Appropriate Monologues

College Majors Musical Theater Major
21

<p>This has turned into quite the discussion - so I felt the need to chime in! I agree strongly with SoozieVT's point about likening this audition process to an interview for a job. It is critical to put your best foot forward both visually and artistically. And believe me, everything counts! I have interviewed a lot of folks and auditioned quite a few myself (for shows, not college)and it can be the smallest thing that can turn the tide.... </p>

<p>When discussing risks, it is perfectly appropriate to be a risk taker in MANY areas of your life but then again in certain situations, another approach may increase the chance of the desired outcome. With the acceptance ratio being so low at so many of these schools, are you willing to gamble your future? </p>

<p>Personally, I would NOT risk offending by using words or materials which may be considered offensive. Does your material have to be drab? NO! There is a LOT of great stuff written in both the classical and contemporary genre which show emotion, depth of feeling and how good you are.......without taking the risk of offensive language. </p>

<p>Just my two cents.....</p>

<p>MikksMom</p>

22

<p>The parallel to other types of job interviews isn’t exact, because some college auditions are DESIGNED to determine which students are willing to take risks of many types. The whole process of “giving adjustments” during the CMU audition is an example: students are often given “crazy” redirection of their monologues on the spot, such as “ok, do it again and pretend you’re a bunny,” or “do it as if you’re drunk.” In addition, students can even be asked to do brief improvs. More than anything, the auditors are watching for flinching or hesitation of any kind when the adjustments are presented. (I am not equating this process to swearing in a monologue but rather explaining it to those who aren't familiar with this risk-taking "test" as a part of college auditions - RADA does, or at least used to do, similar things.) Of course a student shouldn’t try to shock or take a risk for risk’s sake - but at least at Juilliard, CMU, and UM, swearing in an audition piece is absolutely a non-issue, and that’s what I’m trying to convey – not to “defend” swearing. :) The reality of college auditions is that there ARE 2 perspectives – ask anyone at CMU, faculty or student, if you doubt me :) - and it’s important to acknowledge both so as not to condemn or unnecessarily unnerve students who choose, after careful consideration, to use a monologue with swearing at schools for which that IS acceptable.</p>

<p>Noccamom, who was a poster here, recently contacted me with a similar question, and after hearing my “here are the 2 sides of the argument” approach, she said, “So what you’re saying is know yourself, and know your audience?” I think that sums it up beautifully, for ANY kind of audition or interview! Know what is accepted and know what is not acceptable for ANY job setting, and most importantly, know your personal limits and comfort level!</p>

<p>P.S. I just remembered that there is a current MT at CMU who used an audition song which would shock many sensibilites, but this actor absolutely felt comfortable and did not choose the song for any shock value - and CMU loved it. "Edgy" is not innately bad in college audition settings, as it is in most other job interview settings - in fact, sometimes, it is the thing that tips the balance in a positive direction, if it is genuine and not something to actor is putting on - because it's absolutely something colleges such as CMU market 4 years later when they put on their showcases!</p>

23

<p>Coach C, I appreciate your knowledge and wisdom and what you know of what works at certain schools. An earlier point that I made is that most students would not know WHICH BFA programs where using profanity in an audition would be fine and at WHICH BFA schools, it might raise an eyebrow as to "good taste" in choice of monologue. Since applicants must already prepare quite a lot of material (my D had to prepare four monologues in total, plus variations in lengths for some of these), I can't see choosing even more monologues because the curse words are fine at X school, but not Y. By the way, I am glad my D had four monos prepared because indeed, at CMU, they did work with her, a couple different faculty members as well as the director, and she was asked to do ALL FOUR of her monos for them. </p>

