In this thoughtfully curated collection, actors preparing for an audition or searching for quality scenes to hone their chops will find a wealth of contemporary material from American and British plays. Almost all of the works are from the year 2000 to the recent 2014 Broadway production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, chosen from the point of view of a professional acting teacher, director, and casting director.

Along with covering the basics of how to match the best monologue to the actor and how to approach the rehearsal and performance of a piece, the book provides a synopsis of the plays, character descriptions, and lists of questions specific to each monologue that will direct the actor toward shaping a complex, honest, and thoughtful performance with a strong emotional connection, a clear arc, and playable actions. There is also a brief lesson on appropriate rehearsal behavior and preparation.