<p>bumppp …</p>
<p>I have read on here lots of people talking about “contrasting monologues” often dramatic vs. comedic. My D has picked out some monologues she wants to use, but none are what I would call comedic, however they would be contrasting as far as one being more “angry” while another may be about love or happy. Wouldn’t this still be considered “contrasting”? She has really had a hard time finding something comedic that she likes.</p>
<p>Contrasting can also mean classical vs.contemporary, realist vs. absurdist, etc.as well as comic vs.dramatic. The key here is that the monologues should differ in some major way.</p>
<p>Also, oftentimes a school’s audition webpage will provide some specific guidance on the types of monologues the school wants. Always a good place to check in depth.</p>
<p>Thanks, those are both good tips!</p>
<p>I’m getting close to my auditions and the nerves are kicking in fulltime. My “teacher” has bailed and left me on my own for preparing. And I realized today that I have a bunch of classic songs now, but I don’t have anything contemporary really except for one ballad and Holding Out For a Hero from Footloose which I really don’t want to do.</p>
<p>Any ideas where to look for contemporary? I’m a mezzo with a belt, 5’4", but I’ve never really been type-casted although I’d range in the 11-18 years old.</p>
<p>I would suggest you look at 13 (the musical), Spring Awakening, Fame, …Spelling Bee, Ruthless, and other contemporary shows with young characters (though Spring Awakening and Spelling Bee may prove overdone).</p>
<p>There is a neat musical called The Unofficial Autobiography of Samantha Brown (by Brian Lowdermilk and Kait Kerrigan), specifically written for graduating high school age actors. They have written some terrific musicals together, a have lot of sample videos of songs posted on YouTube on the kerriganlowdermilk Channel. (Phoebe Strole and Julie Reiber are great belters: their channel has a menu to see the vast offerings they have written, sung by a variety of artists).</p>
<p>They also have sample links on their website: Kerrigan-Lowdermilk.com</p>
<p>Good luck with this. Remember, the choice of song is more important to YOU (for comfort, security and confidence) than it is to them (who want to SEE your comfort, security and confidence). Don’t worry about finding the “perfect song,” because there isn’t one…just a lot of good choices to make you feel your very best!</p>
<p>")</p>
<p>eve</p>
<p>^^^You really need to search contemporary musical theater composers you like and listen to many of their songs and/or search musical theater performers you like and have a similar voice type to you and listen to many of their songs. </p>
<p>I don’t want to give you a long list of songs, nor do I know anything really about you. </p>
<p>Here are a few contemporary songs…</p>
<p>Upbeat:
I Want It All from Baby
The Spark of Creation from Children of Eden
On My Way from Violet</p>
<p>Ballad:
How Did We Come to This from Wild Party
The Portrait from A My Name is Alice
Say the Word from The Unauthorized Biography of Samantha Brown</p>
<p>(oops …I cross posted with Eve)</p>
<p>If you go to newmusicaltheatre.com, you can find the sheet music and videos of songs from The Unauthorized Biography of Samantha Brown, as well as other contemorary shows.</p>
<p>Soozie, you and I are STILL on the same page psychically. I love it!</p>
<p>You might want to avoid Say the Word, as it has become overdone. ;)</p>
<p>^^^Hmmm I run into many high school students who have limited knowledge of MT repertoire, both traditional and contemporary, many of whom never would have even heard of Kerrigan and Lowdermilk. </p>
<p>But to give SongSearcher a replacement for a contemporary ballad instead of Say the Word, how about:
Once Upon a Time from Brooklyn
Never Neverland from Dreaming Wide Awake (Scott Alan)</p>
<p>While these songs are not utterly unique, I don’t feel a college applicant needs a song that nobody else is doing, as long as it is not the MOST overdone ones. In other words, these songs may be sung by others but are not as overdone by applicants as songs from Wicked, Astonishing, Millie, etc.</p>
<p>Just going off of what Soozievt said: I agree that college applicants dont need a song that no one else is doing. Your goal is to knock a song out of the ball park so that you are accepted, not to just sing a pretty little tune that others are gonna sing. So with that, even some popular songs i.e. Astonishing from Little Women, some Rodgers and Hammerstein stuff like Oklahoma and Oh What a Beautiful Morning, etc. these songs may be overdone but if you are able to sing this song better than anyone else they’ve seen you are all set. For example, If I Loved You (carousel) is one of my college audition songs. It is somewhat overdone but not as much as some other songs. Yet others and myself feel that I can knock this song out of the park and really provide a good performance. Hence why I am keeping it as one of my songs.</p>
<p>Soozie, you are no doubt right that many high schoolers haven’t heard of Kerrigan and Loudermilk. But I was shocked a few years ago, when my own kid had “Say the Word” in her book, to find that many, many other young girls did, too. </p>
<p>The bottom line is, however, as you say: kids don’t need a song that is unique. </p>
<p>I would, however, stay away from Astonishing.</p>
<p>Yeah, I have to disagree with theatrenerd about Astonishing too. It is very overdone by those applying to college for auditions. Just in my small world, I have had several students whose original choices are Astonishing until I have them change it. I do believe one should avoid the MOST overdone songs at college auditions but that singing something that is fairly common is OK. I wasn’t aware that Say the Word was overdone but that is good to know. It is not a song my kid has or does. She knows Brian Lowdermilk (and he also MDed her Tisch MT showcase). </p>
<p>I just find many high school kids have limited knowledge of the MT rep that’s out there. It is important to be a student who explores a range of MT songs. Some do, but I have run into kids with very limited knowledge of the variety of MT songs that exist.</p>
<p>Haha I was just throwing a song out there that I knew was overdone, I wouldnt suggest it to anyone either! Sorry if that confused anyone!</p>
<p>Funny, cause my Ds voice teacher encouraged her to use Astonishing, and I guess she hits it out of the ballpark. She has used it at 2 auditions and was cast in one, and got into a program with very nice comments/feedback in another.</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for the replies guys! I came back to ask if My New Philsophy would be considered horribly overdone for college auditions as I suspect it is because I’m fine with doing something that the auditors are familiar with as long as I’m not girl #5 out of 10 to do that song that day.</p>
<p>My New Philosophy is overdone, still. It also leads to a vocal characterization that is limiting, in my opinion; AND it is rarely acted with the clarity and honesty required of a juvenile’s patter song (which it is at “philosophy” list sections) so comes off indicated and pushed. Just my two cents.</p>
<p>Ok, I just can’t bring myself to read all 879 previous posts - as interesting as it all is - to see if my latest question was already answered. I have a stack of scripts to get through. And laundry. :)</p>
<p>The question:</p>
<p>Alice in Wonderland was adapted from the 1865 Carroll book in 1947 by Gallienne/Friebus and has lots of new material. If D wants to use a monologue from it, how would that monologue be classified, time-wise, for those schools that care so much about dates? And yes, she looks like Alice.</p>