All actors must audition with one of the monologues below. If there isn’t a monologue for the part you are trying out for, just pick one from below that best illustrates what you think the character should be.

Monologues for Ladies

Aldonza: Female
(Entering and yelling back to someone outside the room) Stay out of my way, you hag, and if you touch me again I will tear your eyes out! I will not leave till I have seen him.(going to Don Quixote's bedside and seeing no sign of recognition) Don't you know me? I am Aldonza! (to the others in the room as if to plead her case) He knows! He must know... Please ... you are my lord, Don Quixote! Please - try to remember! (trying to find the words) It is important, everything....my whole life. You spoke to me and everything was...different!... You looked at me and you call me by another name! (remembering) You spoke of a dream and about a quest! About how you might fight and it doesn't matter whether you win or lose if only you follow the quest! They are your own words... don't you remember... you must remember.

Antonia: Female
Yes, I have heard. My dear uncle is the laughing-stock of the entire neighborhood. Please don't be mad, we must do something about him! There is a certain embarrassment at having a madman in the family. Oh Sanson. I had hoped for so much for us. For you, really. Everything was to be for you. My uncle's house... his lands... I mean, if one is to serve science, one must have the means. But maybe you can consider it a challenge. Think what cleverness it would take to wean my uncle from madness. To turn him from his course and persuade him to return home. Please we must hurry he can't have gotten far.

Monologues for Men

Cervantes: Male
I shall impersonate a man...come, enter into my imagination and see him! His name...Alonso Quijana... a country squire, no longer young. Bony, hollow-faced... eyes that burn with the fire of inner vision. Being retired, he has much time for books. He studies them from morn to night, and often through the night as well. And all he reads oppresses him, fills him with indignation at man's murderous ways toward man. He broods... and broods... and broods-and finally from so much brooding his brains dry up. He lays down the melancholy burden of sanity and conceives the strangest project ever imagined... to become a knight-errant and sally forth into the world to right all wrongs. No longer shall he be plain Alonso Quijana... but a dauntless knight known as Don Quixote de La Mancha !!!

Cervantes: Male
Imagine now the family our brave knight left behind! Not the lords and ladies and retainers of Don Quixote de la Mancha, but the simple womenfolk of a country squire known as Alonso Quijana. Imagine their shock as news of the master's madness reaches them! To his niece, Antonia - who is worried about its effect on her forthcoming marriage. To his housekeeper of many years - who is worried about even darker matters. To the local Padre who has known Alonso all of his life. (looking at the Duke) And shortly there will enter a character whose philosophy, I think, will appeal enormously...to you! (he slings a costume to the Duke) Alonso's niece and his housekeeper hurry to the neighborhood church. (to his Manservant) Sancho, may we have a church? Anguished by this terrible situation-and not unaware of what the neighbors may think-they seek help and advice from the Padre.

Sancho: Male
My lady, my master has sent me to present to you a missive, (seeing her confusion) it is a sort of letter. My master worned me to give it only into your hand (seeing her problem). No I can't read either. But my master, foreseeing such a possibility, recited it to me so I could commit it to heart. It is no dishonor My Lady, as he explained it, noblewomen are so busy with their needlework. Embroidering banners for their knights. He said they had no time for study. I know, I don't understand it either but I can tell you from experience that knights have their own language for everything, and it's better not to ask questions because it only gets you into trouble.

Dr Carrasco: Male
On my way here I was informed by at least ten people that your uncle is the laughing-stock of the entire neighborhood. Padre did you know Senor Quijana has lost his mind and is suffering from delusions. I'm a little more then concerned about my marriage to Antonia. There is a certain embarrassment at having a madman in the family. And I beg to remind you, Padre, that I am a doctor so please don't argue, when I say we must do something about him! I do not relish claiming a lunatic as uncle. Plus how do you know that this is a gentle delusion? By this time who knows what violence he has committed! He was armed! With sword and lance. We must turn him from his course and persuade him to return home. I must go after him.

Barber: Male
By the beard of St, Anthony-I could swear I see before me a knight in full armor! (a pause while he considers this) That's ridiculous! There aren't any knights. (DON QUIXOTE roars, raising his sword. The BARBER falls to his knees) I was wrongl Forgive me, Your Worship, I thought I'd been touched by the sun! Golden helmet? What "golden helmet?" (the BARBER realizes Quixote must mean the shaving basin. He takes it off and presents it) But this is a shaving basin. You see, I am a barber. A barber? (a couple of brief snips with his fingers, all to no avail. He continues, ever more desperate) I ply my trade from village to village, and I was wearing this on my head to ward off the rays of the sun, so that's how Your Highship made the mistake of ... What? Steal it? I didn't steal it! It cost me a half a crown! It is not gold and will not make you bold and brave.

Governor: Male
They call me The Governor. What's your game? (sees that he doesn't understand )Your specialty, man. Cutpurse? Highwayman? A .... Poet ... They're putting men in prison for that? (he moves toward Cervantes' belongings) Well then, let's get on with the trial (seeing Cervantes's suprise)Yours of course. It doesn't matter what you have done. We'll find something. You don't seem to understand my dear sir, no one enters or leaves this prison without being tried by his fellow prisoners. And if you're found guilty, you will be .... sentenced. We generally fine a prisoner all of his possessions. All of them. (looking at Cervantes with a sparkle in his eye) It's not practical to take more. (seeing a trunk full of props) I thought you said you were a poet... Oh... of the theatre. (taking a pile of papers from the trunk) and what of these, are they valuable? Oh only to you... well then we might let you ransom it. No money? How unfortunate! Well then... a trial. I hereby declare this court in session!