Monologue: High School Age Male, Strategic Chaos Agent Type

This is a monologue from CORONATION by Peter Fenton for the role of DAN. CORONATION is a dark satirical teen comedy play that saw its amateur premiere at Newtown Arts Company in 2024. This copyrighted monologue is free for use in audition and educational settings. The full play can be read on New Play Exchange or read a sample on this website.  © 2024 by Peter Fenton. All rights reserved.

About the Character:

DAN PARK (17/Male/Korean) - Lead Role. The witty, wounded director of the morning announcements. Resents being overlooked and wants to prove how shallow his school is. On the short and skinny side. While DAN is written as a Korean-American boy, this monologue may be used by any young actor it resonates with.

About the Play:

A story of power, privilege, and visibility disguised as a teen comedy. When cornered by the no-nonsense guidance counselor, a charming but overlooked high school senior tells the story of how he hatched a scheme to manipulate the vote for Homecoming Queen in favor of his big-hearted longshot friend to settle a years-long grudge. His plan went horribly right.

Dan has a seat opposite Mrs. Lowry.

A pause.

MRS. LOWRY

I’m sorry, Dan.

Another pause.

DAN

You know what’s funny, though?

We all got bigger, but nobody changed.

Every single person at this school has spent the last twelve years pretending I don’t exist. But all of a sudden now they want me to play their stupid games by their stupid rules? But only when they want me to?

Expect me to join in ‘cause all I’ve ever wanted was to get a chance to play? No.

High school is nothing more than a contest of who figured out the rules first. And that game was won by recess on the first day of kindergarten. If they’re gonna overlook me, fine.

Let them.

‘Cause this town, this country, it’s built for people like them, right? Perfect golden boy. Bubbly cheerleader. Brainy ice queen. They think that gives them the right to put me in my place, but they got another thing coming. They didn’t see Maria coming and they sure as hell won’t see me. I wrapped ‘em all around my finger. By the time anyone notices, it’ll be too late. They may be the stars, but I’m the director. And I’m the one calling the shots.

***

That's the end of the excerpt! If you want to read more from this play, go over to the plays page on this website. If you want to check out more monologues by Peter Fenton, there are a few on the blog.

Want to use it in an audition or in a classroom setting?

Be my guest! This material is free to use for those settings only. While I'd love to know that you resonated enough with my words to use it as part of your audition or class, you do not need to ask me permission. All I ask is that you credit me as the author and the play that it came from.

Want to perform it publicly or use it in a different way?

Please contact me and explain your situation. We'll come up with an agreement that makes sense and is fair to us both.