<p>I also agree about taking the kind of risks you mentioned. My D has been in auditions where she has had to do the monologue different ways, including as a drunk (that particular way was not at CMU however). When they work with you and ask you to take risks and think of doing it a particular way, that is not the same as choosing material that SOME auditors MAY consider as not appropriate material for a 17/18 at an AUDITION. As I said, I am not sure I'd have my kid choose to sing Sodomy at her college audition, but have no issue with someone her age singing it on stage or in class. If the auditors ask you to take certain risks and try it another way, then they are choosing for you to do that. If you choose ahead of time to take a risk beyond the guidelines of appropriate material, that is not necessarily a risk that may go over well at some places. </p>

<p>Getting into a BFA program has long odds. Since one doesn't know each set of auditor's criteria to this extent usually, it might be best to choose materials within guidelines that are commonly stated with regard to such auditions. For instance, many say not to use dialects in a college audition. The same age kid (I know my kid has) used dialects when performing. </p>

<p>By the way, one monologue my daughter did mentions taking her shirt off. Still, that doesn't seem to cross the line as much as the use of actual sexual language or profanity might for SOME auditors. </p>

<p>I don't doubt at all that CMU loved something edgy someone did. It is just hard to know which colleges might be sensitive to a teenager choosing material with profanity, overly sexual content, violence, etc. Without knowing the standards at each school, it might be wise to avoid such material in a college audition, just in case. That would be my view when picking material overall, but also not needing to pick extra material because something might be OK at this school but not that school, because a student already has to prepare several monologues usually given various requirements at each school. </p>

<p>I agree totally about knowing your audience. Since it is very hard to predict each college audition panel's "audience", I was suggesting a general rule of thumb about selecting material that SOME audiences would find to be not in "good taste". </p>

<p>As I mentioned, even in a performance, my kid and her two fellow young adult performers, chose for THAT particular audience, to not use the "F" word in a song and made a substitution, but in many many other settings, they'd have NO problem singing the F word. So, your advice to "know thy audience" is very sound advice.</p>

24

<p>Tom, I love what you said to MTGeek about his being a passionate and articulate young actor....quite true! So, MTGeek, this is just our viewpoints about the suitability of college audition material, but not comments about your choices as a talented young actor!</p>

<p>You also pointed out something that makes it all quite clear....it is not that the auditors are offended by profanity itself, nor am I for that matter, but you wrote:

[quote]
I don't think the auditioners are going to be offended in the way you think they are.... They (probably) use the F word themselves and I guarantee you are not prudes.... we theatre folk are historically bawdy members of society.......(lol....Well.. I will speak for myself).... They are offended in the sense that it is a little cheeky for a 17 year old to come to their auditions and be so presumptuous.

[/quote]

Yes, that is it. Some auditors may be sensitive as to what THEY feel is good taste in material for a certain aged applicant. Some may be fine with it, even so, but many advise to stay within good taste for the chosen audience and situation, even if bawdy material is appropriate for the same actor to perform in other situations such as shows or in a class.</p>

<p>By the way, these general guidelines which I am referring to in my posts are even mentioned in a special report about finding appropriate audition material when auditioning for summer stock put out by Theater Directories, a division of American Theater Works from Dorset, VT. These are the same people who publish the Directory of Theater Training Programs. They also suggest what I am saying when auditioning for summer stock, even though I was only talking about college BFA auditions. I've also seen other references to college auditions that discuss appropriate material. All these guidelines are general ones, but you'd find exceptions at many many schools. Some schools might prefer proper dress, whereas others are fine with other forms of dress, no shoes even. So, you do have to know your audience but I think it is very hard for most who audition to know which schools think X or Y guidelines lean a certain way.</p>

25

<p>I keep saying I am going to add just one more post..... I said that about 5 posts ago.... I just think the discussion is so interesting.....</p>

<p>MT Geek... you said in one of your posts........</p>

<p>Auditioners are not sitting in moral judgement.</p>

<p>Well guess what... they are.... Their ENTIRE EXISTENCE at that moment is to judge you. Part of who they are as people is their morality... whether it is subconscience or not... you are being judged on every aspect of who you are, what you SAY, how you move, how you look and what you do.</p>

