<p>mrsark87 - i hate to raise a red flag this close to her audition but it might be better to not use a dialect even if it is appropriate for the character. i havent looked at the shs audition reqs but i know at most of my schools they specifcally said to not use dialects and my teachers discourage it for auditions. if she has been doing it that way a long time it would be good to also have a backup ready. you probably know this but when you train as an actor training the speaking voice is a big part of it. the auditors are usually looking for trainability in that way and want to know what the instrument sounds like naturally. i hope this helps and doesnt just make for more stress. tell her to break a leg!</p>
<p>thanks for your input. i have read that also. and it's something to consider. but, doing this part without the accent would be like scarlett o'hara doing her role without one. she did get offered a top scholarship at ocu with the same monologue. however, i realize it might be completely different at another school and it's probably a good idea to go in with a back-up. and thanks for the good wishes.</p>
<p>mrsark87,</p>
<p>IMO I agree with notarebel. If the monologue can not be done without a dialect I would go with a different monologue. Many, if not all, schools frown on the use of accents. They will want to hear your D's natural voice. I don't think I would go against the grain if a school states specifically that they do not want to hear dialects...by doing so you are showing that you don't respect their directions.</p>
<p>Break a leg!!</p>
<p>Sue aka 5pants</p>
<p>ok, thanks for all input. there have been no directions to not use dialect. and it's not dialect, just a southern accent which defines the character. and certainly not all schools frown on it. as i said earlier ocu gave her their top talent scholarship in theatre after the head of the department hearing this same monologue. they get to hear her natural speaking voice as she introduces herself and "sets up" the scene. but, i do understand what you're saying. but if you were doing a scene from "my fair lady" liza would sound ridiculous if she didn't use that cockney accent. and we do have a back up prepared. but, believe me i appreciate the advice. and i definitely appreciate the good wishes. all those who pray, please lift her up this afternoon between 3 and 6:00. jamie</p>
<p>Just one more comment re: accent. My son was asked (at Syracuse) to re-do the same monologue he had prepared, but without the accent. Just so she's prepared if asked...</p>
<p>thanks, just one more reason for this forum......all the good info. i'll report back on how it goes and what they do. we do have 2 backup pieces though.</p>
<p>mrsark - Glad you all are going for this other audition. I'm anxious to hear when you know what has happened at both of them. Didn't read your note till after 6, so it's over - hope all was well.</p>
<p>How much time is given at some of these auditions? The UCF audition was 3 minutes in which you had to do two contrasting songs, and a monologue. My dd said she barely had time to breathe, let alone think about taking off or putting on a sweater, tie, etc. She said the accompanist barely gave her a catch breath between the ballad and up-tempo song. </p>
<p>3 minutes is certainly enough time to accomplish a good audition. I just don't see how you could be concerned about any kind of costume "changes". Also, how many of these schools included an interview phase to their auditions? My dd's audition at UCF was like a big cattle call and, from what I understand, nobody was interviewed, not even at the callbacks.</p>
<p>ok, this is a great thought process going on. we need a new thread with audition details on these schools. there's a lot of stuff to know that isn't "official" regarding how the auditions are conducted. i'll start a new thread. and that's where i'll respond to this last post.</p>
<p>sam houston--conducted on friday, starting at 3:00, over by 6:00. told to arrive in dance clothes, so you assume dance is first, and maybe you haven't warmed up your voice because you know that's later. wrong. you do the entire audition in your dance clothes. the vocal audition was first. held in a large theatre that was not great acousticly. anyone could watch. all auditioners seated in order down on front rows. they go up one at a time and do their song, only 16 bars. you walk on the stage, stop and confer with you acompanist for a minute and sing. then, there was a short break and dance started. they learned as a group, practiced in smaller groups, then auditioned in groups of 4. forgot to mention, there were 40 auditioners, and there had been 40 the week before. they are planning to accept 5, to replace the number graduating. then, a break and back to your seats for the monologues, held the same as vocals. go up, state your name and piece and begin. you were given a minute and a half, and time was called at that point. once you were through with yours, you could leave. there was a discussion in the other thread regarding accents and dialects during monologue, at this particular school it was no problem. there was no place to warm up for dance or vocal. lauren had to go back to the car for that. the campus is very pretty and seems like a nice small town. huntsville is about 3 hours south of dallas and 1 hour north of houston. ok, that's it.</p>
