I ordered a playscript from you, through PayPal. Where is it?

This is the question I get the most. When you order a script by Kellie Powell or Josh Weckesser, your order is e-mailed to the webmaster. She usually sends you your PDF within 12 hours, because she tends to check her e-mail obsessively. Keep checking your e-mail - and make sure to check your Spam Folder! We do not mail hard copies of the scripts. PayPal may ask for your mailing address, but we do not use it.

If 24 hours have gone by, and you still haven't gotten your PDF, feel free to e-mail.

Why did the Database get smaller all of a sudden? Why were some monologues removed?

The position of the Monologue Database used to be that posting monologues (excerpts) from plays on this site was a fair use of those plays. Because monologues are performed frequently at auditions and in drama classes, without needing the permission of the publisher or playwright, and because excerpts from plays and books are frequently published online (i.e. by Google Books), and because monologues are frequently collected and published as anthologies for students and actors, I believed that posting monologues online was allowed. But then, the Dramatist Guild threatened to sue me.

Because I didn't have money for a lawyer, I removed all published content. Hopefully, I will work out a way to get permission from some of the playwrights and publishers so that some of the old content can return - this is the purpose of the Wish List. I cannot post excerpts from those plays without permission, but I can list the titles and playwrights so that interested parties can buy their own copy (or find it somewhere else, like a local library).

Meanwhile, I am now encouraging playwrights to submit new work to the database. Hopefully, this will be a great way for actors to find new monologues - instead of old and over-used pieces - and a valuable way for emerging playwrights to promote their work.

How do I find a monologue?

You can browse through the list of monologues, clicking randomly, until you find something you like and identify with. Or, you can search for keywords, play titles, or playwrights using our site-specific Google search:

Search the Monologue Database

If you are looking for a specific category of monologues, we have lists for that:

Monologues for Young Women:

• Elizabeth, Maria Theresa, Wanda and Colleen, ages 7-13, Catholic Schoolgirls by Casey Kurtti
• Scarlet, 12, Coyote Ugly by Lynn Siefert
• Jane, 15, Like We Wasn't People by Chelsea Peluso
• Doreen, 15, The Dianalogues by Laurel Haines
• Amy, 16, And Turning, Stay by Kellie Powell
• Angela, 16, Just Looking by Kellie Powell
• Kim, 16, The Absence of Gray Matter by Josh Weckesser
• Echo, 16, Eleemosynary by Lee Blessing
• Marvel Ann, 17, Psycho Beach Party by Charles Busch
• Joan, 18, Spilled Milk by Kellie Powell
• Grace, FOB by David Henry Hwang
• Kim, 20, Collaboration by Kellie Powell
• Nell, 22, Like Dreaming, Backwards by Kellie Powell
• Dogface, 23, Dogface by Kellie Powell
• Robin, 24, Sophistry by Jonathan Marc Sherman

Monologues for Young Men:

• Seth, 16, That Was Then by Kellie Powell
• Tim, 17, It Came From Texas by Josh Weckesser
• Thomas, 18, Gray Matter by Josh Weckesser
• Josh, 18, Bang Bang You're Dead by William Mastrosimone
• Vincent, 18, Remedial English by Evan Smith
• Tod, 18, Life and Limb by Keith Reddin
• Yale, 20, Like Dreaming, Backwards by Kellie Powell
• Shane, 22, Collaboration by Kellie Powell
• Ex, Willy, Igor, and Jack, 22-24, Sophistry by Jonathan Marc Sherman
• Jedadiah, 24, The Laramie Project by Moises Kaufman et al.

GLTBQ Monologues:

• Seth, 16, That Was Then by Kellie Powell
• Laura, 20s, Connecting Flight by Tony Yajko
• Mike, Identity by Nick Linnehan
• Cathy or Jared, Everybody Else (is fucking perfect) by Karen Jeynes
• Vincent, 18, Remedial English by Evan Smith
• Matthew, Patient A by Lee Blessing
• Peter or Drew, Eastern Standard by Richard Greenberg
• Nessa, A Weekend Near Madison by Kathleen Tolan
• Callie, Stop Kiss by Diana Son
• Multiple Characters, The Laramie Project by Moises Kaufman et al.
• Multiple Characters, Angels in America by Tony Kushner
• Multiple Characters, A Quite End by Robin Swados

Monologues About Mental Illness:

• Jane, 15, Like We Wasn't People by Chelsea Peluso
• Nell, 22, Like Dreaming, Backwards by Kellie Powell
• Jessie, 25, Your Money's Worth by Kellie Powell
• Anne, The Psychic Life of Savages by Amy Freed
• Lili, The American Plan by Richard Greenberg
• Madeline, The Fall of the House of Usher by Gippe Hoppe
• Harper, Angels in America by Tony Kushner

Got a suggestion? Is there a category that you would like us to create? Send an e-mail.

