drama notebook monologues

This is a fantastic resource for Drama Notebook monologues. Drama Notebook is known for its extensive library of original, royalty-free scripts for kids and teens. Here are a few original monologues written in the style and spirit of Drama Notebook. They are designed for actors aged 1017, but can be adapted. For a Young Actor (Ages 10-12) Title: The Worlds Okayest Big Brother Character: LEO (10), speaking to his mom after his little sister broke his favorite video game. (Leo paces back and forth, holding a broken controller. He stops and takes a deep breath.) Im not mad. Im not. Im practicing being calm. Like a monk. Or a really, really boring librarian. See? (He tries to smile, it looks like a grimace). She didnt mean to throw it against the wall. She was trying to be a dinosaur. A flying dinosaur. And my controller it was the T-Rexs lunch. I get it. Logic. Solid logic for a six-year-old. But heres the thing, Mom. I dont want to be a good big brother. I want to be an okay big brother. A meh big brother. The kind who hides the last cookie and says I didnt see it. Being a good big brother is exhausting. You have to be patient. You have to build forts and then let her be the queen. You have to pretend you like her unicorn rain dance. But Im not that guy. Im the guy who wants to beat the final level. Im the guy who wants to eat the cookie. And Im the guy who is currently holding the corpse of my most prized possession. So. Am I going to yell at her? No. Im evolving from Good Big Brother to The Worlds Okayest Big Brother. Its a new species. Im just disappointed. Quietly. With my broken controller. And maybe a new one for my birthday. Hint. Hint. (He sighs, gives a weak smile, and walks away cradling the controller.) For a Teen Actor (Ages 13-15) Title: The Noise Character: MAYA (14), sitting alone in her bedroom. She stares at her phone. (She turns the phone over and over in her hands, then places it screen-down on the floor.) Listen. Do you hear that? Shhh. Listen harder. Its nothing. Its the sound of no one asking me a question. No one expecting a response. No one waiting for a heart emoji or a funny GIF or a confirmation that I saw their story. Its weird. I forgot what silence sounded like. I thought my brain had its own soundtracka constant loop of notifications and buzzes and the little ding that means someone, somewhere, is thinking about me. But this this is just the hum of my lava lamp. And my own breathing. It feels like being in a room where the air conditioning just turned off. Its too quiet. Its pressing in on my ears. Its making me itchy. (She reaches for the phone, then pulls her hand back.) No. Im doing an experiment. How long can I last? How long before the silence turns from scary to peaceful? Because right now it just feels like Im missing something. It feels like the world is having a party in my pocket and I forgot to RSVP. (Pause. She takes another deep breath.) Five more minutes. I bet I can do five more minutes. Then Im checking it. Who am I kidding? Ill check it in thirty seconds. (She lunges for the phone and picks it up, instantly relieved.) For a Solo or Audition Piece (Ages 15-17) Title: The Map Character: JAMAL (16), talking to a friend. He is holding a crinkled, old map. (He unfolds a giant, worn-out paper map, spreading it across a table. He smooths it out with reverence.) Youre laughing. I know youre laughing. A map. In the age of GPS. Its like showing up to a space battle with a slingshot. But look at this. See these creases? My dad folded this a thousand times on road trips. See this coffee stain? Thats from a diner in I dont know Ohio? Somewhere with corn. When I was little, the world was a glowing blue dot with a little red pin. That was my life. You tap the pin, a robot voice tells you where to go. In 500 feet, turn right. Thats not an adventure. Thats instructions. (He traces a route on the paper with his finger.) This map? It has mystery. There are mountains here that are just blobs. There are tiny roads that probably dont exist anymore. Theres a river here that I could fall in. I could get lost. I could get really lost. And thats the point, isnt it? To get lost? To take a wrong turn and find a diner where they know your name? This isnt a piece of paper. This is a challenge. Its saying, You dont know whats over here. Do you dare to find out? My GPS wants me to arrive. This map wants me to explore. So Im gonna go. Im gonna fold this thing up, throw it in my backpack, and Im just gonna pick a road. It might be a dead end. But itll be my dead end. (He folds the map with careful, deliberate movements, then looks up with a spark of excitement.) Wanna get lost with me? Tips for Performing a Drama Notebook Monologue: Find the Character's Want: Every monologue has a central need. Leo wants to be understood (and get a new controller). Maya wants to feel connected. Jamal wants to experience freedom. Use Your Body: Drama Notebook scripts are very physical. Leo paces and grimaces. Maya's stillness speaks volumes. Jamal interacts with a prop. Don't just stand theredo the actions. Play the Subtext: What is the character not saying? Maya is lonely but won't admit it. Jamal is scared of following the same path as everyone else, so he glorifies the map. Find the deeper meaning. Make it Your Own: Drama Notebook monologues are a springboard. Change a word, add a pause, and find the rhythm that feels natural to you. The best performance comes from a place of personal truth.