<p>sorry, i got this on this thread by mistake, but i did copy it to a new one. i think it will be fun to learn about others. all you juniors should kiss our feet for this info. it's more valuable than gold. plus, some of the seniors may want to audition again next year for various reasons.</p>
<p>midgetmom, you mentioned the lack of time for costume changes. well, obviously yours was held in a manner that prevented that. and at sam houston, you couldn't because you did everything in your lovely dance attire. however, i can respond for ocu which is our only other school. there, you went to a "dance leveling" class, not an audition at all, just for placement. then you have a vocal audition time. then about a half hour later, the monologue. there wouldn't be time to do a lot, but definitely time for a slight change. i don't recommend costume, i think that's generally a no-no. just thought she might add a sweater or some small thing that would indicate her character.</p>
<p>and, though i addressed this in my "new thread." regarding the above discussion on accents and dialects. at this particular school, it was no problem. so, you just have to look at the particular schools for this info. obviously, it is a problem at some, and then, not at others. these are all little tidbits of info we can pass along to each other.</p>
<p>i was surprised when they started the auditions off with singing as well. as far as using a southern accent is concerned, i wouldve stayed away from it. when i was there the friday before, i sat through tons of southern monologues and it really limits what you can do with the character in my opinion. i chose to do a contemporary monologue instead of one that required a child-like character for the same reasons. i just wish i had performed a different song.</p>
<p>well, i guess it just depends on the character. this particular character called explicitly for this accent. and i really don't mean just a southern accent, but a "backwoods southern" accent. these people were poor and uneducated and their accent was an integral way of life. it would detract from the character to do it any other way. is that not what acting is? portraying a character to the utmost and most realistic way. and i guess your day was unique or mine was. there were definitely not any others like lauren's so it worked out great.</p>
<p>We have been told by many theater professionals that it is unwise to choose a monologue that demands use of a dialect unless the specific part being auditioned for requires use of that dialect. For general audition purposes, e.g., college or summer program auditions, one of the things auditors will want to get is a sense of the pitch and resonance of your natural speaking voice and a dialect can definitely distort that. Having a strong facility for dialects is a terrific "plus" for an actor and should be noted on a resume; but at this level of audition and training, the best monologue choice will always be one that is age appropriate and not overly "dramatic." Let the character be one that you can relate to so the auditor gets to see a lot of "you" in what you present - with energy, clarity and, most importantly, honesty.</p>
<p>MrsArk, while you are right that that is what acting is, I have also heard, as others have, that for the college auditions, they prefer kids to not audition with monologues using dialects. Maybe that was not an issue at the college you went to or that she is accepted to so that is great. It is noted, however, on some college audition materials not to use dialects, as well as some other pointers they have (ie., age appropriate, etc.). So, I think that is why people are mentioning it, not because it is not great acting (I am sure she was great at it). </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>i really think this point has been driven home and beyond. the point has been made. i don't really know why eveyone is so concerned about it. if you simply want to impart information, that has been amply done. it's over and done with. she got the top scholarship offered at one of the top programs in the country with this monologue so as far as lauren is concerned, it worked out just fine. if you all are concerned about sharing information for future auditioners, then address them as i think you've made your point with us. a point, might i add, that i conceded to in the very beginning.</p>
<p>and i'd like to add this this role was not age-inappropriate nor was it overly dramatic. it's a comedy. and it was honest. you know if you have input on audition material, that's good, but i don't see any need to just pick to death what lauren chose to do. i understand the point. in fact, i understood it all along. and i know that various schools have various requirements and i'm quite capable of making note of those. i've tried to be gracious in the face of all your "help" but, give it a rest.</p>
<p>rude rude rude ... try to help some people eh? yeah. you are the poster child for good manners. funny how you and one other mom have been right in the middle of all the ugliness on this group for several months. one of the top BMs in mt in the country? yes. bfa in acting? not even on the radar ... YOU give it a rest. this used to be such a nice neighborhood ...</p>