26

<p>Tom...LOL....keep posting, it's OK! </p>

<p>What you wrote in post #25 is part of what I think is also the crux of it....material you perform on stage is one thing. People choose to attend, etc. At an audition, judgment and selection (competitive selection at that) is involved. So, the choices one makes are not only artistic choices but choices about presenting themselves for judgment and selection. </p>

<p>I see it similar to the clothing choices in an audition. One can opt to audition in jeans and present one image or wear nicer clothing showing respect for the situation. Some clothing might have been all right in one situation but not in another. Since one may not know the taste of the auditor, it is safer to dress in the style within general guidelines for auditioning. You just don't want to turn someone off by choices such as graphic language. You can't be sure that won't offend someone judging you. You want to make a positive impression when being JUDGED. If someone opts to perform Lady MacBeth at a college audition, that would be risky as it is not a role the teenager would be realistically cast as. The auditors are judging the choices you make. It would be wise to stay within general audition guidelines when so much is riding on the line, in my opinion. If the auditors ask you to do the mono or song another way (my kid had to do that at some schools), then you demonstrate risk taking THAT way. </p>

<p>I'm not sure I'd advise someone to ENTER the audition taking risks outside the conventional wisdom of "audition tips". Someone can do monos with curse words in them or sing overdone songs or choose material outside their realistic age range, dress shabbily, use dialects, and still get in. However, I'd err on the side of caution when being judged for something this important. I'd try to stay within suggested guidelines. I suppose you could poll every school and find out things like CMU is fine with profanity. NYU is fine if you audition in bare feet. But for most kids, this information would be hard to ascertain. The selection of material is critical as one is being JUDGED. The auditors are watching kid after kid after kid. I'm not sure you want to stand out because you were the kid who used a "stomach churner" in a monologue, wore a bare midriff with your thong panty showing or offended them in some way.</p>

27

<p>Don’t be farkin’ droppin’ no freakin’ F-bombs in your friggin’ audition! Use those words instead. Or … You could substitute with ball, bang, boff, bonk, boink, bone, bugger, bump, cack, diddle, doodle, do, eff, feck, grind, have, hank, hit, hump, jump, knob, knock, lay, make, nail, oof, pleasure, plow, poke, pork, queef, rail, ride, root, schtup, screw, scrog, shaft, shag, slam, tag, tap, unf, yiff, zap … many of which might be slightly less passé … ;) Or you could just find a better monologue. You still have several months.</p>

<p>Seriously, what I’ve always been told you should be showing is who you are as an actor. To me, the choice of an F-bomb generally shows a fairly trite tendency a lot of young actors have to immediately grab an anger impulse ... just as much so as girls going for the big cry. It’s dime a dozen, folks. I wouldn’t be so much worried about offending the auditors as boring them with it. It couldn’t hurt to maybe have a vulgar or sexually explicit monologue in your package, but it might not be such a good idea to lead with it. If the auditors are interested and want to see it, they’ll ask. Then, once you’re in, you can drop all the F-bombs or pick all the overused material you want ... though you'll get picked apart like you never imagined. :)</p>

28

<p>Fishbowl- LOL!</p>

29

<p>Soozie- I don't know about the "Sodomy" choice, PERSONALLY. I don't think I could get through it without giggling like a little school boy... but different strokes for different folks. If you can kill it, go for it. You'll certainly be remember by the adjudicators.... ;)</p>

<p>You have all made some great points, and I certainly have no problem being the only one on this side of the fence. It's certainly eye opening to hear other people's views on the issue. I guess the mentality of an overzealous young actor tends to be the more radical one. I promise you wouldn't think so after meeting me in real life haha.</p>

