The best way to find monologues is by seeing more theater. However, with time, cost, and geographic constraints, that may not be accessible to every actor. Reading plays is just as helpful!

Here are some places to find and discover plays and thus new monologues!

1. Keep up with theatrical publishing companies and their new publications.

The major play publications come from Concord Theatricals, Dramatists, TCG Books, Playscripts, Stage Rights, and Dramatic Publishing. Oftentimes, they keep a collection on their website with new publications that you can keep an eye on and skim for character breakdowns or themes of interest to you.

Ex: Concord Theatricals’ New Publications Page, HERE

Dramatists’ New Releases, HERE

1. Visit New Play Databases

New Play Exchange is a database of new and contemporary works created by the National New Play Network. A basic subscription is only $7/year and allows you to read any play posted by its playwright. This is much more affordable than purchasing from the theatrical publishing companies, but these are often still plays in early stages of development. Still, it’s a great place to find lesser-known monologues! You can filter searches based on character type, themes, or title and read to your heart’s content. On the homepage, there is a rotating feature of collections, often based around a single theme that can lead you toward plays of interest.

Similarly, New Dramatists hosts a plethora of new plays, some also unpublished. For a small donation, their staff can make copies and even send them electronically outside of NYC.

1. Utilize Free Resources like libraries and the public domain

Libraries are the most affordable resource for finding monologues, but they do tend to have a limited selection. Ask your local librarian for assistance or search for tags such as “dramas” or “plays” to help locate these materials. I’ve read Amy Herzog’s Mary Jane and countless older dramas such as Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s The Visit from library resources! Your local library or archive.org are two great places to start.

Many classical works, such as Shakespeare, Greek tragedies, and even more obscure yet brilliant plays like Aphra Behn’s The Rover are old enough to exist in the public domain, meaning you can access them in their entirety after a quick search! The M.I.T. Shakespeare collection is a great example of online access to plays. Click HERE to access.

1. Online Resources

In the age of technology, there are great resources for monologue hunting. Here are a few.

For the classical monologue, check out this database of Shakespeare’s monologues: https://www.shakespeare-monologues.org/home

For the contemporary monologue, check out Concord Theatrical’s Breaking Character. They often feature collections based on types of characters or plays like the following: https://www.breakingcharacter.com/home/2022/3/01/folktales-featuring-women

Interviews with Playwrights, like Adam Symkowicz’s Blog

(http://aszym.blogspot.com/2017/09/1000-playwright-interviews.html)

Happy Reading!