note cards

Computer files

Manila or colored folders

Photocopies from books and other sources

Sticky notes placed in books and other sources

Date of birth

Place of birth

Places lived

Names of friends and family

Major events and experiences in his/her life

Basic feelings and beliefs

Date of death

Autobiography

Journals

Letters

Diaries

Biographies

Internet

Film/video/photographs (memory.loc.gov or cdpheritage.org)

Newspapers from the time (cdpheritage.org/newspapers)

Who were the leaders of the time?

What major events happened during the character’s life?

What were people’s day-to-day lives like?

How were transportation and communication handled?

Were there major scientific discoveries during the period?

What were the major ideas of the period?

How did people react to the character?

Recreate the character’s experiences through stories.

Choose stories to reflect the character.

Emphasize events important to the character.

Create suspense.

Use surprise or the unexpected.

Use lots of sensory details.

Recreate discussions between the character and other figures from the time.

Start with an attention getting event or thought, not at the beginning of the character’s life.

Tell the audience things that you or the character would like them to know.

Think of questions you want the audience to ask. 

Set up ideas and issues that may raise those questions.

Choose the point of time in the life of the character when the monologue is taking place.

Choose stories that are important and relate to the reason your character is famous.

Speak only of those things your character would know about.

Learn to adapt the monologue to different audiences.

Have a strong ending.

Be comfortable with the monologue.

Speak slowly.

Enunciate clearly.

Speak loudly.

Avoid using words such as uh, you know, like, ummm.

Look at the audience.

Shift your attention from place to place within the audience.

Use hands to help create emotion or to show action, but don’t allow your hands to wander; place them at your sides or behind your back.  NOT IN YOUR POCKETS.

A prop or two can be handy to create a stronger stage presence.

Don’t walk around or shuffle your feet unless it is done to express an emotion or action.

Use facial expressions and different tones of voice to express emotion.

Learn to think and feel the way the character did.

Know what the character cared about and thought about.

Find out how the character felt about each of the stories you are using in the monologue.

Work around questions you don’t know by talking about things that are related or by telling the audience that the information is private.

Never make up the answer if you don’t know; just say “I don’t know” if you must.

Be careful not to take too long to answer; you don’t want to take up too much time.

Don’t answer questions with just “yes” or “no;” give the audience a little information about the character’s feelings on that topic.

Consider your audience when brushing up on information for questions.

When answering questions as a scholar, answer the question as fully as possible.

Practice telling the stories.

Practice different versions and lengths of your monologues.

Audio and videotaping yourself can give you more information on how you perform.

Imagine yourself as an audience member to help picture your performance.

Ask for specific feedback when performing for friends and family, so they know what to look for.

Avoid memorizing; memorizing makes it harder to remember where you are if you make a mistake.

Find photographs and paintings of the characters, or books about how people dressed during that time period. www.memory.loc.gov or www.cdpheritage.org

Look for clothing in parents’ and grandparents’ attics and closets.

Adapt Halloween costumes.

Ask costume shops and community theaters about rentals, though this could be expensive over multiple performances.

Check thrift stores or have costumes sewn.

Avoid clothing that is heavy and hot for summer performances and performances under lights.

Get basic information about the event and location, such as the setup or size and age of audience.

Ask the emcee to introduce the character first and to help during the question and answer period. If there is no emcee provided, ask a parent, teacher, or workshop leader, or be prepared to take care of it yourself.

Be prepared for anything! Expect small or large changes to occur, and then you’ll be ready for them.

Let other community organizations know that you are able to perform the character.