30

<p>MTGeek, I wouldn't advise my kid to sing Sodomy in an audition, though I know she would not giggle. She might be able to "kill" it but it is still not appropriate. This choice of material is NOT how I'd hope the adjudcators remembered her. That was my point. But comfort level in performing such material? NOt an issue for my kid...in class, on stage, etc. As far as auditions where she is judged on her choices for high stakes admissions? No, she would not choose to sing Sodomy and she would not choose to perform monologues with profanity, sexual perversions, violence, etc. She'd try to abide by audition guidelines of appropriate audition materials and ways of acting, dressing, etc. at a BFA audition. Trust me, both my kid and myself are liberal about artistic risks, material, license, etc. But there is a time and place for everything. Know they audience. In a BFA audition, unless you get the inside scoop on a certain school's adjudicators, I'd err on the side of caution and the general school of thought when it comes to college auditions. Just like my kid wouldn't pick to sing Tomorrow from Annie (LOL) for BFA auditions, she also adheres to other rules of thumb in these sorts of situations. People get in who break the "audition guidelines" but I just wouldn't want to chance such a high stakes situation by going that route. We all are comfortable with different risks. Taking risks that the adjudicators ask you to make is not the same. Taking risks in acting class is crucial. Taking risks when it comes to admissions, not my bag.</p>

<p>By the way, I only share this with you because I believe you are looking to transfer to a BFA program eventually, yes? I hope I got that right and if I am mistaken, forgive me. But it is great that you have strong convictions as an actor. I think my kid is like that too. I admire you for it. Even so, sometimes, it is good to take advice about things to do with college admissions from those who know something about it, things you may not have thought to do yourself. There are many who have been around the block. There are some audition coaches on here as well. Take in the information and use it, or not, as you see fit.</p>

31

<p>I was completely kidding, Soozie. Personally, I think Sodomy is a poor choice for an audition in general. Let alone BFA auditions. And if you think about it... "Hair" was written with the intention of shocking audiences and making them uncomfortable. That should not be your intention for ANY audition. That plays in to staying true to the show's purpose. But you dont want to try to shock anyone when auditioning for their school. And as I said before, you don't want to try to shock them for shock's sake... because A.) they wont be and B.) it will just make them think you are pretensious (sp?). But taking risks at an audition is an artistic choice for me, personally. I took a risk or 2 at my Boco audition (not involving anything that had to do with profanity of vulgarity) and wasn't admitted. Was it the reason why I didnt get in? Could be. But I learned from it, and I'm a better actor now than I was before. Your future is not shot if you don't get into one of these programs off the bat. Believe me I know... I'm going for round 2!</p>

<p>Also, using the Sodomy reference really isn't a good comparison. The whole song is based upon something very shocking. Playing a character that drops the F bomb to me isn't a huge deal. But if someone is down for playing safe, do what you have to do. It's a personal thing.</p>

32

<p>MTGeek, you are right. It is a personal choice. My preference is to take risks as you train as an actor. It is crucial to do. But I would opt not to use an audition situation as the place to take the risk and stretch as an actor. I don't know if the opposite is termed "playing it safe" but basically, I would follow audition guidelines for something where so much rides on the line. I would use class time and production work to take other risks. I would, IN an audition, take risks if the auditor asked me to do the material a different way, a certain way, etc. I would not take big risks in the selection of appropriate material as much, however. Auditions for BFA programs just is not where I'd want to venture into risky territory. Same with applications. I wouldn't use the F word in an essay. Maybe you could still get in, but why even go there? Just my point of view. Again, the use of such words in an artistic piece on stage doesn't bother me at all. But if I were being judged for admittance, I'd think twice about the sensitivity of the auditors whom I don't know and go the route that might offend the least number of people who are JUDGING me for making that choice in the first place.</p>

33

<p>Point taken and understood.</p>

34

<p>A teacher wrote to me privately yesterday and said that she'd heard that I was "against profanity" and asked for clarification. Here's a version of what I wrote back:</p>

