinces him to lie and say he’s been intimate with her, so he can be accepted and she can have a bad girl reputation—initially a great idea, now not so much. He now needs to convince Olive to continue this façade, but she’s not having it. It’s a great seriocomedy piece. Educationally, it’s a classic “what do you want” and “what’s getting in your way” monologue.
6. “Almost 16”
Dad, you will let me take the car myself. I’m going to be 16 in two weeks. Yeah, technically my learner’s permit requires you in the car with me…technically I have to wait two weeks to get my license.…
But you know I can drive, you told me I’m better than Mom. I can three-point turn, parallel park, and I observe the traffic laws like a religion. So it’s not, like, irresponsible to let me drive, because you know I’m awesome at it.
GOD! This is so unfair. I hate you! You’re going to ruin me socially.
The coolest girls in freshman year, the ones whose parents are all probably making huge donations at Mom’s gala tonight, who live in the massive houses on the hill and won’t talk to me. They started talking to me. Because, they needed a ride to the dance. And I’m like, I can take you. And they’re like, “You’re 16?” And I’m all “yeah.” And then they said, “Cool.” And I’ve been eating lunch with them every day this week, and they’re all so excited.
It was well thought out. You and Mom were supposed to be at her benefit gala thing tonight.… You weren’t supposed to have a stupid fever and be stuck at home. If I let them down… If I don’t get in that car right now and go pick them up and take them to the dance…I’m dead or I might as well be. They will make it their life’s work to ruin me. I will be marked, mocked, and probably shunned. My entire high school experience will become hell.
I’m not being dramatic. I’m being accurate, Dad. This is how things go. So I’m begging you…just…just go to sleep. You have a fever, you know. You need your rest. Just go to sleep now and I’ll…I’ll still be here when you wake up in exactly three hours. Right before Mom gets back.
Please, Dad. My life depends on it.
In this comedic monologue, a young actor is auditioning for her school. She tries to convince her father to allow her to drive, even though she’s not quite 16 yet. When performing this cute monologue, keep all eyes on the father, as his responses—silent or otherwise—will determine how you live the next moment. Lose all prior knowledge of this monologue and the way you rehearsed it. Focus 100% on the father, and don’t predetermine how you’ll perform this piece.
7. “One Way Conversation”: Bella
You don’t understand, you don’t ever hear what I’m trying to say to you. It’s always a one-way conversation. First, you come at me and complain about all the things you think I’m not doing and you do this to get me angry because you think by getting me angry it’s going to somehow make me work harder for what I want in my life and you’re wrong. I’m sorry, but you’re so wrong. That’s not the way to help me move forward. It’s not. Can’t you ever just be my friend and support me by giving me encouragement? Do you have any idea how impossible what I’m going after already is? Do you? It’s so damn hard and I can use some kindness…just some; you’re my mother, you know, I—all I ask is that you stop trying to get so damn strategy-oriented with me and instead work with me, give me sound advice, if you have any, ’cause coming down on me doesn’t help. I’m not asking you to hand-feed me, but be there for me the way I need you to be…there.… You happy? Now you know what’s bothering me.
You have 30 seconds to say what you’ve wanted to say for a long time. It’s been bottled up and needs to come out now, as Bella confronts her mother about a seeming lack of encouragement and support to follow her dreams. You don’t want to create distance between your character and the mother, so you need to walk a tightrope. Create a backstory here and understand the stakes are always high.
8. “Sly Statements”: Melanie
When you speak to me sometimes…we can be talking as simple as we are talking to one another right now.… You say things in such a way that is so insulting but yet you do it with such subtlety. It hurts me. To put me down makes me think about a certain someone and I really don’t want to tell you who because I’m not ready for that, but when you say things on the sly, you are putting me down and I cannot be with someone in my life who does that to me, especially as frequently as you.
(cutting him off)
Leo, listen to me…listen to me, please. This is important and I don’t want you to defend yourself with excuses. What I’m saying you really need to listen to.… I don’t know if you have something against me or if you think I’m dumb or less educated than you are or whatever you have going on, but I will not tolerate your indirect insults anymore.
(cutting him off again)
You know what I’m referring to.… ALL the times you say something real slick, instead of just coming out with it directly, which makes it even worse for me…
—I’m telling you now because I do love you and I do want us to be together.… If you can’t stop condescending me, I will walk. I do not want to be with someone who doesn’t love me for me. I want to be treated with the love and respect I deserve.
Here Melanie is having a discussion with her boyfriend. She says he makes her feel less than a person, and she’s fed up with his condescension. They can’t be together anymore if he can’t change. Again, keep in mind that this monologue will demand you not try to make it something ahead of time. Simply allow it to become something on its own, as you explore your way through it.
What makes monologues so interesting for class purposes is that you have the opportunity to see it as you do. Heighten the need at the beginning of the piece, stay focused and simple, and that will help determine the tone and velocity of the monologue on its own. For class purposes and your education, understand that most monologues can be treated as gender-neutral. So, have fun! Read many options, then select a contemporary monologue that you can identify with and want to rehearse and perform.
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