Monologues – For Teenagers
Dreaming of going viral on socials to segue into a career performing or simply keen to play the lead in your high school drama production? No matter your acting dreams, choosing the right monologue as a teenager can be a challenge.
It’s essential to choose a winning monologue that is not only age-appropriate but also ticks the boxes for being compelling, boundary-pushing and emotionally relevant. No idea where to begin? We’ve got you. Here are 8 fantastic teenage monologues that are sure to have you standing out for all the right reasons on stage, socials or the big screen.
Dramatic Monologues For Teens
Angsty, emotional and relatable, these dramatic monologues allow you to show off your ability to connect with the material and audience on a deeper level without being too serious for your age.
10 Things I Hate About You
Katarina “Kat” Stratford:
‘I hate the way you talk to me and the way you cut your hair. I hate the way you drive my car. I hate it when you stare; I hate your big dumb combat boots and the way you read my mind. I hate you so much it makes me sick; it even makes me rhyme. I hate the way you’re always right. I hate it when you lie. I hate it when you make me laugh, even worse when you make me cry. I hate it that you’re not around. And the fact that you didn’t call. But mostly I hate the way I don’t hate you, not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all.’
Ready Player One
Art3mis:
‘This isn’t a game, Z. I’m doing this to stop IOI. I’m talking about real-world consequences. People suffering. Actual life-and-death stuff. No, you don’t know! My dad is in a loyalty centre. He borrowed gear. He built debt. He moved in with the promise of working it off, but he never did. IOI just raised his living expenses, then he got sick and he couldn’t afford to get out. And then he died! No, you don’t live in the real world, Z. From what you have told me I don’t think you ever have. You live inside this…illusion, and I can’t afford to let you distract me.’
Comedic Monologues For Teens
Clever and funny, but often reflecting a lack of maturity, the best comedic teen monologues perfectly balance drama with the enthusiasm and naivety of being a teenager.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Ferris Bueller:
‘The key to faking out the parents is the clammy hands. It’s a good non-specific symptom. A lot of people will tell you that a phoney fever is a deadlock, but if you get a nervous mother, you could land in the doctor’s office. That’s worse than school. What you do is, you fake a stomach cramp, and when you’re bent over, moaning and wailing, (confidently) you lick your palms. It’s a little childish and stupid, but then, so is high school.
I did have a test today. That wasn’t bullshit. It’s on European socialism. I mean, really, what’s the point? I’m not European, I don’t plan on being European, so who gives a crap if they’re socialist? They could be fascist anarchists – that still wouldn’t change the fact that I don’t own a car. Not that I condone fascism, or any ism for that matter. Isms in my opinion are not good. A person should not believe in an ism – he should believe in himself. I quote John Lennon: “I don’t believe in Beatles – I just believe in me.” A good point there. Of course, he was the Walrus. I could be the Walrus – I’d still have to bum rides off of people.’
Almost 16
15 year old girl:
‘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 licence ….
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 3 hours. Right before mom gets back.
Please, Dad. My life depends on it.’
Contemporary Monologues For Teens
These coming-of-age monologues are both endearing and powerful, making for a good contemporary or dramatic monologue option for teens.
Stargirl
Stargirl:
I don’t know why I do a lot of things lately. I bet you find that too, right? And it’s because we don’t think. We just do. We don’t take a step back and process. Everything’s so instant these days. How can we? Dinner in minutes. A thousand photographs in one burst. You have to “like” something this second. You have to know how you feel about everything. You can’t be unsure or confused or change your mind. There’s no time to figure out who you are. You have to know right now.
Have you ever seen a flower grow? I mean, of course not. It’s nearly impossible to wait for anything that takes that long. But if you did, it would change you. It would slow you down. It would remind you that real things take time. And it’s magic, too, isn’t it? I mean so are 1,000 photographs in one burst. But a flower. You plant a seed in the ground and a whole world develops and stretches out and opens up.
It’s easy to get confused when we’re moving so fast and to think we’re doing the right thing when really we’re not. But if we’re lucky we could find a balance. We could take a step back. We could take a breath. The next time that you see a flower sticking up out of the ground or in a vase, just remember that part of what makes it beautiful is how long it took to grow.
The Perks Of Being A Wallflower (Film)
Charlie:
I don’t know if I will have the time to write anymore letters
because I might be too busy trying to participate.
So if this does end up being the last letter,
I just want you to know that I was in a bad place before I started high school
and you helped me.
Even if you didn’t know what I was talking about
or know someone who’s gone through it.
You made me not feel alone.
Because I know there are people who say all these things don’t happen.
And there are people who forget what it’s like to be sixteen when they turn seventeen.
And know these will all be stories someday
and our pictures will become old photographs
and we’ll all become somebody’s mom or dad.
But right now these moments are not stories.
This is happening.
I am here and I am looking at her
and she is so beautiful.
I can see it.
This one moment when you know you’re not a sad story,
you are alive.
And you stand up and see the lights on buildings
and everything that makes you wonder,
when you were listening to that song
on that drive with the people you love most in this world.
And in this moment, I swear, we are infinite.
Shakespeare Monologues For Teens
For teens who desire to stretch their skills and delve into the classics of Shakespearean theatre, these monologues from lovelorn Juliet and Bassanio are ideal.
Romeo and Juliet
Juliet:
‘Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?
Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name,
When I, thy three hours’ wife, have mangled it?
But wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin?
That villain cousin would have killed my husband.
Back, foolish tears, back to your native spring.
Your tributary drops belong to woe,
Which you, mistaking, offer up to joy.
My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain,
And Tybalt’s dead, that would have slain my husband.
All this is comfort. Wherefore weep I then?
Some word there was, worser than Tybalt’s death,
That murdered me. I would forget it fain,
But oh, it presses to my celebration,
Like damnèd guilty deeds to sinners’ minds.
“Tybalt is dead, and Romeo banishèd.’
The Merchant Of Venice
Bassanio:
‘O sweet Portia,
Here are a few of the unpleasant’st words
That ever blotted paper! Gentle lady,
When I did first impart my love to you,
I freely told you, all the wealth I had
Ran in my veins, I was a gentleman;
And then I told you true: and yet, dear lady,
Rating myself at nothing, you shall see
How much I was a braggart. When I told you
My state was nothing, I should then have told you
That I was worse than nothing; for, indeed,
I have engaged myself to a dear friend,
Engaged my friend to his mere enemy,
To feed my means. Here is a letter, lady;
The paper as the body of my friend,
And every word in it a gaping wound,
Issuing life-blood. But is it true, Salerio?
Have all his ventures fail’d? What, not one hit?
From Tripolis, from Mexico and England,
From Lisbon, Barbary and India?
And not one vessel ‘scape the dreadful touch
Of merchant-marring rocks?’
Haven’t found the ideal monologue? Try browsing our broader collection in our Monologue Library. Good Luck!
Billy Milionis is one of the few Australians to have ever studied under the legendary master teacher, the late Sanford Meisner. Billy has also studied story structure and scene analysis techniques with John Truby and later at UCLA. He has also spent several years doing improvisation in Hollywood with the L.A. Connection. In addition, he trained in the technique of Stella Adler, Practical Aesthetics and Lee Strasberg’s method.