<p>Hi everyone, I'm in the heat of my college auditioning (for acting) and my next (and last) auditions are for Carnegie Mellon and Boston. They both require classical monologues and I have to questions. With regards to Carnegie Mellon, I have been speaking to a new acting student this year who used two CONTRASTING monologues, both contemporary (one was from Zoo Story (comedic) and the other from Raisin in the Sun (drama). I was wondering if the school just looked past his disregard to the classic one or if they dont really care if you do a classic or not? In regards to Shakespeare (which I have chosen to do since it is "highly preferred" for Boston) I chose a monologue that they recommended before even seeing it was on the recommended list. Is it bad that I chose that one (will they think I failed to put any effort into looking around/ will too many people choose the same one) or should it be fine since they suggested it? Thanks for responding and sorry its so long-winded!</p>
<p>Just because someone else got into CMU without doing a classical monologue doesn't mean you shouldn't make every effort to follow the instructions laid down by the university.</p>
<p>I wouldn't worry about finding a more obscure classical monologue for Boston U: the point is not <em>which</em> monologue you do as much as it is <em>how</em> you do it.</p>
<p>In my opinion, too many students (including my own kid!) spend too long searching for that "perfect" monologue which will set them apart, when they should be spending the time working on any number of perfectly good and suitable monologues that can show off their acting ability. </p>
<p>During auditions at both CMU and Boston U, be prepared to have the auditors adjust your monologues and ask you to do them different ways. Both schools are well known for doing that. That means being prepared to start and stop repeatedly and to pick up where you left off. So rehearse that.</p>
<p>thank you so much for the advice, it is so easy to get consumed with trying to find the "perfect" monologue when really any monologue you work hard at can be transformed into just that! (note: turns out he was just auditioning for the directing program (so classical wasnt required!)</p>