Finding a Shakespearean Monologue
You will select one Shakespearian monologue to study and perform for class. This should be from a work that you have not worked on previously, or currently, for another project or class. And please stay away from the hackneyed, overused monologues (To be or not to be...But soft, what light through yonder window breaks).
Once you have chosen your monologue, tell me before you begin working on it. You will need to know play name, character name, act, scene, and line numbers.
***If you want to compete in the school competition and have a shot at moving on to the branch & national competition, you MUST choose a monologue from the ESU's approved list.***
Click here for the approved monologue list
***To compete at the branch competition (or higher), you must also prepare and present a Shakespearean sonnet from the ESU approved list.
Click here for the approved sonnet list.
The winners of the in class competition will receive an invitation to compete in the school competition in the spring, and the winner of the school competition will continue on to compete in the branch competition. The winner of the branch competition will receive a free trip to compete at the national level in New York City.
To choose possible monologues:
*http://www.shakespeare-monologues.org/
*http://www.monologuearchive.com/s/shakespeare_william.html
*https://www.esuus.org/esu/programs/shakespeare_competition/about/forstudents/selections/
(for this one, scroll down the page to find 'suggested monologues list)
PLEASE NOTE These websites are only suggestions to get you started, look around to find a suitable monologue for yourself. Just google ‘Shakespeare Monologues’ as well.
*To access the full plays, open http://www.folgerdigitaltexts.org/
The maximum number of lines allowed is 20 (verse or prose). For the class project, the minimum allowed is 14.
These monologues will be graded on the basics of monologue work (projection, diction, physicalization, characterization).
A few notes from the ESU website:
Students should speak naturally. We urge them to use their own voice rather than affect a British accent. (no accents will be allowed for the class project)
Students should not wear costumes or use props of any kinds; including chairs, hair clips, jewelry, hats or any other added costume pieces (basic daily clothing, nothing that gets in the way of acting).
You should identify the selection before you begin. You may perform your pieces in any order you prefer.
To access the ESU’s website:
http://www.esuus.org/esu/programs/shakespeare_competition/
Once you have chosen your monologue, tell me before you begin working on it. You will need to know play name, character name, act, scene, and line numbers.
***If you want to compete in the school competition and have a shot at moving on to the branch & national competition, you MUST choose a monologue from the ESU's approved list.***
Click here for the approved monologue list
***To compete at the branch competition (or higher), you must also prepare and present a Shakespearean sonnet from the ESU approved list.
Click here for the approved sonnet list.
The winners of the in class competition will receive an invitation to compete in the school competition in the spring, and the winner of the school competition will continue on to compete in the branch competition. The winner of the branch competition will receive a free trip to compete at the national level in New York City.
To choose possible monologues:
*http://www.shakespeare-monologues.org/
*http://www.monologuearchive.com/s/shakespeare_william.html
*https://www.esuus.org/esu/programs/shakespeare_competition/about/forstudents/selections/
(for this one, scroll down the page to find 'suggested monologues list)
PLEASE NOTE These websites are only suggestions to get you started, look around to find a suitable monologue for yourself. Just google ‘Shakespeare Monologues’ as well.
*To access the full plays, open http://www.folgerdigitaltexts.org/
The maximum number of lines allowed is 20 (verse or prose). For the class project, the minimum allowed is 14.
These monologues will be graded on the basics of monologue work (projection, diction, physicalization, characterization).
A few notes from the ESU website:
Students should speak naturally. We urge them to use their own voice rather than affect a British accent. (no accents will be allowed for the class project)
Students should not wear costumes or use props of any kinds; including chairs, hair clips, jewelry, hats or any other added costume pieces (basic daily clothing, nothing that gets in the way of acting).
You should identify the selection before you begin. You may perform your pieces in any order you prefer.
To access the ESU’s website:
http://www.esuus.org/esu/programs/shakespeare_competition/