Break the Rules and Get the Part: Thirty Monologues for Women (Applause Acting Series)

I was pretty sure that these rules I could 'break' would be things I already knew, but that wasn't the case at all (and I was very impressed). The author gives out incredible advice in the tone of your favorite professor (so it's a fun, easy read), the monologues are GOOD (why are so many in other books so bad?), and the helpful direction is exactly that (but like, exceedingly helpful). My biggest takeaway by far is that a monologue is used to showcase ME, the actor, and not the writer, and I love how she's completely changed my way of thinking on "serving the text." (Break the rule!) I really wish I had this in high school, but I have it now, and I also love how the author showed me how the monologues can grow with me (so it's all ages). Highly, highly recommend. (I literally came back here to buy another copy for my BFF in New York as a gift.) (Also, I apparently really love parentheses. Whatever. Get the book. Totally worth it.)

This book has some great advice on how to make any monologue your own, and all the monologues included are very well written. Each one can be performed by a hundred different people in a hundred different ways, and nothing is better than having options with your choice monologue. Also most, if not all the monologues, can be slightly altered to fit your situation best-which is very invaluable for most actors.

This book is incredible. It was really helpful to hear where the author was coming from and gave me insight I didn't even know I was missing! The funny parts are funny and the dramatic monologues really spoke to me. It's also so refreshing to be able to audition with some fresh material and I think it helped me stand out from others using the typical pieces over and over again!

Having coached kids and teens for many years, finding a good monologue is very important. There are almost no auditions which would allow a monologue from a monologue book. A monologue from a published play is always required. (Especially for college, and you had better have read the play) This book, might be good for students who really are not that serious, nor do they want to pursue professionally or for college. Because there is no play, there's no character, which I guess can be ok for beginners, although these are not really for beginners. My students are pretty advanced, therefore I can't find anything I want in this book.

Lots of great options from comedy to drama to dramedy. My favorite thing about this book is the stage directions, where Lira does the work of breaking it all down for you and gives you various ways to deliver each monologue while remaining true to yourself. So smart.

Why did a guy buy a book of monologues for women? Good question. (1) I love having reference books for any situation. I love having a book that I can give to a friend in case she's looking for a new monologue that hasn't been done to death. (2) I like being stretched as a performer. First of all, most of these monologues can be played by anyone (and that's part of the whole purpose of the book). Secondly, they're so well-written that no casting director or agent is going to think "Wait, is that dude doing a monologue from a book written for women?" So now I have more monologues that I can use when the situation arises. I love this book!

Beat by beat these monologues hit home to me. I am working on one now and ca't wait to try it out. Love the comedy section.

I had read that some of them were on the short side. Every single monologue is waaaay too short. The comedic monologues are not funny. Some of these monologues are less than a 1/4 page long. Literally 7 sentences. Save your money, there is not a single thing that is useable. Not even for beginners.

It's ok

Good monologues and helpful direction