10 Monologues for Any Gender
Written by: Amanda Grace
July 28, 2020
The gender binary is reductive, boring, and restrictive- in short, so two-thousand-and-lame. Whether you’re a nonbinary actor or a performer looking to gender-bend with more freedom, one of these pieces —written with multiple genders in mind—might just be right.
A monologue from Anything by Alex Kump
(Any Gender, Dramatic, Adults 30-40s, Young Adults 20s)
As snow begins to fall in the middle of July, four lonesome people search for something more than just a casual sexual encounter. In this scene, one of the characters describes their past of falling in love with three different people: first, with a boy in second grade; then with a boy with whom they shared their first sexual encounter at 16; and finally with a female barista who may or may not have returned their affections.
A monologue from Dear Chuck by Jonathan Dorf
(Any Gender, Dramatic, College 18-22, High School 14-18)
Through Dorf’s series of scenes and monologues, we meet an eclectic group of teenagers who all share in the search for their “Chuck”—that elusive moment of knowing who you are. In this speech, a child of divorce reminisces about a now-absent dad and the breakfasts they shared.
A monologue from Turtle Soup by Rosary O’Neill
(Any Gender, Serio-Comic, Mature 50s)
April 1st, New Orleans: An old invalid guffaws an about a joke being played on All Fools Day whilst speaking to a plain girl—the current heir of the family inheritance—from their sickbed after a tirade over turtle soup.
A monologue, I Am a Shark by Tara Meddaugh
(Any Gender, Dramatic, College 18-22, High School 14-18)
Jamie is at the beach, standing on the hot sand, imagining they are a shark. Like a shark, Jamie feels no pain; their skin is hard and tough. When other children run by them, knock them down, call Jamie names, they remember—their skin is tough, they feel nothing. They are a shark.
A monologue from Drowning in Quicksand by Debbie Lamedman
(Any Gender, Dramatic, High School 14-18)
This intense one-act play explores the stress, stigma, and devastation of taking one’s own life by examining several different high school students who all experience some form of depression or anxiety, from mild forms of sadness to suicidal tendencies. This particular teenager expresses all the reasons why they are overwhelmed by life.
A monologue from The Stalking Horse by Ed Shockley
(Any Gender, Dramatic, Mature 50s)
Mkuu, great hunter and village leader, is dying. Upepo, the heir apparent, uses intimidation and deception to ensure that he assumes the throne and wins the village beauty. In this speech, a witch approaches Upepo and Mbili in their village’s pastures, identifying as a thirsty traveler and asking for milk. Upepo denies her any milk unless she has something to barter; in her old age, all she has to offer is a story…
A monologue, Ocean by Douglas M. Parker
(Any Gender, Dramatic, High School 14-18, Kids & Juniors 5-13)
A kid is talking about a particular image from their biology book—the world once started with water, and small organisms turned into bigger organisms turned into different organisms and so on—they connect this to another image of a pregnant woman. The child begins comparing this to the comfort they felt thinking back to a time when all the world was contained in such a small womb.
A monologue, Dad’s Best Friend by R. J. Ryland
(Any Gender, Dramatic, Kids & Juniors 5-13)
A child begins talking about their relationship with the family dog. The dog is mean to them. However, the scene turns into a sad reflection. Now that their mother is dead, the child doesn’t get as much love from their father. Instead, the father prefers to dote on the dog.
A monologue from Snowflakes by Debbie Lamedman
(Any Gender, Dramatic, College 18-22, High School 14-18)
Taylor is one of the theatrical documentary subjects depicting a range of characters on the autism spectrum. Here, Taylor speaks to Suzanna, making little to no eye contact as they are focused intently on their stack of toys.
A monologue, Buddy by Tara Meddaugh
(Any Gender, Dramatic, Mature 50s, Adults 30-40s, Young Adults 20s)
Cali, the parent of a young boy, has gruesomely murdered a few men who seemed to be endangering their son, Buddy. Now, Cali implores their son to remember them as a good parent, who loves him and would protect him, as police sirens are heard in the distance.