<p>Hi guys!
Not sure if there is a thread for this already, but how frequently do people get asked for supplemental monologues at their auditions? I have my standard two prepared to consistency (luckily all my schools want 1 classic/ 1 contemporary), but I'm not sure how prepared I should be to spout out more monologues. With a week until my first audition, I would love it if you could share your stories here. Help? :)</p>
<p>For reference, these are the schools I'm auditioning at: BU (next Saturday ahh!), NYU, Fordham, Muhlenberg, Hofstra, UCONN. </p>
<p>There’s a significant chance that at least one of those schools is going to ask to see a supplemental monologue. Don’t fly into a panic, but I’d perhaps find a third monologue to prepare just in case. Preferably something contemporary since you’re already using a classical. It’s smart to go into college auditions with four monologues, but if the thought of trying to learn and polish two monologues puts you too much on edge, at least try and prepare one more. Maybe something you’ve auditioned for a play with in the past, or a monologue from a role you’ve already played? </p>
<p>I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Tisch asked for an additional one. Since they request two contemporary but allow a classical if you have experience with classical text, it may be that they’ll ask to see a contrasting contemporary monologue from you. That would be my guess. It could possibly happen at other schools on your list. Being asked for an additional monologue is not an unusual occurrence.</p>
<p>Of those schools you mention, my daughter auditioned at BU, NYU, and Fordham. Only at NYU was she <em>not</em> asked for another monologue, and her NYU evaluator was having a lot of trouble with his assigned iPad, which may have had an effect on how much time he could spend with her. So, I’d say you should have one extra of each in the wings.</p>
<p>At BU yesterday, the info session included a remark to the effect of “I know some of you have a lot of monologues prepared, but we only want to see two of 'em.” Every kid my son and I talked to present the twomrequired monoligues and then was asked to do an adjustment with one monologue. This was on campus, btw, so it may work differently if you’re auditioning at Unifieds. Each kid spent about 15-20 minutes with the auditor, if that helps. And they all came out smiling! Paolo said “we want you to leave feeling like you did your best work,” and based on what we heard, everyone did. It was a great experience–you’ll have fun at BU, ItsAshMal! Good luck with them all! :)</p>
<p>I’d echo everyone here. Standard is to prepare four minimum, two classical & two contemporary, all contrasting. You can prepare even more, but usually four is minimum. You could get by with three if you’re pressed for time. So I guess for next week, I’d prepare one more, for three total. Then if you’re auditioning more later, I’d add a fourth. This third one should be chosen like your other two–don’t think of it as ‘back up’ and therefore not as strong. If you throw yourself into it, you should be able to pull it off by next week–good luck!</p>
<p>My son’s acting teacher refers to it as an “arsenal of monologues”! Remember that you will probably have to prepare different length “cuts” of your monologues because some schools want one minute, some two to three, and others 90 seconds.</p>
<p>I think it would be very risky to go into an audition without a third monologue given the frequency in which students are asked for a third monologue. For anyone applying to Juiliard (my daughter is), they should be aware that Juiliard requires going in with four monologues ready – a contemporary and a classical is in reserve in case the applicant gets a same day call back.</p>
<p>It’s also a good idea to have something you can give them from one or two of the shows on your resume. They might ask (that happened to my son at Ithaca).</p>
<p>Times3 – that seems like a strange request. If I remember right, I thought the prevailing wisdom around here was that it was better not to do a monologue from a show you’ve been in. I don’t think I’ve seen this come up before. That could be a lot of extra work unless it was a current show. My daughter has 5 monologues ready. She’s stressed enough. The last straight play she did was a couple of years ago at Frenchwoods. I don’t think I’m going to tell her to go digging through The Effect of Gamma Rays … and see if there is a Ruth monologue just in case someone wants to hear something from a play she did two years ago rather than the five monologues she prepared.</p>
<p>I’ve seen that advice too (not to do things you were directed in), but they did ask S at Ithaca if he had anything from a play he’d done his freshman year. He didn’t–although he was able to make a remark that showed he knew the play and part well–and then he did something else instead. He does have a Shakespeare monologue in his repertoire that dates back to 7th grade…</p>
<p>My favorite story about this kind of request is on the thread about audition “horror stories”–someone reported being asked to do a monologue from “The Miracle Worker”–the girl had played Helen Keller. So yes, it might be an unreasonable request… Anyway, be ready for anything!</p>
<p>Hi, I don’t know if anyone can answer me this, but as an international student, should I prepare a monologue in my native language? I’ve been working on 5 monologues (3 classical/2 contemporary), but I still have time to work on a 6th one, if that’s the case.</p>
<p>Unless they changed how they do things, NYU does not ask for anything other than your 2 contemporary monologues. In fact you have to tell them what those monologues are when you schedule the audition appointment.
What they do ask are fairly difficult questions. They want to hear you speak and how quick or bright you are. This is pretty much impossible to prepare for. My daughter was told what an acquaintance’s questions were a week earlier. My daughters were totally different!</p>
<p>I was going to say one thing, and then I wasn’t sure. I haven’t ever heard of a foreign speaking auditioner being asked to do a monologue in their native language. I doubt that would happen, but then we tell people to be prepared for anything.</p>
<p>I don’t remember for sure what your native language is, I think it is Portuguese? I think it is extremely unlikely that you will have an auditor who can understand Portuguese.</p>
<p>And I may be against the prevailing wisdom, but I don’t think it is a problem to use a monologue from a play you were already in. That way, you can be sure you have done all the necessary work on the monologue. (I am assuming of course that you aren’t now too old or have otherwise changed too much to play the role again)</p>
<p>Thank you KEVP! It is Portuguese indeed and I also doubt that I will have an auditioner that can speak Portuguese. I was actually just asking because I remember that for the Juilliard pre-screening videdo audition for internationals it was required to do a monologue in your native language, so I wasn’t sure.</p>
<p>Real KEVP, re “I don’t think it is a problem to use a monologue from a play you were already in.”</p>
<p>Prevailing wisdom is STRONGLY against using a monologue from a play you were in. Sure, you can risk it, but WHY? Many panelists don’t like such a monologue because the ‘necessary work’ you did was under another director who has really worked through it within the context of that particular performance. Given how competitive this process is, I don’t see why on earth you’d risk annoying the panelists or causing them to question your choices or your performance. </p>
<p>I would strongly urge auditioners to avoid their monologues from the shows they were in. Back to the original question, you really should have a minimum of four. The OP was pressed for time, so I’d say three is ok, since she/he has only a week to prepare for the third. But for those wondering, you really need four. </p>
<p>All schools are different, all panels are different and all auditioners are different. Two of my kids have gone through this process and it was <em>unusual</em> to have them asked to do just two. Purchase asked my son to do five! Some colleges like Purchase & Juilliard have callbacks that day–that’s why Juilliard specifically asks for four. But honestly, you never know what the panelists will ask for. It’s just good to be prepared.</p>
<p>Bottom line: If you’re pressed for time don’t stress yourself out, but do have three.</p>
Anyway, be ready for anything!</p>