<p>I generally think it’s not a good idea to use profanity in most college audition situations because it almost always distracts from the auditors’ ability to see the actor. In fact, any monologue or song which calls a tremendous amount of attention to its own text comes at the expense of seeing the actor behind it. Same reason most of us recommend against using dialects. We want to be able to see the person through the text, not the other way around.</p>

<p>(For anyone interested in the theory behind this, see the late Bernard Beckerman's 1970 book, Dynamics of Drama, for his insightful discussion of "transparent" and "opaque" in drama.)</p>

<p>The other reason I think profanity is a trap is that it almost always occurs in angry pieces, and anger is the easiest choice for any actor. (This is the same point that Fishbowl made.) Again, it doesn’t tell us much about the person, except perhaps that he or she thinks that the essence of acting is "being emotional", a position that isn't going to win points with acting teachers.</p>

<p>On the other hand, occasionally a playwright will use profanity in a comic way, and that can work. We’re rehearsing a delightful translation of Moliere's Tartuffe right now, done by Ranjit Bolt a couple of years ago for the National Theatre of Great Britain, and there’s a moment when Dorine, the maid, says, “Na, f*** me sideways if I’m wrong.” Almost all of our audience will find it quite entertaining, I think.</p>

<p>It's all about context.</p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

<p>P.S. Fishbowl, are you absolutely certain that you're not a 40 year old associate professor of theatre masquerading as a sophomore? ;)</p>

35

<p>doctorjohn,
Once again you hit the nail on the head. And yes, Fishbowl's posts are one of the reasons I continue reading this thread. Quite a special young artist.</p>

36

<p>I think Fishbowl pretty well sized it up but I will throw in a few thoughts.</p>

<p>
[quote]
The other reason I think profanity is a trap is that it almost always occurs in angry pieces, and anger is the easiest choice for any actor.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I agree with that. I cant count how many bad angry monologues I have seen. Yet, in the hands of someone talented “angry” done in monologue or in production can be a powerful thing to see. </p>

<p>
[quote]
Again, it doesn’t tell us much about the person, except perhaps that he or she thinks that the essence of acting is "being emotional", a position that isn't going to win points with acting teachers.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>That’s also a good point. Frequently when watching a bad angry piece I find myself wondering if this is acting or them just emulating who they really are when arguing with a parent or whatever the context. That’s the break point for me. If I am watching an “angry piece” and this is clearly not them but acting that works for me. And most of those don’t seem to be over the top. It also seems like most of the time I have seen yelling in a monologue, its bad.</p>

37

<p>Haha "Na **** me sideways if I'm wrong" HAHAHAHAA!! That made me laugh out loud! Oh jeez... haha doctorjohn thank you for making my day. That's going to be my new catch phrase I think :)</p>

38

<p>Awww thanks Doctorjohn and Monkey. :) I'll probably be looking for that associate professorship in about 25 years. LOL</p>

39

<p>Most people are talking about the profanity issue of my initial question, but I'm just wondering...what qualifies as age appropriate? Theres a monologue I really like and i searched far and wide for the play. the character is a woman who lost her husband her WWII. the character is late 20's early 30's. People got married quite early back in those days...so it very well could translate to someone who is a few years younger. What do u think? does age approp mean the character is the same age? or the content is approp and relatable to a young adult? thanks!</p>

40

<p>Well unless you've lost someone you loved intensely, I wouldn't recommend it. I started private acting lessons this week and for my first lesson I had to perform two monologues in my rep. for her and it blew open so many doors that helped me furthur understand why I was unsuccessful in my auditions last year. Connecting to the material is on of the most major thing in picking any audition material. The characters I chose were my age, but she shot them down right away saying I did not connect at all and that she was pretty sure these were not life experiences I'd had. So... I mean, I don't know you and I don't know if you need to actually have had a husband die to do that monologue, but I don't think you should do it unless you've lost at least one or your parents, friends, or significant others or someone on that level. Just my oppinon.</p>