Hi! I’m auditioning for colleges soon and I want to do Tonya’s monologue from King Hedley II. She is thirty five and in the monologue, she explains why she doesnt want to bring another baby in the world. I was wondering if it’s too inappropriate to do or if its okay to do it. Thank you!
Glad you found the drama forum. I hope others will chime in with better input, but I will give you info I know.
Auditors generally say to do monologues that are age appropriate. 35 years old may or may not work - decide if you feel you can play the part of someone with her life experiences at your age. Is the character matronly or youthful? The content should be fine. It doesn’t sound inappropriate from what you said. I don’t know the monologue though.
There are posts on this forum and also the musical theater forum about choosing monologues.
Additionally, many college theater websites give specific monologue guidelines for their specific program/school.
Good luck.
Thank you! Would it be helpful to post the monologue on the forum?
I’m not sure. I bet other posters are familiar with it. I just don’t know it.
Do You have an acting coach or director or teacher you can ask? Maybe you can perform it for that person and get feedback?
Also- I am assuming this is one of several monologues you will have prepared for auditions. You need two at least at most schools and some ask for more and/or a song.
I’ve asked my acting teacher and he said it was fine but i’m still weary since the character is in her thirties. I have another monologue to contrast with it that is in age range.
You are probably ok. But you need to feel comfortable and confident with whatever you do. If you are worried about it you may want to look for another possibility. Maybe you should keep this one as an option but find another that could work that is also contemporary and dramatic that could be used in its place if you choose to. Many schools will ask for a third monologue - so having “extras” doesn’t hurt.
I did look up the monologue. The character already has an older child that she talks about, correct? That might be one thing that doesn’t mesh with your age. However I would defer to your acting teacher over my opinion (I am just a parent who went through this last year with my daughter).
Thank you! I connect with the monologue but I was worried that it wouldn’t be good for auditions because of the age. i always seem to do monologues where the characters are older than I am.
If you connect with it- that will come through. I am sure you are fine.
Okay, thank you so much!!
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/nyu-tisch-mt/626391-monologue-character-age.html
Also found these old threads - there are a lot of others if you search “monologues and age” via the search bar at the top.
I don’t know, it sounds dubious to me. Not just the age, the talking about having another baby, which I would guess is way outside your personal experience? I would REALLY try to find something more in line with your age and life experience. There may be some auditors who don’t mind but from what I hear, lots do and why make your odds lower when it’s so tough already.
I agree - if the audition was next week and you had no time to prepare, I would say stick it out and defend your choice…but you have time to change. Why give them a chance to complain about not following rules.
D had a friend her year who chose to do an audition song in an accent- despite the fact that it is a widely known “no-no”. To be fair, the kid sang the song really well. BUT I know that the kid got more than one negative comment during audition season about why you don’t do that… Did it change audition results… who knows. But I would say why take the risk. JMHO- but the most important thing is that this is YOUR audition. Do what feels right to you, go after it with your whole heart, OWN it, and let the chips fall where they may
I agree- I would find something that portrays your age and experience, mid-thirties with two children seems too far out for what most of the colleges recommend. Most state they prefer monologues for a character you can play right now.