Marian Scadden, author
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Kids Monologue of the Month

Tips for preparing a monologue:
  • Imagine the person you're speaking to. If you're supposed to be speaking to the audience, imagine who they are--friends? enemies? the doorman?
  • Imagine where you are and the things that are around you.
  • Create a set by using real objects that are handy--chairs, benches, fake tree, etc.
  • You can use real objects for props, too--book, wallet, football, etc.
  • Be expressive--get mad or happy or sad or just have some attitude as you perform your monologue.
  • Movement & Gestures--use them. Don't just stand still while doing a monologue.
If there are stage directions—in parenthesis—in the monologue below, use them or come up with your own. They're just suggestions. If a monologue has ellipses (three dots in a row), act as if you’re listening to someone else responding or speaking to you.
Break a leg! (That's theater talk for "good luck." It's bad luck to say "good luck" in the theater so you say "Break a leg!")

​Here are 2 monologues for April & May. Have fun!
In Trouble for Talking
(as if talking to a principal or a parent) I got in trouble for talking again. I was talking to the kid next to me because he asked me something and I answered, then he said, "what?" and I had to repeat what I said then he asked me...(pause) Oh, I'm talking again. A lot. I was going to try to control my talking. Maybe I could tape my mouth shut with duct tape. It’s pretty wide and strong and it comes in cool patterns, even camouflage. Taking it off might hurt too much. Oh, no. I talked about duct tape for way too long. Maybe if I remember to only say, "yes" or "no," that might stop me from talking. But what if the answer isn't yes or no? What if someone asks me if I like ice cream? I can't say yes because I don't like chocolate ice cream; I can't say no because I love strawberry ice cream. If I said, "only strawberry ice cream," then they might ask me more questions. If that happens, I'll get caught talking and get into more trouble. On top of that, I was just talking a long time about yes, and no, and ice cream. I'm not having a good day. I'll try again. To answer your question of why I got in trouble, it's because I was talking. (pause; claps hand over mouth; bounces on feet as though anxious to say something; finally releases hand and bursts out) But I didn't mean to!
It's Just a Movie
(as if watching a movie with a group of people)
This is a classic! I love this movie with all the monsters and creepy things waiting behind every door…Oh, sorry. I didn’t really give anything away but it’s scary, I’ll tell you that. (pause) Hand me some popcorn. (pause; flinches) Oh! (laughs) I forgot about that part. I jump every time!...(whispers) Sorry. (pause) Uh oh. The really scary part is coming up…(whispers) Sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. (jumps) OH! I can’t believe all that blood! Ewww! (short pause) Oh! Not again! Did you see that? I counted once and he’s bitten at least twenty times!...(whispers) Sorry. (Eyes widen steadily for several seconds) Oh, no. This is that part where--(says quickly) I’ll get everyone a pop! (quickly moves away from the “TV” area; hands are shaking; scared) Now I remember why I don’t watch that classic.​
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Marian Scadden, author of stage plays, fiction for young people, and other stuff