Believe it or not, it works! I turned off the lights and when I did my monologue, my concentration level was higher and I breezed right through it. Avant garde and unorthodox method, but it worked for me! Try it.

While I am sure it worked for you, I don't think it would work for me. I like to rehearse in front of the mirror and be able to move around easily to concentrate on my movement. However, I am glad you found something that works for you.

I go to sleep. I use the usual mnemonics, triggers, and actions to start with but I can beat a passage to death and it won't lock in. If I go to sleep, even a fifteen minute nap, when I wake up, it's there. I've even worked on memorizing something in the car, pulled over in a rest area, napped, and woken up to find it ready. Weird, I know, but we all know what works for us!

I once had an acting coach who recommended doing your monologues under ALL kinds of conditions. In the dark, outside, inside, etc. He believed that would help you avoid going up in the room.

I'm with Joe. I always have to sleep to memorize.