Which monologues are from published plays?

For the most part, monologues labeled "original monologues," are not formally published. Plays which can be purchased from the writer as PDF's can be considered digitally self-published, but probably not formally published. Typically, if a play is not available for purchase from anyone but the playwright, it is not a formally published piece. If it's available to buy on Amazon, it is probably the property of a dramatic publishing company.

Different publishers have different policies about what they consider fair use of work that falls under their copyright, and may restrict who can publish excerpts of their work - or who can perform those excerpts without permission. The Monologue Database recommends contacting the playwright or publisher who owns the monologue you wish to perform, to make sure that you are not violating any copyrights. It is very important to give playwrights credit for their work.

Where can I find a monologue from a published play?

The first place to start is, if you've been in any plays before, you can start with those scripts. Why memorize a new monologue if you already have one prepared from an old role?

You can also go to your local library, find the theatre/drama section, and just look through scripts. They might have monologue anthologies you can check out, or you might just stumble across a great play. For some ideas, you can check our Wish List.

If your library doesn't have much of a selection, you can always buy a monologue anthology from a bookstore, or online. Some good ones are:

• Moving Parts (ed. by Nina Shengold)
• The Theatre Audition Book (ed. by Gerald Lee Ratliff)
• Monologues for Women, by Women (ed. Tori Haring-Smith)

You can also try looking for monologues at other websites. Here are a few:

• Actor Point (variety)
• Monologue Archive (public domain)
• Monologue Search (public domain)
• Theatre History Archive (public domain)
• G.L. Horton's Free Monologues for Actors (original)
• Killer Audition Monologues (original)

Do you have a monologue site that you would like on this list? Just e-mail. Typically, we'll link to you if you'll link to us.

What are the Terms of Use for monologues by Kellie Powell?

You may perform a monologue or excerpt from one of my plays as long as you do not receive money for the performance. You are free to use any of my monologues for auditions, theatre courses, talent shows, open mics, etc. You do not need to ask my permission for any of these situations, but you do need to state what play the monologue is from, and who wrote it. It is never acceptable to plagiarize, or pass off another person's writing as your own.

If you wish to perform a monologue, or any portion of any of my plays commercially (meaning for money), you must obtain permission first, and negotiate a reasonable fee.

You may copy and repost the text of my monologues to other sites which list monologues, or to personal blogs or websites, as long as you include the title of the play, my name, and a link to:
http://www.notmyshoes.net

If you make a video of yourself performing one of my monologues, and post it online, please send me a copy, or the URL where it is posted. Please provide the play title, my name, and a link to my site in the video's description.

When an actor memorizes a monologue and performs it, they may forget a line, or rearrange some words. This is understandable and hard to avoid. If an actor wants to perform only a portion of a monologue, or wants to combine two monologues into one, this is also acceptable. However, substantial re-writing is not permitted. If you don't like a monologue enough to perform it as is, you should probably find a different one.

If you are a male and like a monologue written for a female, or vice versa, feel free to perform it. Age, gender, race, etc. should never get in the way. Feel free to change pronouns if you like. (I have a different policy when staging full productions, which is that I will allow gender-blind casting only with specific permission.)

If you are interested in staging a production of one of my plays, get in touch with me, or fill out the Performance Rights Request Form located at the end of my scripts. We will negotiate a fair price based on the size of your theatre group, the age of the participants, how many audience members are expected, and how much is charged for admission.

Where can I find advice about choosing, preparing, and performing a monologue?

These are a couple of places to start:

• Monologue Basics
• Top Monologue Mistakes - and Solutions
• Movement Tips for Monologues (video)
• Is Your Monologue Overdone?
• Industry Tips

How do I submit a monologue I wrote to the Database?

Please read our submission guidelines.

What if I just want to recommend a play for the Wish List?

Just send as much information as you have to kellsbells@gmail.com

How do I sign up to receive notifications when new monologues are posted?

We have an e-mail announcement list run through Google Groups.

How do I contact the webmaster?

Kellie Powell's e-mail address is: kellsbells@gmail.com

I think you're awesome. What should I do about that?

You can buy my plays. You can become my fan on The Facebook. And if you really love me, you can buy me presents from my Amazon Wish List.